Press Releases

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the State of North Carolina Internship Program and Governor Roy Cooper is proud to announce the 2019 class of summer interns.  Starting May 20, 101 students, representing 71 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, will embark on a 10-week hands-on educational experience at one of North Carolina’s state government agencies. Since its establishment in 1969, more than 4,000 internship opportunities have been awarded to North Carolina students attending a college, university, technical institute or community college.

Governor Roy Cooper today ordered all North Carolina flags at state buildings, grounds and facilities to be lowered to half-staff, effective immediately, through sunset on Monday, May 20, in honor of Staff Sgt. Jacob A. Hess who died Wednesday from injuries sustained during training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Sgt. Hess was assigned to the 97th Civil Affairs Battalion and 95th Civil Affairs Brigade at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Governor Roy Cooper today ordered all US and North Carolina flags at state facilities be lowered to half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Wednesday, May 15, in observance of National Peace Officers Memorial Day. This day recognizes the many men and women of law enforcement who lost their lives or who were injured in the line of duty.  ###

Governor Roy Cooper has ordered North Carolina flags at state buildings, grounds and facilities to remain at half-staff effective immediately through sunset on Friday, May 10 in honor of Mooresville Police Officer Jordan Harris Sheldon who died in the line of duty in Iredell County on Saturday. Memorial services for Officer Sheldon will take place on Friday. Governor Cooper released the following statement:

Governor Roy Cooper has ordered North Carolina flags at state buildings, grounds and facilities to remain at half-staff effective immediately through sunset on Wednesday, May 8 in honor of UNC Charlotte students Riley C. Howell and Ellis R. Parlier who were tragically killed in the school shooting on April 30, 2019. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same duration of time as a sign of respect. 

The NC Department of Administration’s Council for Women and Youth Involvement will give a preview of the 2019 Status of Women in North Carolina: Health and Wellness Report on May 1 from 10 a.m. – 11 a.m. at UNC Greensboro. This report is the second of four to be released by the Council in partnership with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research to bring awareness to key issues affecting the lives of women in North Carolina.

Governor Roy Cooper has ordered all North Carolina flags at state buildings, grounds and facilities to be lowered to half-staff, effective immediately, and through sunset on Friday, May 3, to honor the victims of Tuesday's tragedy at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same duration of time as a sign of respect. Governor Cooper shared the following statement:

Members of the Press: As the debate over Medicaid expansion continues, it is vital to have an understanding of the real impact of closing North Carolina’s health coverage gap and to dispel false allegations and misinformation. Expanding Medicaid is a common-sense step that would expand access to affordable health coverage for thousands of families while bringing nearly $4 billion into North Carolina’s economy, which would create nearly ten thousand jobs and help rural hospitals remain open. 

To help address the gender pay gap for women workers in North Carolina, Governor Roy Cooper today signed Executive Order No. 93. The order directs state government agencies to ban the use of salary history in the hiring process.

April 1, 2019 kicks off the one-year countdown to Census 2020 and North Carolina is working to ensure a complete and accurate count of all its residents. Governor Roy Cooper and the North Carolina Complete Count Commission, in coordination with the US Census Bureau, the NC Counts Coalition, and other groups and Complete Count Committees across the state, are holding a national day of action to raise awareness and encourage North Carolina’s participation in the 2020 Census.