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Tag: APP Latest Local & State Politics Stories

  • Space Florida hopes to advance aerospace industry with proposed state funding

    BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his $117 billion proposal for Florida’s next fiscal year budget.

    This includes hundreds of millions of dollars going towards improving the Space Coast, which brings in about $9 billion to the state annually.

    What You Need To Know

    • Space Florida is set to receive $17.5 million for operation costs from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ proposed budget for the 2026 fiscal year

    •  One of the recommendations is to use $5 million for wastewater capacity along the Space Coast

    • Environmentalist groups like the Marine Resource Council want to see better infrastructure in place to uphold the growth and protect the Indian River Lagoon 

    • Space Florida says it’s looking forward to working with state and local partners to come up with the best solutions it can


    That recommendation includes money for organizations like Space Florida, as well as about $5 million to go towards wastewater capacity.

    But as the industry grows, and more and more launches lift off from our Space Coast. So does concern from environmentalists for Florida’s waterways, particularly the Indian River Lagoon.

    Gov. DeSantis’ budget proposal includes $93 million through the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) spaceport improvement program, and would set aside $17.5 million into the operating budget of Space Florida.

    “The focus of the funding is to really engage and continue to engage prospective aerospace companies and similar efforts across research and development, as well to really just accelerate the amount of activity we have going on,” explained Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long.

    Space Florida serves as the state’s finance and development authority tasked with helping the aerospace industry grow.

    “The new funding and everything is going to continue to do that and really allow us to accelerate and really put Florida at number one in all of the categories when it comes to the aerospace industry,” Long said.

    But an important piece of this for aerospace funding is using $5 million in startup funding to Space Florida in order to work alongside state agencies and establish additional wastewater capacity for Florida’s commercial launch providers.

    It comes as some Brevard County residents have raised concerns about a draft permit renewal for Blue Origin.

    This would allow the company to dump 500,000 gallons of wastewater per day into the Indian River Lagoon.

    “I do think there’s some restoration work that needs to be done, and there is water quality work that needs to be done with the Blue Origin discharges, just like all of them,” said Marine Resources Council Executive Director Dr. Laura Wilson.

    The Marine Resource Council is a nonprofit tasked with serving, protecting and restoring the health of the Indian River Lagoon.

    And while she wants to see the continued growth of the aerospace industry and wants to work with Space Coast corporations, she feels the use of public funds would be more helpful in the hands of local municipalities.

    “We have spills, we have breaking pipes, we have old infrastructure and a very rapidly growing population that’s going to continue growing,” Wilson said. “And we need to do a better job of looking to the future with our infrastructure rather than just reacting to the present.”

    Wilson said she wants to see actual work behind stormwater infrastructure, low-impact development, green stormwater infrastructure and how the land can be developed responsibly to mimic natural processes as opposed to concreting everything over and plopping in a pond.

    Spectrum News 13 also asked Space Florida about how it hopes to use the funding specifically for wastewater capacity, and it said it’s looking forward to working with state and local partners to come up with the best solutions they can.

    Brandon Spencer

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  • Nida Allam challenging Rep. Valerie Foushee in Democratic rematch

    Durham County Vice Chair Nida Allam is launching her campaign for the Democratic primary in North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District.

    What You Need To Know

    • Durham County Vice Chair Nida Allam says she will challenge U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee

    • Foushee represents the 4th Congressional District, which includes the city of Durham

    • Allam in 2022 ran against Foushee, who won the Democratic primary by 9 percentage points

    She will challenge incumbent Democratic Rep. Valerie Foushee, who is seeking a third term. She has represented the district since 2023.

    “I’m running for Congress because in a moment when our community faces dueling crises of Republican authoritarianism and corporate billionaire greed, we need leaders in Washington who will actually fight to deliver the brighter future we deserve and desperately need,” Allam said in a statement announcing her candidacy. “We cannot wait three more years pretending that a status quo that is failing us today will protect our communities tomorrow.”

    Allam’s candidacy sets up a rematch between the two Democrats.

    In 2022, Foushee beat Allam by 9 percentage points in the Democratic primary for the right to succeed retiring Democratic U.S. Rep. David Price. 

    Since then, Republicans who control the state legislature have redrawn the state’s congressional districts twice, to tilt more races in favor of their party. But the 4th District remains heavily Democratic.

    For the 2026 election, the 4th District will include the Democratic strongholds of Durham, Carrboro and Hillsborough. Foushee won re-election in 2024 with roughly 72% of the vote, trouncing her Republican opponent.

    The district’s Democratic primary in 2022 included former American Idol contestant Clay Aiken, drawing national attention. The race showed the divide between progressive and centrist Democrats, a division that will be on display again.

    On Thursday, Allam announced endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders and organizations including Justice Democrats and Leaders We Deserve, which was co-founded by David Hogg.

    In a statement to Spectrum News 1 Rep. Foushee said, “You can look at my record to show that I am not just paying lip service to our shared progressive values but instead working to advance legislation like the ICE Badge Visibility Act, the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, and the Block the Bombs Act…. Over the next few months I look forward to earning the support of the voters of the Fourth District and continuing to serve as their voice in Washington for another term.” 

    Foushee said she has received endorsements from Gov. Josh Stein and Democrats including Reps. Alma Adams and Deborah Ross.

    Allam, 31, has served on the Durham Board of County Commissioners since December 2020. She grew up in Wake County and was the first Muslim elected to public office in North Carolina.

    Reuben Jones

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  • Chad Davis wins runoff election for Winter Haven City Council seat

    POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Chad Davis won Tuesday’s runoff election for Winter Haven’s City Council Seat 4.  

    Chad Davis got 53.4 percent of the vote while Matthew Crowley garnered 46.6 percent. Of the 3,211 votes cast, Davis received 1,714 while Crowley got 1,497.


    Crowley is a lifelong Winter Haven resident, small business owner and community advocate. According to his campaign website, he is focused on transparency, public safety, affordable housing and economic opportunity for all.

    “Winter Haven deserves honesty and accountability, not backroom self-dealing,” Crowley said in a previous statement.

    Meanwhile, Davis is a fourth-generation Winter Haven resident and he holds a master’s of public policy and a law degree from Pepperdine University in California and is a staff attorney for Polk County Public Schools.

    On his Facebook page, Davis expressed a platform of infrastructure for development, support and protection for law enforcement and government efficiency and transparency.

    “Winter Haven is my home,” Davis said in a campaign post. “I love this city and every decision I make will be based on what’s best for our residents and our city’s long-term future. I believe we can maintain what’s special about Winter Haven while wisely managing the growth around us.”

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Florida redistricting committee to meet in 2 weeks

    FLORIDA — Florida is one of several states looking at potentially redrawing its congressional districts for partisan advantage ahead of next year’s elections.

    The Florida House Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting has 11 members — 8 Republicans and 3 Democrats.

    The committee will meet next month on Dec. 4 and 10 after Gov. Ron DeSantis posted on social media to “stay tuned” on the matter.

    Florida’s congressional district boundaries already favor the GOP, with 20 Florida Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives and only 8 Florida Democrats.

    “The question I think that may be in front of DeSantis or anybody who’s thinking about doing this is the sort of friction that this creates. Is this political friction? Is this really worth it? How many more seats are we going to get?” Florida Atlantic University professor Craig Burnett asked.

    While the redistricting committee has withheld any proposed maps, Democrats have vowed to “push back hard” against GOP efforts to do so.

    “We need to stop the cheating and just keep the map we already had from redistricting. Florida doesn’t do mid-decade redistricting. And, make the case to the voters rather than cheating to try to screw up the map,” U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Florida, said.

    Florida still has time to implement a new congressional map.

    The state will not hold primary elections until the middle of next August. 

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Pinellas County opts out of Live Local Act tax exemption

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — For the second time since Florida passed the Live Local Act, Pinellas County leaders have voted to opt out of part of the law’s affordable housing property tax exemption — a move supporters say protects local land-use control, while critics argue it does little to help workers struggling with rising rent.

    What You Need To Know

    • For the second time since Florida passed the Live Local Act, Pinellas County leaders have voted to opt out of part of the law’s affordable housing property tax exemption
    • It’s a move that supporters say protects local land-use control, while critics argue it does little to help workers struggling with rising rent

    • County officials point to a dedicated funding source through the Penny for Pinellas tax, which has allocated $98 million for housing over the past decade

    • The opt-out applies only to the 80–120% AMI tax exemption for the 2025 tax year


    The unanimous vote from the Pinellas County Commission removes a tax incentive for developers building units priced for households earning 80 to 120% of the area median income (AMI).

    County officials say that range is too close to market-rate housing and does not address the needs of the county’s most rent-burdened residents.

    Service industry employees, including hospitality, restaurant and gig workers, make up a significant portion of St. Petersburg and Clearwater’s economy. Many say the high cost of housing is pushing workers farther away from their jobs, straining an industry already dealing with labor shortages.

    William Kilgore, a bike courier and advocate with the St. Petersburg Tenants Union, says the term “affordable” is often misleading.

    “When you use the term ‘affordable,’ it’s a subjective term,” Kilgore said. “What’s affordable for me may not be affordable for someone else. The vast majority of folks who are rent-burdened are not benefiting from the housing produced by these tax incentives.”

    Kilgore said workers such as hotel housekeepers, gig workers and restaurant employees continue to struggle to keep up with rising rents despite the passage of the Live Local Act in 2023.

    Commission Chair Brian Scott said the Live Local Act preempts local governments’ ability to control where large, high-density developments can be built, especially in areas where industrial and employment land needs to be protected.

    “Eighty to 120 percent AMI is basically market-rate housing,” Scott said. “There’s no real need for an exemption for market-rate housing. Live Local also preempts us from making land-use decisions because developers can come in and build by right.”

    Scott said the county is putting its focus on supporting residents with incomes below 80% AMI, which he said represents the county’s greatest housing need.

    County officials point to a dedicated funding source through the Penny for Pinellas tax, which has allocated $98 million for housing over the past decade. Commissioners said they are also identifying surplus county-owned parcels for future affordable housing development.

    The opt-out applies only to the 80–120% AMI tax exemption for the 2025 tax year.

    Officials said the decision helps ensure that land-use decisions, particularly those regarding high-rise development, remain under local control, while still allowing the county to target funding toward the lowest-income households.

    Fadia Patterson

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  • Clinic sees drop in patients during Border Patrol activity

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A health clinic that says 90% of its patients are Hispanic saw a dramatic drop in traffic this week, which they attribute to the presence of Border Patrol in Charlotte. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Centro Medico Latino mostly serves Hispanic patients in the Charlotte area

    • Centro Medico Latino’s medical director says many patients canceled appointments due to Border Patrol activity 

    • The clinic is trying other ways to reach the community, including delivery, home visits and paid transportation

    • Camino in Charlotte also experienced cancellations and no-shows due to the immigration enforcement activity


    Centro Medico Latino has four locations and its main clinic is in East Charlotte.  

    Medical director Dr. Carlos Rish said Saturday is usually the busiest day for the clinic, which coincided with the day federal agents started their operations in Charlotte.

    “We’re fully booked. The office was bustling and as the afternoon came in and people started hearing that CBP was in town, people started leaving,” Rish said. “This profiling that’s occurring is causing a lot of fear in the community. Patients are afraid to come.”

    According to the Department of Homeland Security, there have been 370 arrests during the operation and 44 of them were undocumented people with criminal history.

    The trend of canceled appointments at Centro Medico Latino continued through the week. 

    “The parking lot was without any cars, and the clinic was absolutely empty. It was very disheartening,” Rish said. 

    The missed appointments concern Rish. 

    “We have patients who need medication who aren’t able to get it, obviously, but there’s a fear because we have a lot of patients that are really sick and diabetics, for example, who run out of their insulin and have the risk of going into complications [or] a coma,” Rish said.

    Rish and his team came up with a plan to reach the community, implementing measures used during the pandemic, including offering telehealth services. They are also setting up medication deliveries with pharmacies, sending health providers to homes and paying for patients’ rides to the clinic.

    “We’re picking up the cost of that transportation so the patient can come in and feel safe and not be fearful that they’re driving in town,” Rish said. 

    The health of his patients remains in the forefront. 

    “The lack of medical care that people are not receiving is very scary. The stress is causing a lot of psychosocial problems, people not being able to get out to work, and getting a paycheck, being able to feed the kids,” Rish said. 

    He said he plans to continue his commitment of serving the Hispanic community. 

    “Hopefully we’ll be able to go back to some semblance of normality and not to lose hope, and let them know that we’re here for them,” Rish said. 

    He added the cancellations this week were for both people who are undocumented and people here legally. The team has planned to use a mobile unit for patients needing bloodwork and taking it to the neighborhood but patients pushed back against it due to the fear of being targeted. 

    Camino in Charlotte also reported cancellations and no-shows at its clinic. Other providers, including Cone Health in Greensboro, are not seeing an impact.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Estephany Escobar

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  • Court date for lawsuit challenging Florida’s bear hunt set for Monday

    FLORIDA — A judge will hear arguments about Florida’s bear hunt on Monday. The conservation group, Bear Warriors United, filed an injunction on top of a recently filed lawsuit.

    They want to stop the hunt until further studies can be completed about bear populations in Florida.

    The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) website says the state’s bear population is upwards of 4,500 and says there is an increase in encounters with people.

    They also say the hunt prevents road deaths and malnutrition.

    Since 2006, there have been 42 documented incidents of bear and human contact in Florida. That means bears physically touching someone, not just a sighting or close encounter.

    There has only been one confirmed fatal attack in the state’s history.

    FWC issued permits in four bear hunting zones for December.

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Democrats, Republicans react to prospect of Border Patrol in Charlotte

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Charlotte is awaiting the arrival of U.S. Customs and Border Protection as early as this weekend.

    What You Need To Know

    • U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents are expected to arrive to Charlotte as early as this weekend 

    • Local and state Democratic leaders voiced their opposition to the presence of federal agents

    • Meanwhile, Republican Rep. Tim Moore said this is a targeted operation to catch criminals 

    • Everyone has constitutional rights if they encounter federal agents, according to an attorney


    Local and state Democratic officials and community organizations held a press conference Friday opposing Border Patrol agents coming to Charlotte, which they said would create fear in the immigrant community. 

    Among the speakers was council member-elect JD Mazuera Arias, who is representing East Charlotte.

    “This is personal. I know what fear feels like. I know what it feels like to have it in your bones,” Mazuera Arias said. 

    He said he is a former undocumented immigrant who grew up with a legal status in Charlotte. 

    “I heard from constituents all over District 5, which is East Charlotte, one of the most predominant immigrant districts in our city, say, ‘what does this mean for us? Is this true? Should we go? Should we stay at home? Should we take our kids to school?’” Mazuera Arias said. 

    In a statement, the office of U.S. Rep. Mark Harris, a Republican who represents a portion of Charlotte, said, “Congressman Harris continues to stand with law enforcement and supports deporting every criminal alien Joe Biden and radical progressive Democrats have let loose into our country.”  

    President Donald Trump has defended sending military units and immigration agents to other cities run by Democrats, saying the deployments are needed to fight crime and carry out his promise of mass deportations. 

    However, Mazuera Arias doesn’t see it that way.

    “We have seen the horrors that took place in the city of Chicago and seeing people, CBP came and disrupted those people’s lives. So for me, it’s not about fixing crime or public safety, it’s about fear tactics,” Mazuera Arias said. 

    Carolina Migrant Network is a nonprofit providing free legal representation for undocumented immigrants in removal proceedings and detention facilities.

    Communications director Daniela Andrade said they’ve received calls about Border Patrol agents in the city. 

    “I’m not aware that they have encountered them directly as of now. But what I can say is that the reports that we have been receiving is people just fearful and reporting and ready to protect each other,” Andrade said.

    Republican U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, a former state House speaker who now represents a district west of Charlotte, said this is a targeted operation. 

    “This is not going to be a matter of you’re going to have Border Patrol, like patrolling the streets, … this is a limited law enforcement activity where they have and presumably they know who it is they’re looking for. And these folks … are probably dangerous criminals,” Moore said. 

    He added community members shouldn’t feel fearful.

    “Unless someone is a criminal, they don’t need to be fearful of anything. But if they are criminal, they should be fearful. If somebody is out here selling drugs, you know, engaging in human trafficking out here, spreading fentanyl that’s killing people. I hope they are feeling fearful and I hope they get arrested,” Moore said. 

    Mazuera Arias is sending a message to immigrant neighbors.

    “You are not alone. You are seen. You are valued and you belong here,” Mazuera Arias said. 

    The Carolina Migrant Network said it is posting updates and partnering with community agents to see how they can support people affected by a potential immigration crackdown. 

    Immigration attorney Jamilah Espinosa said she recommends families have an action plan in case an undocumented relative is detained. 

    She added regardless of immigration status, everyone has constitutional rights and should remain calm and respectful when encountering federal agents. 

    “You have the right to decide that you’re not going to answer their questions. Also understanding the difference between public and private settings, they are able to enter public settings. If you are a private business, you can ask them to leave,” Espinosa said.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office said they are not participating in any immigration enforcement operations. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Estephany Escobar

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  • Border Patrol heads to Charlotte, Mecklenburg County sheriff confirms

    Agents with U.S. Customs and Border Patrol plan to deploy to Charlotte as soon as this weekend, according to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office.

    What You Need To Know

    • Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden says he has confirmation that U.S. Customs and Border Patrol personnel are planning to come to Charlotte

    • Reports circulated Wednesday that federal immigration agents operating in Chicago would move to Charlotte 

    • The sheriff’s office and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department say they are not involved in any activities that Customs and Border Protection might be planning in the city

    • Activists, faith leaders, and local and state officials in the city have been preparing the immigrant community, sharing information about resources and trying to calm fears

    There were reports Wednesday that the federal agents stationed in Chicago would move to Charlotte to continue enforcing the Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration.

    “Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry L. McFadden was contacted by two separate federal officials confirming that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel will be arriving in the Charlotte area as early as this Saturday or the beginning of next week,” the sheriff’s office said in a release.

    The sheriff’s office said federal officials have not shared details of what CPB will do in the Queen City and has not asked the office for help.

    “We value and welcome the renewed collaboration and open communication with our federal partners,” McFadden said in a news release. “It allows us to stay informed and be proactive in keeping Mecklenburg County safe and to maintain the level of trust our community deserves.”

    Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin declined to comment, saying, “Every day, DHS enforces the laws of the nation across the country. We do not discuss future or potential operations.”

    President Donald Trump has defended sending the military and immigration agents into Democratic-run cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and even the nation’s capital, saying the unprecedented operations are needed to fight crime and carry out his mass deportation agenda. Charlotte is another such Democratic stronghold, and the state will have one of the most hotly contested U.S. Senate races in the country next year.

    Activists, faith leaders, and local and state officials in the city had already begun preparing the immigrant community, sharing information about resources and attempting to calm fears. A call organized by the group CharlotteEAST had nearly 500 people on it Wednesday.

    “The purpose of this call was to create a mutual aid network. It was an information resource sharing session,” said City Councilmember-Elect JD Mazuera Arias.

    “Let’s get as many people as possible aware of the helpers and who the people are that are doing the work that individuals can plug into, either as volunteers to donate to or those who are in need of support can turn to,” said CharlotteEAST executive director Greg Asciutto.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department also sought to clarify its role, saying it “has no authority to enforce federal immigration laws,” and is not involved in planning or carrying out these enforcement operations.

    Mazuera Arias and others said they had already begun receiving reports of what appeared to be plainclothes officers in neighborhoods and on local transit.

    “This is some of the chaos that we also saw in Chicago,” state Sen. Caleb Theodros, who represents Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, said Thursday.

    Theodros was one of several local and state officials who issued a statement of solidarity this week.

    “More than 150,000 foreign-born residents live in our city, contributing billions to our economy and enriching every neighborhood with culture, hard work, and hope,” it read, adding: “We will stand together, look out for one another, and ensure that fear never divides the city we all call home.”

    Gregory Bovino, the Border Patrol chief who led Customs and Border Protection’s recent Chicago operation and was also central to the immigration crackdown in Los Angeles, had been coy about where agents would target next.

    The Trump administration’s “Operation Midway Blitz” in the Chicago area was announced in early September, over the objections of local leaders and after weeks of threats on the Democratic stronghold.

    It started as a handful of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in the suburbs but eventually included hundreds of Customs and Border Protection agents whose tactics grew increasingly aggressive. More than 3,200 people suspected of violating immigration laws have been arrested across Chicago and its many suburbs dipping into Indiana.

    The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees both immigration agencies, has offered few details on the arrests, aside from publicizing a handful of people who were living in the U.S. without legal permission and had criminal records.

    The group Indivisible Charlotte and the Carolina Migrant Network will be conducting a training for volunteers on Friday.

    “Training people how to recognize legitimate ICE agents, versus obviously those who don’t look legitimate,” said Tony Siracusa, spokesman for Indvisible Charlotte. “They’re not always wearing vests that say ‘ICE.’ And what your rights are.”

    The groups will also discuss areas where they can conduct “pop up protests.”

    “Obviously, we’re not doing anything that is going to encourage people to go get arrested by federal agents,” he said.

    Siracusa said locals are “not freaking out, but very definitely concerned. Nobody asked for this help. Nobody asked for this, at least no one of any official capacity.”

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • ‘We are desperate’: Stein calls session on Medicaid funding as cuts hit

    RALEIGH, N.C. — As a budget stalemate continues in Raleigh, Gov. Josh Stein is renewing calls for the General Assembly to get back to work on a deal.

    With no budget, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services cut Medicaid reimbursement rates, saying it needed to make up for a gap in funding.

    What You Need To Know

    • DHHS cut Medicaid reimbursement rates for some services by 3% to 10% on Oct. 1, citing a funding shortfall

    • Parents sued DHHS over cuts to behavioral health treatment and a judge awarded a pause

    • Gov. Josh Stein called on lawmakers to return to Raleigh and reach an agreement to fund Medicaid

    • Republicans in the House and Senate are at odds over a potential state investment in a children’s hospital and have not reached a budget deal


    Now, some of those cuts are being pulled back by a judge’s order.

    Health care providers saw Medicaid reimbursement rates drop less than a week ago.

    On Wednesday, Superior Court Judge G. Bryan Collins issued a temporary restraining order that puts a pause on cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates for behavioral health treatments.

    The state Department of Health and Human Services cut Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain services by 3% to 10% on Oct. 1.

    It included a 10% rate decrease to research-based behavioral health treatments.

    Twenty-two parents of children diagnosed with autism or who are receiving therapy sued DHHS, saying the cuts would keep kids from being treated.

    They said it’s a violation of the state’s constitution.

    The plaintiffs in the lawsuit against DHHS filed a motion for a preliminary injunction.

    That would keep the Medicaid rates for behavioral health services in place until the case is decided in court.

    A judge will choose whether to grant that request in a hearing on Nov. 10.

    Stein did not address that lawsuit in a press conference outside the state capitol on Thursday but acknowledged the cuts’ potential impact to people with autism and vulnerable populations.

    He called on lawmakers to come back to Raleigh for an extra session on Nov. 17 to hammer out a deal to fund Medicaid.

    “We are desperate to restore the funding levels to where they were before, but by law we cannot spend money that we do not have, nor should we spend money that we do not have,” Stein said. “The legislature has not fully funded Medicaid, they know they’ve not fully funded Medicaid.”

    DHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai said the state’s Medicaid shortfall is roughly $319 million.

    He said the department is starting to receive emails from a handful of larger providers saying they may exit Medicaid at the end of the month.

    Republicans have been critical of Stein and DHHS, saying the cuts to Medicaid were unnecessary.

    House Speaker Destin Hall has called it a “manufactured crisis.”

    The governor today used the same term but blamed the General Assembly.

    To this point the House and Senate appear no closer to funding Medicaid or reaching a budget agreement, with leadership from both chambers signaling they’ve likely already cast their final votes of the year.

    The chambers have been at odds over potential state funding for a children’s hospital system and money for a rural health care initiative.

    Republicans in the Senate are in favor, but Republicans in the House are opposed.

    Stein said his most recent conversations with Republican leadership in the House and Senate did not go as he had hoped.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Marshall Keely

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  • Lumbees push for federal recognition in Senate hearing

    For the first time since 2021, North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe made its case in a Senate hearing that it should be granted federal recognition.

    Wednesday’s hearing could be a positive step for the tribe, which has long sought the designation from Congress. 

    Designation would make the tribe eligible for additional federal dollars.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lumbee federal tribe recognition was the focus of a Senate hearing Wednesday

    • The North Carolina tribe has pushed Congress for recognition for years, but it always has stalled in the Senate

    • Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina testified in support of recognition before the committee

    Senators on Wednesday held a hearing on a bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, that would grant the tribe recognition.

    “This issue has come before Congress many times over the decades but never with this level of unity and support. These days it’s rare to see Republicans and Democrats come together on anything. But when it comes to Lumbee recognition, the support is overwhelming and it’s bipartisan,” Tillis told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

    The Senate has always been the place where efforts to achieve Lumbee recognition have stalled, but it has support from President Donald Trump. It also had support from former President Joe Biden.

    Before the hearing, a number of lawmakers from the state, including Tillis, joined the Lumbees to show their support.

    But seeking recognition through Congress is controversial.

    Numerous tribes, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, have spoken out against it. The Eastern Band has said there are more than a hundred tribes in the country that oppose the Lumbees going through Congress for recognition.

    The Eastern Band argues the Lumbees can’t demonstrate Native ancestry and if they want recognition they should go through the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs process, not Congress.

    “This issue in North Carolina has become so emotional and politically driven that it takes away from the true process that should be doing the evaluation… we just don’t feel that Congress has the tools to be able to look at the details of the merit… we need experts to make the determination,” Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Chair Michell Hicks told Spectrum News.

    Hicks worries about the impact if the Senate approves Lumbee recognition. The bill has already passed the House.

    “I think it potentially opens Pandora’s box because of not properly reviewing the requests, and that’s very concerning for identities in a lot of Indian country,” Hicks said.

    The Lumbee chair said Wednesday that the process run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs takes too long and expressed concerns that if it went through that path, it could end up in court.

    A few senators reiterated the power of Congress when it comes to granting recognition.

    “If you want to make the argument that we need to build a historical record and you trust this agency within an agency more than you trust us that’s fine, that’s fair. But this is still our authority,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Reuben Jones

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  • Mecklenburg Co. voters pass sales tax increase for transit improvements

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Voters in Mecklenburg County have passed a one-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements over 30 years. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Voters in Mecklenburg County passed a sales tax increase in Tuesday’s election to fund transportation improvements over the next 30 years

    • The sales tax will increase from 7.25% to 8.25% starting July 1, 2026

    • The additional tax revenue will go to rail projects, road improvements, bus and microtransit service

    • Prior to Election Day, supporters said it would bring better transit options while opponents argued the cost would impact low-income families 


    Beginning July 1, 2026, the sales tax will increase from 7.25% to 8.25%, which the city of Charlotte estimates will be about $19 more a month per household. 

    The tax will fund the 2055 Transit System Plan, according to Charlotte Area Transit interim CEO Brent Cagle, which includes rail construction, road improvements, and better bus and microtransit service. 

    “It increases frequency, reliability, security and options accessibility throughout transit, so it’s really a holistic plan to address mobility needs,” Cagle said. 

    Charlotte estimates the increased tax revenue will generate $19.4 billion over 30 years. Forty percent will go to rail projects, another 40% to roads, and 20% to buses and microtransit service.

    The plan includes a new commuter rail connecting Uptown to North Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson, expanded streetcar and light rail with access to the airport. 

    Officials say it will improve traffic flow on roads and add more bike lanes, sidewalks and traffic signals to communities. Buses will also have expanded service hours and come to the busiest stops more often and microtransit will be expanded across the county.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Estephany Escobar, Spectrum News Staff

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  • How not extending ACA subsidies will affect N.C. residents

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An issue at the center of this government shutdown is extending the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans.

    Open enrollment began Nov. 1, and people are seeing premiums skyrocket for 2026. 

    What You Need To Know

    • An issue at the center of this government shutdown is extending the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans

    • Open enrollment began Nov. 1 and people are seeing premiums skyrocket for 2026

    • These enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. If they’re not extended, 157,000 North Carolinians will become uninsured and another 888,000 will see their health care premiums double, according to Gov. Josh Stein



    Charlotte residents Steve Goodson and his husband, Carlos Mendez, are no exception.

    “Anyone dependent on the ACA is looking at undue stress right now,” Goodson said.

    In 2021, the Biden administration approved enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans, meaning people were given more money from the government for health care costs than in the past.

    “To really make sure that people were able to access care that they needed, that they were able to, you know, get vaccinated for COVID and things like that. So they just wanted to make sure that everybody was healthy in the midst of this pandemic,” said Julieanne Taylor, program director of Family Support and Health Care Program for Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy.

    These enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. If they’re not extended, 157,000 North Carolinians will become uninsured and another 888,000 will see their health care premiums double, according to Gov. Josh Stein.

    “With the premiums going up, we have to collectively reassess going to the doctor,” said Mendez, an ACA insurance recipient.

    According to the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the average rate for individual ACA coverage will increase by over 28% in 2026.

    As the government shutdown enters its second month, Taylor said this could have a huge impact on residents.

    “It may keep people from renewing their coverage. I mean, as we know right now, prices are just very expensive. It’s expensive for food, it’s expensive for housing and so this is just one more thing,” Taylor said.

    Goodson and Mendez said if their premium doubles, it won’t be easy in the long run.

    “Initially we would deal with it, but I think a year from now, resources would get very limited. But it could perhaps impoverish us over a few years,” Goodson said.

    On the other side of the issue, according to the Cato Institute, these subsidies cost almost half a trillion dollars and have produced enrollment fraud and many believe temporary emergencies should not justify permanent solutions.

    Taylor says health insurance navigators are available across North Carolina to help, if you need assistance picking a plan or understanding the changes to ACA insurance plans. Visit here for more information.

    Since being interviewed for this story, Carlos says he has signed up for healthcare through ACA Enrollment and the cost went up by 26% for 2026.

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Arin Cotel-Altman

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  • Mecklenburg voters to decide on sales tax increase for transit improvements

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Voters in Mecklenburg County are considering a one-cent sales tax increase on Election Day to fund transportation improvements over 30 years. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Voters in Mecklenburg County will decide on a sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements over the next 30 years

    • If passed, the sales tax would increase from 7.25% to 8.25%

    • The additional tax revenue would go to rail projects, road improvements, bus and microtransit service

    • Supporters say it would bring better transit options while opponents argue the cost would affect low-income families 


    If passed, the sales tax would increase from 7.25% to 8.25%, which the city of Charlotte estimates would be about $19 more a month per household. 

    Charlotte Area Transit interim CEO Brent Cagle said it would fund the 2055 Transit System Plan, which includes rail construction, road improvements, and better bus and microtransit service. 

    “It increases frequency, reliability, security and options accessibility throughout transit, so it’s really a holistic plan to address mobility needs,” Cagle said. 

    Charlotte estimates the increased tax revenue would generate $19.4 billion over 30 years. Forty percent would go to rail projects, another 40% to roads, and 20% to buses and microtransit service. 

    Related: Election Day Preview: A look at who’s running in Durham, Fayetteville and Greensboro

    The plan includes a new commuter rail connecting Uptown to North Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson, expanded streetcar and light rail with access to the airport. 

    It would improve traffic flow on roads and add more bike lanes, sidewalks and traffic signals to communities. Buses would also have expanded service hours and come to the busiest stops more often and microtransit would be expanded across the county. 

    Transit rider Juan Contreras Juarez, who volunteers for the Yes for Meck campaign, supports the plan. 

    “I think in general, understanding that there’s a bus that comes every 15 minutes would take a lot of stress from the families. They depend on the bus system. There’s a lot of anxiety that comes with it. You go to your bus stop, you’re hurrying because if you miss it, the next bus is in 30 minutes,” Contreras Juarez said. 

    Opponents, including Action NC, say a permanent tax unfairly affects people who can least afford to pay and that more than $200 per year would be a burden to the working class and low-income families. 

    Cagle argues these groups make up the majority of transit riders. 

    “We also think about who benefits from this the most: our riders and how do we benefit them. And they will benefit from this,” Cagle said.

    Craig Reynolds opposes the sales tax and is working with Action NC on their campaign. 

    In his perspective, there are no guarantees with the plan and the current half-cent sales tax has not delivered. 

    “My main point is just look at the failed promises that have happened over the last 27 years,” Reynolds said. 

    He also takes issue with the new regional transit authority that would oversee spending of this investment. 

    “My concern is there’s lack of accountability in this plan. If you look at it, this is an appointed authority of 27 members. It’s not elected, but yet it has the ability to tax citizens. It has the ability to take their property through eminent domain,” Reynolds said. 

    Charlotte City Council member Ed Driggs is reviewing applications for the board. The Republican and self-described fiscal conservative worked to put this item on the ballot. He’s chair of the Transportation, Planning and Development Committee of the city council and is part of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization. 

    He said the board can improve transit safety, which has been in the spotlight since the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the light rail in August.

    “They will be able to have a police force of their own and that will help provide a better level of security and they will also have more resources to invest,” Driggs said. 

    Cagle said if the referendum doesn’t pass, the 2055 Transit System Plan cannot be implemented.

    “We are utilizing all of the existing funding. and this transit system plan cannot be implement, cannot be implemented without additional funding,” Cagle said.

    If it fails, CATS will also need to evaluate current spending and ensure the transit system meets financial metrics. A future referendum would then be placed in the hands of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. In addition, the PAVE Act, which gave approval for this item to be on the ballot, would have to be amended due to the timeline outlined in it. 

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

    Estephany Escobar

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  • People aging out of foster care get help thanks to new law

    ST PETERSBURG, Fla. — “Yes, in God’s backyard.” That was the push for a bill that recently went into effect this summer.

    It allows churches to use their property to develop affordable housing, regardless of zoning restrictions.

    A local nonprofit is using that model to tackle the issue of homelessness and affordable housing for young people aging out of foster care.

    What You Need To Know

    • Nonprofit organization Spring Zone St. Pete is using the Yes in God’s Backyard house bill as the model to tackle the issue of homelessness and affordable housing for young people aging out of foster care

      •  

    • They will be providing housing on the land of Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist in St. Pete

    • The project is expected to be completed within the next two years and some of the people who will live in the units will also get a chance to help with the building and construction process

    • RELATED: ‘Yes, In God’s Backyard’ bill part of proposed affordable housing solution


    Graduation, homemade desserts and a culinary career in the making are what 20-year-old Lexi Allison does have. But it’s what she’s had to face after aging out of foster care that’s always top of mind.

    “Homelessness, unemployment, a mental battle, jail. Like I know a lot of people just struggling and constantly going to jail. That’s another thing that not having somewhere stable can cause,” Allison said. “One thing I realized when I didn’t have nowhere to go it was either hard to keep a job, it’s hard to think about your next step when you’re not even in the place you want to be, or be in a place you want to live in or feel comfortable at.”

    That’s the kind of information Christopher Warren with the nonprofit, Spring Zone St. Pete, said they took into account when they came up with a plan to help solve the housing issue for young people.

    “The Yes in God’s Backyard house bill that passed has been a tremendous blessing in this effort. The ability for us to be able to provide housing, but provide housing on church property, is amazing. It’s essential to success because what we need is community,” Warren said. “When it’s fully developed, we’ve got ten units with two young people in each unit. They each have their own room, which was something I wanted to make sure they had, because in the foster system they can be three, four, five — sometimes six to a room.”

    He said each unit will be equipped with the comforts of home and a house of worship on the same property.

    Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church Senior Pastor G. Gregg Murray said his church is excited about leasing their land for this housing.

    “Here at Mt. Zion, we want to make sure that whatever we do with our land, we be about ministry,” Murray said.

    At Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist in St. Pete, Murray said their focus is on ministry that makes a difference in the lives of their members and members of a community that’s often forgotten.

    “For foster children who have aged out of the program between the ages of 18 to 23, and we know that’s a time they get displaced and somehow, they disappear into the community, they’re no longer getting services,” he said.

    Pastor Murray is also a social worker. And for his wife, Pauline, working with foster children is part of her life’s work.

    “Working with foster children for pretty much all my life and supervisor of a foster care program here in Pinellas County,” Pauline said. “When you get a child that’s aging out of foster care and coming into an independent living program, they need a lot of wrap-around services. They need a lot of love and attention — you’re their parent. And the same thing you would do with your children, you do with those children.”

    A handful of other churches have also signed on to help with the affordable housing crisis hitting this vulnerable population. It’s something Allison says she can only be thankful for.

    “Yeah, that’s all God’s work,” she said.

    The project is expected to be completed within the next two years. Some of those young people who will live in the units will also get a chance to help with the building and construction process.

    Saundra Weathers

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  • Naya Young wins Tampa’s Distcit 5 council seat

    TAMPA, Fla. – After a lengthy campaign involving outlasting multiple other candidates during a special election, even before Tuesday’s runoff, Naya Young has emerged as the winner over Thomas Scott.

    Young will now join the Tampa City Council as the District 5 representative, to fill out the term of the late Gwen Henderson, who died in June.


    In a somewhat surprising win, the political novice Young, 33, rode her activist platform to convince voters of District 5, which stretches across downtown Tampa, Channelside, Ybor City, East Tampa and parts of West Tampa.

    Young’s connection to Tampa runs deep. As a teenager, she was a volunteer on the Tampa Green Artery, a pedestrian and bike-friendly trail that encourages outdoor activity and links neighborhoods throughout the city.

    She said she is focused on ensuring the communities she grew up in aren’t left behind by the city’s rapid growth.

    Young, 33, is a graduate of Howard University and currently serves as executive director of the Tampa Heights Junior Civic Association, where she leads youth and family-focused programming. 

    Spectrum News Staff

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  • Eastern N.C. representatives debate political future with new map

    One of the members of Congress most impacted by North Carolina’s new congressional map has made a decision about his political future while the other is debating what congressional district to run in.

    What You Need To Know

    • U.S. Reps. Don Davis and Greg Murphy are most affected by North Carolina’s new congressional map

    • Murphy, a Republican, is going to run in District 3, but Davis, a Democrat, hasn’t decided whether he’ll run in the District 1 or District 3

    • North Carolina GOP lawmakers who redrew the map in the middle of the decade say they aim to to gain another House seat for Republicans 

    The two members most impacted are Democrat Rep. Don Davis, who represents District 1, and Rep. Greg Murphy, a Republican who represents District 3. Both districts are in eastern North Carolina.

    The new map swaps a number of counties, resulting in District 1 becoming much more Republican and harder for Davis to win and District 3 losing some of its Republican counties but still remaining a pretty solid Republican district.

    On Wednesday Murphy announced that, despite major changes to the district, he will run for reelection in District 3. 

    “This has been very hard. I’ll be very open about that because literally the new state maps split the district right in half,” Murphy told Spectrum News 1. “I’m a data person. We went down and did the data and looked at a lot of this stuff and I’m going to run as the incumbent in District 3.”

    Murphy said he was disappointed there were so many changes to his current district resulting in the coastal counties moving into District 1. Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico and Onslow counties move from District 3 to District 1. 

    “I wasn’t happy about it. I’ll be very transparent about that. These are interests I’ve represented for a very long time,” Murphy said. “This is kind of like many times you’re all of a sudden with somebody, with all these groups and then arbitrary lines change it the other way.”

    Murphy said the White House didn’t have influence on what district he decided to run in.

    “They came and gave us an idea this was going to be redistricted,” Murphy said. “But they were going to support me regardless of where I went. They’re supporting me as the individual, not as a district person, which I appreciate tremendously. And so they had no undue influence on as to where I was going to pick.” 

    Davis is also debating his political future. In an interview with Spectrum News 1 he said he hasn’t decided what district he will run in.

    “We’re going to look at both districts, which we’re in the process of beginning to do,” Davis said. “We’re going to look at all kinds of factors, analysis.”

    Under the new map the 1st District doesn’t include Wilson, Lenoir or Wayne counties. It also doesn’t include Green County, where Davis lives.

    Davis said he hopes to make a decision in the “near future.”

    In a statement after the General Assembly’s vote on Wednesday, Davis called it “one of the darkest moments of our state’s history.”

    “This is not what people want. People want us to stay focused on their issues,” Davis told Spectrum News 1.

    The Republican-controlled General Assembly took up mid-decade redistricting following similar actions by other states. Texas started the process after urging from President Donald Trump.

    The new North Carolina map results in 11 districts heavily favored for Republicans and three for Democrats. That’s despite many political analysts who label the state as a toss-up or lean Republican.  

    If Davis decides to run in District 3 it would result in a matchup between two incumbents: Davis and Murphy.

    “This decision was made solely upon what I believe, what my team believed was best for us. If there is a big matchup, I think it’s unfortunate. Don and I are on friendly terms, but you know it is what it is. That’s what politics is all about,” Murphy said. 

    “I would say that Rep. Murphy, he’s been in tune and we’ve actually worked on issues together,” Davis said. “But at the end of the day, this is now about looking at the map and allowing a route that we believe best represents the voice of the people of eastern North Carolina and so everyone can be heard. To me all options are on the table.”

    Reuben Jones

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  • Disconnect between two Florida databases could affect vote by mail

    ORLANDO, Fla. — A disconnect between two Florida state databases could cause big problems for the 2026 elections all across Florida if it is not closed.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Florida DMV’s new license numbers aren’t updating in the state voter database

    • The disconnect mostly affects mail-in voters in Florida

    • Voters with new licenses are encouraged to update their registration info to avoid disruptions


    This year, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles started issuing driver’s licenses with more random numbers to better protect people’s personal information. Everyone who gets a new license will get a new number.

    But when people get those new licenses, the information is not going into the Florida Department of State database, which is used to verify IDs when voting.

    “If they don’t update their voter registration at all, then that data is not bundled up and sent to the Secretary of State and then down to the Supervisor of Elections,” Orange County Tax Collector Scott Randolph said.

    Orange County Supervisor of Elections Karen Castor Dentel says the gap between the FLHSMV database and the state department database is affecting people who need to vote by mail.

    Castor Dentel’s office reported last year that nearly 152,000 people voted by mail in Orange County. That’s about 25% of all the votes cast in that election.

    “We’re seeing people who have problems requesting their vote by mail ballot and other issues if they don’t update that driver’s license number,” Castor Dentel said.

    Castor Dentel says voters will be able to vote at the polls on election day by bringing their current ID or voter registration card, but some people who are trying to get a vote by mail ballots may not receive them as the databases do not talk to each other.

    “Not everyone can get out to the polls and vote,” she said. “Whether their work schedule does not permit it or they have disabilities that won’t permit it. So it is important that people do have access to the vote by mail.”

    Castor Dentel and Randolph are working on temporary solutions. Customer service workers at the tax collector’s office are asking every person who gets a license to update their voter registration, even if they don’t want to make any changes.

    “When my employee asks you to update your voter registration and you think, ‘I don’t have any changes,’ please just go through the steps. I promise if you go through those steps, you won’t have that issue,” Randolph said.

    Randolph says in the end, the solution must come out of Tallahassee.

    “In the longer term, the two state agencies, DHSMV and the Secretary of State, are going to have to work out their databases to cure this issue,” he said.

    Another short-term solution, Castor Dentel says, is people can call or visit the Orange County Supervisor of Elections office, and the staff will update their voter ID information, so it goes into the Department of State database correctly.

    Spectrum News reached out to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and the Florida Department of State by phone and email on Tuesday to see what they are doing to fix this problem. We did not hear from either agency on Tuesday.

    Keith Landry

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  • State lawmakers to vote on Republican redrawn district map

    North Carolina state senators say they will vote Tuesday on a redrawn congressional map that would give Republicans an opportunity to gain an extra seat in the U.S. House.

    What You Need To Know

    • North Carolina lawmakers are considering a redrawn congressional map intended to help Republicans unseat a Democrat

    • The map would change the state’s 1st District, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Don Davis, by adding more conservative counties and removing liberal-leaning ones

    • Congressional maps are typically only redrawn once every 10 years after the census 

    • Texas started the national redistricting battle and approved its own new map and California responded with its own gerrymandered map proposal 


    State Senate leader Phil Berger, a Republican, said his chamber gave the new map tentative approval Monday and will take a final vote Tuesday before sending it to the state House. 

    The state Senate was divided along party lines over new boundaries for two eastern North Carolina districts in a move aimed to thwart the reelection of Democratic Rep. Don Davis, one of the state’s three Black members of Congress. The vote followed a committee meeting in which dozens of speakers from the public sharply accused Republican lawmakers in the ninth-largest state of bowing to Republican President Donald Trump.

    The plan’s chief author was direct about the map’s intent to help his party in the 2026 midterm elections.

    “The motivation behind this redraw is simple and singular — draw a new map that will bring an additional Republican seat to the North Carolina congressional delegation,” said GOP Sen. Ralph Hise, who shepherded it through his chamber. If Democrats take back the House, Hise said, they will “torpedo President Trump’s agenda.”

    The proposed map reconfigures the 1st District, which is currently represented by Davis, by adding more Republican-leaning counties along the coast and removing more liberal-leaning ones inland. Greene County, Davis’ home county, is among several that would be removed from the 1st District and instead become part of the 3rd District. 

    The new map would help Republicans flip Davis’ seat in next year’s elections. That would mean 11 of the state’s 14 House representatives would be Republicans, up from the current 10-4 split. Under a map used in 2022, the state had a 7-7 seat split.

    If the map is approved, Davis would run in the 1st or 3rd District, according to a spokesperson.  

    After a Senate procedural vote Tuesday, the proposed map will head to the House, which is expected to give it final General Assembly approval later this week.

    The state Democratic Party plans an outdoor rally Tuesday to oppose it. But Democrats are the minority in both chambers, and state law prevents Democratic Gov. Josh Stein from using his veto stamp on redistricting action. 

    “This is an attack on Black voters,” Sen. Kandie Smith, an African American legislator who represents a county in Davis’ current district, said during Senate floor debate. “It’s about stealing elections by design, so that the outcomes are predetermined and accountability becomes optional.”

    Redrawing the districts is typically only done every 10 years after the census, but North Carolina is not the first state to propose a new map five years earlier than usual.

    Texas led the trend when its governor, Greg Abbott, signed a new map into law in August that could add five Republican seats. California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded by announcing his own redistricting plan, which California residents will vote on whether to approve.

    The practice of redrawing maps to favor a political party is known as gerrymandering. The term dates back to the early 1800s when Massachusetts’ state Senate election districts were redrawn under Gov. Elbridge Gerry. An article in the Boston Gazette compared the shape of one district to a salamander, and the “Gerry-mander” was born.

    Gerrymandering has long been a feature of North Carolina’s politics. The Supreme Court case Rucho v. Common Cause in 2019 was a result of the state’s congressional map redrawn to favor Republicans after the 2010 census. The court’s decision effectively ended federal oversight of the redistricting process, opening the door nationally for more gerrymandering.

    Caroline King, Associated Press

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  • Lakeland Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley enters race for mayor

    LAKELAND, Fla. — Lakeland City Commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley has joined the 2025 race for mayor. 

    What You Need To Know

    • City commissioner Sara Roberts McCarley is one of the four candidates seeking to become Lakeland’s next mayor

    • If elected, McCarley said she plans to work alongside fellow commissioners to build on efforts toward accessibility, budget transparency and community involvement

    • Having served on the City Commission since 2019, she says her familiarity with city departments and local partnerships would make for a smooth transition


    She was the first candidate to announce her bid following Mayor Bill Mutz’s decision not to seek another term.

    McCarley, who has represented the city’s Southwest district since 2019, said humility and consistency of character are what define a good leader.

    “Because if you’re willing to tell the truth and be like, ‘Hey, I didn’t know that. I got that wrong.’ That’s really important. I think that builds sincerity and trust with the people around you,” she said.

    The Lakeland native often shares that message with students across the area. She says it’s something that has guided her since leading Polk Vision, an organization focused on community priorities, local partnerships and accountability in Polk County. She maintained that philosophy after joining the City Commission.

    “I love serving, and I love getting my hands dirty, and working in different segments of our community, with schools, and with the business community,” McCarley said. 

    McCarley hopes to continue serving the community, but in a different capacity. If elected mayor, she said she plans to work alongside fellow commissioners to build on what she describes as ongoing efforts toward accessibility, budget transparency and community involvement.

    “Community service continues to be a big opportunity for us to engage more voices in the process, and that’s something I like to do from day one,” she said.

    With years of experience at City Hall, McCarley believes the start of her term would be a smooth transition.

    “My learning curve is shorter, and I can ramp up quicker,” she said. “I know the departments, and I know the constituencies outside of City Hall, which I think is really important. And I feel like bridging those conversations is something that I do well.”

    McCarley said she hopes to bring those strengths into a new role as mayor while encouraging future leaders to do the same.

    Lakeland residents will elect their next mayor on Nov. 4. Other candidates in the race include Kay Klymko, Kaitlin Kramer and Cedrick Valrie.

    Alexis Jones

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