Jamie McGee

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Chances for Appointment Increase Without Helms

By Jamie McGee | January 15

North Carolina's two senators are working together to appoint a judge to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but some political pundits said this increased bipartisan cooperation might not translate to other legislative areas. Republican Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Democratic Sen. John Edwards hope to recommend for the position a North Carolinian to President Bush. This would be the first judge from the state to sit on the court since 1980.

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GOP Leader Faces Fight for Speaker

By Jamie McGee | November 19

Legislators say that despite his party's slight majority in the N.C. House of Representatives, speaker nominee Leo Daughtry, R-Johnston, likely does not have the votes to gain the speakership. Rep. Connie Wilson, R-Mecklenburg, whom Daughtry defeated for the Republican nomination in a 36-20 vote, said although Daughtry was victorious, he does not have enough votes within his party to gain the highest House position.

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GOP Snags Southern Support

By Jamie McGee | November 12

Recent gains in the number of elected seats held by Republicans in the South are challenging the region's traditionally Democratic slant -- but experts say they are not sure whether the trend will continue in the next election.

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BOG: Tuition Plans OK, But Not Final

By Jamie McGee | November 5

Members of the UNC-system Board of Governors say they support UNC-Chapel Hill's early discussion of campus-initiated tuition increase for the next three academic years. But board members emphasized that the BOG will have the final say on the proposal. UNC-CH's Tuition Task Force, which met Thursday, is nearing a decision on a tuition increase plan despite the fact that the BOG Special Committee on Tuition and Fee Policies has yet to release its recommendation for campus action. The special committee is charged with evaluating the BOG's tuition policies and is scheduled to report it

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Minority Programs at Colleges Cause Segregation, Report Says

By Jamie McGee | October 30

Programs and organizations geared toward minority college students tend to segregate the student body, according to a report released earlier this month by the New York Civil Rights Coalition. But college officials -- including representatives from UNC -- say such programs are essential to help students adjust to the college environment. The NYCRC, an organization devoted to racial diversity, examined Web sites and brochures of more than 30 public and private U.S. institutions and concluded that they pursue segregationist agendas through programs targeting minorities.

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Candidates Don't Seek Youth Vote, Study Says

By Jamie McGee | October 29

As the Nov. 5 election approaches, many young voters are finding themselves alienated by candidate platforms that deal with issues issues directly relating to older voters. Political pundits and students say North Carolina's candidates for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Republican Sen. Jesse Helms are neglecting issues relevant to voters aged 18 to 30.

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Pundits: Senate Ads Highlight Differences

By Jamie McGee | October 2

With less than five weeks to go before Election Day, U.S.

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UNC-W Prepared For Evacuation

By Jamie McGee | September 10

UNC-Wilmington has prepared itself for potential threats posed by severe weather, officials said. Frequent tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean have kept the university on guard for safety hazards. Some forecasters have predicted that Tropical Storm Gustav will hit near Wilmington this week, causing flooding and beach erosion. Hurricane Floyd, which hit eastern North Carolina three years ago, caused the last major flooding in the region.

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Interest Rates on Stafford Loans Likely to Fall

By Jamie McGee | April 30

N.C. officials say the Stafford Federal Financial Aid Loans' interest rates continue to drop, making it cheaper for students to pay back college loans. The Stafford loans allow students to pay for college using funds both from the federal government and from lending institutions like commercial banks. Officials estimate that the loan rates, which are about 5.39 percent, will drop to about 4 percent this summer. The interest rates are set July 1 each year for the upcoming school year.

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Pundits: Edwards' Drop In N.C. Poll Insignificant

By Jamie McGee | April 23

Ratings for U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., dropped in a recent poll assessing his popularity in his home state, but experts say lower N.C. approval ratings will not affect a potential presidential bid. In the poll -- conducted at Elon University -- Edwards received a 43 percent approval rating in April, while in February he received a 53 percent approval. In October, the figure was 57 percent. The Elon Institute of Politics and Public Affairs administered a poll surveying a pool of N.C. voters from April 15 to April 18.