Jesse James DeConto

Gov. Roy Cooper’s move comes with coronavirus cases still on the rise in North Carolina, but officials cite encouraging trends.

Lawmakers are expected to vote Saturday on their coronavirus relief package, including funding for schools, small businesses and more.

Billions of dollars at stake as lawmakers and Gov. Cooper consider education, healthcare, unemployment relief.

With NC schools shuttered, COVID-19 touched off a debate about the lack of broadband infrastructure in some parts of the state and educational equality.

At a time when more than 20,000 North Carolinians have been claiming unemployment every day, nearing half a million in total, the state has among the lowest benefits in the U.S.

Last week the state of North Carolina, like most other states, increased its food-benefit dollar amounts, stretched recipients’ certification periods and waived work requirements for qualifying, all aimed at keeping beneficiaries from having to leave their homes.  “People need to be able to feed their families while also practicing good social distancing and following the…