Latest news with #CapitolBureau
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
If Stein vetoes gun bill, NC House doesn't have the votes to pass it — for now
Good morning and welcome to Under the Dome. I'm Ronni Butts. Here's your update on North Carolina politics. First up, a dispatch from Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan, who covered the controversial vote in the House on Senate Bill 50. The Senate easily approved a bill that would eliminate the law requiring a permit for concealed carrying of handguns. But the bill stumbled in the House, even as it moved forward. Democratic Gov. Josh Stein is likely to veto the bill sent to his desk on Wednesday. If it becomes law, it would would mean anyone age 18 and older could carry a concealed gun, without getting a permit that includes firearms training and a background check. House Republicans are one vote short of a supermajority, which is the three-fifths needed to overturn a veto from Stein. That means Republicans need every one of them to vote for the bill, as well as one Democrat. That didn't happen Wednesday when the bill passed the House after passionate debate. Instead, all Democrats voted against it. They were joined by two Republicans who also voted against it. Ten Republicans were absent and didn't vote. House Speaker Destin Hall acknowledged to reporters that the math doesn't add up to make the bill become law over Stein's objections. You can read more about why Republican Reps. Ted Davis and William Brisson opposed the measure in my story from Tuesday, when the bill went through committee, and then my latest from the floor debate and vote itself. Lawmakers always say they should vote their conscience, constituents and caucus, in that order, which means they should have the freedom to vote how they personally want, and what the people in their district want, before what their party wants. But some lawmakers have previously been threatened with having opponents in their next primary election if they break from their caucus. I asked Stein's office for comment on the bill but did not hear back by the end of the day. — Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan Students from North Carolina's historically Black colleges and universities spoke alongside lawmakers Wednesday to advocate for increased funding for HBCUs as well as for voting rights initiatives. Rep. Zack Hawkins and Sen. Gladys Robinson, who co-chair the bicameral HBCU Caucus, have both sponsored legislation to appropriate funds to several of the schools, but the bills haven't gotten a hearing. 'It's the ability for us to have a bold and comprehensive piece of legislation that addresses the infrastructure, deferred maintenance and needs holistically for HBCUs,' Hawkins said at a press conference. Robinson, who is a member of the committee that's supposed to work out a deal on the state budget, said that while their bills may not pass, she's confident the budget will fund some HBCU improvements. Students at Wednesday's press conference also spoke against gerrymandering and advocated for the legislature to adopt an independent redistricting process. The General Assembly needs 'to take action to establish a redistricting process that is truly by the people and for the people of North Carolina,' said Mackenzie Grant, an N.C. A&T State University and HBCU Student Action Alliance fellow at Common Cause NC, a voting rights group. She mentioned that a previous electoral map had split her university campus in half between two different voting districts. Nyla Hankins, an NC A&T student and fellow with Common Cause NC, spoke out against a House bill that would make disseminating official voter registration forms as part of registration drives a misdemeanor. Instead, organizations would have to present voters with sample forms. 'We should be maintaining and widening access to voter registration,' Hankins said. 'Not merely banning it, as this bill proposes to do.' The bill in question, House Bill 127, has not gotten a committee hearing. It was scheduled to be heard in an elections committee last week, but lawmakers canceled the meeting shortly before it was set to begin. — Ronni Butts and Kyle Ingram Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy is bringing Michael Regan, the former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President Joe Biden, to its campus as a Polis Distinguished Fellow. Regan, a North Carolina native, served as Secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality under then-Gov. Roy Cooper. Polis Distinguished Fellows are experts in public service, organizing or politics who work with students on a project to address a specific political issue, according to Duke's website. Beginning in August, Regan will participate in the Civil Discourse Project, which aims to 'promote civil discourse through modeling or teaching the capacities and virtues necessary to engage in healthy exchange across difference.' While at the EPA, part of his work focused on addressing climate change and environmental justice through the Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights. ▪ Accuracy in Media, an activist media organization, posted a video Tuesday of a former Western Carolina University administrator implying to undercover reporters that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts will continue to be made at the university, despite recent state and federal policies banning DEI policies in educational institutions. Korie Dean reported that the university released a statement assuring that it complies with those policies. Officials say the now-retired administrator in the video had no authority to enforce DEI policies. This is the third video posted by Accuracy in Media in recent weeks of UNC System administrators who made similar DEI comments. ▪ A bill to expand the use of ignition locks is awaiting a vote in the Senate, weeks after House approval, Richard Stradling reported. Under the bill, ignition locks could be used voluntarily by those awaiting a court date with charges of driving while impaired to help reduce punishment. Ignition locks, which require a driver to blow into a device to detect alcohol content before starting their vehicle, are already required for some charged with a DWI. 'The main intent behind this bill is to give people an avenue to take accountability when they screw up or make mistakes,' Rep. Mike Schietzelt said at a press conference on Tuesday. ▪ Lawmakers are considering requiring all North Carolina public school teachers to complete a criminal background check before being hired, T. Keung Hui reported. Currently, it is optional for North Carolina public schools to run criminal background checks on prospective teachers. Some Democrats are leery about the bill because of concerns about costs. North Carolina received an F score from USA Today for teacher screening in 2016. ▪ Karen Brinson Bell spoke with politics reporter Kyle Ingram about her reflections on her six years as the North Carolina State Board of Elections director. She was ousted from her position last month after the General Assembly transferred the power to appoint board members to State Auditor Dave Boliek. Brinson Bell recounted how she and the board navigated unexpected challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, Hurricane Helene and the six-month-long battle over a State Supreme Court seat between Allison Riggs and Jefferson Griffin. Sam Hayes, the North Carolina House speaker's general counsel since 2021, took her place after a 3-2 vote of the new board. ▪ The Trump administration has renewed support for a new bridge under construction over the Alligator River, which will connect the Outer Banks and the rest of the state. The construction is partially funded by a $110 million federal grant using money from the infrastructure bill passed under former President Joe Biden. President Donald Trump's administration says the grant was backlogged under the Biden administration and will now move ahead. The new bridge, which is set to be complete in 2029, will replace the current 60-year-old Lindsay C. Warren Bridge. Richard Stradling has more. Today's newsletter was by Ronni Butts, Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan and Kyle Ingram. Check your inbox Friday for more #ncpol. Not a subscriber? Sign up on our website to receive Under the Dome in your inbox daily.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Fort Riley hosts job fair for soldiers, veterans
TOPEKA (KSNT) — Fort Riley hosted a hiring event called 'Hiring our Heroes' Tuesday afternoon. The event was hosted by the transition assistance program, and is designed to help service members and veterans connect with local and national employers. It included workshops, where soldiers were taught about job searching and networking, and a job fair. More than 70 employers were at the event to meet with soldiers who are seeking their next job. Crystal Bryant-Kearns, the Director of Events for Hiring our Heroes, believes the event is a can't-miss opportunity for both employers and job-seeking service members. Big Red One sending troops to D.C. Birthday Parade 'If you are an employer and you have not tapped into military talent, you are missing out on excellent talent,' Bryant-Kearns said. 'If you are a service member or military spouse, and you are seeking your next opportunity, you want to work for a company that is military-ready to hire, and that supports you, and their culture matches what they're looking for.' Hiring our Heroes is an annual event at Fort Riley. Event coordinators said they've been very successful in finding jobs for service members and veterans. For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
More Satanic protests planned for Kansas Statehouse
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A Satanic organization is planning additional protests at the Kansas Statehouse after an earlier 'Black Mass' ceremony turned violent and ended in several arrests. Michael Stewart, president of the Satanic Grotto, said his organization has plans to hold more protests in Topeka in the coming days. Stewart and other participants were arrested during a controversial Black Mass ceremony inside the Kansas Statehouse in March this year, but that isn't deterring Stewart from returning to the home of the state's Legislature. Stewart told Rebekah Chung with 27 News' Capitol Bureau that he is planning to hold other events at the Statehouse soon. One of these includes a 'Witching Hour Protest.' 'Yes, that's what we're working on,' Steward said. 'We're gonna send in a permit here pretty soon for what I like to call the Witching Hour Protest. We'll be showing up here at midnight and we will be inviting not just Satanists but pagans, wiccans.' Former Kickapoo leader pleads guilty to child pornography crime Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay told 27 News earlier this week his office has yet to make a decision on whether or not charges will be filed in connection to the Black Mass event on March 28. Four people, including Stewart, were arrested as Stewart tried to hold the ceremony inside the Statehouse building. The Black Mass sparked controversy in the days leading up to it, especially among Catholic and Christian organizations. Members of the Kansas Legislature and Governor Laura Kelly issued statements as the Black Mass approached with many legislators condemning it. 'The goal behind this new one [Witching Hour Protest] I think is to start getting solidarity between these fringe religions and groups here in Kansas that might feel isolated and feel like they don't have any power on their own,' Stewart said. What new Kansas laws go into effect on July 1, 2025? For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why are flags to fly at half staff on Thursday in Kansas?
TOPEKA (KSNT) – Kansas Governor Laura Kelly is ordering flags to fly at half-staff later this week. Kelly issued the order on May 13, stating that flags throughout Kansas should be flown at half-staff from sunup to sundown on Thursday, May 15. This act is meant to honor Peace Officers Memorial Day. 'Every day, Kansas peace officers put their lives on the line in service to their communities and fellow Kansans,' Kelly said. 'Peace Officers Memorial Day is a solemn reminder to acknowledge and appreciate their sacrifices and commitment.' Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to local, state and federal law enforcement personnel who have died or been disabled while in the line of duty. Blackout license plates available for purchase in Kansas starting on July 1, 2025 For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is the upcoming ‘Black Mass' in Kansas?
TOPEKA (KSNT) – A controversial and highly-anticipated 'Black Mass' is set to take place at the Kansas Statehouse in the days ahead. But what will happen during it? 27 News reached out to Chris Jones, a Religious Studies professor at Washburn University, to help explain the 'what' and the 'why' of the upcoming Black Mass. He said a Black Mass like the one being put on by the Satanic Grotto on Friday, March 28 is a way for modern-day Satanic groups to exercise their First Amendment Rights. 'A way to get attention, it's a way to have an impact, it's a way to offend people,' Jones said. Jones said if one of the goals of the Black Mass is to raise the profile of a group like the Satanic Grotto, then it can be an effective way to accomplish that. Since the Black Mass was announced, it has drawn widespread attention and condemnation from religious organizations like the Archdiocese of Kansas City for its alleged use of stolen communion hosts used during Catholic masses. The Kansas House of Representatives also passed a resolution on Thursday, March 20 criticizing the Black Mass at a vote of 101 to 15. Advocates fight to keep Kansas StarBase program alive after teachers put on unpaid leave 'It's not because they necessarily hate Christianity, it's because they see Christianity as having this sort of dominant position in American society, and they want to challenge that,' Jones said. Michael Stewart, founder and President of the Satanic Grotto, spoke with Nexstar's Kansas Capitol Bureau on March 13. He called the Black Mass an 'act of rebellion' to show lawmakers there are other religions and beliefs in the Sunflower State. Jones encourages people to find the facts before rushing to make a judgement call about someone else's religious beliefs. He said the Satanic Grotto may be trying to show people the First Amendment not only protects the beliefs of the majority, but also the minority of citizens. 'When you're looking at somebody else's religion, somebody else's culture, try to suspend judgement, in fact I will quote Ted Lasso, and say 'be curious, not judgmental',' Jones said. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said the Black Mass could go along as planned on March 28 but would have to take place outside the Statehouse building. Stewart said he is still looking to hold the ceremony inside the Statehouse despite this directive. Kansas gov. approves six new laws, including 'Move Over' law For more Capitol Bureau news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
