Chuck McGrady Coverage

Redistricting reform bills to get committee hearing in House

A long time coming for reforms, but a long way still to go if they're to pass.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Lawmaker proposes scrapping ABC stores, allowing retailers to sell liquor

The bill would mean more stores and cheaper liquor for restaurants, but it's far from passage.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Effort to take politics out of drawing voting maps should gain traction this year, backers say

Bills to end gerrymandering in North Carolina have been filed just about every session for decades but have rarely even gotten a hearing. This year, backers say, things could be different.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

GenX no longer on agenda for legislative panel overseeing environment

As state regulators ordered chemical maker Chemours on Wednesday to supply bottled water to 30 more households near its Bladen County plant, the General Assembly's major environmental oversight commission didn't even address the water contamination problem associated with the plant.

Laura Leslie

Brewery bill finally moves ahead despite opposition

A proposal to let breweries in dry areas of the state sell their products cleared its first hurdle in the House on Tuesday, despite opposition from religious conservatives.

Brewery bill taps out in committee

A push to let breweries self-distribute more beer and give them more power in distribution contracts has gone flat after organized opposition from wholesalers and distributors.

Legislative leaders outline HB2 repeal plan

Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore hold a news conference to announce a possible deal to repeal House Bill 2.

Battle brewing between craft beer makers, distributors

Small brewers want a number of changes to state alcohol laws, including an increase in how much beer they can sell without the aid of a wholesaler. Wholesalers say those changes would upend a system that serves the state well.

Forest defends HB2 against NCAA deadline pressure

With the deadline looming for an NCAA decision on years worth of championships, Lt. Gov. Dan Forest wrote to his legislative colleagues urging them to resist pressure to change the controversial HB2.

HB2 anniversary marks year of conflict

House Bill 2 sparked a year-long battle over LGBT rights and nondiscrimination laws, but those on either side of the debate are no closer to seeing eye to eye.

Mark Binker

Rights referendum, not bathrooms, main sticking point for HB2 repeal

Which public bathrooms transgender people are allowed to use was the major issue a year ago when state lawmakers hastily passed the state law now known as House Bill 2. But bathrooms have been subsumed by the overall LGBT rights debate as lawmakers try to undo the legislation.

Matthew Burns and Laura Leslie

Sponsor: HB2 repeal bill in Cooper's hands

Rep. Chuck McGrady, R-Henderson, says he won't push forward with an effort to repeal and replace House Bill 2 without support from House Democrats. Those members, he said, are looking to Gov. Roy Cooper, who has expressed concern about the bill.

Mark Binker

Cooper: 'I'm ready to compromise to erase' HB2

Gov. Roy Cooper on Sunday urged Republican lawmakers to return to the negotiating table to work on a repeal to House Bill 2.

Janine Bowen

As HB2 repeal co-sponsor abandons bill, backers, opponents trade jabs

Rep. Rodney Moore, D-Mecklenburg, said that he had hoped to help reshape the effort to repeal HB2. However, he said, GOP House leaders have indicated they're not flexible on certain points.

Mark Binker

House leaders file HB2 compromise

A bipartisan quartet of lawmakers on Wednesday filed a measure to repeal large swaths of North Carolina's controversial House Bill 2, the 2016 law that deals with LGBT rights and bathroom use.

Mark Binker and Laura Leslie

House OKs amendment to limit government power to take private land

For the fourth time in seven years, the House has overwhelmingly approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit the power of state and local governments to condemn private land.

Matthew Burns

House OKs reworked coal ash plan

One day after a new plan surfaced for cleaning up dozens of coal ash ponds across North Carolina, the House approved the proposal Wednesday.

Laura Leslie and Matthew Burns

New coal ash bill reopens cleanup discussion

A bill approved by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday would reopen discussions about how quickly more than 30 coal ash ponds across the state would have to be cleaned up. It also would reconstitute the Coal Ash Management Commission.

Mark Binker

Lawmaker wants to resurrect coal ash commission

A state lawmaker said Friday that he wants to reconstitute the panel to oversee the cleanup of unlined coal ash pits across the state.

Matthew Burns

McCrory shuts down coal ash commission

Gov. Pat McCrory has shut down the Coal Ash Management Commission, which lawmakers had set up to oversee the cleanup of toxic coal ash ponds across the state. For the time being, that work will be oversee by the Division of Environmental Quality.

Mark Binker

Ready or not, gas drilling permitting could begin in March

Barring 11th hour actions by the General Assembly, companies will be able to apply for natural gas drilling permits in mid-March.

Mark Binker