Politics reporter for NC Newsline. Words in the Tampa Bay Times and The Harvard Crimson. “If you’re gonna hype it, hype it with the facts.” 📫 bkingdollar@ncnewsline.com Fan of hiking, horror, the Chicago Bears (sigh), and my cat.https://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3ms6rnylbo22rMy very last story for NC Newsline: Read how legal nonprofits are coping with the General Assembly’s elimination of millions in IOLTA grants for civil legal aid. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/08/03/after-nc-lawmakers-pull-plug-on-civil-legal-aid-nonprofits-are-left-searching-for-solutions/03 Aug 2026 15:08 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6rnylbo22rhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mry6a2z7ps2oNorth Carolina Democrats are closing the gap in two key congressional races in the state, political forecasters say, despite a new district map passed last year aimed at boxing them out of close House seats. https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/two-north-carolina-us-house-races-are-now-toss-ups-top-forecaster-says/01 Aug 2026 00:04 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mry6a2z7ps2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mrgil5v4rc2lICE is set to reopen an eastern North Carolina private prison as an immigration detention center. Here’s what you need to know: https://ncnewsline.com/2026/07/24/ice-expected-to-open-mass-detention-facility-in-nc-sparking-anger-pushback/24 Jul 2026 23:21 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrgil5v4rc2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mqkjuaml722lWhatley has increasingly withdrawn from nonpartisan media, cutting reporters out of event invitation lists and retreating to friendly, right-leaning podcasts and outlets where he can avoid potentially embarrassing slips. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/07/13/garbage-and-lies-senate-candidate-michael-whatley-lashes-out-at-media-as-campaign-flounders/13 Jul 2026 20:30 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqkjuaml722lhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mpmqmauwj22fNorth Carolina’s state budget cleared initial votes in the House and Senate on Wednesday though disagreements between Republicans triggered rare defections. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/07/01/long-awaited-nc-budget-passes-first-votes-but-2-senate-republicans-break-ranks-over-ferry-tolls/02 Jul 2026 00:10 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpmqmauwj22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mpgnvskkvc2ySo far in North Carolina, Democrats are blowing past their Republican opponents in campaign fundraising, buoyed in part by a surge in small-dollar donations. Here’s what to know about the money race in the state. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/06/29/ahead-of-midterms-north-carolina-democrats-lead-the-fundraising-race-does-it-matter/29 Jun 2026 14:06 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpgnvskkvc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mp2r4mzkqs23North Carolina House Republicans overrode key vetoes by Gov. Josh Stein on bills requiring greater law enforcement cooperation with ICE and banning DEI practices from state government agencies, K-12 public schools and public higher education. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/06/24/nc-house-republicans-override-gov-steins-vetoes-on-anti-dei-and-pro-ice-bills/24 Jun 2026 20:32 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp2r4mzkqs23https://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3molaawidz22yA new bill proposed by North Carolina Senate Democrats would put constitutional amendments to legalize recreational and medical cannabis on the ballot. But its odds of getting a vote in the Senate are not high, Republican leadership says. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/06/17/nc-senate-democrats-propose-legalizing-cannabis-but-prospects-hazy/18 Jun 2026 16:20 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3molaawidz22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mogs2f2kyc2gNorth Carolina House Republicans have pushed to legalize happy hour promotions and allow canned cocktails on grocery store shelves. So far, the state Senate is not partaking. https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/as-nc-house-mulls-legalizing-happy-hour-senate-prefers-moderation/16 Jun 2026 21:55 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mogs2f2kyc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mnvi4ijjfs2aNot long ago, Republican state lawmakers were eyeing the middle of June for the rollout of North Carolina’s long-delayed budget. Tuesday, they said that may not be possible. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/06/09/as-end-of-session-looms-nc-republican-leaders-push-back-expected-budget-date/10 Jun 2026 00:42 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnvi4ijjfs2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mnuxwl2vok2gFirst story from NC Newsline reporting intern Claire Michal! North Carolina Democratic state senators and advocates called for a bill to codify access to contraceptives in state law Tuesday. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/06/09/nc-democratic-senators-warn-right-to-contraception-could-be-at-risk/09 Jun 2026 19:52 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnuxwl2vok2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mnuqrwp4qk2lRep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry) is resigning from the North Carolina House of Representatives effective June 16 as she vies for a seat on the state Supreme Court. https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/rep-sarah-stevens-resigns-from-nc-house-to-focus-on-supreme-court-race/09 Jun 2026 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnuqrwp4qk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mnsb3zb5e22pRep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), and dozens of their colleagues called on top AI companies to address interactions with chatbots which they said encouraged “carrying out criminal acts,” suicide, and other harmful actions. https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-members-of-congress-call-on-google-openai-to-address-chatbot-involvement-in-mass-shootings/08 Jun 2026 17:59 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnsb3zb5e22phttps://bsky.app/profile/kingdollar.bsky.social/post/3mndl3g2we22wNorth Carolina senators are considering a 50% tax on ‘prurient’ materials to support anti-human trafficking efforts. https://ncnewsline.com/2026/06/02/nc-senate-considers-tax-on-obscene-materials-social-media-age-limits-license-plate-readers/02 Jun 2026 21:47 +0000at://did:plc:52p2c2iyeelfilc2keesljaq/app.bsky.feed.post/3mndl3g2we22w