Laura Leslie

1 week ago | wral.com | Jack Hagel |Laura Leslie |Will Doran |Paul Andy Specht

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a pair of immigration-enforcement bills Friday, likely setting up the Democratic governor’s first override battle with the state’s Republican-led legislature. Stein rejected Senate Bill 153, which would require state and local government agencies to cooperate with deportation efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials. He also vetoed House Bill 318, which was intended to make adjustments to an existing immigration law.

1 week ago | wral.com | Laura Leslie |Josie Zimmer

Flood insurance not an option for many homeowners left paying for Helene damageA $450 million round of aid for Helene recovery efforts will move forward soon, Senate Leader Phil Berger said Tuesday, decoupling the relief bill from what he described as an impasse over state budget talks. The state has already approved about $1.6 billion in Helene aid. The most recent package was a $524 million bill that was signed into law in March.

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Mark Bergin |Laura Leslie |Josie Zimmer

World-class wrestler and Army combat veteran Sally Roberts knows a lot about fighting. But she nearly lost her battle with post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]. Roberts is among the veterans and advocates who visited Raleigh this week to lobby lawmakers for more access to psychedelic therapy for PTSD. She said psychedelic-assisted therapy saved her life. “I didn't know where to go,” Roberts said.

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Laura Leslie |Ryan Bisesi

A proposal to put more ignition interlock devices into the cars of drunk drivers has already passed the state House, but hasn't yet had a hearing in the NC Senate. Family members of victims of drunk drivers came to Raleigh for a news conference Tuesday to push for progress. House Bill 789 would allow some first-time drunk drivers to voluntarily install an ignition interlock device in their cars in exchange for a chance at a lighter sentence.

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Laura Leslie |Josie Zimmer |Mark Bergin

A bill scheduled for its first hearing in a key committee on Tuesday would add a new layer of scrutiny for would-be North Carolina teachers. House Bill 775 would require the North Carolina Board of Education to review criminal background checks for each applicant for a teaching license in the state. Under current state law, it's up to local school districts to complete criminal background checks on school employees. The state doesn't play a role.