VOLUME 9 ISSUE 12 | THURSDAY, MAY 16 2024
NSJONLINE.COM
INSIDE
what’s the
BUZZ about? Brood XIX has loudly announced its arrival in North Carolina. But do countless cicadas, with their ear-ringing mating calls, pose any threat to humans? Find out on A3.
the
Sen. Budd gives hostages update after Israel visit
BRIEF this week
UNC Chapel Hill board slashes DEI funding Chapel Hill As the UNC System considers a vote on changing its diversity policy, UNC Chapel Hill voted Monday to cut funding for diversity programs in next year’s budget. At a special meeting to address the university’s budget, UNC’s Board of Trustees approved a change that would divert $2.3 million of diversity spending from state funds toward public safety and policing. The board’s vote would only impact UNC Chapel Hill’s diversity funding, which could result in the loss of its diversity office. UNC will join the ranks of other notable public universities that have stripped diversity spending, such as the University of Florida in Gainesville, which announced in a March memo it was reallocating funds to faculty recruitment. But unlike UF, which implemented its funding rollback after the state legislature passed a bill banning diversity program spending at state universities, UNC “set the tone” on funding cuts before North Carolina’s General Assembly intervened. The change would go into effect at the start of the 2024-25 fiscal year on July 1. The budget, which includes the $2.3 million amendment, will next be submitted to the University of North Carolina Board of Governors.
TVA pledges more transparency Nashville, Tenn. The nation’s largest public utility pledged to be more transparent after it took months to disclose that a general budget vote by its board last year also gave the CEO the final decision over several proposed natural gas power plants. The Tennessee Valley Authority’s board announced the changes last week during its quarterly meeting. The decision followed an August meeting in which the board cast the budget vote that quietly gave President and CEO Jeff Lyash the final say over the projects, including the replacement of the aging coal-fired Kingston Fossil Plant with a natural gas plant. But advocates say those provisions wouldn’t be made known until several months later, when documents with specific details were released. TVA provides power for customers Avery, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, McDowell and Watauga counties in North Carolina.
The N.C. Republican was part of a delegation that went to the Middle East
Treasurer’s report alleges hospitals overcharged Markups on services were found to be as high as 1,120% By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A recent report released by North Carolina State Treasurer Dale Folwell highlighted a trend regarding alleged misuse of the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program by hospitals within the state. “As I’ve said many times in the last few years, when it comes to health care costs and rising prescription drug cost, this is like an onion,” Folwell told reporters at the onset of the press conference. “The more we peel it, the more we cry. Unfortunately, the people who are crying are those that teach, protect and otherwise
serve and taxpayers like them.” The report, titled “North Carolina Hospitals: Extreme Price Markups, Failures in Transparency for Shoppable Hospital Services,” implies that rather than fulfilling its intended purpose of aiding low-income and rural communities, the 340B Program has been manipulated by hospitals to pull in bigger profits. The 340B Program, established to assist in serving disadvantaged populations, has grown to become one of the nation’s largest federal prescription drug programs. Under the program, hospitals receive significant discounts, averaging around 34.7%, on outpatient drugs from manufacturers. During a May 8 press conference, Folwell said North Carolina hospitals are charging See TREASURER, page A3
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — In a call with reporters on May 8, Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) recounted his recent trip to Israel as part of a congressional delegation to the Middle East. The trip included stops in Israel, Iraq, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. The congressional delegation also met with U.S. forces conducting operations in the region as well as receiving a briefing from U.S. military special operations commanders of the Com-
bined Joint Special Operations Task Force. Budd said he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while in Israel and discussed hostage negotiations, military operations in Gaza and “combating anti-Semitism around the world.” “It’s my view that the United States must fully support Israel as they increased military pressure on Hamas to release hostages, including eight Americans,” said Budd. During the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, the terror organization Hamas killed some 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages. Around 100 of those See BUDD, page A8
CHRIS CARLSON / AP PHOTO
Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.), pictured in March, visited Israel last week and reiterated his support for the country in a meeting with reporters.
Weatherman, Boliek win second GOP primaries Hal Weatherman will face state Sen. Rachel Hunt in the race for lieutenant governor, while Dave Boliek will try to unseat State Auditor Jessica Holmes North State Journal Staff RALEIGH — Voters took to the polls for the May 14 second primary races to determine which candidates in certain statewide and local races would secure nominations heading into the November election. Republican Hal Weatherman, the chief of staff for former Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, defeated Forsyth District Attorney Jim O’Neill in the lieutenant governor’s race. Weatherman pulled in more than 74% of the vote, beating O’Neill by a nearly three-to-one margin. Weatherman will now face Democrat statehouse Sen. Rachel Hunt in November. “Congratulations to Hal Weatherman on his win in tonight’s runoff to become our nominee for Lieutenant Governor,” said NCGOP Chairman Ja-
son Simmons in a statement. “He is a strong candidate who will work seamlessly with our Council of State candidates to deliver for North Carolina families.” During the March primary, Weatherman and O’Neill were the top vote-getters. Weatherman garnered 19.59% of the vote in the March primary and O’Neill brought in 15.84%. Dave Boliek won his race to be the GOP’s nominee for state auditor. With more than 97% of precincts reporting, Boliek held a nearly 6-point lead over Jack Clark. The March primary results were closer between Boliek — a member of the UNC Board of Trustees — and Clark, with vote percentages of 22.10% and 23.24% respectively. In a post on his campaign’s Facebook page, Boliek thanked his wife and family and prepared for the general election. “I’m honored and humbled that thousands of voters I’ve met as I campaigned across our great state trusted me to be the Republican nominee for State Auditor in 2024,” the post read. “For the next six months, we will continue to take our message of making North Carolina’s state
“I’m honored and humbled that thousands of voters I’ve met as I campaigned across our great state trusted me to be the Republican nominee for State Auditor in 2024.” Dave Boliek’s campaign following his win Tuesday government effective, efficient, and accountable to taxpayers to every corner of our state.” Boliek will face Democrat Jessica Holmes, who was appointed to the position earlier this year by Gov. Roy Cooper following the resignation of State Auditor Beth Wood. Wood’s resignation followed her indictment related to a December 2022 hitand-run accident in downtown Raleigh while she was driving a state vehicle. Republican Brad Knott finalized his nomination for the 13th Congressional District seat over Kelly Daughtry, who was still on the ballot but had bowed out of the race at the start of May.
Knott won nearly 91% of the vote and will face Democrat Frank Pierce in the November general election. “Now that the primary is behind us, we can focus on winning in November so that we can get to work on addressing serious problems facing our country with smart, conservative solutions,” Knott said in a press release following his win. In the South Point Township District for the Gaston County Board of Commissioners, Jim Bailey defeated Ronnie Worley with more than 62% of the vote. Both Bailey and Worley are Republicans. The nonpartisan race for the third seat on the Orange County Public Schools Board of Education between Jennifer Moore and Bonnie Hauser went to Hauser with nearly 64% of the vote.
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