VOLUME 7 ISSUE 47 |
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2023
Jan 22-28 is National School Choice Week Raleigh Celebrations of National School Choice Week have been scheduled across North Carolina and nation for the week of Jan. 22-28. National School Choice Week celebrates all K-12 educational opportunities available including homeschooling, public charter schools, magnet schools, online learning, private schools, and traditional public schools. Dozens of events are being hosted across North Carolina, including a school fair event in High Point on Jan. 21 and a luncheon and student rally being held on Jan. 26 in Raleigh. More than 40 National School Choice Week events will take place in North Carolina. A.P. DILLON
Cooper joins govs banning TikTok on state devices Raleigh Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper became the latest state executive to ban the Chinese-owned social media app TikTok in an executive order late last week. Several government entities in the United States, including multiple branches of the United States Military and other states, have banned TikTok, WeChat, and other applications on federal and state government information technology. “The governor’s executive order takes an important first step to ensure the privacy of our citizens and the security of North Carolina’s government networks,” said state Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln). NSJ STAFF
Bojangles announces ‘Hard Sweet Tea’ collaboration Charlotte Bojangles and Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) have partnered to launch Bojangles Hard Sweet Tea, an innovative new drink in participating retail stores. The collaboration represents a new food licensing deal for Bojangles. The hard tea is expected to hit shelves in March in the form of 12-pack, 12-ounce cans and individual 16-ounce cans. It will be available at independent retailers and chains in North and South Carolina. “AMB couldn’t be more excited to collaborate with such an iconic Carolina company,” said Nathan Kelischek, AMB Founder and Brewmaster. NSJ STAFF
Tillis chosen for position with Senate Republican leadership Washington, D.C. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) selected two-term Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) to serve as a counselor to the Senate Republican leadership team. “North Carolina and the whole country benefit from his service and I’m glad he’s taking on this new leadership role,” McConnell said in a statement to Fox News. While the counsel position isn’t an official role, McConnell has historically offered one or two counselor positions to rank-and-file members of the Senate to have a seat at the leadership table, according to the report. NSJ STAFF
COURTESY PHOTO
Skiers make their way down Sugar Mountain in this courtesy photo.
NC ski slopes offer winter fun for entire family of the weather but being able to embrace the cold and snow and enjoy it is very exciting.” They also offer lessons for first POST HOLIDAY season, families around the state begin search- time skiers and beginners to help ing for activities to unwind and en- individuals learn how to use equipjoy the outdoors. North Carolina’s ment, turn and stop in the snow, and practice mounting mountains feature many and dismounting the ski and snowboarding chair lifts. options for individuals “We have a conto get a taste of winter “I enjoy getting stant commitment to weather. upgrading our snowAppalachian Ski people who making and grooming Mountain opened in have never to make conditions as 1962, the first ski area good as they can be,” in northwestern North skied before Stanley said. Carolina, and was the chance Not only does Appaknown as Blowing Rock lachian Ski Mountain Ski Lodge. In 1968 the to get on the offer skiing and snowresort was bought and mountain and boarding, they also became what is now Apto see people have an ice skating rink palachian Ski. and rental skates for This ski resort fea- who have never those looking for time tures ten slopes and two seen snow to on the ice. A 200-foot terrain parks with varyobservation deck with ing difficulty levels for be able to see a view of the slopes is beginners to profession- snow.” also an option for those als. Ticket purchasing who prefer watching is made easy with a flex the sport in action. ticket option that allows Will Walker, Wolf Ridge Ski Repeople to purchase a sales director sort, north of Asheville, ticket at any time and for Wolf Ridge Ski is a family-oriented ski have a full eight hours resort well known for on the snow after time of their attentive staff and faculty. purchase. “I enjoy getting people who have “I like the variety, I like that our goal is to see people have fun on the never skied before the chance to get snow,” marketing director for Appa- on the mountain and to see people lachian Ski, Drew Stanley said. “In who have never seen snow to be able the winter time your recreation options are somewhat limited because See SKIING, page A2 By Emmie Brooks North State Journal
NC Congressional Democrats oppose resolution condemning pregnancy center attacks By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — As the 118th Congress began operations last week, a House floor vote on a resolution condemning attacks on pro-life pregnancy centers saw all but three Democratic members vote “nay” on the measure. The vote was 222 to 208. Every single Democratic member of North Carolina’s House congressional delegation voted no. Their Republican counterparts all voted yes. North Carolina’s Democratic U.S. House congressional delegation includes Reps. Don
Davis (NC-01), Deborah Ross (NC-02), Valerie Foushee (NC04), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Alma Adams (NC-12), George “Wiley” Nickel (NC-13) and Jeff Jackson (NC-14). Davis, Foushee, Jackson and Nickel are new to Congress having been elected in November 2022. House Resolution 3 (H.R. 3) “condemns recent attacks of vandalism, violence, and destruction against pro-life facilities, groups, and churches,” as well as recognizing the “sanctity of life and the important role See RESOLUTION, page A2
NC Treasurer welcomes challenges to change in State Health Plan administrator Two companies have filed protests By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The change in the Third-Party Administrative contract (TPA) for the state health plan announced earlier this month by N.C. State Treasurer Dale Folwell is likely to be challenged by the current plan administrator. The current plan administrator is Blue Cross Blue Shield NC (BCBSNC), which has held that contract for forty years. The new administrator, approved by a vote taken by the plan’s board of trustees, will be Aetna. During a monthly call with reporters, Folwell said that while the plan’s board of trustees voted to go with Aetna in December 2022, BCBSNC recently said it will appeal the decision. “This is a consequential decision that will impact more than
580,000 State Health Plan members and threatens North Carolina jobs,” BCBSNC said in a statement when the change was announced. “Blue Cross NC is pursuing a formal appeal and seeking more information through a public records request to ensure the best outcome for North Carolina and all State Health Plan members.” BCBSNC followed through, filing its protest with State Health Plan acting director Sam Watts on Jan. 12. “We welcome the opportunity to engage in a factual, thoughtful and transparent review of the State Health Plan’s contracting process for third party administration services going into effect two years from now,” Folwell said in a Jan. 12 statement on BCBSNC’s appeal. “Just like Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has the right to point fingers at everyone else for losing the contract after 44 years, the State Health Plan, Board of Trustees, professional staff and I all have a duty to seek the best
financial value and member service for those that teach, protect and serve as well as taxpayers like them.” A second protest was filed on Jan. 13 by UMR Inc., which is a subsidiary of both UnitedHealthcare and the company’s TPA. UMR’s 30-page protest filing claims the decision to choose Aetna was an “improper” contract award and that the review was not a “comprehensive, fair and impartial evaluation.” Folwell’s response to UMR’s protest filing was similar to that of his statement on BCBSNC in that Folwell welcomes “the opportunity to engage in a factual, thoughtful and transparent review of the State Health Plan’s contracting process for third party administration services,” and that that process was fair. The multiple protest filings and the contract being worth tens of millions means a likely legal chalSee HEALTH PLAN, page A2
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