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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Report: Bright Future for Solar in NC

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Tuesday, July 26, 2016   

SANFORD, N.C. - There's four solar panels for every five people in North Carolina, placing the state in fifth place nationwide for solar per capita. That's according to a new report from Environment North Carolina Research
Research and Policy Center. The state bumped four places up from ninth place in the year before, and is the only southern state in the top 10.

State Representative Robert Reives, serving Chatham and Lee counties, said the state is on the cusp of leading the clean energy economy.

"Beyond just the simple fact of environmental concerns, beyond the clean energy push, it's another industry that North Carolina has got the chance to take the lead on and it's kind of hard to continue to pass up that," he said.

While Environment NC recognized the state for progress in solar industry growth, it also notes efforts by larger utilities, such as Duke, to slow the growth of solar. Lawmakers did not pass the Energy Freedom Act, which would allow third party sales to compete with Duke Energy, and earlier this year a bill was introduced to place costly restrictions on solar and wind. In addition this year, solar tax credits were not renewed by the State Assembly.

Reives said in an election year, solar is one issue that members of both parties support.

"It's not as partisan an issue as I think sometimes it's perceived," he added. "I do believe that there's going to be a push for those tax credits to be renewed, no matter how those elections turn out."

According to polling for Conservatives for Clean Energy, 86 percent of a bipartisan group of North Carolina voters said they want elected officials to encourage renewable energy options such as solar and wind. Slightly more than that said they wanted additional options for home and business owners to finance energy efficient upgrades.


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The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

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Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

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Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

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Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

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Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

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New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

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Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

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Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

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