NC Wins Lawsuit Against FEMA, Receives $200M

A federal court has ruled in favor of North Carolina in a lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ordering the reinstatement of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) disaster mitigation program.

FEMA had canceled the program in April under the Trump administration, halting approximately $200 million allocated for over 60 disaster mitigation projects across North Carolina, including flood defenses and infrastructure upgrades.

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction in August, blocking FEMA from redirecting over $4 billion in BRIC mitigation funds amid a lawsuit by 20 states, including North Carolina, challenging the program’s termination.

In a subsequent ruling, the court found FEMA’s action unlawfully encroached on congressional authority over appropriations. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson stated, “This ruling puts the money back where it was promised so these communities can be ready for the next storm.”

Bill Targets Homeschool Discrimination

The Home School Graduation Recognition Act, introduced by Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Harris of North Carolina’s 8th District, unanimously passed the House Education and Workforce Committee on Thursday and now awaits a full House vote.

The bill would prevent colleges from discriminating against homeschool graduates in admissions and federal student aid eligibility. It amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify that homeschoolers meet the definition of high school graduates, closing a loophole some universities exploit by requiring extra documentation or testing.

The legislation has garnered support from the Home School Legal Defense Association and North Carolinians for Home Education.

North Carolina has the fourth-highest number of homeschooled children in the nation, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

State Auditor Reviews Town of Cary’s Spending

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek’s office is conducting a preliminary review of the Town of Cary’s policies to determine if a full audit or investigation into employee spending is warranted, following citizen tips amid scrutiny of Town Manager Sean Stegall’s expenses.

Stegall has been on paid administrative leave since the conclusion of a closed session Nov. 20 council meeting, with officials citing personnel confidentiality for not disclosing details. The meeting adjourned shortly after 10 p.m. with council members exiting through a rear door.

Questions focus on Stegall’s 2023 conference stays, including over $3,000 at a luxury hotel separate from staff, and a lost-receipt form for the same amount. The town also paid over $37,000 for Mayor Pro Tem Lori Bush’s master’s degree, which she repaid.

At Thursday’s council meeting, residents demanded transparency, citing eroded trust and rising town taxes.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina joined a coalition of 18 Democratic-led states in suing the Trump administration over its new $100,000 H-1B visa application fee, arguing it unlawfully exceeds processing costs and hinders hiring skilled workers in higher education and research. (More)

➤ Raleigh: A third victim has accused Whitsett nurse Brayan Alvarez Ortiz of sexual assault. He was rebooked Friday and faces multiple charges, including kidnapping and sexual battery. Police urge potential additional victims to come forward. (More)

➤ Duke University journalism professor Stephen Buckley resigned in early December following a university investigation into sexual misconduct, confirmed by sources close to him. The university had placed him on leave in October. (More)

➤ Swannanoa: A paved bike park, touted as the largest in the Americas, is under construction on the former Beacon mill site and will anchor Beacon Park, an 8.5-acre complex encompassing climbing walls, a walking trail, a playground, and an event lawn. (More)

➤ Robeson County: In a 4-3 decision, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that NCDOT contractor Truesdell Corporation is not liable for workers’ compensation to Deputy Stephen Matthew Lassiter, who was injured in 2019 while directing traffic. The court cited Truesdell’s insufficient control over his duties. (More)

➤ Hatteras Island: The Island Free Press highlighted holiday light displays at homes, businesses, and public spaces from Buxton to Hatteras Village and the Tri-Villages. (See Photos)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers fell out of a first-place tie in the NFC South after losing to the New Orleans Saints 20-17 yesterday. The Panthers gave up 13 unanswered points after leading 17-7 in the third quarter. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes took home their second consecutive shootout victory on Saturday, winning 4-3 over the Philadelphia Flyers. Hurricanes winger Jackson Blake scored the deciding goal. (Watch Video)

➤ Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball missed his third consecutive game yesterday. The Hornets’ ailing star has played only 16 games this season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ The North Carolina Supreme Court declined to review an animal cruelty lawsuit by Legal Impact for Chickens against Burke County producer Case Farms on Friday, allowing lower court rulings to stand that exempt commercial poultry operations from the state’s animal protection law. (More)

➤ The North Carolina Supreme Court also declined to hear an appeal from Mission Health operator HCA, clearing the way for AdventHealth to build a 67-bed hospital near Weaverville to help address regional bed shortages. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, a bipartisan trial court panel on Friday unanimously rejected New Bern eye surgeon Dr. Jay Singleton’s challenge that North Carolina’s certificate-of-need law violates his rights by restricting his ability to perform surgeries, upholding it as constitutional. (More)

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➤ A recent feature revisits Cornelia Vanderbilt’s life after divorcing John Francis Amherst Cecil in 1934 and abruptly leaving Biltmore. She reinvented herself in Europe under the name Nilcha, adopted a bold hairstyle, studied art in Paris, traveled widely, remarried twice, and died in England in 1976. (More)

➤ Nine-year-old Juju Hayes, the only girl on Raleigh’s Capital City Steelers youth football team, scored the squad’s first touchdown by a girl—channeling grief from the loss of her father and, more recently, her sister to pediatric cancer, into her passion for football. (More)

➤ Moores Creek National Battlefield hosted Christmas Comes to Currie on Saturday, recreating colonial-era holiday traditions from 1776 through candle-making, corn husk dolls, food demonstrations, musket firings, and embroidery. (Watch Report)

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Have you submitted your DNA to a DNA database?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet
4. Won’t ever

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you visited Biltmore at Christmas?

1. Yes: 38%
2. No: 36%
3. Not yet: 26%

Which of Cornelia Vanderbilt’s sons has descendants who manage Biltmore today?

Show me the answer