October 24, 2025
COVID-19
$40.6 Million In Unspent Recovery Funds Could Soon Be Designated
Johnston County Commissioners are expected to decide very soon on how to spend $40.6 million in funds earmarked for Johnston County through the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. …
Johnston UNC Health Care Workers Protest COVID Vaccination Mandate
Approximately 25 protesters gathered Sunday afternoon in front of Johnston UNC Health in Smithfield to protest a recent decision by hospital administrators making COVID vaccinations mandatory for all employees. Hospital…
Suburban, Rural Schools Make Masks Optional; Urban Counties Keep Mandates
By Andrew Dunn Carolina Journal Given the freedom to choose whether to mandate masks for students, school boards across the state have begun voting to make face coverings optional for…
Johnson Issues Statement On 4-3 School Board Vote
Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson issued a statement following Thursday’s 4-to-3 vote allowing facemasks to be optional for students and staff. Mr. Johnson, Lyn Andrews, Todd Sutton and…
Smithfield To Receive $3.8 Million In American Rescue Plan Funds
The Smithfield Town Council voted to accept $3.8 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds. Smithfield will receive half of the funds in July 2021 and the second in July…
Governor Announces Vaccination Pressure Campaign, No New Mask Mandate
By Jeff Moore Carolina Journal Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Thursday, July 29, that, although statewide mask mandates will still expire July 30 according to recent guidance, his administration is launching…
Mask Mandate Question Settled In 4-3 Vote By School Board
A divided Johnston County Board of Education voted 4-to-3 to allow for parental choice when it comes to their children wearing masks when they return to school in August. Superintendent…
North Carolina To Require Vaccine Verification For State Employees
Urges Other Government Agencies and Private Employers to do the Same RALEIGH – Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen,…
Getting COVID-19 Shot Is Matter Of Personal Choice, Conservatives Say
By John Trump Carolina Journal The voices of those urging government officials to rely on individual liberty and personality responsibility as the founding principles relate to getting the COVID vaccine…
Cooper To Let Mask Mandates Expire, Says Schools ‘Should’ Require Masks In K-8
By Jeff Moore Carolina Journal Gov. Roy Cooper will allow existing state mask mandates to expire on July 30, but he’s recommending required masking for public school students in kindergarten…
Rouzer Announces Pandemic Assistance For Loggers & Timber Haulers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman David Rouzer (NC-07) released the following statement Tuesday after the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced $200 million in Pandemic Assistance to provide relief to timber harvesting…
NC Now Has A State-Certified COVID-19 Vaccination Card. What Does That Mean?
By Jeff Moore Carolina Journal Earlier this year, Governor Roy Cooper said his administration was exploring the development of a vaccine passport for residents of North Carolina. “We want to…
