COVID-19

MATTHEWS: Roy Cooper’s COVID-era actions are a weakness, not a strength

May 21, 2026 Stacey Matthews

Because then-North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper was reelected in 2020, he probably thought that it was proof voters approved of his handling of the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. My thought bubble on […]

COVID-era prison release settlement under Cooper linked to suspect in Zarutska murder

February 6, 2026 A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — An article by Fox News questions if Decarlos Brown Jr. was released under former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-era prisoner release lawsuit settlement. At the time, the settlement was described as one of the […]

Audit says billions in COVID funds remain unspent

November 28, 2025 A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — A state audit of COVID funds shows the money was accounted for and had been allocated, but the audit also revealed $2.95 billion — more than half — of those funds is still […]

Reading, math struggles continue for US children

February 6, 2025 The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. — America’s children have continued to lose ground on reading skills in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and have made little improvement in math, according to the latest results of an exam […]

NC Supreme Court sides with restaurants, bars in COVID-19 lawsuit

December 29, 2024 A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — The North Carolina Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling in a COVID-19 insurance coverage dispute involving 15 bars and restaurants in the state. The court sided with North State Deli and 14 other businesses against Cincinnati Insurance […]

Case of teen vaccinated without permission appealed to NC Supreme Court

April 25, 2024 A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — A case involving a Guilford County teen who was vaccinated against their will and without parental permission may be heading to the N.C. Supreme Court based on an appeal filed on April 4. […]

NC Court of Appeals: Cooper violated state constitution with bar closures

April 25, 2024 A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — A recent opinion by the North Carolina Court of Appeals says Gov. Roy Cooper’s pandemic orders related to bar closures violated the state’s “equal protection” rights under Article I of the North Carolina […]

Pandemic school closures, 4 years later

March 27, 2024 A.P. Dillon

RALEIGH — Earlier this month, the anniversary of one of the most impactful and controversial decisions in North Carolina education history passed without so much as a mention from state officials. On March 10, 2020, […]

States trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

December 31, 2023 Associated Press

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., states scrambled for masks and other protective gear.‌ Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, many states are now trying to […]

Gov. DeSantis and Florida surgeon general warn against new COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine

September 8, 2023 The Associated Press

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday criticized recent efforts across the U.S. to tamp down a recent jump in COVID-19 cases through temporary restrictions or masking, and his state surgeon general warned […]