Mark Binker, Charlotte Observer

Mark Binker

Charlotte Observer

Raleigh, NC, United States

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Recent:
  • Unknown
Past:
  • Charlotte Observer
  • newsobserver.com
  • CITIZEN-TIMES.com
  • WRAL NEWS in NC

Past articles by Mark:

Roy Cooper names John Arrowood to Court of Appeals to replace Doug McCullough

Gov. Roy Cooper appointed John Arrowood to fill a seat on the state Court of Appeals vacated on Monday by Doug McCullough, a Republican who reaches the mandatory retirement age next month. → Read More

A few glitches as Cooper wields veto stamp

About as soon as Gov. Roy Cooper sent a pair of vetoed bills back to the General Assembly on Friday, armchair lawyers throughout the Legislative Building began pointing out some small errors. → Read More

Craft beer regulation change stalls in NC legislature

Lawmakers will drop their attempt to raise the self-distribution limit for North Carolina’s craft brewers, according to a proposal in the House ABC Committee. → Read More

Budget hole projected if $1 billion tax-cut plan passes NC legislature

The state Senate's proposal to cut $1 billion in taxes over the next two years will lead to budget shortfalls starting in the 2018-19 fiscal year, according to an analysis produced by the General Assembly's Fiscal Research Division. Sen. Jerry Tillman disputed those projections, saying they don’t account for a spike in tax collections from economic growth created by the tax cuts. → Read More

Nominee for UNC board stresses his campaign fundraising in email to lawmakers

Henry Hinton, a broadcast executive from Greenville, is a member of the UNC Board of Governors and a nominee for another term. → Read More

Opinion: HB2 leaves scars behind even after repeal

Even if you’re inclined to put HB2 in the rear view, don’t think it’s completely behind us → Read More

Battle brewing between craft beer makers, distributors

Small brewers want a number of changes to state alcohol laws, including an increase in how much beer they can sell without the aid of a wholesaler. Wholesalers say those changes would upend a system that serves the state well. → Read More

Today@NCCapitol (March 23): Rumors of repeal and an override vote

House Speaker Tim Moore warned members Wednesday that they may be working Friday shortly before House Republicans met in caucus to discuss a potential repeal of House Bill 2. → Read More

HB2 anniversary marks year of conflict

House Bill 2 sparked a year-long battle over LGBT rights and nondiscrimination laws, but those on either side of the debate are no closer to seeing eye to eye. → Read More

Today@NCCapitol (March 22): Veto override vote coming

The state House is scheduled to vote on whether to override Gov. Roy Cooper's first veto Wednesday. Elsewhere, the House Judiciary I Committee will examine a bill requiring challenge courses to have insurance. → Read More

Today @NCCapitol (3/22): Veto override vote coming today

The state House is scheduled to vote on whether to override Gov. Roy Cooper's first veto today. Elsewhere, the House Judiciary I Committee will examine several firearms-related bills. → Read More

Tuesday Wrap: HB2 nears one-year mark

As the one-year anniversary of House Bill 2 approaches, lawmakers are still tossing about ideas to repeal the state law limiting LGBT rights and requiring transgender people to use public bathrooms in schools and government buildings that correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificates. Yet, none of them looks poised for passage. → Read More

Today@NCCapitol (March 21): Confirmations continue as legal clouds part

Administration Secretary Machelle Sanders will be the first of Gov. Roy Cooper's cabinet appointees to face a confirmation hearing since a three-judge panel ruled the review process by lawmakers is constitutional. → Read More

New dark money group raising big dollars on promise of access to Cooper

Moving North Carolina Forward will host a high-dollar fundraiser featuring Gov. Roy Cooper and his leadership team later this month. The nonprofit's board members are all large donors to North Carolina Democratic causes. → Read More

Judges deliver split decision in fight between Cooper, lawmakers

A three-judge panel on Friday gave both Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican legislative leaders a victory and a stinging defeat in their ongoing power struggle. → Read More

Thursday Wrap: A billion here, a billion there

Republican Senate leaders rolled out a tax plan Thursday that they say will save North Carolina taxpayers $1 billion. → Read More

Cooper rejects bill to make NC judicial elections partisan

Gov. Roy Cooper says the bill would bring politics into the courtroom. Supporters of the bill say it is Cooper who has made judicial appointments political. → Read More

NC lawmakers propose income, corporate tax cuts for 2017 and 2018

Republican leaders in the state Senate say they will advocate for a set of personal and corporate income tax cuts worth $1 billion over the next two years. → Read More

Today@NCCapitol (March 16): Confirmations, teachers, flood on agenda

Senators are scheduled to sign off on a pair of cabinet confirmations Thursday. Meanwhile, Gov. Roy Cooper will tour Hurricane Matthew recovery efforts in and near Princeville. → Read More

Wednesday Wrap: Beware Ides of March

North Carolina lawmakers were more cordial Wednesday to members of Gov. Roy Cooper's cabinet than their Roman counterparts were to Julius Caesar on the Ides of March more than 2000 years ago. → Read More