Latest news with #NatalieMurdock
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Springfield teachers need help funding creative classroom projects. How you can help
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools is raising money to fund innovative projects and critical classroom needs requested by teachers. This month, the foundation launched the "Back to SPS" campaign, which directly supports teachers. This year's theme is "You Invest. We Connect. Kids Thrive." "Springfield's dedicated teachers champion our students every single day, fostering an environment where every child can thrive," said Natalie Murdock, executive director of the foundation, in a news release. "By investing in our schools and providing timely resources, we empower our teachers to continue their innovative work and equip all students for a bright future. If a teacher can dream it, we can fund it — with your help." In 2024, the Back-to-School Grant program awarded more than $260,000 to fund a range of initiatives in areas such as literacy, student mental health, hands-on learning and family engagement. According to the foundation, the need is significant because more than half of SPS students qualify for free or reduced price meals, a national measure of poverty. The foundation is reviewing this year's grant applications, which are filled with teachers' ideas for creative classroom projects. To get involved, go to More: Shawn Askinosie, Rose O'Neill among 2025 inductees to MSU Public Affairs Hall of Fame "We invite everyone in our community to join the 'Back to SPS' campaign," said Murdock, adding the funds "can make a real and lasting difference in our classrooms and in the lives of our students." This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: SPS foundation raising funds for teachers' creative classroom projects
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC Republicans send immigration crackdown bills to Gov. Josh Stein's desk
As national protests break out against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's sweeping deportation raids, North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday sent two bills to the governor's desk that target unauthorized immigrants and mandate further state cooperation with ICE. The wide-ranging bills would deputize some state law enforcement agencies to carry out immigration actions, ban immigrants from receiving state benefits if they are in the country illegally, and require sheriffs and prisons to notify ICE about suspected immigration violations in more circumstances. Both passed the Senate 26-17 with Democrats united in opposing the proposals. 'This bill really is not about safety, it's about intimidation,' Sen. Natalie Murdock, a Durham Democrat, said. 'It's about fear mongering, and it's about targeting vulnerable people who come to North Carolina seeking a better life.' Republicans, however, have championed the measures, saying the state needs to do more to aid the federal government's immigration enforcement actions. 'I think the people of North Carolina and the people of this nation want our immigration laws enforced,' Senate leader Phil Berger told reporters after the vote. 'I think what we have moved forward with are things that will enhance the ability of the federal authorities to enforce our nation's immigration laws.' Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has not said whether he will veto the proposals, both of which are likely to head to his desk soon. 'The governor will continue to review the bill,' a spokesperson for his office said. 'He has made clear that if someone commits a crime and they are here illegally, they should be deported.' If Stein does veto the bills, Republicans would have to gain the support of at least one Democrat in the House to override his rejection. Democratic Rep. Carla Cunningham voted in favor of one of the measures, House Bill 318, on Tuesday — making her the only member of her party do so. Ahead of Tuesday's vote, protesters demonstrated against the bills outside the legislature, saying they contributed to a campaign of fear against immigrants stoked by the Trump administration. 'I'm seeing our immigrant communities being terrorized and it's unnecessary,' Karen Ziegler, a protester, said ahead of the vote. 'These are people that have been living around us, working, performing critical functions, paying taxes. This is not OK, what's happening now. People being snatched off the streets, people being flown and transported to concentration camps in this country and in other countries. It's so wrong and I don't understand why the General Assembly wants to support this slide into fascism.' Tuesday's votes come as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to respond to anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, sending in the National Guard and Marines in a dramatic escalation of tensions. Both pieces of legislation significantly expand the state's responsibilities to cooperate with ICE. Senate Bill 153 would require four state law enforcement agencies to participate in the federal 287(g) program, which allows state officers to carry out immigration actions usually done by federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Officers from the state departments of Public Safety and Adult Correction, the State Highway Patrol and the State Bureau of Investigation — executive agencies which are overseen by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein — would all be required to carry out ICE functions. The other bill, HB 318, would require sheriffs to notify ICE before releasing anyone in their custody with a detainer, or detention request, from the agency. A law passed last year requires the affected person to be kept in confinement an additional 48 hours to give ICE time to potentially retrieve them, but the new bill aims to ensure immigration officials are notified. Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch attempted to amend the bill with what she called a 'victims' rights' provision which would ensure that victims of violent crimes could request that the person charged in their case be tried in court before ICE carries out any immigration actions. Without her amendment, Batch said the bill would be 'amnesty for criminals.' 'It's going to allow someone to come into North Carolina, to seriously injure, rape, murder or harm someone, and does not allow the victim or the victim's family to come before a court to ask for that individual to be tried (and) held accountable to our rules,' she said. Republicans set aside her proposal without debating it. HB 318 would also require sheriffs to attempt to determine the immigration status of anyone charged with a felony or drunk driving. Previous legislation narrowed this requirement to only people charged with high-level violent crimes. Cooperation with ICE isn't the only factor in the legislation passed Tuesday. SB 153 would also direct state agencies to ensure unauthorized immigrants do not receive a variety of state-funded benefits, such as housing assistance or unemployment. Another portion of the bill would allow local governments that approve what it describes as sanctuary policies for immigrants to be sued if a person in the country without legal authorization commits a crime in their jurisdiction.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why NC Helene funding bill could be stalled in General Assembly
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — More than $450 million in Helene relief funding could be held up in the North Carolina General Assembly if Senators decide to incorporate it in the budget instead of passing it as a separate bill. House members passed the $464 million relief measure as a standalone bill on Thursday, meaning it could just go on to the Senate, be passed, and then immediately head to the Governor's desk. But top Senators may negotiate the funding as part of the overall budget instead. Those negotiations can take weeks, meaning the funding could be stalled. 'However they decide to do it, we just need to get it done. We don't know what's going to happen with federal support and we just need to get those resources to the people of western North Carolina,' said Senator Natalie Murdock. Top Representatives say they're hopeful negotiations on the budget will go smoothly with the Senate. 'As in the past, there will be a give or take on certain areas, areas that are priorities for each of the chambers, so you know in order to get anything done in here especially a budget with so much in it, you have to compromise on each side,' Representative Destin Hall said. But some Senate Democrats are less optimistic and say the Helene funding shouldn't be caught in the crossfire. 'I think it should be a separate bill since it looks like the budget is more controversial than maybe any of us would've wanted it to be,' Senator Julie Mayfield said. Lawmakers won't be back in Raleigh until the first week of June to start those negotiations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
01-04-2025
- Health
- Axios
NC bills target state-funded anti-abortion clinics
Two bills in the North Carolina legislature aim to cut millions in state funding that's going toward crisis pregnancy centers, often described as anti-abortion clinics. Why it matters: Over the past decade, taxpayer money going to crisis pregnancy centers in North Carolina has surged from $300,000 a year to more than $12 million, an investigation by The Assembly found. These clinics are often criticized for sharing misleading information, being exempt from privacy rules and lacking government oversight. Context: Crisis pregnancy centers are known to use targeted advertising, like offering free ultrasounds online, to draw in pregnant women considering abortion. Many patients have recounted experiences where staff asked about religion and attempted to convince them to carry out their pregnancies by showing sonograms or using other guilt tactics. The New York Times reported that one Charlotte clinic goes by three different names. One woman told The Times she was falsely told at the clinic that she was beyond the legal limit for an abortion when she was still eligible for the abortion pill. The Senate bill, if passed, would reroute the money sent to crisis pregnancy centers to organizations helping pregnant women in crisis instead. For example, Rep. Sophia Chitlik says Durham organization Equity Before Birth would be an ideal candidate for the redirected funding. The organization supports pregnant women with cash payments for work leave, doula care, diapers and clothing. The money could also go toward Department of Health and Human Services programs or extending postpartum Medicaid coverage. "If they want to force people to have children, then they should not be supporting entities that are not giving them sound medical advice," Rep. Natalie Murdock says. The Senate bill also calls for a state audit of Carolina Pregnancy Care Fellowship, the umbrella organization overseeing many crisis pregnancy centers. Democrats argue this would align with Republicans' growing focus on government efficiency. "If these are high-performing centers, I challenge folks to prove it," Chitlik says. The House bill would empower the state attorney general to investigate complaints of deceptive practices, such as a center presenting itself as if it provides abortions and emergency contraception when it does not. Yes, but: One of the bill's sponsors, Rep. Julie von Haefen, expects the legislation to "just end up in the trash pile." Over the years, the Wake County representative has filed multiple bills regarding crisis pregnancy centers and budget amendments to redirect funding, to no avail.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NC bill passes to allow concealed carry without a permit
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The push to make it easier to carry guns in public has passed the North Carolina Senate, but not without hours of debate. 'It's not a freedom to carry bill, it's a freedom to kill bill,' Senator Natalie Murdock said of Senate Bill 50, which eliminates the need for a permit to carry a concealed weapon in public. 'Nobody wants to shoot and kill anyone,' Senator Eddie Settle said. 'We don't want to have to carry one but as long as evil is in this world, it's going to be there and the evil are the ones who are going to get guns regardless of any laws that we make.' Republican supporters of the bill say it simply allows law abiding citizens to exercise their Second Amendment and keep their families safe. Democrats say it puts everyone in danger. 'It is shameful that we are here debating this, it is shameful,' Senator Michael Garrett said. Republicans repeatedly blocked debate on amendments by Democrats, including one that would have prevented domestic abusers from getting guns and another that would charge an adult with a felony if they don't safely store guns away from children. Democrats say Republicans will have blood on their hands. 'When the next officer is shot… then you need to be able to ask yourself, will I have the courage to face that officer's family and tell them this bill was worth it?' Senator Mujtaba Mohammed said. Under current state law, anyone who wants to carry a concealed gun has to apply for a permit, pass a background check, pay an $80 fee and pass a test to prove they can both shoot accurately and that they understand specific gun laws. The bill now goes to the House for discussion there. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
