VOLUME 10 ISSUE 24 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, 2025
NSJONLINE.COM
PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL
Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley announces his candidacy for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat last Thursday at Loray Mill Taproom in Gastonia.
Whatley kicks off Senate bid; assails Cooper
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BRIEF this week
N.C. DMV audit recommends reforms Raleigh North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles is the subject of two new audits looking to address long wait times for customers and low morale for workers. According to State Auditor Dave Boliek’s report released Monday, the DMV struggles to keep up with the growing population, leading to customer frustrations. Boliek, a Republican, recommended making the DMV an autonomous agency separate from the Department of Transportation for better control over budget and operations. Other suggestions include using outside instructors for driving tests and creating “pop-up” license offices.
Federal judge rules Trump can’t shift disaster mitigation funds Boston A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the Trump administration from reallocating $4 billion meant to help communities protect against natural disasters. U.S. District Judge Richard G. Stearns in Boston granted a preliminary injunction sought by 20 Democrat-led states, including North Carolina under Attorney General Jeff Jackson, while their lawsuit over the funding moves ahead. The states argue the Federal Emergency Management Agency lacks the authority to end the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program and redirect more than $4 billion of its funding. The program aims to harden infrastructure around the country against potential storm damage. FEMA initially announced it was ending the program, but later said in a court filing that it was evaluating it.
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Hurricane Helene cleanup focus of committee meeting The hearing follows a report critical of former Gov. Roy Cooper’s NCORR By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A General Assembly legislative committee questioned officials tasked with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts during a July 30 hearing, with lawmakers fo-
cused on the speed of debris removal. The Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations’ Subcommittee on Hurricane Response and Recovery heard from Will Ray, director of N.C. Emergency Management, and Matt Calabria, Gov. Josh Stein’s new GROW NC disaster recovery office director. The meeting was chaired See CLEANUP, page A3
Backed by President Donald Trump, the RNC chairman is on a collision course with the former governor By A.P. Dillon North State Journal GASTONIA — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley formally announced his candidacy for North Carolina’s U.S. Senate seat at an event held last Thursday at Loray Mill Tap Room in Whatley’s hometown of Gastonia. The seat is up for grabs after Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announced in June he would not seek reelection. Whatley will have to win in the primary against multiple Republicans who have already filed to run for the seat before facing former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in the general election. “(I) want to thank President Trump,” said Whatley, “because without his vision, with-
General Assembly passes continuing budget bill The legislation maintains current state spending levels but authorizes educator step increases By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The General Assembly sent a continuing budget bill to Gov. Josh Stein to keep certain items funded until a full budget can be passed. House Bill 125 addresses continuation of current items such as disaster recovery, education, health and human services, agriculture, natural and economic resources, transportation, information technology, salaries and benefits,
and capital improvements. The House passed the bill July 30 by a vote of 92-13, with 25 Democrats joining Republicans in voting to pass it. The measure passed the Senate the day before by a 47-2 vote. The two votes against it came from Durham County Democratic Sens. Sophia Chitlik and Natalie Murdock. “It takes time to negotiate a good budget,” Senior House Appropriations Chair Rep. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth) said about the process in creating the bill. “We have the option of moving fast for the sake of being agreeable and pass something quickly that hits a fabricated deadline, or we work intensely to stand See BUDGET, page A2
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House Democrats who joined Republicans in voting for House Bill 125
out his leadership, without what he has done over the last 10 years to remake the Republican Party into the party that is going to stand for every family and every community all across the country, we would not be sitting here today.” Throughout his remarks, Whatley struck out at Cooper, tying him to former President Joe Biden, stating America was in a “freefall” under the former president, and citing the poor economy, high inflation, unaffordable homes and groceries, open borders, along with the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the threat of Russia along with the war in Ukraine. “As we head into the 2026 midterms, there is no doubt that once again the consequences will be significant,” said Whatley. “Americans will be choosing whether to return to the failed policies of Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, or if we’re going to continue the great gains See SENATE, page A2