VOLUME 9 ISSUE 47 | THURSDAY, JANUARY 16, 2025
NSJONLINE.COM
RACHEL HUNT / X
New Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, right, poses with her parents, former Gov. James Hunt and first lady Carolyn Hunt, on the Senate floor during the General Assembly 2025 opening day ceremonies on Jan. 8.
NCGA sworn in for 2025 session
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BRIEF this week
Rep. Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) was officially installed as speaker of the House
Officials: Hamas accepts ceasefire draft, release of hostages Cairo Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of dozens of hostages, two officials involved in the talks said Tuesday. Mediators from the United States and Qatar said Israel and the Palestinian militant group were at the closest point yet to sealing a deal to bring them a step closer to ending 15 months of war. The United States, Egypt and Qatar have spent the past year trying to mediate an end to the war and secure the release of dozens of hostages captured in Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered it.
Biden to lift terrorism designation for Cuba Washington, D.C. The Biden administration is set to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, according to reports. The determination is likely to be reversed as early as next week after President-elect Donald Trump takes office and incoming Secretary of Statedesignate Marco Rubio, whose family fled from Cuba in the 1950s before the communist revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power, assumes the position of America’s top diplomat. Rubio, who has long been a proponent of sanctions on the communist island, was scheduled to appear before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday for his confirmation hearing.
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal
See LGC, page A2
See NCGA, page A3
LGC approves nearly $1B in municipal projects Treasurer Brad Briner also made appointments to the State Health Plan Board and Investment Advisory Commission By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The North Carolina Local Government Commission approved $387 million in funding for Mecklenburg County projects during State Treasurer Brad Briner’s first meeting as chairman Jan. 7.
McConkey to participate in Trump inauguration parade “It is an extraordinary honor to be part of this historic moment and to proudly represent both North Carolina and the world’s strongest Air Force.” Col. Josh McConkey
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The largest Mecklenburg allocation involves $252 million in limited obligation bonds for multiple municipal building projects. Plans include renovations to the sheriff’s office and detention center, improvements to Central Piedmont Community College and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library facilities, and upgrades to county parks and greenways. County officials confirmed no tax increase would be required for this initiative.
RALEIGH — The 2025 legislative session kicked off Jan. 8 with the swearing in of members in both chambers of the North Carolina General Assembly, including the formal installation of Rep. Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls) as the new speaker of the House. Hall was unanimously elected as the first millennial in state history to hold the position. With his wife by his side holding a Bible, Hall was sworn in by Supreme Court Associate Justice Tamara Barringer. Afterward, former Republican House Speakers Thom Tillis, Tim Moore and Harold Brubaker joined Hall at the podium to congratulate him. Moore was recently sworn in as the state’s 14th Congressional District representative. Tillis is in his second term as one of North Carolina’s two U.S. senators. Other officers and positions were also formalized, including Rep. Mitchell Setzer (R-Catawba) being elected as House speaker pro tempore. “Only in America can someone with my childhood and background have the opportunity to serve in a role like speaker of the House,” Hall said after being sworn in. Hall discussed school choice, tax cuts,
The Air Force colonel was a congressional candidate in 2024 By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Former U.S. Congressional candidate Josh McConkey participate in his official military capacity in the upcoming inauguration ceremonies for President Donald Trump. “As a history enthusiast, I deeply value the significance of the presidential inauguration — an event that has embodied tradition for nearly 240 years,” McConkey told North State Journal. “It is an extraordinary honor to be part of this historic moment and to proudly
represent both North Carolina and the world’s strongest Air Force.” McConkey, a resident of Apex and medical doctor, finished fifth out of the 14 Republicans who vied for the state’s 13th Congressional seat in the March 2024 primary. While McConkey didn’t succeed in the primary, he did win big just weeks earlier with a Cash5 lottery ticket windfall of more than $757,000. McConkey has 23 years of military service and is currently a colonel with the 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron out of Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. His unit is attached to the 459th Air Refueling Wing. See PARADE, page A3
“I want to make clear that our first priority and most urgent issue this session will be rebuilding western North Carolina.” N.C. Speaker of the House Destin Hall (R-Granite Falls)