SUMMARY: Western North Carolina is set to receive $1.65 billion in Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds for recovery from Hurricane Helene. The funding, announced by Gov. Josh Stein and HUD Secretary Adrianne Todman, includes $1.4 billion for the state and $225 million for Asheville. The grants will support rebuilding homes, repairing infrastructure, and assisting small businesses. Additionally, Stein has launched a recovery team led by Matt Calabria, issued executive orders to streamline housing procurement and fuel transport, and prioritized long-term resilience for impacted communities. These funds aim to address both immediate and future recovery needs.

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SUMMARY: The North Carolina Supreme Court election between incumbent Democrat Allison Riggs and Republican Jefferson Griffin has led to extensive litigation. Griffin is challenging over 60,000 ballots, despite all protests being dismissed, leaving Riggs ahead by 734 votes. The State Board of Elections is appealing to the federal court to block a state remand regarding the election certificate. A temporary stay has been issued, preventing certification until January 2024. Griffin argues the Board’s actions hinder judicial resolution of state-law issues, while the board’s decisions align with political party interests, reflecting broader legislative changes affecting election oversight.

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SUMMARY: U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson plans to address the debt limit through the reconciliation process, bypassing bipartisan negotiations with Democrats. The GOP intends to use this complex process to enact changes to immigration, border security, and tax policy, avoiding Senate filibusters. Johnson emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility, stating Republicans aim to reduce government spending, excluding cuts to Social Security and Medicare. He also discussed efforts to eliminate waste and fraud in federal agencies. The GOP aims to finalize a budget resolution by February and start work on bills in March, targeting a full package by April.

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