NC state employees News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Season's Greetings from the North Carolina General Assembly

Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: The Nothing-Berger -- Where's the beef?

Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: State Health Plan's financial instability

Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Teachers, state employees react to health insurance rate hikes

Costs are going up for most of the nearly 800,000 people on the North Carolina State Health Plan, which provides insurance for teachers, state employees, retirees and their families.

NC State Health Plan leaders vote to raise health insurance premiums on state workers

Costs are going up for most of the nearly 800,000 people on the North Carolina State Health Plan, which provides insurance for teachers, state employees, retirees and their families.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

'Easier, faster and better': Stein signs law aimed at improving NC government hiring process

The effort focuses on simplifying the application and hiring process, as well as adjusting experience required for certain roles across state agencies.

Jack Hagel and Will Doran, WRAL News

Treasurer, governor expect higher returns for state pension fund under new law

Governor Josh Stein has signed into law a major overhaul of how the state pension fund is managed. Its supporters say the changes will lead to better investment returns on the $127 billion fund.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol bureau chief

Wealth and health: NC treasurer talks new pension strategy, weight-loss drug coverage and more

North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner spoke with WRAL News about plans to tackle the state health plan deficit, bringing back coverage of popular weight-loss drugs, and a new investment philosophy for the state pension plan.

NC looks to capitalize on Trump, DOGE efforts to fire federal workers

North Carolina military bases, Forest Service outposts, Veterans Administration hospitals, Social Security offices and Research Triangle Park's massive Environmental Protection Agency's lab employ thousands of federal workers who could soon be fired. Gov. Josh Stein wants them to move to state government.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

State budget 'Plan B' announced as negotiations break down between House, Senate

House Speaker Tim Moore said his chamber plans to make its budget proposal public early next week. Almost immediately, Senate leader Phil Berger said that proposal will be dead-on-arrival in his chamber.

Will Doran and Jack Hagel, WRAL News

State Health Plan raises premiums for 26,000 NC members

Trustees for the North Carolina State Health Plan on Thursday voted to increase premiums for 4,200 retirees and 22,000 dependents covered by its Medicare Advantage plan.

Paul Specht, PolitiFact reporter

As state government vacancies remain high, NC lawmakers look for solutions

Extra raises for state workers are unlikely this year, despite a $1 billion budget surplus. But state lawmakers are looking at other ways to boost hiring and retention in key state agencies.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Changes to state pension plan, 401(k) rules advance in NC legislature

The proposed state pension and 401(k) changes come at a time when North Carolina's state government is struggling to fill vacant jobs, as well as staring down a potential billion-dollar hole in its retirement and health plans.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

DRAUGHON DRAWS: N.C. Health Plan shedding some excess??

Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 -- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist.

Changes at UNC, ECU could cost NC pension plan $1 billion or more, state treasurer says

A new state law will make UNC Health and ECU Health workers ineligible for the state pension plan. Hospital leaders say they'll create a better retirement system. But North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell says it threatens the pensions of all state workers.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Editorial: Legislators focus too much on tax cuts. Time to care about quality of services too

Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 -- Schools don't know if they'll have enough bus drivers to get students into their classrooms or even there will be enough teachers when they arrive. State and local agencies that rely upon state funding don't know how much money they'll have to run crucial programs and provide critical services. The unfortunate reality is that the leaders of the General Assembly don't seem to care about the delivery of government services. There's no expectation of excellence or quality.

NC Secretary of State asks for increase in state worker pay

The Secretary of State's Office handles a wide range of paperwork, including new business filings, which are up 70% since the pandemic. Like a lot of state agencies, its head is begging for a funding boost.

'Brink of a crisis': Secretary of state begs for staffing boost as NC businesses boom

The Secretary of State's Office handles a wide range of paperwork, including new business filings, which are up 70% since the pandemic. Like a lot of state agencies, its head is begging for a funding boost.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Editorial: Legislators need to focus on their jobs, not encroach on governor's duties

Saturday, July 15, 2023 -- Rather than unnecessarily and carelessly encroaching on the duties and responsibility of the governor while pursuing an unnecessary and divisive culture war agenda, Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore would be better to focus on doing their job as legislators -- working to give all kids access to a quality education, provide access to health care for all who need it and improve the overall quality of life in the state.

High turnover, few applications, half a billion dollars: Government struggles to hire as NC legislature debates raises

The North Carolina Office of State Human Resources says employee turnover is costing state agencies $493 million a year. The state employees association says big raises would help avoid those costs. General Assembly budget writers say it's not that simple.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Editorial: Legislative quest for political meddling might start with a look in a mirror

Thursday, April 13, 2023 -- The notion that "political meddling threatens the SBI," as a recent opinion headline warned, could be a valid concern. But the worry should be more for those raising the alarm - who appear perpetuate the problem - and whether the true roots of the meddling will be addressed.

NC SBI director says governor's office tried to oust him

State Bureau of Investigation Director Bob Schurmeier said Tuesday that key members of Gov. Roy Cooper's administration pressed him to resign last fall.

'Clear intimidation': NC SBI director says governor's office tried to oust him

SBI Director Bob Schurmeier called on lawmakers Tuesday to grant the bureau more independence and said Gov. Roy Cooper's administration pressed for his resignation and meddled in hiring decisions.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Bipartisan push to ease qualifications for state government jobs advances in NC Senate

The bill runs along the lines of an executive order Gov. Roy Cooper issued Monday, which is meant to encourage more applicants for open state jobs. The state employees association says: just give raises.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

The Wrap: Busy week brings budget work and beaucoup bills

The week in North Carolina politics from WRAL's NC Capitol team