WASHINGTON, May 17 (TNSFR) -- The U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration has issued a decision approving duty-free entry for a series of advanced scientific instruments imported by prominent U.S. research institutions from Chinese manufacturers. The determination follows the Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Materials Importation Act of 1966, which allows duty exemptions for scientific instruments not produced domestically with equivalent value or capabilities. On Ap  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The U.S. House of Representatives conducted 20 committee hearings on May 14, 2025: * * * MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE Committee on Agriculture: Full Committee concluded a markup on Committee Print providing for reconciliation pursuant to H. Con. Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025. Committee Print providing for reconciliation pursuant to H. Con. Res. 14, the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 was ordered reported, as amend  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 17 -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release on May 15, 2025: * * * First Round of Summer 2025 Sun Bucks Benefits More Than One Million Children The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services today announced the first round of SUN Bucks benefits for summer 2025 has successfully reached more than one million children, with $121 million distributed to eligible families across the state. The funds, w  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 17 -- The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) has approved a petition from the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association (CCEBA) to intervene in a key proceeding related to energy transmission planning. The decision allows CCEBA to officially participate in matters concerning the Carolinas Transmission Planning Collaborative process. In an order issued on May 16, 2025, the Commission Chair stated that CCEBA had demonstrated "good cause" for its intervention  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 17 -- The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) has granted the Carolinas Clean Energy Business Association (CCEBA) the right to intervene in a proceeding concerning Duke Energy's carbon plan. According to a Commission order issued on May 16, 2025, CCEBA filed a petition to intervene in Docket Nos. E-100, Sub 207 and E-100, Sub 207S. These dockets relate to the "2025 Biennial Consolidated Carbon Plan and Integrated Resource Plans" of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC,  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 17 -- The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) has granted Person County the right to intervene in a case concerning the proposed construction of a large natural gas-fueled power plant. The NCUC order, issued on May 16, 2025, allows Person County to participate in Docket Nos. E-2, Sub 1349 and EC-67, Sub 57. These dockets involve the joint application from Duke Energy Progress, LLC, and North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation to build a 1,360 MW combine  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 17 -- The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) has granted the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) the right to intervene in a proceeding concerning how electric utilities adjust their charges to reflect fuel costs. The NCUC order, issued on May 16, 2025, allows NCSEA to participate in Docket No. E-7, Sub 1313. This docket involves the application of Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, regarding "Fuel and Fuel-Related Charge Adjustments for Electric   more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 17 -- The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services issued the following news release on May 16, 2025: * * * NCDHHS Expands Student Loan Repayment for Rural Health Care Providers To encourage more health care providers to serve in rural areas, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is offering the opportunity for educational loan repayments. This program, known as the North Carolina Primary Care Physician Incentive, is available to  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 17 -- The North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC) is seeking comments on Duke Energy's proposal to procure additional solar energy resources. This action is part of the state's plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. According to an order issued on May 16, 2025, the NCUC is reviewing Duke Energy Progress, LLC, and Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC's "2025 Solar Resource Procurement Request for Proposals for Solar and Solar Paired with Storage Resources" (Docket Nos. E-  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor issued the following news release on May 1, 2025, entitled "State Auditor Boliek Appoints Members to State Board of Elections": Here are excerpts: * * * State Auditor Dave Boliek has appointed three members to the North Carolina State Board of Elections. State law requires the State Auditor to appoint members from lists of nominees provided by the State party chair of each of the two political partie  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor issued the following news release on April 29, 2025, entitled "State Auditor Boliek Files Response in Elections Board Battle": Here are excerpts: * * * Today, State Auditor Dave Boliek filed a response in support of a petition from Senate Leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall disputing the recent Superior Court ruling blocking transfer of elections board appointments from the governor to th  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor issued the following news release on May 7, 2025, entitled "State Auditor Boliek Statement on Sam Hayes Hiring": Here are excerpts: * * * State Auditor Dave Boliek released the following statement on the North Carolina State Board of Elections appointing Sam Hayes as Executive Director: "Sam has the experience and integrity to properly manage the State Board of Elections. He's worked across state age  more

RALEIGH, North Carolina, May 16 (TNSLrpt) -- The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor issued the following news release on April 23, 2025, entitled "Statement on Three-Judge Panel Ruling": Here are excerpts: * * * State Auditor Dave Boliek released the following statement on today's three-judge panel ruling regarding provisions in Session Law 2024-57: "My office remains ready, willing, and able to take on the duties and responsibilities of overseeing board of elections appointments an  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Fisheries Survival Fund (FSF), representing nearly 150 small-business scallop vessels, has petitioned the U.S. Department of Commerce to open a rotational scallop fishing area in the Closed Area II Habitat Management Area (CAII HMA) on the Northern Edge of Georges Bank. Filed on April 28, 2025, the petition argues that the current ban on scallop fishing in this area, enforced under 50 C.F.R. Sec. 648.370(g), imposes severe economic costs without delivering promised envi  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The U.S. Senate conducted 14 committee hearings on May 14, 2025: * * * APPROPRIATIONS: EPA Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2026 for the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Lee Zeldin, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency. * * * APPROPRIATIONS: SAA AND USCP Committee on Appropriations: Subc  more

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- Rep. Don Davis, D-North Carolina, issued the following news release: * * * Wilson Post Office Dedicated in Honor of Milton F. Fitch, Sr. WILSON, N.C. - Congressman Don Davis (NC-01) and the United States Postal Service hosted a dedication ceremony Saturday, May 17, at Wilson Community College to rename the Wilson Post Office in honor of Milton F. Fitch Sr., a World War II veteran, community leader and pioneering postal worker whose legacy helped transform eastern North C  more