UPCOMING EVENTSOctober 18Women Lead NC ConferenceOctober 28Thinkers Lunch: Politics Palooza!LEGISLATIVE NEWSLAWMAKERS PASS DISASTER RELIEF LEGISLATIONState legislators convened on Wednesday to approve a $273 million disaster relief package for the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina, marking one of the worst natural disasters in state history. House Bill 149 received unanimous support in both the House and Senate, and Governor Roy Cooper signed the bill into law on Thursday. The majority of the funds will serve as matching funds to qualify for FEMA federal disaster programs. The federal government will provide full reimbursement for six months post-disaster. An additional $16 million will support back pay for nutrition staff in schools affected by the storm. The bill also allows impacted schools to adjust calendars and implement remote teaching. Lawmakers increased resources and flexibility for western counties to conduct elections, providing $5 million to the State Board of Elections and permitting changes to early voting and polling places in 25 counties (originally 13 counties were included in the resolution). North Carolina has $4.75 billion in general savings. Lawmakers intend to convene for an additional legislative session on Oct. 24 and again in November to discuss additional relief needs.WRAL News (Doran) 10/10/24 NC Newsline (Bacharier) 10/9/24 The Center Square (Apel) 10/9/24NC BOARD OF ELECTIONS ALTERS VOTING RULES IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINAWestern North Carolina counties impacted by Hurricane Helene will have flexibility in their voting plans following a vote by the North Carolina State Board of Elections. A resolution  passed unanimously allows affected counties to change early voting and Election Day polling sites, appoint poll workers with increased discretion, and offer more options for receiving and returning absentee ballots. The provisions of this resolution were adopted by the General Assembly with the passage of Hous