Articles by Gary D. Robertson

North Carolina Lawmakers Disagree Over Watered Down Hands Free Bill

Weeks after North Carolina House members watered down a distracted driving bill, state senators want to restore robust language that would prohibit drivers from holding their cellphones. Republican lawmakers and parents of children who died in distracted driving accidents held …

North Carolina Industry-Backed Cellphone Ban Bill Moves Forward

Legislation originally designed to prohibit hand-held cellphones while driving in North Carolina nearly stalled Friday after a rewrite because lawmakers worried it would punish people who eat or put on makeup behind the wheel. Insurance and automobile safety groups unveiled …

Focus Turns to Insurance Investor’s North Carolina Political Donations After Indictment

In return for a promised $2 million payout, federal prosecutors say, the investor who has recently been North Carolina’s biggest political donor wanted something from the state’s top insurance regulator: go easy on his insurance companies. Now Greg Lindberg is …

North Carolina Agriculture Chief Requests $300M in Aid for Florence Recovery

North Carolina’s agriculture agency asked state legislators Monday for over $300 million to address cleanup and recovery after Hurricane Florence, with most going toward direct payments to farmers who lost crops and livestock to help them stay in business. Agriculture …

Subpoena Issued to North Carolina Insurance Department Over Private Political Donor

A federal investigation seeks documents about business operations connected to a private investment firm founder who seemingly overnight became the largest individual donor in North Carolina politics. The federal grand jury subpoena issued last month to the state Department of …

North Carolina Lawmakers Approve Florence Recovery Legislation, $57M in Funding

In a rare show of bipartisanship, the North Carolina legislature quickly approved Tuesday legislation described as financial and policy down payments on what’s expected to be a long, expensive recovery from Hurricane Florence. Barely two weeks after the storm’s last …

Carolinas Still Facing Major Flooding More Than a Week After Florence

Major flooding remains in eastern North Carolina more than a week after Hurricane Florence made landfall. Gov. Roy Cooper said Saturday that nine of the state’s river gauges are at major flood stage and four others are at moderate stage, …

Florence Crop Damage to Farms in the Carolinas Could Cost Billions

Hurricane Florence is testing the resolve of farmers in the Carolinas, who could face billions of dollars in agricultural damage while still feeling the sting from Hurricane Matthew almost two years ago. After last weekend’s high winds and rain that …

North Carolina Storm Recovery Chief Accedes Frustrations Over Hurricane Matthew Recovery

North Carolina’s emergency management chief acknowledged a laborious process for homeowners seeking federal funds for repairs due to Hurricane Matthew and is looking for improvements looking to the next storm. While more than $630 million in federal and state funds …

North Carolina High Court Rejects Dram Shop Claim Against Hotel in Woman’s Death

The estate of a woman who died after a night of heavy drinking while celebrating with her husband at a hotel restaurant cannot successfully sue the owners because her actions contributed to her death, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled. …