Press Releases

The Andrea Harris Task Force’s Environmental Justice and Inclusion Subcommittee will host a listening session on Thursday, February 24 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. to hear comments from the public on priorities for addressing environmental justice concerns across the state. Listening session topics range from inequities in housing to overall impact of COVID-19 in North Carolina communities.

Governor Roy Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half staff beginning today until sunset on Saturday, February 12, 2022 in honor of Polly Watson Fire Chief James Radford who died in the line of duty on Saturday. Radford was promoted fire chief of the Polly Watson Volunteer Fire Department in 2021. He also served as a lieutenant and safety officer for the Fremont Volunteer Fire Department where he joined in 1996.

North Carolina’s American Indian communities will receive a total of $10 million in state funds this year to support programs and services to help with pandemic recovery.  This year’s state budget allocated money to each of the state recognized tribes and tribal organizations. The nonrecurring funds will be disbursed from the Pandemic Recovery Office within the Office of State Budget and Management.

Governor Roy Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half staff on Friday, January 21 until sunset on Sunday, January 23, 2022 in honor of the two Camp Lejeune Marines who died during a vehicle accident in Onslow County on Wednesday. At least 17 other U.S. Marines were hospitalized due to the accident. All Marines were active duty service members of the 2nd Marine Logistics Group, II Marine Expeditionary Force based in Camp Lejeune. Statement from Governor Roy Cooper:

Governor Roy Cooper and the NC Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission invite everyone to the virtual 2022 NC State Employees’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance Program and John R. Larkins Award Ceremony. The theme for this year’s event is derived from one of Dr. King’s most notable quotes: “Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy.”

Governor Roy Cooper declared January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month and January 11th as Human Trafficking Awareness Day to increase awareness of the growing crime and highlight ways North Carolinians can identify and help victims. North Carolina currently ranks 9th nationally for reported human trafficking cases according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

Governor Roy Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities to be lowered to half staff sunrise to sunset on January 8, 2022 in honor of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who passed away on December 28. Born in Searchlight, Nevada, Reid served as a congressional democratic leader of his native state for three decades. He was elected to the U.S. House in 1982 and 1984. He was later elected to serve in the U.S. Senate in 1986, where he served from 1987 to 2017. 

Fifteen high school sophomore and junior girls interested in science, technology, engineering and math will have the opportunity to participate in a five-week paid internship with North Carolina state government leaders this summer.  

Governor Roy Cooper ordered all U.S. and North Carolina flags at state facilities be lowered to half staff from sunrise to sunset January 7, 2022 in honor of State Highway Patrol Trooper John S. Horton, who died while on duty Monday. He was a 15-year state highway patrol veteran assigned to Rutherford County. Services for Trooper Horton will be held on Friday, January 7 on the campus of Isothermal Community College located at 172 Rapid Court, Forest City, NC 28160.

As we continue to honor the life of former U.S. Senator Bob Dole, on Saturday, December 11 we also pause to remember U.S. Army Corporal Leon Eugene Clevenger and all those who have fought for our country overseas and never returned home. Cpl. Clevenger was born in Lonoke, Arkansas but later relocated to Durham, North Carolina where he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 21.