North Carolina State Treasurer Brad Briner is warning that Atrium Health's new affordability program could accelerate financial problems for the State Health Plan by shifting additional costs onto taxpayers and plan members Atrium maintains its program will help reduce out-of-pocket expenses for patients Meanwhile new data shows teacher vacancies across North Carolina declined even before recently approved pay raises took effect Andy Jackson of the John Locke Foundation joins the program with the latest mail-voting numbers showing turnout running nearly below the same point in the midterm election Plus the U S Supreme Court has temporarily blocked a Fourth Circuit [... more]

North Carolina's election season continues to ramp up with Andy Jackson of the John Locke Foundation providing his weekly look at absentee voting and voter registration trends across the state Meanwhile former Charlotte City Council member Tiawana Brown has been sentenced to months in federal prison for COVID relief fraud while the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board voted - to terminate Superintendent Crystal Hill Theresa Opeka of Carolina Journal joins the program to discuss Wake County commissioners' - vote approving the proposed Atrium-WakeMed combination which still faces additional regulatory review State Treasurer Brad Briner is criticizing the deal raising concerns about healthcare [... more]

Vice President JD Vance campaigned in Greensboro for Republican U S Senate candidate Michael Whatley using the rally to contrast Whatley with Democratic former Gov Roy Cooper and to promote the Trump administration's agenda Mitch Kokai of the John Locke Foundation joins the program to discuss a judge's ruling allowing a Chatham County data center project to proceed despite the county's moratorium on new data centers Plus Wake County commissioners have approved changes allowing the proposed combination of WakeMed and Atrium Health to move forward following months of debate over the deal See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

A federal investigation has found discrimination in admissions at Duke University's medical school raising new questions about admissions practices and federal civil rights requirements Meanwhile a newly released warrant provides additional details about an SBI investigation into possible embezzlement while a steel company plans to invest million in an expansion in Fayetteville The State Health Plan is also adding Atrium Health hospitals to its Access provider tier expanding options for plan members See omnystudio com listener for privacy information [... more]

A merger between Wake Med and Atrium Health is being met with opposition from state officials, citing concerns over increased healthcare costs and reduced competition. Meanwhile, the USDA is relocating its research hub to Raleigh, North Carolina, as part of a decentralization plan. Additionally, a bill has been filed in the North Carolina General Assembly to cut funding for the Opportunity Scholarship Program and redirect it to childcare subsidies, while also addressing issues with incomplete voter registration records. [... more]

Caregiving in the workforce is reaching a tipping point, and employers need to understand the makeup of family caregivers, who are high-functioning multitaskers with a hyper sense of responsibility. They are also entrepreneurs with business skills, and employers who hang onto these people are losing valuable employees. Anthony Cirillo, founder of the Caregiver Summit, is advocating for caregivers and working to elevate the conversation about caregiving in the healthcare system. [... more]