Jessica F. Simmons is a Reporter & Strategic Communications Producer for COURIER, covering community stories and public policies across the country. Featured in print, broadcast, and radio journalism, her work shows her passion for local storytelling and amplifying issues that matter to communities nationwide.
Jessica F. Simmons
Latest from Jessica F. Simmons
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A NC teen raised $18,000 to buy new shoes for every kid in this public school
Hundreds of students at Sumner Elementary School in Greensboro tore into boxes of new sneakers, thanks to a high school senior who plans to become a public school teacher.
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North Carolina Republicans introduce bill to ban nearly all abortions statewide
House Bill 804 would criminalize abortion from the moment of conception, with limited exceptions. If passed, this bill would be one of the most extreme measures the state has seen.
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‘It’s about surviving the next 4 years’: LGBTQ+ and repro rights advocates share why the stakes are so high at Raleigh rally
At the Rainbow Repro Advocacy Day event, advocates for reproductive freedom and LGBTQ+ rights unified behind “middle ground” legislation.
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Teachers worry over new bill banning DEI in NC public schools
North Carolina teachers face growing uncertainty as state Senate Bill 227 threatens to outlaw lessons on diversity, equity, and inclusion in public schools.
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Trump signs order to eliminate US Department of Education, raising questions for North Carolina public schools
With an executive order signed, President Trump’s move to dismantle the US Department of Education could strip North Carolina public schools of critical federal funding—raising questions on how the state will fill the gap.
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Beyond birth: The missing postpartum care putting North Carolina mothers at risk
While North Carolina has expanded Medicaid for postpartum care, gaps in maternal support persist. Entrepreneurs and lawmakers are stepping in to provide critical resources for new mothers who lack essential postpartum support.
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‘You have cancer’: New Bern native hopes a local lawmaker’s plan will help more men survive ‘the Big C’
Rep. Rodney D. Pierce, a Democrat representing Halifax, Northampton, and Warren counties, has an idea for a statewide screening program to help men detect prostate cancer before it’s too late.
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Artist supports local abortion providers with painting donation
Amid abortion access struggles in NC, a painting donation to local abortion clinics stands as a tribute to providers and patients navigating the state’s ever-changing restrictions.
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Republicans tried to cancel their votes in the NC Supreme Court race. So voters spoke out with a disco party.
Judge Jefferson Griffin lost his race but is still trying to toss out 65,000 votes. At ‘Disenfranchised Disco’ on Friday night, North Carolinians proved that protecting democracy requires mobilization—both on and off the dance floor.
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Looking for affordable housing in rural NC? One lawmaker has an idea that could help.
If you live in a small town (or want to) and are struggling to find housing, a new proposal could help—by changing how rural NC housing developments get funded.
