North State Journal Staff – Moore County Edition

Jun

08

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Legislation begins to move in short session

Newscannabis, medical marijuana, NCGA, paid holiday, paid leave

RALEIGH — Legislation making it lawful to smoke marijuana or consume cannabis-infused products for medical purposes in North Carolina cleared the state Senate on Monday evening following the Senate’s vote to send Medicaid expansion to the house last week. Gov. Roy Cooper also issued an executive order that will provide paid leave to employees to take a day off for a day of “personal significance.” After no debate, the medical marijuana measure received bipartisan support by a vote of 36-7. The margin was similar to the outcome of an initial Senate vote last week that followed floor discussion. The bill…

Jun

01

2022

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By U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson

HUDSON: Democrats responsible for high prices

Opinionscolumn, democrats, editorial, high prices, opinion

“Higher energy prices act like a tax.” Former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury John W. Snow was exactly right when it comes to the burden high energy prices have on American families. Unfortunately, this tax is one that Democrats in Washington seem more than willing to pass on to you and your family. Gas prices have continued to soar because of President Joe Biden and Washington Democrats’ ongoing war on American energy. Last week, the national average price for gas hit a new record 10 days in a row. For the first time ever, the price of gas is now…

May

31

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Local bill draft struck down by council majority

Government, Newscouncil, Pinehurst, short-term rentals

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday with the major item on the agenda being attempted legislation to regulate short-term rentals. The debate over whether or not to regulate short-term rentals has been ongoing in Pinehurst for months now, but it seems it will continue after an attempted local bill was struck down by a majority vote of the council. The Village had drafted a local bill that would have been passed on to the state representatives and presented to the N.C. General Assembly to have legislation that clarified the Village’s municipal authority to regulate short term rentals.…

May

18

2022

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By U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson

HUDSON: Protecting our community

Opinionscolumn, community, editorial, formula shortage, opinion, police officers

Every day, brave men and women kiss their loved ones goodbye and go to work, knowing that day could be their last. These are police officers who work all throughout the year to protect our communities, even under threats like never before. It’s National Police Week, a time to honor those who have fallen in the line of duty and thank our nation’s law enforcement for all they do to protect this country. Being a police officer is one of the most challenging jobs out there, yet thousands of brave men and women answer the call every day to serve…

May

18

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Southern Pines preliminary budget sees tax rate remaining steady

Government, Newsbudget, government, tax rate, The Town of Southern Pines Council

SOUTHERN PINES — The Town of Southern Pines Council met Tuesday, May 10, where they went over their preliminary budget for fiscal year 2023 and continued public hearings from their last meeting. The Town of Southern Pines saw a tax base growth of 5% which means that the town received enough income to keep their property tax rate at $0.40 for another year, which it has remained at since 2017-18. “Bottom line, all current service levels are maintained, property tax rate is held at $0.40, obviously we continue to move money towards capital assets and facilities, the rainy day fund…

May

04

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Community College report shows major economic impact

Newsanalysis, community colleges, economic impact

RALEIGH — A comprehensive new economic impact analysis finds that North Carolina’s 58 Community Colleges have a $19 billion annual impact on the state’s economy and supports more than 320,000 jobs across the state. The economic impact study found for every dollar the state invests in North Carolina’s Community Colleges, the state gains $7.50 in added incomes and social savings. The colleges generate nearly double the revenue from what they take in from the taxpayers. For every $1 the state invests, taxpayers get $1.90 back in added tax revenues and public sector savings, according to the study. “The Community College…

Apr

28

2022

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By Erick Erickson

ERICKSON: The certitude of ineptitude

Opinionscolumn, editorial, Joe Biden, op-ed, opinion, Ron Klain

I really am flummoxed by the ineptitude of President Joe Biden and his chief of staff, Ron Klain. Biden has been a Washington politician for half a century, including eight years as vice president and before that a senior senator. Klain is a consummate Washington insider, having worked for Janet Reno, Al Gore, Biden and others. How are they this inept? Last summer, the border got swamped with migrants. They sent Vice President Kamala Harris south of the border and the situation never improved. Activists accused border patrol agents of whipping refugees with horsewhips. The White House condemned the act.…

Apr

27

2022

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By U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson

HUDSON: End of mask mandates backed by science, will of the American people

Opinionseditorial, mask mandates, op-ed, opinion

“Government’s first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” President Ronald Reagan warned us about the dangers of government overreach when he spoke these words back in 1981. Unfortunately, many of those in power today fail to heed them. Last Monday, a federal judge in Florida struck down President Joe Biden’s travel mask mandate, effectively ending mandates on public transportation. This was a momentous decision and a major victory in the fight to end all mask mandates nationwide. The ruling was met with great excitement and numerous airlines, businesses, and localities lifted their mask requirements almost immediately.…

Apr

27

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Use for former school property still undecided in Aberdeen

Governmentpublic hearings, rezoning, school property, town of aberdeen

ABERDEEN — The Town of Aberdeen board met Monday, April 25 with two public hearings dealing with requests for rezonings being the items of focus on the agenda. The two zoning change requests were for a 6.28 acre parcel north of the intersection of Bethesda Rd. and Saunders Blvd. and 17.7 acres among eight parcels west of US Highway 1. The first public hearing that was brought before the board was for a zoning map amendment submitted by Robert W. Mitchell to rezone the 6.28 acre parcel north of the intersection of Bethesda Rd. and Saunders Blvd. from R-20 –…

Apr

27

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

School choice expo will highlight education options

Businesscharter schools, Education, homeschooling, options, private schools, public schools, school choice

RALEIGH— A free event taking place on May 7 will offer information about a wide range of K-12 education options to Moore County parents. The Moore County School Choice Expo and Education Summit will be an open house style event being held from 1-5 p.m. at the Pinehurst Village Hall located at 395 Magnolia Road in Pinehurst. The expo’s description says it will “bring education providers and parents under one roof so that parents can learn about the variety of educational options in our county.” One of the expo’s lead organizer is Caroline Kelly, who grew up in the United Kingdom…