Latest news with #ClaytonHenkel
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Counties must address biased and unjust property tax assessments
(Photo: Clayton Henkel) It's a universal rule of local government that nobody likes their property tax bill or the way their property is assessed. By any measure, the assessors have a tough and thankless job. That said, it's also true that there are unjust assessments and sometimes they're the byproduct of historical bias and discrimination that affect large numbers of property owners. And right now, that appears to be the case in some North Carolina communities. As NC Newsline reported last week, advocates in Orange County recently provided compelling evidence that residents of some historically Black neighborhoods are experiencing this injustice. The advocates say newer larger homes in those neighborhoods – typically owned by white investors — are undervalued while older homes owned by longtime Black residents are systematically overvalued. And that results in genuinely unjust tax bills. The bottom line: To their credit, Orange County officials say they will review the data. Let's hope they do so quickly and carefully and that the work inspires other counties across the state to follow suit. For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump to western North Carolina: 'Drop dead'
An Asheville cyclist pedals toward a "WNC Strong" billboard moving past an enormous debris pile from Helene on his right. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline) Sometimes, it's hard to keep track of the wild policy swings that are the signatures of the second Trump administration. From tariffs and trade to Russia and Ukraine, it often takes just hours for supposedly strong policy stances to be contradicted or abandoned by the president or his aides. And now, this chaotic pattern is directly impacting North Carolina. Both last fall and this past January, Trump blasted the Biden administration's response to Hurricane Helene and made bold promises that he would rebuild storm-ravaged areas better than ever. Unfortunately, that was then and this is now. This fact was made clear last week when the administration abruptly turned off the federal funding spigot by rejecting Gov. Josh Stein' request to continue providing matching funds for the state's Helene recovery appropriations. The decision leaves the state on the hook for $200 million or more in additional expenses for debris cleanup and other emergency work. The bottom line: Once again, the president has said one thing and done another, and sadly, North Carolinians will pay the price. For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Trump Justice Department sues NC elections board over voter registrations
(Photo: Clayton Henkel) The Trump administration is suing the state Board of Elections over what it says are violations of federal law for failing to maintain an accurate voter registration file. In a lawsuit filed in federal court Tuesday, the U.S. Justice Department said the lack of driver's license numbers, partial Social Security numbers, or unique identifying numbers connected to some voter registration records violates the Help America Vote Act. The Justice Department wants the elections board to ask all voters who do not have the proper numbers in the statewide database for the information. The elections board is to attach unique numbers to voters who do not have those other identifiers. The allegations in the DOJ lawsuit mirror an issue Republican Appeals Court Judge Jefferson Griffin raised as he tried to overturn Democratic Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs' election victory by throwing out votes. The DOJ claims also mirror a state Republican Party and Republican National Committee federal lawsuit contending that people who do not have the government digits connected to their electronic file are not legally registered to vote. It's unclear how many registrations don't have the numbers, but the GOP sought to purge about 225,000 voters over the issue. The elections board did not do enough to remedy the problem of missing identification numbers when conservative activist Carol Snow raised it in a complaint in 2023, the DOJ lawsuit says. The state was using voter registration forms that made it look like providing a driver's license number or partial Social Security number was optional. In some cases, the information was not typed into the database even when voters did supply it. The board, then controlled by Democrats, voted unanimously to make the recommended changes to the voter registration form, but 'declined to take sufficient steps to cure their continuing violations' by contacting voters, the lawsuit says. Republicans took control of the elections board this month and appointed a Republican executive director. In a statement, Executive Director Sam Hayes said: 'I was only recently notified of this action by the United States Department of Justice. We are still reviewing the complaint, but the failure to collect the information required by HAVA has been well documented. Rest assured that I am committed to bringing North Carolina into compliance with federal law. 'The voter registration form at the heart of this issue was updated in January 2024. It is available here: The State Board and county boards of elections will work diligently to ensure all voters are properly registered and have provided the necessary personal information to comply with state and federal laws.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
NC lawmakers invite right-wing advocacy group to consult on UNC admissions
(Photo: Clayton Henkel) There are many things that state leaders should do these days to improve the UNC System. Providing adequate funds to hire and retain topflight faculty and reining in out-of-control professional sports programs would be a good start. Unfortunately, at present, the emphasis in Raleigh is on advancing a right-wing political agenda, and so it is that state House Republicans have approved a bill to give a local far right propaganda outfit — a group founded by conservative financier and activist Art Pope known as the Martin Center for Academic Renewal — a role in crafting university admissions policies. And it's hard to overstate just how big a mistake this is. For more than 25 years, the Martin Center has spewed a steady stream of far right attacks on almost all of the best aspects of modern higher education in an effort to turn back the clock on progress. The bottom line: As is the case in so many areas of higher education, lawmakers should leave admissions to the professionals and tell conservative advocacy groups to stay in their own lane. For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Legislature's cruel attacks on transgender rights will endanger lives
A demonstrator holds a sign reading "Trans Kids Belong" at a March 2024 rally outside the North Carolina Legislative Building. Republican state senators have introduced a bill in 2025 that would enact new restrictions on the rights of transgender people. (Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline) Why are so many conservative politicians obsessed with denying the existence of transgender people? Several years ago, it was the infamous bathroom bill that sought to micromanage the public restrooms trans people used. Now, the same forces are at it again with bills targeting transgender youth. Under legislation approved by the state House last week, charges of abuse and neglect against parents who refuse to acknowledge their child's gender identity would be barred. Supporters say the bill is about validating parental rights, but if that's so, why did they defeat an amendment that would protected parents who acknowledge and support their transgender kids? After all, some politicians have promoted attacks of precisely this kind on parents who love and celebrate their trans children. The bottom line: Gender dysphoria is a long-established medical condition for which gender transition frequently amounts to lifesaving care. By denying this reality, lawmakers are assuring that some young people will be denied care and that their lives will be cruelly and needlessly endangered. For NC Newsline, I'm Rob Schofield.
