Medicaid expansion passes the Senate--at least on the first of two votes--by a tally of 44-2. Only opponents are Norm Sanderson (R-Pamlico) and Steve Jarvis (R-Davidson) #ncpol #ncga

Cedric Dean, who ran for CLT City Council District 4, was arrested Tuesday at a DMV. He was charged with disorderly conduct, second degree trespass and resisting a public officer. He livestreamed the event here: fb.watch/dOVysmidu4/

The latest edition of your favorite political column and (soon) newsletter by Will Wright: Top Charlotte prosecutor said he wouldn’t pursue abortion cases. What’s his promise worth? charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-…

Councilman Tariq Bokhari will host a press conference today at 5:30, saying he'll announce a new temporary location for the Central Ave flea market that got shut down in February. The Charlotte Observer

.Vice President JD Vance will visit Charlotte Thursday to talk reproductive rights with state legislators, and the administration's investments in affordable, high-speed Internet #ncpol: charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-…

In the CLT Politics newsletter today, we answer the burning question: What kind of weird characters did Charlotteans vote for as write-in candidates during the city election last month? (Also, how many ways can you spell Larken Egleston?) charlotteobserver.com/site-services/…

Meck County Commissioners approved 5% pay raise for county manager Diorio. Total compensation w/ base salary, 401k match and expenses is $469,526.31. Susan Rodriguez-McDowell opposed. Board also approved a one-time cash bonus of $20k. Susan Rodriguez-McDowell, @LauraMeierD5 and Elaine Powell opposed.

New in CLT Politics: In competitive NC House race near CLT, Republican nominee changes tone on abortion. His website called it "genocide" in February. Now: "North Carolinians believe women have a right to their bodies, and babies have a right to theirs." charlotteobserver.com/site-services/…

We fact checked Club For Growth's new $400,000 ad targeting Beasley over a 2019 Supreme Court case: charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-…

NC Supreme Court oral arguments just began this morning in Harper v. Hall, the #ncpol redistricting case (which is also at SCOTUS, as Moore v. Harper, AKA the Independent State Legislature case) newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

Republican NC House candidate's 'Spank That Tail' Facebook page and LLC were a joke, he says: charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-…

Pineville Town Council voted to censure one of its members last night, barring him from, among other things, entering the police station without supervision. An investigation found the councilman fostered ‘pervasive fear’ at the police department: charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-…

.Pat McCrory is returning to WBT radio and, as of Sunday, is an official NBC political analyst. Dave from Asheville is back. charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-…

Listen to the new episode of our The News & Observer politics podcast, with Dawn B. Vaughan, Avi Bajpai and Will Wright. Election final stretch: Early voting turnout, Charlotte races and political ads #ncpol #ncga podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ele…