Latest news with #NCSenate
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Josh Stein outlines vision for North Carolina in State of the Economy speech in Winston-Salem
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP) — Gov. Josh Stein laid out the roadmap for economic growth across North Carolina in his State of the Economy address on Tuesday. Stein delivered the keynote address at the event, hosted by, at the Benton Convention Center in Winston-Salem. $65.9 billion budget for 2025-27 passes NC Senate, heads now to the House 'North Carolina has to be a state where people with families can afford to live, raise their children and work,' Stein said. 'When we talk about our cost of living, we have to address the economic uncertainty resulting from the federal government's activities of recent weeks. In particular, I expect a number of you may share my concerns about the recent tariff announcements and the impact they are already having on business owners and consumers.' Stein says investing in various areas of the education system is key to our economic growth. He says economic growth starts with investing in education through more funding for community colleges, establishing apprenticeship programs, training and retaining our homegrown students, and lowering the cost of childcare so we can keep parents in the workforce. Mark Owens, the president of Greater Winston-Salem Incorporated, says , a local workforce development program, helped students who wanted to drop out of high school land on pathways to colleges and internships. The program is a collaboration by Greater Winston-Salem, Inc., Forsyth Technical Community College, Goodwill Industries of Northwest NC, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and Forsyth County. 'To really focus on students in their junior and senior year of high school, to get ready for the workforce with the employability credential,' Owens said. 'We also support Gov. Stein and his universal pre-k initiative to try to make sure that there is high-quality, low-cost, affordable childcare for all people in our community.' Stein says it is his goal to make North Carolina the number one state in the southeast for teacher pay. He also mentioned the child care tax credit in his budget proposal, which includes an increase in salaries for childcare providers and expansion of K-12 education and summer enrichment programs. Earlier in the morning, Stein visited Winston-Salem State University for a news conference announcing a $2 million grant from the supporting WSSU's nursing program. The funds will go towards scholarships, student success efforts and emergency funding. 'There's two important variables to make sure that we have enough nurses to meet the needs of our people,' Stein said. 'One is to make sure that we're training enough, and that's what this grant will primarily do. It will help Winston-Salem State make itself more attractive and bring more people into the profession, but, once they're there, we have to keep them. We have to make sure that the pay and the environment, the work conditions are successful for nurses to want to stay in the profession, because it's a very challenging position.' After the news conference, Stein and others in attendance toured the . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House could increase teacher raises in their version of state budget
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The Senate budget is in the hands of the House and Democrats are hoping for big changes. 'I hope that they actually take a look at teacher pay,' said Democratic Senator Sydney Batch. Right now, the budget holds a 2.3% raise for teachers. Democrats say that's an insult. $65.9 billion budget for 2025-27 passes NC Senate, heads now to the House 'It's not significant enough, we know that there are a number of kids that are in classrooms that have substitute teachers,' Senator Batch added. Right now, teacher starting pay in North Carolina is around $41,000 a year. According to the National Education Association, in South Carolina and Tennessee, the starting pay is over $42,000. That means the 2.3% raise here would equal less than $1,000 a year for some teachers. Some House Republicans are already anticipating increasing those raises in their version of the budget. 'We want to be able to show the public that we understand that is important in North Carolina to create an environment that attracts and retains the very best teachers,' Republican Representative Erin Pare said. 'I think we'll see probably the significant raise in teacher pay as one of the most signature pieces of the budget.' NC teachers could make more money under new bill filed Leaders with the North Carolina Association of Educators have rallied for substantial raises. They say now is the time to act. 'We know that 2.3% average raise is not enough to keep our educators from leaving the profession at a time where we need well-compensated professionals in front of students to ensure their academic success,' Tamika Walker Kelly, President of the NCAE, said. Senate Democrats also want the House to increase the raises for state employees set in the budget. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate passes $65B+ budget, Democrats want changes made
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — A big step forward on Thursday as lawmakers decide what to spend billions of your taxpayer dollars on. The state budget has moved to the House after the Senate passed its version Thursday morning with some bipartisan support. Four Democrats voted in favor of the budget, but the majority of them say it's a failure. $65.9 billion budget for 2025-27 passes NC Senate, heads now to the House 'It's, I think, an unfortunate and sad day for North Carolinians,' Democratic Senator Sydney Batch said. The two-year budget totals more than $65 billion, with millions going to continued recovery efforts in western North Carolina, colleges and universities across the state, and to the state's rainy day fund. It includes pay raises for teachers and state employees, but Democrats say they're too small. 'State employees got literally a modicum, an offensive raise, and we're at a time in which we know that the price of everything is going up,' Senator Batch said. The budget is now with the House, also led by Republicans. Senate leadership is hopeful for some agreement. 'Probably the only thing that I fully expect the House not to make any changes on would be the agreed spend number that we had,' Senator Phil Berger said. 'We should also be in agreement on the balance in the rainy day fund at the end of the day.' But Democrats hope the House makes major changes. 'We have working families that live paycheck to paycheck, cannot take a day off, and literally have to figure out how to make that work for their families, and so in a time when we know that it's hard to even be working just one job, and many North Carolinians do not, we should be doing things and passing legislation that actually helps them, this budget fails them,' Senator Batch said. Senators are hopeful the final budget will be passed before the end of June. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Carolina Senate majority leader resigns, creating leadership vacancy
Republican Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton announced his resignation from the North Carolina Senate, effective Wednesday evening, creating a leadership vacancy as the Senate enters a busy legislative period Newton, 64, is stepping down to pursue an opportunity outside of state government, according to a statement from Senate Republicans. His specific plans have not been disclosed, according to the Associated Press. 'It has been an honor of a lifetime to serve the people of Cabarrus County for nearly a decade,' Newton said in his statement. Senate leader Phil Berger praised Newton as a 'valued voice and leader' who 'provided a calm presence and wise counsel to many legislators during his time in Raleigh.' ALSO READ: NC Senate passes bill requiring cellphone ban in schools Newton's departure means that Republicans in the 34th Senate District will select someone to fill his seat through the end of 2026. Additionally, Senate Republicans will need to convene to choose a new majority leader. As majority leader, Newton played a significant role in enacting laws that extended conservative tax policies, removed the three-day grace period for mail-in absentee ballots, and set greenhouse gas reduction mandates on electric power plants operated by Duke Energy. Newton, a former Duke Energy state president, joined the Senate in 2017 and was elected by his GOP colleagues to the majority leadership post after the 2022 elections. The Senate's bill-filing deadline was Tuesday, and the Senate aims to approve a two-year state government budget proposal next month. Newton's resignation marks a significant change in the North Carolina Senate's leadership as the legislative body prepares for an intense work period. The selection of his successor will be crucial in shaping the Senate's future direction. VIDEO: NC Senate passes bill requiring cellphone ban in schools
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Carolina Senate passes bill requiring cellphone ban in schools
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — There is a big debate about what to do about cellphones in schools, and lawmakers are involved. There is now a proposal to make it a state requirement for every district to come up with a policy that would ban cell phone use in the classroom. The parents FOX8 spoke with said the idea is great for getting the kids to focus. It's complicated because they want to be able to get in touch with their kids if they need to. 'I think it is a whole new battle that teachers and parents and lawmakers are going to have to work together on to figure out, and I don't know if that will be an easy thing to do,' said Meaghan Eller from High Point. Some districts, schools and even teachers already have a policy in place to put away the phone. 'While in the classroom, yes … If they want to have them between classes, reach out to their parents, that is fine, but during class time, it should be strictly attention to the teacher,' said Christopher Dalton from Lexington. If signed into law, it would be up to the districts to implement and enforce their cell phone policy. 'I don't think cell phones should be in school, however, teachers are going to need more support to police that every single day,' Eller said. Republican North Carolina Senator Amy Galey from Alamance County helped sponsor the bill. 'We need to support teachers in their goals to maintain order,' Galey said. Currently, Guilford County Schools do not have a district-wide policy, but schools are allowed to set their own. The Alamance-Burlington School System also allows each school to figure out what is best for a cellphone policy. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools just implemented a district-wide policy this school year that says all wireless communication devices need to be off and kept away during the school day for middle and elementary students, and high schoolers can use them during lunch only. The goal of this bill is to set a standard across all schools in North Carolina, get the kids to focus and reduce distractions. The NC Senate passed the bill earlier this week with a 41-1 vote. Now, it heads to the North Carolina House, which also has a similar bill. Galey expects there could be some version of the two bills on the governor's desk very soon. If signed off, the policies would need to be in place at the start of next school year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
