Government

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the state of North Carolina from cutting funding to the group Planned Parenthood. Full story...

North Carolina's unemployment rate topped 10 percent in July as layoffs by school districts and other government employers outweighed private sector gains. Full story...

Government funding cuts are forcing the group that provides legal help for the poor to close three offices that help North Carolina's rural communities. Full story...

A bond rating agency has told five of North Carolina's biggest counties and two of its larger cities that they retained their good credit rating but their outlook is negative. Full story...

For the second time now, New Hanover County's Planning Board has delayed a vote to change its zoning ordinance to have more control over large industries. Many spoke out in favor of amending the county's current zoning ordinance, so that industries like Titan will have to go through a review process before becoming a part of the community. Full story...

Months of tension, wrangling and political posturing may end Tuesday if Congress gives final approval to a compromise on the federal debt ceiling. The US House approved the bill Monday night. The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday. Meanwhile southeastern North Carolina's representatives in Congress are sounding off. Full story...

The House has passed legislation designed to keep the government from defaulting on its debts. The measure also sets a course for reducing the federal deficit in the future. Full story...

Our state may soon be home to off shore wind farms. That’s according to Mac Montgomery, who volunteers with the North Carolina Sierra Club for offshore wind. Full story...

The federal government is suing a North Carolina Taco Bell franchisee, claiming the company fired an employee whose religious beliefs prohibit him from cutting his hair. Full story...

Folks in New Hanover County were talking trash Tuesday night. The first of three town hall meetings was held today to discuss New Hanover County's proposed plan for the future of waste collection. Though the proposed recommendation would include new services like curbside recycling, some residents say there's no reason to change the current system. Full story...

The General Assembly could take up proposed changes to the North Carolina constitution before they leave town this week. Full story...

It's been nearly two weeks since New Hanover county commissioner Brian Berger was arrested for a domestic dispute. Berger showed up 20 minutes late and avoided our cameras at the county GOP’s monthly meeting. Fellow commissioners appeared to be in good spirits but the attention was obviously drawn to Berger. Full story...

The new convention center has brought in a good amount of visitors but one man says his idea will attract even more folks to the center and the rest of the Cape Fear. John Voet says his hotel ship is what Wilmington needs. He’s proposing docking the ship downtown along the river walk. But for now, Mayor Bill Saffo says the city will not be moving forward with Voet's proposal. Full story...

Council members gave final approval to the $85 million budget they've been working through for months. The tough economy sparked reduced spending. City employees will not receive a pay increase and construction and maintenance costs are cut to a bare minimum. The budget does not call for a property tax increase or layoffs. Full story...

A lawmaker who first arrived in the North Carolina House when Republicans took control for the first time in more than a century will step down from the Senate the year the GOP made similar history in both chambers. Full story...