Dawn B. Vaughan

NC Gov. Josh Stein asks for $1.4 billion to fund state’s ‘critical needs’ now With no budget in 2025, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is urging lawmakers to spend over $1 billion now on “critical needs” for the state.

With no budget in 2025, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is urging lawmakers to spend over $1 billion now on “critical needs” for the state.

NC Gov. Stein is confident in election process as Berger vs. Page primary plays out “One great thing about our (elections) system is it has a lot of failsafe methods to ensure accuracy,” NC Gov. Josh Stein said.

“One great thing about our (elections) system is it has a lot of failsafe methods to ensure accuracy,” NC Gov. Josh Stein said.

NC Gov. Stein is confident in election process as Berger vs. Page primary plays out “One great thing about our (elections) system is it has a lot of failsafe methods to ensure accuracy,” NC Gov. Josh Stein said.

NC Gov. Stein is confident in election process as Berger vs. Page primary plays out
#ncpol #ncga

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

NC Gov. Josh Stein asks for $1.4 billion to fund state’s ‘critical needs’ now With no budget in 2025, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein is urging lawmakers to spend over $1 billion now on “critical needs” for the state.

NC Gov. Josh Stein asks for $1.4 billion to fund state’s ‘critical needs’ now
#ncpol

Read more at: www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

Democratic NC Gov. Josh Stein endorsed in two primaries, helping candidates win On Sundays, our Under the Dome newsletter focuses on Gov. Josh Stein. How his involvement in primaries played out.

In today's Under the Dome newsletter:

Democratic NC Gov. Josh Stein endorsed in two primaries, helping candidates win

#ncpol #ncga

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

What Sen. Berger & Sheriff Page will do this year, regardless of primary results Separated by two votes, here’s what Sen. Phil Berger and Sheriff Sam Page say they will do this year, regardless of the final results.

New:

What Sen. Berger and Sheriff Page will do this year, regardless of primary results

#ncpol #ncga
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

2 votes: NC GOP Senate leader Phil Berger in virtual tie with Sheriff Sam Page See election results in the Republican primary in Rockingham and Guilford counties.

2 votes: NC GOP Senate leader Phil Berger in virtual tie with Sheriff Sam Page. It's well within the 1% threshold required to mandate a recount. Berger & his allies heavily outspent Page. (Via @dawnbvaughan.bsky.social & @nathanpcollins.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/politic... #ncpol #ncga

NC primary prep: Berger/Page, Foushee/Allam and U.S. Senate primaries

North Carolina primary day @newsobserver.com Under the Dome
podcast time! I'm joined by @kyleingram.bsky.social
and @daniellebattaglia.bsky.social

#ncpol #ncga

open.spotify.com/episode/2T4l...

NC Gov. Josh Stein is not on the ballot, but primary results will impact his job The results of Tuesday’s primary could change how Gov. Josh Stein interacts with lawmakers.

The results of Tuesday’s primary could change how Gov. Josh Stein interacts with lawmakers.

For NC, it’s Senate leader vs. sheriff. But in Rockingham, it’s just Phil vs. Sam Rockingham County voters have known Senate leader Phil Berger and Sheriff Sam Page for decades. Now they have to choose between them.

Rockingham County voters have known Senate leader Phil Berger and Sheriff Sam Page for decades. Now they have to choose between them.

As voters decide their political futures, what Berger and Page say about heated race Just a fraction of the state’s Republican voters will decide whether to keep Senate leader Phil Berger in office or send Sheriff Sam Page to Raleigh.

If you are among the thousands of Republican voters who live in NC Senate District 26, this is a story for you.

If you are one of the 11 million people living in North Carolina, this is also a story for you.

#ncga #ncpol

Read more at: www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

For NC, it’s Senate leader vs. sheriff. But in Rockingham, it’s just Phil vs. Sam Rockingham County voters have known Senate leader Phil Berger and Sheriff Sam Page for decades. Now they have to choose between them.

New:

For NC, it’s Senate leader vs. sheriff. But in Rockingham, it’s just Phil vs. Sam

#ncpo #ncga

Read more at: www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

I have two stories posting in the a.m. about the Senate leader Berger vs. Sheriff Page primary. I talked to several Rockingham County voters and both candidates with the primary just days away.

It's a statewide story, yes. But all politics is local.

#ncpol #ncga

Coming up on our @newsobserver Under the Dome podcast posting Tuesday, my conversation today with State Auditor Dave Boliek.

We talked about a wide range of things, from the DMV to the Dean Dome.

#ncga #ncpol

After Epstein revelations, Europe vows accountability while U.S. holds back Senior Democrats in Washington are comparing sweeping legal action across the Atlantic to the muted response in the United States.

As the DOJ demurs from new inquiries linked to the Epstein files, the approach by European authorities stands in stark contrast. Governments across the pond are promising to hold the wealthy, powerful and politically connected to account.

NC lawmaker wants to make sure more cities have salt reserves by next winter Wake County Democratic Rep. Cynthia Ball said she’d file a bill in April, when the new legislative session begins, to prepare for next winter.

NC lawmaker wants to make sure more cities have salt reserves by next winter

#ncpol #ncga

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

Why NC lawmakers keep bringing local leaders to Raleigh for grilling sessions Mecklenburg County is the latest local government called onto the carpet by state House members in Raleigh.

Why NC lawmakers keep bringing local leaders to Raleigh for grilling sessions

Here’s a breakdown of who’s doing the questioning, who’s being questioned and what the results may mean for 2026.

Read more at:
www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

In today's Under the Dome newsletter:
#ncpol

Gov. Stein disagrees with his party’s denial of help to swing-voting lawmakers N.C. Gov. Josh Stein disagrees with a state party move about legislative primaries, though he is getting involved in primaries through his endorsements.

Gov. Josh Stein disagrees with his party’s denial of help to swing-voting lawmakers. NC Democratic Party is keeping voter contact software away from a few Democrats who have voted with GOP, incl. on veto overrides. (Via @dawnbvaughan.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/politic... #ncpol #ncga

How to protect yourself from fake tickets to UNC vs. Duke game at the Dean Dome UNC Chapel Hill hosts Duke men’s basketball at the Dean Dome on Saturday. How to guard against ticket scams.

How to protect yourself from fake tickets to UNC vs. Duke game under the Dean Dome

Read more at: www.newsobserver.com/sports/colle...

Three people died in separate crashes during weekend snowstorm in NC The State Highway Patrol shared information about three different vehicle crashes during the snowstorm, with two involving overturned vehicles.

Three people died in separate crashes during weekend snowstorm in NC

www.newsobserver.com/news/weather...

NC Gov. Josh Stein wants ‘basic accountability’ for ICE, Border Patrol Read more about Gov. Josh Stein on Sundays in our Under the Dome politics newsletter.

Read more about Gov. Josh Stein on Sundays in our Under the Dome politics newsletter.

Gov. Stein declares new state of emergency as NCDOT preps for snow Friday night NC Gov. Josh Stein talked with N.C. Department of Transportation employees as they prep snow plows and brine trucks ahead of new storm.

Gov. Stein declares new state of emergency as NCDOT preps for snow Friday night

NCDOT employees have been working a lot of long hours. I asked about their overtime, and also where exactly that rock salt comes from.

News you can use:

www.newsobserver.com/news/weather...

With raises on the line, why NC House Speaker Destin Hall isn’t budging Republican Speaker Destin Hall’s first year was defined by the state budget standoff with the Senate and what he sees as critical funding needs.

New story today I've been working on for awhile, about the budget stalemate defining Republican House Speaker Destin Hall's first year. He's not the only one in the House dug into their trench.

#ncpol #ncga

www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

Hundreds of car crashes, thousands without power from winter storm in NC, Stein says North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and state officials gave a winter storm update on Sunday, urging people to stay home.

Hundreds of car crashes, thousands without power from winter storm in NC, Stein says

Read more at: www.newsobserver.com/news/weather...

Winter storm brings snow, ice on Sunday morning: Latest Triangle forecast, closings Storm prompts warnings of treacherous driving and power outages. Emergency declarations issued. Bookmark this page. It will be updated throughout the storm.

We'll continue to update this story all day with the latest forecast and news about the winter storm impacts on the Triangle and the rest of North Carolina.

www.newsobserver.com/news/weather...

Winter storm to impact ‘majority of the state,’ NC Gov. Josh Stein says North Carolina DOT, National Guard, Highway Patrol ready for major winter storm this weekend. What they’re doing now.

North Carolina's coming winter storm “has the potential to be a massive disruption to people’s lives," Gov. Josh Stein says. The latest from @dawnbvaughan.bsky.social.

Winter storm to impact ‘majority of the state,’ NC Gov. Josh Stein says North Carolina DOT, National Guard, Highway Patrol ready for major winter storm this weekend. What they’re doing now.

North Carolina DOT, National Guard, Highway Patrol ready for major winter storm this weekend. What they’re doing now.

Charlotte goes to Raleigh for Oversight hearing on public safety

On our new episode of Under the Dome, I talk with my @charlotteobserver.com #ncpol colleague Mary Ramsey about the upcoming House Oversight hearing with Charlotte-Meck leaders and contested primaries in that area. #ncga
open.spotify.com/episode/1o8R...

State Lines | January 16, 2026 | Season 2026 Possible federal penalty for SNAP benefits in NC; Medicaid compliance laws; early voting sites.

I'm on PBS NC "State Lines" this weekend:

#ncpol
www.pbs.org/video/januar...