Steve Harrison

The N.C. Department of Transportation is offering a sweeping community benefits package that could total as much as $300 million as it seeks support for the proposed Interstate 77 toll lanes project, which would run from south of uptown Charlotte to the South Carolina border.

N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson met with some community leaders last week. He wants local governments to back the I-77 toll lanes again.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley campaigned in Gastonia Thursday, and in 25 minutes of prepared remarks, he mentioned President Trump only twice.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley campaigned in Gastonia Thursday. Democratic candidate Roy Cooper also campaigned in Gaston County.

For more than 30 years, Charlotte and other municipalities have set goals to ensure their contractors hire minority- and women-owned businesses. But a provision in the state budget approved this month ends the ability of local governments to require participation by minority- and women-owned businesses in public contracts, a change that could have far-reaching effects across North Carolina.

The Republican-majority N.C. Board of Elections on Monday tightened rules for absentee mail ballots.

The U.S. House on Wednesday took a symbolic vote to end aid to Israel. The measure failed thanks to near-unanimous Republican support, but it marked a tipping point: More House Democrats voted for it than against it.

North Carolina’s congressional Democrats were split on the amendment, which would have ended 3.3 billion dollars in aid to Israel. U.S. Reps. Deborah Ross and Valerie Foushee voted in favor of ending the aid, while Alma Adams voted no and Don Davis did not vote.

Charlotte and other local governments have 90 days to reverse course on the controversial project or risk repaying the state $64 million.

A decision could come by October on the proposal to add a toll lane in north Mecklenburg and south Iredell counties.