It's 5.05 and welcome in to a Monday edition of the Carolina Journal News Hour on Charlotte's FM News Talk, 107.9 FM, WBT, I'm Nick Craig. Good morning to you. We start off with some controversy less than two weeks ahead of the July the 4th holiday, as North Carolina is one of nine states that is officially not sending a delegation to the Great American State Fair, which actually kicks off here in just a couple of days. It runs June 25th through July the 10th on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Being billed as a modern day world fair, it celebrates every state and territory in the Union as the nation marks its 250th anniversary.
It will run from the U.S. Capitol to the Washington Monument with classic state fair programming featuring more than 150 exhibits from all 56 states and territories. Businesses, innovators, and civic organization, blue ribbon livestock, competitions, movies, music, military ensembles, flyovers, cultural programming, a lot of events taking place during this great American state fair in Washington, D.C. But states not officially participating do include North Carolina, which as I mentioned has caused some growing controversy on social media, citing that it was too costly to run the pavilion allocated within the approximately 6 to 750 square feet showcase that each state was given for the 16-day event.
Some recent media reports that the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, NCDNCR, estimated that it would cost around $100,000 for the pavilion. And while they didn't confirm that $100,000 figure, a communications director recently for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources told Carolina Journal in an emailed statement that they informed event organizers back on April the 6th that the department would be unable to participate due to costs. He said other state entities were invited to participate, including the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and visit North Carolina, as they determined they could not, they could, in fact, for similar budgetary reasons. According to Rachel Reisner, a spokesperson for Freedom 250, the organizers of the fair, told Carolina Journal in an emailed statement there was no set amount to showcase a state, but some did partner with organizations, companies, and tourism bureaus to help defer the costs.
However, the Tar Heel State fortunately will have a presence, even though it will not be from the state itself. Itself. Three different businesses, Spevco, Richard Childist Racing, and Operation Halo, have stepped up to be the primary sponsors of North Carolina's Pavilion in Washington, D.C. With Lori Cato, a volunteer organizer for the North Carolina Pavilion, telling Carolina Journal that the project will be no cost to North Carolina's taxpayers, noting that no taxpayer money will be spent, and that participation costs were entirely at the discretion of each governor's office, and sponsorships were encouraged to offset the expenses. When asked why the state wasn't officially participating, a spokesman for Democrat Governor Josh Stein told the Carolina Journal in an emailed statement, quote, Governor Stein is excited to celebrate America's 250th birthday, and he is glad that our state will be represented at the fair by two North Carolina companies, noting that Operation Halo was announced after this statement was released.
250 years ago, North Carolina led the way to American independence, and Governor Stein is pleased to honor our state's first in freedom legacy. Very interesting statement there from the governor's office as they refused to allocate funds to participate in the event. Others questioning why the governor wasn't supportive of the situation, with House Speaker Destin Hall saying in a recent statement, it's disappointing that Governor Stein is allowing petty politics to get in the way of North Carolina's participation in a patriotic event celebrating America's 250th birthday. Instead, he has chosen to point the finger elsewhere rather than admit the truth that he never notified the General Assembly that there was a need for funds and clearly had his own partisan reasons for blocking our state's participation in the great American State Fair. In a post on social media Friday, Representative Brendan Jones from Columbus County put a post out on his social media platform saying, quote, Governor Stein has manufactured this crisis with the likes of Connecticut and Oregon using America's 250th celebration as a political pawn.
However, the General Assembly has worked to ensure that our state will be represented at the Great American State Fair. A spokesperson for Jones told Carolina Journal on Friday that both the governor and NCDCR gave the $100,000 figure to his office and that both have funds for sending a delegation. And things like their advertising budget or lapsed salary, saying in fact that they are choosing not to spend the money and using the state budget as an excuse along with politics. The spokesperson said from Jones: It's disappointing that the governor and DNCR aren't celebrating the 250th as a whole. They told the Carolina Journal that concerned benefactors, other primary sponsors, have reached out to the General Assembly in recent weeks and are stepping up to send a delegation to Washington to ensure that North Carolina is properly represented alongside our neighboring states.
Johnson said that, in addition to not having the funds for the fair, DNCR advocated for legislative support for its statewide America 250 programming since before the public launch in 2024, and to date, has not received any funding from the legislature for any of this year's events. He said that the agency has had to fundraise for the events to take place, including the Capitol 250 event, NC Freedom Fest at the state capitol. That's happening on July the 4th, noting that so far 150 events and festivals across the state have taken place, and almost 30 more engagements are scheduled after July the 4th itself. Jones' spokesperson fired back on that and told Carolina Journal that the legislature did, in fact, appropriate funding for the state's 250th activities in the governor's and DNCR's budget. The spokesperson told Carolina Journal, we're fully on board with funds available for the governor and DNCR.
Stein and his agency are choosing not to spend the money that they have set aside in their budgets. They also noted that there is money that has been previously earmarked for all types of things related to America 250. Senator Ted Alexander, the Republican from Cleveland County and co-chair of the state's American 250th Committee, told Carolina Journal in an interview on Friday that while Stein didn't directly respond to a letter that he sent urging him to reconsider his decision to withdraw the state from participating in the fair, he has, in fact, met with the North Carolina DNCR representatives who explained why they wouldn't attend.
However, he noted that he is happy that private entities have stepped up. To represent North Carolina at the fair. Highlighting, I'm glad that these private entities have stepped up to the plate to represent North Carolina. And while I'm still disappointed that our official state didn't do anything, I'm glad that we will have representation. And I think they will do a fine job for us.
I do think it's a testimony to the great nature of our folks here in North Carolina and the patriotic nature of these folks who have stepped up to showcase the many good things about North Carolina and the rest of the country. Others said that they were saddened to hear that there wouldn't be an official presence in Washington. In a release statement, a group of individuals said it was shameful that Governor Josh Stein declined to participate, noting that many volunteer organizations would have been willing to step up if they had known beforehand to help ensure that the state had its place at this national event. The theme is the spirit of North Carolina with the three private entities that have stepped up. First in flight, fast on the track, and strong in the storm.
It will feature the Wright brothers' historic first flight, the state's deep racing heritage with a number three NASCAR racing simulator, and a response of volunteers and Organizations that will have stepped forward during Hurricane Helene. The event is also set to showcase North Carolina's heritage, innovation, agriculture, workforce development, and community spirit. A trailer will display North Carolina's state motto, First in Freedom, with individuals saying that this is a reminder of the independent spirit and love of liberty that have shaped our state since its founding. We've got additional details on this over on our website this morning, CarolinaJournal.com. You can also visit freedom250.org, the official website for more information on the Great American State Fair.
Kicks off this week in Washington, D.C., running June the 5th through July 10th at the National Mall. And while Governor Josh Stein and entities here in North Carolina have decided not to participate, fortunately, three private entities, Spevco, Richard Childess Racing, and Operation Halo, have stepped up to be the sponsors of. Of North Carolina's pavilion. This is a drawing some fire from legislators in Raleigh. We'll keep an eye on the details in the coming days, bring you the latest over on our website, CarolinaJournal.com.
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Welcome back to the Carolina Journal News Hour, Charlotte's FM News Talk 107.9 FM, WBT. And looking at some statewide news this morning, Democrat Governor Josh Stein signed two bills into law on Friday, including one that would delay the use of new property tax valuations in counties that conducted 2026 reappraisals. Under Senate Bill 889, which is named the Property Tax Reappraisal Moratorium, counties that conducted property reevaluations this year would be required to ignore their newly updated valuations for the 26-27 fiscal year, which begins very quickly starting on July the 1st, so less than a week and a half from right now. And instead, those counties would continue using their previous reappraisals. Beginning in the 27-28 fiscal year, that will start July the 1st of 2027.
Counties would then adopt the 2026 reappraisal values and continue using them until their next scheduled reappraisal cycle. Governor Stein said in a press release: the cost of living is too high. This law provides tax relief for North Carolinians who are feeling pain in their pocketbooks. But this law helps residents in only a few counties and is not the most effective method of lowering costs. We must make life more affordable, which is why I'm pushing to cut taxes for working and middle-class families and lower housing, electricity, childcare, and health care costs.
However, even with his signature, the governor said he did have concerns about the law, saying, I'm concerned that this law impacts, that this law will have impacts on the Hurricane Helene recovery in Buncombe County. With the governor continuing, saying that Senate Bill 474 would shield Buncombe County and other jurisdictions recovering from the storm, and I urge the Senate to pass it. Senate Bill 748 is current. In the Senate Rules Committee, where it has been over the last couple of weeks, with Senate leader Phil Berger, the Republican from Rockingham County, saying in a statement all the way back in the month of April. Residents across North Carolina are seeing their property values skyrocket after reevaluations, and it is imperative that the General Assembly take a thoughtful approach to address property tax concerns.
This approach gives residents some clarity on their tax bills while allowing policymakers ample time to put forward proposals to rein in property tax increases. Backed in the House by Representatives John Bluss, the Republican from Guilford, and Alan Branson, the Republican from Guilford, the measure comes as Guilford County residents are seeing significant increases in assessed property values following the county's latest reevaluations. Those higher valuations could translate into larger tax bills depending on the rates adopted by local officials. In some cases, it could be hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars more per year. Representative John Blust recently said, Guilford County's reevaluation numbers make it clear that lower and middle-income families will be hit the hardest by rising property taxes at a time when so many are barely able to make ends meet.
If property tax increases to the point where people can no longer Afford their homes, then we have a serious problem. This moratorium gives Guilford County homeowners breathing room so that families aren't taxed out of their own communities. During debate on the House floor recently, several Democrats spoke in opposition to the legislation that Governor Josh Stein, also a Democrat, just signed into law on Friday. Representative Tracy Clark, another Democrat from Guilford County, said, I strongly believe that this bill is a short-sighted attempt to ease short-term financial pain. It will cause catastrophic trickle-down effects to all of the vital services uplifting Guilford County from our schools to our public safety and beyond.
Clark suggested that the legislation would cost the Guilford County Schools some $58 million in the upcoming fiscal year. Under current law, counties must reappraise Counties must reappraise all real property at least once every eight years, though counties may choose to conduct reappraisals more frequently. Many counties across the state do that in a four-year cycle. Nine counties with reappraisal schedules to take effect on January the 1st of 2026 would fall under this bill. It does include Guilford County and Pender County, a couple of counties that have seen some very rapid growth and explosive increases in property taxes.
The governor also signed House Bill 1123 into law as well on Friday. As I mentioned, two pieces of legislation. That is the UNC omnibus and capital contracting law changes. The governor said, as it relates to that bill, this bill will help meet the capital needs of the institutions of the University of North Carolina system. That is the entirety of the UNC system, not just Chapel Hill.
So those two pieces of legislation have been officially signed into law. Looking at some other statewide news. This morning, expecting another busy week in Raleigh as lawmakers round out the final full week of June in the North Carolina General Assembly. Voting days expected this week, a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. And while the calendar as it stands right now is not full of committee meetings like we have seen over the last couple of weeks, both the House and Senate do have a variety of committee meetings that are scheduled to take place Tuesday and Wednesday.
There are plenty of items still remaining on the House calendar. And of course, the big discussion, the state budget, which lawmakers, at least from what we had heard in weeks past, were expected to unveil that last week. That did not happen. And so we will keep a very close eye on Raleigh to see if lawmakers will take another stab at rolling out that legislation this week. As it was originally planned, lawmakers were expected to be out of Raleigh for the legislative short session right before the July the 4th holiday.
The final two voting days, July 1st and 2nd, coming up next week ahead of July the 4th, which is taking place on a Saturday this year. That remains very much up in the air this morning, as we have heard now for months, that we will get a state budget. We will remain our attention very close to that in Raleigh. Andrew Pomerance, other members of our Carolina Journal and John Locke team, down in Raleigh this week to take a look at some of those details and keep a close eye on that. We'll keep you up to date over on our website, CarolinaJournal.com.
Also, a good time to remind you. To head on over to our website where you can sign up for breaking news and text message alerts for big pieces of legislation and other details, head on over to our website, CarolinaJournal.com. There's a banner right at the top that says sign up for breaking news text message alerts. Head on over there, put in your phone number. And as there is breaking news across the state of North Carolina, predominantly dealing with the North Carolina legislature, you'll get that sent to your phone completely free.
That's those details over at CarolinaJournal.com. You can never have too many tools. Shop DeWalt deals in Lowe's. Get a free Select DeWalt 20 volt max power tool when you buy a Select 20 Volt Max 5 amp hour battery kit. Plus get a free additional DeWalt 20 V Max 8 amp hour battery when you buy a DeWalt 10 inch 20 V Max dual bevel compounded miter saw.
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WBT, I'm Nick Craig. Good Monday morning to you. It was a very busy weekend in Raleigh as more than 150,000 people swarmed the downtown of our state capitol to celebrate the 2026 Stanley Cup Carolina Hurricanes, who won the Stanley Cup back just a couple of weeks ago. A major parade taking place in our state capitol on Saturday morning. This is prompting some renewed discussions over bringing another professional sports franchise and team to the state of North Carolina as the state continues to push for potential MLB expansion.
Senate leader Phil Berger, the Republican from Rockingham County, recently speaking on the Senate floor, indicated that state lawmakers may consider Efforts to help North Carolina secure an expansion team within Major League Baseball. Berger confirmed Thursday that there could potentially be money in the state budget for baseball, but did not provide specifics. Berger said in part, I'd be interested in seeing what steps we would take in order to facilitate putting North Carolina in the best position to be successful in having an owner group because obviously we need to be awarded a franchise. Those were the comments from Senate leader Phil Berger. On the House side, however, it's a little bit of a different discussion as House Speaker Destin Hall expressed some skepticism about the possibility, saying, quote, private companies should pay for their own facilities instead of relying on the North Carolina General Assembly.
However, if someone presents a proposal showing that North Carolina taxpayers would get a strong return on the investment, then I would be willing to consider. Consider it. This is all, of course, ongoing as we continue to watch budget negotiations take place in Raleigh and the interest really coming to light as Raleigh boosts its point from the Carolina Hurricanes championship and using that as evidence that the triangle can support another major professional sports franchise. Democrat Governor Josh Stein has also expressed support, indicating that the governor's office recognizes the triangle as a potential site and is inclined to advocate for an MLB market in and around the state capitol. The governor added that the triangle is a lucrative and potential market for major league baseball, and we're going to work to do all we can.
The owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, acting as a potential franchise lead, has expressed interest in bringing major league baseball to the area, with the billionaire investor and co-owner of the North Carolina Courage also saying that he is interested in financially backing. The effort, the courage, a soccer team. When asked during the Hurricanes playoff run about the opportunity to bring Major League Baseball to Raleigh-Durham, the Hurricane's owner and Tom Dewton said, I think we're going to put ourselves in a really good place. We'll have a compelling offer. At issue is whether and how government bodies such as the state legislature or local agencies may participate in or contribute financially to the efforts.
With Senate leader Phil Berger saying Thursday, That securing a major sports franchise likely requires some level of government cooperation. With Berger saying in part, I don't think you get a major league baseball team or a professional football team at this point without there being good cooperation on part of local and/or state governments. My understanding is that most of the professional leagues discourage interest in localities that basically say we'll take it, but only if the stadium is paid for by the owners. Berger clarified that the state support could take various forms, not necessarily direct stadium funding, with roles may include granting local government authorities to raise funds or establish a governing body such as a centennial authority to oversee stadium projects. Asked whether the budget would have support, financial support for a stadium, Berger was very blunt by saying, I don't know.
He also pointed to North Carolina's growth and the hurricanes statewide, following as reasons that the state should be considered by Major League Baseball. With Berger saying, if someone had told you 20 years ago that a professional hockey team drew the kind of response that we've seen not just in Raleigh and not just in Wake County. But across the state of North Carolina, you wouldn't have believed it. North Carolina is the largest state without a major league baseball team, and Raleigh and Charlotte have both been floated as possible expansion markets. With MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred saying that the league could expand by two teams before his term as the commissioner of major league baseball ends in 2029.
Some other elected officials have jumped in on this discussion recently as well. A statement late in the day on Friday from Luke Farley, North Carolina's labor commissioner, posting on social media, our stock as a sports town, referring to Raleigh, has never been higher. From the Hurricanes bringing home a Stanley Cup to sold-out venues and passionate fans across the triangle, North Carolina has proven it can compete with anyone when it comes to supporting professional sports teams.
Now it's time to bring Major League Baseball to Raleigh. Yeah. An MLB franchise would create jobs, drive tourism, generate investment, and further cement our capital city as one of the premier destinations in the country for sports and entertainment. The fan base is here. The market is growing.
The momentum is real. The question is no longer whether the triangle can support Major League Baseball. The question is whether Major League Baseball is ready for the triangle. Those statements, again, from Republican Labor Commissioner Luke Farley posted on social media over the weekend.
However, the prospect of public money or a new taxing authority for a stadium is expected to draw pushback from fiscal conservatives with Donald Bryson, the president and CEO of the John Locke Foundation, our parent organization over at CarolinaJournal.com, pushed back on the idea of using taxpayer dollars to help bring Major League Baseball to Raleigh, saying in a social media post, please no, people. Don't think they're paying state taxes to build a professional baseball stadium. It's unreasonable. If we can afford a baseball stadium, then we need to cut more taxes. This debate comes as publicly funded stadiums continue to face scrutiny from economists and taxpayer advocates, with critics arguing that stadium subsidies often fail to produce the promised economic benefit and avert public dollars from higher priority projects.
For now, however, Senate Leader Phil Berger's comments suggest that the General Assembly may be willing to explore ways to make this situation more competitive. Berger ending his commentary by saying, if there's an opportunity for North Carolina to get an expansion baseball team, I'd love to see that. I'm hopeful that we'll have the ability to put forward something sooner rather than later that will give us this opportunity. A lot of the discussion moving forward will be on the funding mechanisms for a potential stadium moving forward, as we have seen in many other states across the United States. These facilities cost an ungodly amount of dollars.
The Buffalo Bills, for example, who are set to unveil their new brand new stadium in Orchard Park, just outside of Buffalo, coming up in this NFL season, more than $2.2 billion spent on that facility, with more than $850 million covered by New York State and Erie County taxpayers, Erie County, where the city of Buffalo and Orchard Park resign. That has drawn criticism by many that taxpayers are funding nearly $900 million of a project in the state of New York. It is not just a New York problem either. We have seen similar discussions and concerns in prominently every state across the nation where New York. New stadiums are set to be built as those price tags can easily jump in the one and a half to even two and a half billion dollar range.
With many of those dollars, sometimes half, three-quarters of that money being funded by either states or local governments. We will be keeping an eye on this again as we continue to wait for details from state lawmakers as to what a brand new state budget will look like. Will there be some dollars, at least as it stands right now, there does appear to be some disagreement between Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall as their level of enthusiasm to providing potential state dollars to fund or at least be willing to fund some costs on a facility. We'll keep you up to date with the details over on our website, CarolinaJournal.com. And as always, right here on the Carolina Journal News Hour.
WBT is celebrating 250 years of freedom and 50 years of WBT Sky Show. Join us Saturday, July the 4th at Truest Field, home of the Charlotte Knights, as the Charlotte Symphony will present a music tribute to America, followed by the biggest and best fireworks show in the Southeast. It's the 50th anniversary WBT Sky Show presented by Rhino Shield. That's heading your way Saturday, July the 4th at Truest Field in Uptown Charlotte. Visit WBT.com this morning for tickets and event details.
It's 5:52. Welcome back to the Carolina Journal News Hour, Charlotte's FM News Talk, 107.9 FM, WBT. In some other statewide news, this morning, Bunkham County Schools is the second North Carolina district to land under federal investigation this month over its bathroom policies. This is as the United States Department of Education mounts a campaign to keep transgender students out of facilities that don't match their birth sex. The department's Office of Civil Rights opened a Title IX inquiry June the 17th after a parent complained that there were girls being forced to share their female-only restroom with biological men.
It follows a nearly identical probe into Gebaris County schools just a couple of weeks earlier on June the 1st. A concerned parent reported that girls in the district were, quote, being forced to share their female-only restrooms with biological men, according to the department. The Office of Civil Rights said in the Letter that that arrangement could compromise their equal access to educational opportunities and put them in a potentially unsafe situation. Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Ritchie said in a statement: Since day one, the Trump administration has steadfastly enforced Title IX according to its intended purpose: to protect young women and girls from discrimination on the bias of sex.
So as long as adults afflount the law and twist it into its pursuit of radical political ideologies, the Trump administration will launch investigations, hold schools accountable, and ensure the safety of female students across America. The Bunkham County probe follows a similar investigation, as I mentioned, that was opened into Cabarris County schools. Both inquiries reflect the Trump administration's reading of the 1972 law, which protects sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funding. Within two weeks of taking office, the administration returned to enforcing the 2020 ruling reversing a 2024 Biden era rewrite that extended the law's protections to gender ideology. In the Cabarris County case, the Office of Civil Rights at the federal level said that multiple female students at Coxmill High School reported being required to dress and undress in the presence of male students.
Students that the districts ignored, ridiculed, and dismissed their pleas for protections. One of the students recounted that her former principal said, quote, there isn't anything the district can do, and that the girls can, quote, go somewhere else, end quote, if they felt uncomfortable. Former Coxmill principal Chris Myers later resigned after those comments came to light as the conservative group America First Legal had filed civil rights complaints over the district's handling of the matter. The Combaris investigation grew in part out of efforts by Representative Mark Harris, a Republican representing the state's 8th congressional district, who said he brought the reports from the district directly to the Department of Education. With Harris saying in a statement, when students walk through the doors of their school, the last thing they should have to worry about is their safety in bathrooms and locker rooms.
The reports that my office received from Kiberus County Schools are deeply disturbing and should concern every parent. After bringing these reports directly to the Department of Education, I am grateful for Secretary McMahon's quick action and for treating this matter with the seriousness that it deserves. The investigation lands amid a broader push in North Carolina to restrict access to female-only spaces in school. Back in the month of May, the North Carolina Values Coalition rallied outside the North Carolina legislature, urging lawmakers to bar biological males from girls' bathrooms and locker rooms, with students from Cabarris and Buncombe County schools among those citing encounters to push forward for state lawmakers. According to the coalition, 21 states and Puerto Rico have laws restricting biological males from female or girls' bathrooms and locker rooms in K-12.
Schools, North Carolina has no such statute. You can read more details this morning over on our website, CarolinaJournal.com. That's going to do it for a Monday edition. WBT News is next, followed by Good Morning BT. We're back with you tomorrow morning, 5 to 6, right here on Charlotte's FM News Talk, 107.9 FM, WBT.
