Politics & Government

A high-profile potential challenger for Kay Hagan's U.S. Senate seat is on the verge of getting some major financial support. 

Backers of North Carolina's House Speaker Thom Tillis have put together an independent committee that would support a potential bid for Hagan's seat in Congress.  Organizers of the group "Grow NC Strong" say they have filed paperwork with federal officials to create a political action committee. It would be a "super-pac" which would have no limits on raising and spending money to support Tillis, but would operate separately from any campaign Tillis organizes.

Host Frank Stasio will speak with North Carolina reporters and Senator Josh Stein about the budget and how it will impact the Triangle, Western and Coastal North Carolina. Jessica Jones is WUNC's Capitol Bureau Chief; Democratic Senator Josh Stein represents Wake County; Kirk Ross is a contributing reporter for Carolina Public Press and a policy adviser to the North Carolina Coastal Federation.

Governor Pat McCrory and Raleigh mayor Nancy McFarlane want some extra time to decide how to utilize 325 acres of prime capital city real estate. 

The two announced today that they are backing House legislation to give the city and state another year to negotiate an agreement to re-purpose the Dorothea Dix property. 

Raleigh leaders want to use the land as a destination park.  McCrory says he understands and supports that.

In 2002, North Carolina was the first state in the country to establish a system of full public financing for its high court judges. The law was enacted after huge sums of money began flooding into court elections across the country.