State budget News and Reporting Coverage | WRAL

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Phil Berger casts a shadow on the state budget

Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: What's the sound of a complete state budget?... Crickets.

Sunday, Jan. 18, 2026-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: The General Assembly and the State Treasurer raise some eyebrows

Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Medicaid's Carolina cornucopia

Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC students press state lawmakers to fund wildlife crossings

Students from five North Carolina universities rallied at the State Capitol, urging lawmakers to fund wildlife crossings to reduce collisions and protect endangered species like the red wolf.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: North Carolina's state budget at a snail's pace

Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

NC Republicans reject Stein's order on 'special session' to fund Medicaid

Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat, called lawmakers back to Raleigh for a special session to address the state's lack of Medicaid funding, after GOP leaders failed to pass a new budget. Republicans say they plan to disobey the order and wait until next year to address the funding shortfall.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: New discovery- fossilized state budget

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

State budget stalemate impacts Wake County teacher pay raises

The district presented its plan to the school board on Tuesday during an afternoon work session, but the board isn't scheduled to vote on it until Nov. 18 at the earliest.

Wake school board talks budget changes, but not raises, as state budget remains overdue

The district presented its plan to the school board on Tuesday during an afternoon work session, but the board isn't scheduled to vote on it until Nov. 18 at the earliest.

Emily Walkenhorst and Destinee Patterson, WRAL reporters

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

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

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Time has run out in Washington and Raleigh

Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: The Legislature delivers the death penalty... to the state budget

Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

GOP NC lawmakers spar over Medicaid, children's hospital funding

Leaders of the North Carolina House and Senate, who remain far apart on the state's overall spending priorities, are working on a mini-budget to enable continued funding for health care initiatives, people familiar with the negotiations said.

Republican NC lawmakers spar over Medicaid, children's hospital funding as budget impasse drags on

Leaders of the North Carolina House and Senate, who remain far apart on the state's overall spending priorities, are working on a mini-budget to enable continued funding for health care initiatives, people familiar with the negotiations said.

Paul Specht and Jack Hagel, WRAL News

DRAUGHON DRAWS: More stickers for North Carolina's band-aid budget

Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Ankle monitors off? NC officials scramble to keep defendant tracking system running

A system that North Carolina counties use to track defendants in domestic abuse cases faces an uncertain future as the cash-strapped organization seeks long-term funding.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter

Stein signs stopgap spending measure, vetoes school choice bill

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein announced Wednesday that he had signed a so-called "mini budget" to fund state government, as well as a bill aimed at cracking down on squatters. He also vetoed school choice legislation known as House Bill 87.

WRAL News staff

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Time to pass a complete state budget?

Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Stein will sign stopgap spending measure, but says it fails state workers

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein said he would approve stopgap spending while legislative leaders negotiate a full spending plan. He called the mini budget a "Band-Aid."

Laura Leslie, WRAL capitol bureau chief

DRAUGHON DRAWS: North Carolina's hour of need-- veto overrides or a state budget?

Wednesday, July 30, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

Gov. Stein talks Chantal aftermath, government funding to keep citizens safe

North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein toured a dam at Lake Michael Park that was said to save several families who lived downstream.

DRAUGHON DRAWS: No state budget yet, but our work here is done!

Sunday, 6/29/2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

DRAUGHON DRAWS: Fiscal cliff or scenic overlook of state budget plans?

Sunday, June 1, 2025--Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist

On the Record: Proposed cuts to NC state income taxes could lead to budget cuts, economists say

As North Carolina lawmakers negotiate a final budget deal, tax policy is likely to be a major sticking point between the two chambers. Senate Republicans are pushing for deeper cuts, while House Republicans want to hit the pause button. WRAL capitol bureau chief Laura Leslie explains.