Latest news with #JoshStein
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
NC community college enrollment climbs
CHARLOTTE, N.C. () – Student enrollment at community colleges is on the rise, and growth at North Carolina-based institutions outpaces the national average. New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center suggests undergraduate enrollment is up across the board, but community colleges saw the largest increase from Spring 2024 to Spring 2025 (5.4%). Overall post-secondary enrollment rose 3.2%, translating to 562,000 students. The report estimates the U.S. now has a total of 18.4 million students pursuing graduate or undergraduate degrees. Charlotte teen finishes in top 4 at Scripps National Spelling Bee Community college enrollment in North Carolina jumped 8.3% since Spring 2024. Governor Josh Stein advocated for increased investment in community college and targeted training programs through his proposed budget in April. 'My budget proposes providing free community college to students pursuing credentials in high-demand industries,' Stein said. 'I'm also proposing we expand apprenticeships in state government to recruit and retain talent to serve the public and establish a rural apprenticeship program to connect small businesses and farmers to apprentices.' The General Assembly allocated $1.5 billion for the North Carolina Community College System in 2023. The proposed House budget allocates $1.7 billion for the next two fiscal years, while the proposed Senate budget allocates $1.8 billion for NCCCS. The state's total enrollment across education sectors remains lower than pre-pandemic enrollment. 2025 data shows 2.3% fewer students than in 2020. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Opioid impact forum set for June 17
A event designed to show the effects of the opioid crisis in Lee County will be held Tuesday, June 17. The 'Stronger Together: Opioid Impact Forum' will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that day, according to a release from Lee County Community Support Services. The event will take place at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, located at 1801 Nash St. The topic will be Lee County's opioid crisis response. It will include an update on the use of opioid settlement funds and remarks from community leaders. Community organizations and government partners will have an opportunity to share information about resources and services. In July 2021, then-Attorney General Josh Stein announced a $26 billion settlement with the nation's largest drug distributors. As a result, the Lee County Commissioners entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the state to gain access to the opioid settlement funds. Over an 18-year period, Lee County is expected to receive $7.8 million. Since the initial disbursement of funds in 2022, Lee County has made progress in a variety of ways, including increasing naloxone distribution, entering contracts with eligible providers to help with treatment reimbursement and increasing transportation access, the release states. Recent data indicated some improvement with the North Carolina's estimated overdose death rate decreasing by 28% from 2023 to 2024. However, there is still progress that needs to be made. The opioid crisis continues to remain a pressing issue across the county, state and country. For Americans aged 18-44, the leading cause of death is fentanyl overdose. In 2024 alone, an estimated 3,025 North Carolinians and 87,000 people nationwide lost their lives from an overdose. 'Whether you have been directly impacted or simply want to be a part of the change, we welcome and value your presence at this event,' the release states.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Financial services company picks Charlotte for new HQ, bringing nearly 300 jobs
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Daimler Truck Financial Services USA (DTFS) is moving its headquarters to Charlotte, bringing 276 new jobs to Mecklenburg County. Governor Josh Stein announced the move on Tuesday, celebrating the company's decision to invest over $7.8 million in a new 60,000-square-foot facility. Officials said the new headquarters will house administrative, human resources, and financial operations, combining offices previously located in Michigan and Texas. Gastonia man dies in industrial accident at Kings Mountain manufacturing facility DTFS provides financing, leasing, and insurance services for Daimler Truck North America, the company behind familiar names like Freightliner trucks and Thomas Built Buses. The new jobs will offer an average salary of nearly $134,000 and are expected to create an annual payroll impact of almost $37 million. The move is supported by a state Job Development Investment Grant, which could reimburse the company up to $4.2 million over 12 years if DTFS meets job creation and investment goals. The state expects to see a strong return, estimating a $1.08 billion boost to North Carolina's economy over the life of the project. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘More work to do': Gov. Stein cites tourism strength after Helene, calls on FEMA to fund cleanup
Tourists spent a record $36.7 billion on trips last year, and every North Carolina county will benefit from the money spent. Gov. Josh Stein says the state's tourism sector held strong after Hurricane Helene, but he wants more help from FEMA. Stein is frustrated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for denying North Carolina's latest request for help. He says the total cost of the storm is about $60 billion, and that cost will be too much to bear without help from the federal government. So far, more than 12 million cubic yards of debris have been removed from roads and waterways, and while that sounds like a lot, Stein says it's just the tip of the iceberg in the journey to restore western North Carolina. 'We have so much more work to do, and it's going to cost a lot, up to $2 billion to fully clean the roads and waterways in western North Carolina,' Stein said. That's why the governor asked FEMA to cover up to 100% of the cleanup costs past the first 180 days, similar to what FEMA did with Hurricanes Ike, Katrina, and Maria. FEMA denied that request. Stein appealed. Last week, FEMA denied the appeal, saying the request 'is not warranted,' despite Helene being one of the deadliest and costliest hurricanes in U.S. history. That means 10% of the cleanup cost will fall on the state. 'That means quite frankly it will cost North Carolina taxpayers a lot more to clean up western North Carolina 1:20 and debris removal is just one of the many categories we need to help western North Carolina get back on its feet,' Stein said. 'The sad reality is this: the more money North Carolina has to spend on debris removal and other types of cleanup ... that's less money we will have for other categories of relief.' Stein says his office is still pushing for more funding at the state and federal level. (VIDEO: 'Monumental': Campground celebrates post-Helene reopening)
Associated Press
3 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
North Carolina revenue predictions fall with recession risk
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina officials on Wednesday downgraded anticipated state revenue collections compared to their recent forecast, largely over rising economic uncertainty and the risks of a U.S. recession. The adjustments agreed upon by economists working in Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's budget office and at the General Assembly keep front and center competing tax-cutting plans passed by the Republican-controlled House and Senate. The plans are contained in rival budget bills that will soon be subject to negotiations. A small revenue surplus predicted for the year ending June 30 in February's consensus revenue forecast is now more modest thanks to lower-than-expected corporate income tax collections in April. General Fund collections now are expected to outpace revenue levels agreed on last year by $364 million — a $180 million decline compared to February predictions — to a total of over $34.5 billion. The Office of State Budget and Management said that expectations of lower profits and higher input costs from President Donald Trump's trade tariffs likely led businesses to make reduced estimated tax payments this spring. The downgrade drifts into the upcoming two-year forecast, which reduces anticipated revenue collections by another $218 million during the fiscal year starting July 1 and by $222 million for the year starting July 1, 2026. That's because the overall economic outlook has declined and 'the probability of a recession has increased,' Nick Clerkin, an economist with the General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division, wrote to legislators and staff. Lower estimated wage and employment growth will place pressure on corporate and individual income tax collections and slow growth in sales taxes as consumers shift away from goods affected by tariffs, state economists warned. These downgrades still follow a February forecast that estimated planned and potential tax cuts would lead to only slight year-over-year revenue growth for the 2025-26 fiscal year and an actual year-over-year reduction for the 2026-27 fiscal year. Wednesday's consensus now calculates that reduction for the 2026-27 fiscal year at $827 million. The predicted revenues reflect a 2023 law that will reduce the state individual income tax rate of 4.25% this year to 3.99% in 2026 and also likely decrease it to 3.49% in 2027 if a revenue threshold is met. Both Stein's administration and legislative staff agree that anticipated collections will exceed the fiscal 'trigger' for the 3.49% rate to be enacted. Stein has criticized the triggers as needlessly creating a 'fiscal cliff' of large gaps between revenues and spending needs in the coming years. Stein's budget proposa l asked that the individual income tax rate be frozen at 4.25% Both the Senate budget plan approved by the chamber in April and the House plan approved in May allow the rate to fall to 3.99% next year as scheduled. While the House proposal would raise the revenue thresholds contained in current law before rates could fall even lower, the Senate plan creates a more aggressive series of triggers that could reduce the rate one day to 1.99%. Senate leader Phil Berger said last week the House plan appears to renegotiate the 2023 tax law and argues it would result in an income tax increase. But House Speaker Destin Hall disagreed, saying the chamber's proposal adjusts the revenue thresholds for inflation and is more fiscally conservative. House and Senate differences within their competing budgets on taxes, teacher pay raises and the elimination of vacant state government positions would have to be worked out before they could present a final plan to Stein, who could use the threat of his veto stamp to wield influence. Republicans are one seat short of a veto-proof majority. Although the House budget plan contained many provisions opposed by Democrats, over half of their members in the chamber voted last week for the proposal, in part because of how it slowed down the income tax cuts. After a speech on energy in Raleigh, Stein told reporters Wednesday that while he 'wasn't thrilled' with the House position on taxes, 'it is much more fiscally prudent than the Senate position, which is to just further erode our revenue sources.'
