MORNING LINEUP
NC Treasurer Brad Briner and State Health Plan Administrator Tom Friedman talk about insurance plan finances on Aug. 15, 2025 (Photo: Lynn Bonner/NC Newsline)
By Lynn Bonner
Out-of-pocket charges for North Carolina State Health Plan members who use Atrium Health hospitals and specialists will stay about the same under an agreement that state Treasurer Brad Briner announced Tuesday.
The agreement puts Atrium Health in the “access” tier, which means members will have out-of-pocket charges that essentially remain level. Duke Health is the other access provider. However, WakeMed is still in the “non-preferred” tier.
As power-hungry data centers proliferate, states are searching for ways to protect utility customers from the steep costs of upgrading the electrical grid, trying instead to shift the cost to AI-driven tech companies. (Photo: Dana DiFilippo/New Jersey Monitor)
By Laura Leslie
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and Attorney General Jeff Jackson called on state regulators Tuesday to require prospective data center developers to shoulder more of the cost for the additional power they’ll need — or to produce more of it themselves through renewable energy.
The N.C. Utilities Commission has been working for months with Duke Energy and other stakeholders to iron out how data centers should be charged for the power they need. On Oct. 7, Duke announced the group had reached an agreement on a large-load tariff on data centers, as well as requirements that data centers pay for any grid upgrades needed, like transmission lines and substations.
Dollar General operates more than 1,100 stores in North Carolina. (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline)
By Greg Childress
North Carolina State Attorney General Jeff Jackson and 19 of his colleagues in other states announced Tuesday they’re suing Dollar General for overcharging customers. The bargain retailer is accused of raising prices for products at the register without updating sticker prices on shelves.
At a press conference Tuesday, Jackson called Dollar General a habitual offender that has been “ripping people off,” even after being told repeatedly to resolve the problem.
MORE NEWSLINE
Early voting surges in midterm elections as millions cast their ballots | Ariana Figueroa and Shauneen Miranda
Birth centers are linked to better health outcomes, research shows, but 10 states have none | Kelsey Moseley-Morris
MORE HEADLINES
NEWS
How Trump’s ‘little detour’ to Iran became a roadblock in the midterm elections | APNews.com
Wide district across 3 mountain counties makes for potentially close NC House race| Carolina Public Press
Felony gun charge dropped for NC Senate candidate involved in Cary police standoff | WRAL.com
Californians revolt against police drones after rapid adoption across state | APNews.com
Atrium, State Health Plan strike a deal after public fight| NC Health News
NC Republican congressmembers buy TV ads in deep-red districts as election looms | WUNC.org
Whether 'stringing' or 'looping,' tobacco is the tie that binds many North Carolina farm families | AP/WUNC.org
Attorney: Drag queen could explore legal action after AI-generated political ad| WLOS.com
COMMENTARY
How Project 2025 became the blueprint for Republicans' failure | USA Today/Raleigh News & Observer
The dark side of AI regulation is unrestrained government control | The Hill
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