FACE THE FACTS, OBEY THE COURT. ALL NC KIDS DESERVE A QUALITY EDUCATION: Only eight of the 51 items listed as related to the Comprehensive Plan received full funding and just 12 more got partial funding, according to the detailed accounting from the Budget Office. That means 31 of the initiatives that were supposed to be implemented over the next two years were ignored. No matter the view - looking at the number of programs recommended compared to those adopted or the resources needed to fully implement the order versus what was appropriated – the conclusion still comes out the same. North Carolina’s legislators failed the promise they made to uphold the state Constitution they all swore an oath to keep. It remains a mystery why the state’s legislative leaders have been so intractable in the refusal to obey the court’s order. It is not a question of resources – it’s estimated there’s $4.25 billion in unappropriated savings reserves in the budget that was passed – more than enough to fully implement the first two years of the plan. It's not that big of a mystery; NC's Republicans have waged a war on public schools for more than a decade, while bending over backwards to promote charters and (mostly religious) private schools. For them, failing public schools is a feature, not a flaw.
https://www.wral.com/editorial-face-the-facts-obey-the-court-all-nc-kids-deserve-a-quality-education...

NC STATE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION LOOKING INTO MARK MEADOWS' VOTER FRAUD: The State Bureau of Investigation is looking into allegations that a former Trump aide who once represented North Carolina in Congress may have committed voter fraud. Nazneen Ahmed, spokeswoman for Attorney General Josh Stein’s office, confirmed the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows after the New Yorker first reported that the former congressman, who represented North Carolina’s westernmost district, registered to vote in September 2020 using an address he had never visited. Ahmed said Stein’s office received a request from Macon County District Attorney Ashley Welch that the Department of Justice’s Special Prosecutions Sections assume her role in this matter, and the DOJ agreed. Break out the popcorn. Seriously, I'm hungry, but anything that takes more than 3 minutes 15 seconds (that is the optimum popping time) it too much work.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article259506469.html

AUDIT OF NC'S UNEMPLOYMENT PAYOUTS REVEALS UNNECESSARY PANDEMIC SUFFERING: State Auditor Beth Wood's office found only 60% of the 3.67 million initial payments across eight programs valued at $1.2 billion were sent within the federal government's standards for timeliness. And 32% of the first payments — totaling $342 million — were not issued within 30 days, the report said. In all, $11.6 billion in unemployment benefits were issued during the 15-month period reviewed. Coronavirus lockdowns began in March 2020. Despite the “unprecedented" rise in benefit claims during the pandemic, the division wasn't “prepared for economic downturns that will inevitably occur,” auditors wrote. We covered this pretty regularly at the time, so it's not a big surprise. And considering $11,600 million was payed out over the whole period, that $342 million shakes out to be about 3%. It shouldn't have happened, but we shouldn't be freaking out about it, either.
https://www.wral.com/nc-audit-438m-in-benefits-failed-to-reach-workers-quickly/20186971/

BLACK WOMEN ARE NOT ANGRY. THEY JUST WANT YOU TO LISTEN: Listening is an important communication skill with the power to build deep and meaningful human connections. It is valuable when working with marginalized communities, particularly those that have been historically excluded from adequate healthcare. I like the Merriam Webster definition of listening as an intransitive verb: "to hear something with thoughtful attention." To hear and understand Black patients requires listening with thoughtful attention. This allows for the building of trust and stronger relationships, which is important for a population with a high historical level of mistrust in the healthcare system. By listening thoughtfully, a healthcare worker demonstrates respect to the patient. It creates a safe space that empowers patients to share without fear of judgment or neglect. Listening with thoughtful attention makes room for empathy and a better understanding of the context in which those words are shared. It helps us act according to the needs of our patients. It makes room for cultural humility and combats the harmful stereotypes that Black women are angry, crazy, or aggressive. And considering pregnant Black women are 2.5 times more likely to die (than white women) from complications related to their pregnancy in the U.S., their concerns are justified.
https://www.wral.com/chinemerem-nwosu-black-women-are-not-angry-they-just-want-you-to-listen/20172160/

MADDY CAWTHORN BUSTED FOR DRIVING WITHOUT A LICENSE: The North Carolina State Highway Patrol charged U.S. Rep. Madison Cawthorn last week with driving while his license was revoked. Cawthorn faces the charge after a traffic stop in Cleveland County on March 3, according to Sgt. Chris Knox, a patrol spokesman. Around 10:26 p.m., a trooper saw a 2019 Toyota drive left of center on U.S. 74B and pulled the vehicle over, Knox said in a written statement to McClatchy. Knox told McClatchy that he can’t comment on why Cawthorn’s license has been revoked because that information is protected under a federal law, the Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. That doesn't seem to stop right-wingers from obtaining criminal/traffic information about black people shot by cops. But PWBs (Privileged White Boys) are different, I guess.
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article259230705.html