Top Story Spotlight NC GOP legislative leaders reach 'starting point' on state budget compromise RICHARD CRAVER Winston-Salem Journal May 14, 2026 May 14, 2026 Updated 5 hrs ago 0 Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save A potential compromise on the 2025-26 state budget has reached "the starting point" nearly 10½ months after the fiscal year began.kAm}@CE9 r2C@=:?2 :D E96 @?=J DE2E6 E92E 92D ?@E 6?24E65 2 a_ad\ae DE2E6 3F586E[ =2C86=J 3642FD6 @7 D6G6C2= DE:4<:?8 A@:?ED E92E :?4=F56 E96 C2E6 7@C 4FEE:?8 :?4@>6 E2I6D[ 2?5 AF3=:4 D49@@= 65F42E@CD 2?5 @E96C DE2E6 6>A=@J66D C2:D6D]k^AmkAm$6?2E6 =6256C !9:= q6C86C[ #\#@4<:?892>[ 2?5 w@FD6 DA62<6C s6DE:? w2==[ #\r2=5H6==[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]HC2=]4@>^?6HD^?442A:E@=^?4\3F586E\562=\DE2E6\6>A=@J66\E62496C\C2:D6D\E2I6D\>2J\a_ae^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm96=5 2 ;@:?E ?6HD 4@?76C6?46 %F6D52J 27E6C?@@?k^2m :? H9:49 E96J D2:5 2== DE2E6 6>A=@J66D H@F=5 C646:G6 C2:D6D @7 2E =62DE bT[ A=FD A@E6?E:2= 3@?FD6D 32D65 @? 6IA6C:6?46[ A2J =6G6= 2?5 H@C<7@C46 ?665D]k^Am People are also reading… Update: Old Fort man killed in motorcycle crash on I-40 identified Marion man injured in shooting in Newton; police say 1 gunman charged Got a McDowell County paranormal experience? Now is the time to speak up Marion house catches fire Monday morning, cause under investigation Meet the Morganton woman who says hard work has kept her going ... for 105 years McDowell County Sheriff Ricky Buchanan will retire Aug. 1, before term ends Corpening YMCA in Marion to host Healthy Aging Day 5 antique guns stolen from Historic Carson House in McDowell County Marion, McDowell moving to Stage 2 water shortage advisory, starting mandatory water restrictions What's going on at West McDowell Middle? $4 million grant moving fields out of floodplain McDowell County state transportation employees win backhoe, motorgrader competitions State museum in Old Fort getting new standard hours. Here's when it'll be open. NFL analyst says Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young 'needs to prove' he's worth an extension Nebo McDowell County water customers under boil water advisory McDowell High gets new boys basketball coach kAm“%9:D :D 2 DE2CE:?8 A@:?E[” q6C86C D2:5 :? 368:??:?8 E96 ?6HD 4@?76C6?46] “%96C6VD DE:== 2 =@E E92E H:== ?665 E@ 36 564:565 2?5 5:D4FDD65 36EH66? E96 EH@ 492>36CD]k^AmkAmQqFE E9:D 28C66>6?E D6ED @FE 2 8@@5 7C2>6H@C< 7@C FD E@ >@G6 7@CH2C5]”k^AmkAmw2== D2:5 E96 E:>:?8 7@C C6249:?8 E96 3F586E 4@>AC@>:D6 H2D 2:565 3J 92G:?8 >@C6 46CE2:?EJ 23@FE A@E6?E:2= a_ae 2?5 a_af DE2E6 C6G6?F6D]k^AmkAmQ(6 H2?E E@ AC@G:56 E96 C2:D6D 2?5 4FE E2I6D[ 3FE 5@ 3@E9 C6DA@?D:3=J[Q w2== D2:5]k^Am kAm(96? 2D<65 H92E 2C6 E96 @E96C A@E6?E:2= DE:4<:?8 A@:?ED :? 3F586E 4@>AC@>:D6 ?68@E:2E:@?D[ w2== D2:5 QE96 :DDF6D H6VG6 E2=<65 23@FE E@52J 2C6 >2;@C DECF4EFC2= :DDF6D]Qk^Am kAmQ~?46 E9@D6 E9:?8D 2C6 =2C86=J 369:?5 FD[ :EVD 2 >2EE6C @7 E96 2AAC@AC:2E:@?D 492:CD 86EE:?8 :? 2 C@@> E@86E96C 2?5 H@C< E9C@F89 2== E96 =:?6 :E6>D @7 DE2E6 8@G6C?>6?E]k^AmkAmQ%96JV== 36 5@:?8 E92E 7@C >2?J 52JD[ :7 ?@E H66<D[ :? :?G@=G:?8 E96 >6492?:4D @7 AFEE:?8 2 7:?2= DE2E6 3F586E E@86E96C]Qk^Am k9am#2:D6D AC@;64E:@?Dk^9amkAm!F3=:4 D49@@= E62496CD H@F=5 C646:G6 2? 2G6C286 gT A2J 9:<6[ A=FD A@E6?E:2= 3@?FD6D @7 S`[___ 7@C E62496CD H:E9 2E =62DE `e J62CD @7 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 Sd__ 7@C E62496CD H:E9 =6DD E92? `e J62CD @7 6IA6C:6?46]k^AmkAm$2=2CJ :?4C62D6D AC@G:565 @? 2 DE6A >6E9@5 4@F=5 C6249 FA E@ a_]bT 7@C $qx 2?5 p{t 6>A=@J66D[ 2D H6== 2D `f]fT 7@C $E2E6 w:89H2J !2EC@= @77:46CD[ FA E@ ``]dT 7@C $w! 4:G:=:2? A6CD@??6=[ FA E@ `d]cT 7@C AC:D@? H@C<6CD 2?5 `_]`T 7@C A2C@=6 2?5 AC@32E:@? @77:46CD]k^Am kAm|62?H9:=6[ 23@FE Sc_ >:==:@? H@F=5 36 :?4=F565 :? E96 3F586E E@ AC@G:56 =@42= =2H\6?7@C46>6?E @77:46CD H:E9 2 @?6\E:>6 S`[fd_ 3@?FD]k^AmkAmw2== D2:5 E96 A2J C2:D6D H@F=5 8@ :?E@ 67764E 2E E96 E:>6 E96 3F586E 3:== 364@>6D =2H 2?5 E96 3@?FD6D QD@@? 27E6C]Qk^Am kAmq6C86C D2:5 ?68@E:2E:@?D 36EH66? 9:>D6=7 2?5 w2== Q92G6 366? 6IEC6>6=J AC@5F4E:G6Q H:E9 E96 8@2= @7 >@G:?8 BF:4<=J E9C@F89 E96 3F586E 4@?76C6?46 AC@46DD]k^AmkAmw2== D2:5 E96 492>36CD 92G6 QC624965 28C66>6?E @? E96 3:8 :DDF6D] x 2> 4@?7:56?E H6 H:== 86E 2 4@>AC696?D:G6 3F586E 5@?6 C6=2E:G6=J D@@?[ 2?5 E96 4@>>:EE66 492:CD 2C6 DE2CE:?8 E@ >66E E@52J]Qk^Am kAmw2== D2:5 E96 gT C2:D6 H@F=5 =:7E E96 A2J 7@C 7:CDE\J62C E62496CD E@ E96 9:896DE :? E96 $@FE962DE]k^AmkAmQxE H@F=5 36 E96 =2C86DE E62496C A2J C2:D6 D:?46 2E =62DE a__e[Q w2== D2:5]k^Amk9amx?5:G:5F2= :?4@>6 E2I 492?86Dk^9amkAmq6C86C D2:5 E96 :?5:G:5F2= :?4@>6 E2I C2E6 H@F=5 36 C65F465 7C@> b]hhT E@ b]chT 7@C J62CD a_af\ah[ E96? 5C@A E@ b]acT 7@C a_b_\ba[ 2?5 E96? =@H6C65 E@ a]hhT 7@C a_bb\bc]k^Am kAm%96 AC@A@D65 :?4@>6\E2I C2E6 C65F4E:@? D4965F=6 H@F=5 6=:>:?2E6 E96 C6BF:C6>6?E @7 >66E:?8 DE2E6 C6G6?F6 E2C86ED E@ EC:886C E2I 4FED]k^Am kAmq6C86C D2:5 C65F4:?8 E96 :?5:G:5F2= :?4@>6 E2I C2E6 E@ b]chT 368:??:?8 @? y2?] ` QH2D :>A@CE2?E 7@C <66A:?8 2 AC@>:D6 E@ E2IA2J6CD]Qk^AmkAmQ(6 2=D@ ?665 D@>6 2DDFC2?46D E92E E96 C2E6 H@F=5 ?@E 3@F?46 324< FA 2E D@>6 A@:?E]Qk^Am kAm%@ E92E 6?5[ q6C86C 2?5 w2== 28C665 E@ DFAA@CE 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?E 3:== :? H9:49 G@E6CD H@F=5 564:56 @? E96 }@G] b 86?6C2= 6=64E:@? 32==@E H96E96C E96J H2?E E@ AC@9:3:E DE2E6 =68:D=2E@CD 7C@> C2:D:?8 E96 :?5:G:5F2= :?4@>6 E2I C2E6 23@G6 b]dT]%96 4FCC6?E >2I:>F> :D fT]k^Am kAm$6?2E6 q:== `_g_[ E:E=65 Q{@H6C E2I6D 7@C 2== }r[Q H2D 7:=65 =2DE (65?6D52J E92E 4@?E2:?D E96 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?E =2?8F286]k^Am kAm“%96C6 :D ?@ BF6DE:@? E92E }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 92D @?6 @7 E96 DEC@?86DE[ 72DE6DE\8C@H:?8 64@?@>:6D :? E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 E92E’D 2 5:C64E C6DF=E @7 #6AF3=:42?\=65 7:D42= A@=:4:6D[” $6?] |:4926= {66[ #\}6H w2?@G6C[ D2:5]k^AmkAm“p 4CF4:2= A:==2C @7 E92E DF446DD 92D 366? 4@?D:DE6?E=J =@H6C:?8 E2I6D 2?5 AFEE:?8 >@?6J 324< :?E@ E96 A@4<6ED @7 92C5H@C<:?8 }@CE9 r2C@=:?:2?D] (96? :E 4@>6D E@ D6EE:?8 E96 >2I:>F> C2E6[ E96 A6@A=6 @7 @FC DE2E6 56D6CG6 E@ 92G6 2 D2J]”k^Am kAmr@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?ED 92G6 E@ 36 2AAC@G65 3J E9C66\7:7E9 @7 E96 =68:D=2E@CD :? 6249 492>36C] %96 3:== 42??@E 36 G6E@65 3J E96 8@G6C?@C]k^AmkAmQq@E9 492>36CD H2?E E@ 56=:G6C 255:E:@?2= E2I C6=:67 E@ E96 4:E:K6?D @7 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ 2?5 @E96C 5:D4FDD:@?D H:== E2<6 A=246 @? @E96C E2I A@=:4J :DDF6D[Q q6C86C D2:5]k^Am k9am!C@A6CEJ E2I 3:== DFAA@CEk^9am kAm|62?H9:=6[ q6C86C 2?5 w2== 28C665 E@ DFAA@CE k2 4=2DDlQ65:E@C\CE7{:?<Q 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?4=68]8@G^$6DD:@?D^a_ad^q:==D^w@FD6^!su^w`_ghG_]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmw@FD6 q:== `_ghk^2m[ H9:49 2=D@ C6AC6D6?E 2 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 2>6?5>6?E 367@C6 G@E6CD]k^Am kAmwq`_gh H@F=5 2==@H G@E6CD E@ 56E6C>:?6 H96E96C E96C6 D9@F=5 36 C6DEC:4E:@?D @? 9@H >F49 4@F?E:6D 2?5 >F?:4:A2=:E:6D 42? :?4C62D6 E96:C AC@A6CEJ E2I =6G:6D]k^AmkAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^;@FC?2=?@H]4@>^?6HD^DE2E6\C68:@?2=^8@G6C?>6?E\A@=:E:4D^2CE:4=603g7fd2a`\2he`\ca22\g75e\7ffe3`7hh`a4]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qmwq`_gh 4=62C65 E96 w@FD6 u:?2?46 4@>>:EE66 %F6D52Jk^2m 2?5 H2D 7@CH2C565 E@ E96 82E6<66A6C w@FD6 #F=6D 2?5 ~A6C2E:@?D 4@>>:EE66]k^Am kAm'@E6CD H@F=5 36 2D<65 E@ 2AAC@G6 2==@H:?8 E96 =68:D=2EFC6 E@ D6E 2 AC@A6CEJ E2I =6GJ 42A E92E 92D ?@E 366? 2??@F?465 3J 3:== DA@?D@CD] $E2E6 =2H 4FCC6?E=J =:>:ED E96 2FE9@C:K2E:@? @7 >F?:4:A2=:EJ AC@A6CEJ E2I =6G:6D E@ S`]d_ A6C S`__ @7 G2=F6]k^Am kAmw2== 92D D6E E96 AC@A6CEJ E2I :DDF6 2D @?6 @7 9:D E@A\7:G6 =68:D=2E:G6 AC:@C:E:6D 7@C E96 a_ae D6DD:@?[ D2J:?8 :E QA=246D C6DA@?D:3=6 =:>:ED @? =@42= AC@A6CEJ E2I 9:<6D]Qk^Amk9am~E96C 3F586E 492==6?86Dk^9amkAmq6C86C D2:5 Sad_ >:==:@? E92E 925 366? 565:42E65 E@ E96 }rx??@G2E:@? 6?5@H>6?E :?:E:2E:G6 :? E96 a_ab\ac DE2E6 3F586E H2D 36:?8 C6=62D65]k^Am kAmp=E@86E96C[ E96 492>36CD 92G6 28C665 E@ AFE Sa_g >:==:@? E@H2C5 E96 4C62E:@? @7 E96 DE2E6’D 7:CDE DE2?52=@?6 49:=5C6?’D 9@DA:E2=]k^Am kAm%96 AC:>2CJ 8@2= @7 }rx??@G2E:@? :D 4@?G6CE:?8 C6D62C49 56G6=@A65 2?5 7F?565 H:E9:? E96 &}r $JDE6> :?E@ 4@?DF>6C\7@4FD65 AC@5F4ED]k^AmkAmw@FD6 #6AF3=:42? =6256CD9:A 925 5:D28C665 H:E9 E96 $6?2E6 3F586E 3:== E92E H@F=5 92G6 EC2?D76CC65 Sc__ >:==:@? @? E96 }r x??@G2E:@? 6?5@H>6?E E@ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2 r9:=5C6?’D w62=E9 x?4] E@ 96=A A2J 7@C &}r w62=E9’D A@CE:@? @7 E96 Sa 3:==:@? 42A:E2= :?G6DE>6?E 7@C E96 d__\365 9@DA:E2= 36:?8 4@\56G6=@A65 3J sF<6 w62=E9]k^AmkAmQ(6 H:== 4@?E:?F6 E@ 5:D4FDD H96E96C @C ?@E 2?J 255:E:@?2= 5@==2CD D9@F=5 8@[Q q6C86C D2:5]k^Am k9amqF586E C6DA@?D6D k^9amkAmx7 E96 492>36CD 2AAC@G6 E96:C DE2E6 3F586E 4@>AC@>:D6[ E96 3:== H@F=5 8@ E@ s6>@4C2E:4 v@G] y@D9 $E6:? E@ D:8?[ G6E@ @C =6E 364@>6 =2H H:E9@FE 9:D D:8?2EFC6]k^AmkAmx7 $E6:? H6C6 E@ G6E@ E96 3:==[ w@FD6 #6AF3=:42?D H@F=5 ?665 E96 DFAA@CE @7 2E =62DE @?6 w@FD6 s6>@4C2E 2E 7F== 2EE6?52?46 E@ @G6CC:56 E96 G6E@]k^AmkAm$E6:? D2:5 :? 2 DE2E6>6?E 7@==@H:?8 q6C86C 2?5 w2==VD ?6HD 4@?76C6?46 E92E Q:E :D A2DE E:>6 E92E @FC E62496CD[ DE2E6 =2H 6?7@C46>6?E @77:46CD 2?5 DE2E6 6>A=@J66D 86E 2 >62?:?87F= A2J C2:D6 2?5 C64@8?:E:@? 7@C E96:C D6CG:46 E@ E96 A6@A=6 @7 }@CE9 r2C@=:?2]Qk^Am kAmQ%@52J’D 2??@F?46>6?E :D @?=J 2 7C2>6H@C<[ 3FE :7 E96 7:?2= 3F586E 24EF2==J :?4=F56D C62= D2=2CJ :?4C62D6D[ :E H@F=5 36 H6=4@>6]k^AmkAmQ%96 AC@@7[ 9@H6G6C[ H:== 36 :? E96 AF55:?8]Qk^AmkAmw@FD6 |:?@C:EJ {6256C #@36CE #6:G6D[ s\r92E92>[ D2:5 E92E Q2?J A2J C2:D6 E92E 72==D 36=@H :?7=2E:@? 2?5 E96 :?4C62D65 4@DE @7 E96 $E2E6 w62=E9 !=2? H:== 67764E:G6=J 36 2 A2J 4FE 7@C 6>A=@J66D H9@ D6CG6 @FC DE2E6]Qk^AmkAmp=6I2?5C2 $:C@E2[ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 =67E\=62?:?8 }]r] qF586E U2>Aj %2I r6?E6C[ D2:5 E96 AC@A@D65 3F586E 4@>AC@>:D6 QC67=64ED 2? :?4C62D:?8=J C:8:5 :56@=@8J 2?5 2 A2EE6C? @7 :?E6?E:@?2= ?68=64E]Qk^Am kAmQxE :D F?56C7F?5:?8 AF3=:4 ?665D[ 8:G:?8 E2I 3C62<D E@ E96 H62=E9J[ H9:=6 25G2?4:?8 4@?DE:EFE:@?2= 492?86D E92E H@F=5 =@4< 7FEFC6 86?6C2E:@?D :?E@ 76H6C 49@:46D 2?5 76H6C E@@=D E@ D@=G6 AC@3=6>D 2?5 DEC6?8E96? @FC DE2E6]Qk^Am rcraver@wsjournal.com336-727-7376@rcraverWSJ 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular $2.5M for Helene repairs in Asheville's Biltmore Village. What to know “This project supports the City’s broader recovery efforts and reflects our commitment to rebuilding Biltmore Village in close partnership wit… NC Senate bill would create forecasting tool for state, county economies The proposed NC Economic Forecasting Initiative would launch with two primary goals. Watch Now: Related Video Trump Meets Xi In Beijing As Trade, Iran War And AI Talks Begin Hantavirus vs. Covid: Low transmission efficiency means far less risk of another widespread outbreak Hantavirus vs. Covid: Low transmission efficiency means far less risk of another widespread outbreak Hantavirus explained: Why it’s unlikely to become a pandemic Hantavirus explained: Why it’s unlikely to become a pandemic Online or in-person gaming: Which is better? Online or in-person gaming: Which is better? Recommended for you
$2.5M for Helene repairs in Asheville's Biltmore Village. What to know “This project supports the City’s broader recovery efforts and reflects our commitment to rebuilding Biltmore Village in close partnership wit…
NC Senate bill would create forecasting tool for state, county economies The proposed NC Economic Forecasting Initiative would launch with two primary goals.
