Agriculture

CBS 17: 4 days left for NC farmers to apply for assistance following hurricanes Florence, Michael
Four days remain for farmers to seek state assistance and relief for crop losses from the fall's hurricanes, following an extension which also added more counties including Wake to the eligibility list.

Education

WUNC: State Education Officials Say 1 in 5 NC Teachers is Chronically Absent
The Department of Public Instruction considers about 1 in 5 North Carolina teachers chronically absent, which it defines as taking 10 or more non-consecutive sick days in a school year. State education officials say chronic absenteeism is costing schools in student test scores and pay for substitute teachers.   

Healthcare

CAROLINA PUBLIC PRESS: Report: NC health officials not on track to comply with federal settlement
Time is winding down for North Carolina health officials to make substantial improvements in services for adults with mental illness, required under a 2012 settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice.

BECKERS HOSPITAL REVIEW: North Carolina wants US to recover millions in overpayments to hospitals
North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell called for the U.S. Justice Department to push  all hospitals in his state to be transparent in their pricing and take action against  the ones overpaid by the state's health plan.

In the Courts

RICHMOND COUNTY JOURNAL: Three-judge panel named to hear new redistricting challenge
N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin named a three-judge Superior Court panel to hear the Common Cause v. David Lewis redistricting challenge.

CHARLOTTE OBSERVER: Judge rules for Roy Cooper over law that let Pat McCrory put his stamp on agency
Wake County judge has struck down as unconstitutional a law that authorized former Republican Gov. Pat McCrory in his final days in office to name the top leaders of the agency that decides compensation for thousands of workers injured on the job.

Transportation

WCNC: NC to receive millions in federal funding to fix ailing bridges
The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced major infrastructure improvements, including $23 million in funding for North Carolina to improve the safety of 77 bridges in 17 rural counties as part of major infrastructure improvements.

Voter ID

THE HILL: NC governor vetoes voter ID bill
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) on Friday vetoed a measure that would require voters to show certain forms of identification at the polls.