Press Releases

Today in Washington, D.C., Governor Josh Stein met with members of North Carolina’s Congressional delegation to thank them for their work and urge them to appropriate additional funding for western North Carolina hurricane recovery. Governor Stein also met with acting FEMA Administrator Karen Evans to express his gratitude for the approval of some Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) applications and ask for continued collaboration. The Governor was joined by Western North Carolina Advisory Committee Co-Chairs Mayor Esther Manheimer and Senator Kevin Corbin.
Today Governor Josh Stein visited East Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte to hear from teachers about the impact of cell phone-free classroom environments. Last summer, Governor Stein signed into law a bill that established cell phone-free classrooms. The law took effect on January 1, 2026, as North Carolina joined 32 other states restricting cell phones in classrooms.  
Today at a Correctional Leaders Association Southern Region meeting in Charlotte, Governor Josh Stein highlighted North Carolina’s correctional officer staffing challenges and called for the General Assembly to invest in recruitment and retention.  
Today Governor Stein visited Saluda to tour a home repaired by the Housing Assistance Corporation, a volunteer organization working to rebuild homes across western North Carolina. In October, the nonprofit was awarded a $300,000 grant to repair at least 20 homes in Polk, Henderson, and Transylvania counties as part of the state’s ongoing efforts to support volunteer organizations active in housing repair and replacement activities in western North Carolina.
Today Governor Josh Stein announced Johnson & Johnson, the world-leading health care company, will expand its presence in North Carolina.  The company says it will make an additional multibillion dollar investment in the City of Wilson. According to the company, the project is estimated to create up to 500 new jobs at a state-of-the-art drug product manufacturing facility that will help deliver transformational medicines for oncology and neurological diseases.  
Today Site Selection magazine ranked North Carolina the Top State for Workforce Development for 2026. Governor Josh Stein celebrated this ranking during a visit to Machine Specialties Inc. (MSI) in Whitsett, where he highlighted the state’s workforce investments and the recent recommendations of the Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships.
Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the state of North Carolina is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of Brittany Elizabeth Ferguson, age 23.“We must use every tool at our disposal to pursue justice for victims,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I urge North Carolinians who have information about these cases to contact local law enforcement and help us provide closure to victims’ families.”  
Today Governor Josh Stein announced that the state of North Carolina is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder of John Luke Moore, age 32.“We must use every tool at our disposal to pursue justice for victims,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I urge North Carolinians who have information about these cases to contact local law enforcement and help us provide closure to victims’ families.”
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today