North State Journal

2 days ago | nsjonline.com | Christopher Rugaber

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A key U.S. inflation gauge slowed last month as President Donald Trump’s tariffs have yet to noticeably push up prices. Spending by Americans slowed despite rising incomes, potentially an early reaction to higher prices on some imported goods. Friday’s report from the Commerce Department showed that consumer prices rose just 2.1% in April compared with a year earlier, down from 2.3% in March and the lowest since September.

3 days ago | nsjonline.com | Newt Gingrich

When I watch politicians and interest groups rail against Medicaid reform, I wonder if they have any idea what they are saying. Medicaid is an enormous program. It costs $914 billion a year — and rising. Americans paid $584 billion in federal taxes and $326 billion in state taxes to cover it in 2024 (including the Children’s Health Insurance Program). By the way, this total cost is up from $616 billion in 2018. So the Medicaid program has grown by 48% in six years.

3 days ago | nsjonline.com | Stacey Matthews

Though it doesn’t surprise me in the slightest, I nevertheless marvel at how quickly the mainstream media slips into “everything’s a scandal!” mode when a Republican president takes office. They did it in 2017 when Donald Trump first took office, and they’ve done it again, this time in the aftermath of the start of Trump’s second term. The latest one revolves around presidential pardon power, which Trump has used at various points in the first four months of his second term.

4 days ago | nsjonline.com | A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — Former N.C. statehouse Rep. Efton Medford Ager died at the age of 91 on May 27 while in the care at the Brookdale Assisted Living in Goldsboro. Sager represented the 11th District (including part of Wayne County) from 2009 to January 2013. Sager sought reelection in 2012 but lost in the Republican primary that year to Jimmy Dixon, who garnered over 62% of the vote. Rep. John Bell (R-Wayne) noted the passing of his mentor in a post on X.

6 days ago | nsjonline.com | A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon are two of the headliners at this year’s NCGOP convention being held June 5-8 at the Koury Convention Center in Greensboro. Other notable attendees include Jason Miller, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, on Thursday. McMahon will speak during the Grand Old Party Dinner on Friday, along with U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio).