Under the Dome: President Biden, first lady in Raleigh today for campaign rally
Good morning! ☀️
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be in the Raleigh area today, and The News & Observer will have reporters and photojournalists in and outside the rally. The event comes just hours after Biden had his first presidential debate with former President Donald Trump in Atlanta. North Carolina has been a focus of Biden’s reelection campaign with the launch of television ads and visits from Vice President Kamala Harris and other Biden surrogates, Danielle Battaglia reports. Check newsobserver.com for updates later today.
Here’s what else you need to know about North Carolina politics today, from our team and correspondent Stephanie Loder.
MASK CHANGES AMONG NC LEGISLATURE VETO OVERRIDES
State lawmakers on Thursday overrode Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes of three bills, one of which is a controversial law to change the state’s masking laws.
The masking law also includes a modification allowing action to be taken against protesters who block traffic and a campaign finance provision.
The House voted 70-46 on Wednesday to override Cooper’s masking and campaign finance bill vetoes.
The Senate voted 30-13 on Thursday afternoon on the masking bill, completing the final step to enact the bills despite Cooper’s objections.
Get the full story from Avi Bajpai and Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi here.
OUTSIDE NEWBY HOME, FLAG WITH JAN. 6 TIES
The “Appeal to Heaven Flag,” which has been linked to the Jan. 6 insurrection, was seen flying outside a home owned by N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby’s wife.
Newby, a Republican, said the flag was a gift prior to Jan. 6, 2021, and he flies it during national holidays, not as a political statement.
It’s not the first time the flag has been seen at an official’s home or office.
The flags also have been seen at a home owned by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito and outside the office of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.
Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here.
NC LAWMAKERS PASS CHILD CARE FUNDING
State lawmakers passed provisions Thursday to extend child care funding and formally authorize pay raises for North Carolina teachers and other school employees to go into effect.
The GOP leaders in both chambers agreed to pass standalone bills allocating $67.5 million in funding for child care centers until the end of the year.
On Wednesday, Capitol police arrested protesters outside the Senate and House chambers calling for the funding. Without the funding, many day care centers were expected to close or raise tuition costs.
The teacher and school employee raises passed in last year’s two-year budget and will go into effect in the fiscal year beginning on Monday.
The bills have been sent to Gov. Roy Cooper for his signature.
Get the full story from Luciana Perez Uribe Guinassi and Avi Bajpai here.
CITIZENS-ONLY VOTING AMENDMENT ADDED TO BALLOT
North Carolina voters will be asked to decide in November whether they want to add a new amendment to the state constitution to clarify that only citizens are allowed to vote.
State law already requires residents to be citizens to register to vote. It also is a crime for noncitizens to vote in federal elections.
GOP lawmakers who sponsored the amendment believe it will prevent municipal governments from letting noncitizens vote in local elections and end any ambiguity in the constitution.
Critics disagree, claiming the new amendment is just a Republican attempt to drive conservatives to vote and only serves to fuel anti-immigrant conspiracy theories.
Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here.
CAN ELECTION BOARDS WORK WITH ELECTION INTEGRITY GROUPS?
A new bill that would require the State Board of Elections to work with “election integrity” groups to update voter rolls has been passed by North Carolina House Republicans.
Rep. George Cleveland, an Onslow County Republican and the bill’s sponsor, said the integrity groups seek out mistakes in voter rolls – something he says needs to be done before the November election.
Democrats like Rep. Allison Dahle, of Wake County, disagree with the bill because they feel it could ultimately force the state board to disqualify eligible voters.
Get the full story from Kyle Ingram here.
That’s all for today. Check your inbox tomorrow for more #ncpol news.
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