Mark Robinson Exits Politics, Walmart Closes NC Office, and $1B Helene Aid | Ep 5

Key Topics Covered:

• Gov. Josh Stein’s $1B Helene Relief Plan – Will NC lawmakers approve emergency funds now or wait for the budget cycle?

• Walmart Closing North Carolina Office – What this means for jobs and local workers.

• New Wrightsville Beach Resort Opens – How Trailborn Surf & Sound could impact tourism.

• Wildlife Crossing for Endangered Red Wolves – A $25M investment to protect wildlife and reduce road collisions.

• NC Expands "Child First" Program with $3M Investment – Supporting early childhood intervention and preventing family separations.

• Black History Month Spotlight – A special segment honoring North Carolina’s historical impact.

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Episode Chapters:

(00:00) Intro

(01:04) Hot Takes & Headlines

(13:53) In Office & On The Move

(17:45) Legacies of Leadership: Black Voices in Politics & Policy

(22:27) Closing

Sources:

Hot Takes and Headlines:

New Resort Opens in Wrightsville Beach

https://www.southernliving.com/trailborn-surf-and-sound-opening-8784910

https://www.trailborn.com/surf-sound/

https://hospitalitydesign.com/news/hotels-resorts/trailborn-surf-sound-wrightsville-beach/

https://www.starnewsonline.com/story/lifestyle/food/2025/01/29/new-trailborn-resort-in-wrightsville-beach-offers-preview-of-former-blockade-runner/77890048007/

Saving NC’s Endangered Red Wolves

https://apnews.com/article/red-wolf-wildlife-crossings-north-carolina-conservation-endangered-5797ffd304dac2cdd9718d40edb83718

https://apnews.com/article/red-wolf-wildlife-crossings-north-carolina-conservation-endangered-5797ffd304dac2cdd9718d40edb83718

https://awionline.org/press-releases/new-federal-grant-us-highway-64-crossings-could-save-endangered-red-wolves-and-other

https://highways.dot.gov/newsroom/investing-america-biden-harris-administration-awards-125-million-grants-improve-safety

Walmart to Close North Carolina Office

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/walmart-cut-hundreds-roles-shut-office-north-carolina-fox-news-says-2025-02-04/

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/walmart-reportedly-cutting-jobs-as-it-refocuses-on-bentonville-headquarters-b86b7157

https://nypost.com/2025/02/04/business/walmart-axing-jobs-closing-offices-as-more-white-collar-workers-asked-to-relocate/

NC Expands Early Childhood Program with $3M Investment

https://www.ncdhhs.gov/news/press-releases/2025/02/04/ncdhhs-invests-3-million-expand-child-first-strengthening-support-young-children-and-families-across

Former NC Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson Drops Lawsuit and Exits Politics

https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-lieutenant-governor-lawsuit-dismissal-1cc12cd7191f44f0cbe8b2a85bd274c5

https://apnews.com/article/north-carolina-governor-robinson-porn-posts-e195d3d8a03ce7d0b3496ab7cecefbe7

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrat-stein-wins-north-carolina-governors-race-2024-11-06/

https://www.reuters.com/legal/north-carolina-republican-sues-cnn-over-report-posts-pornography-site-2024-10-15/

https://x.com/markrobinsonNC

In Office and On the Move:

(FULL VIDEO) North Carolina governor calls for $1B in Helene relief funds

https://youtu.be/aY_12Z8EE1Q?si=mllaY6WX8S8rUn5q

https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-helene-governor-budget-request-fcb961066453bc45ac69d783d7cea33f

https://www.wunc.org/2025-02-03/gov-stein-calls-for-1-07-billion-in-state-funding-for-helene-recovery?

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2025/02/05/810823.htm

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/02/republicans-trump-fema-disasters-00201983?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article299633889.html

https://www.osbm.nc.gov/hurricane-helene-dna/open#:~:text=Updated

Legacies of Leadership: Black Voices in Politics & Policy

https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/charlotte-hawkins-brown-museum/history/dr-charlotte-hawkins-brown

https://historicsites.nc.gov/all-sites/charlotte-hawkins-brown-museum/history

https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/charlotte-hawkins-brown-1883-1961/

https://northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/palmer-memorial-institute/

https://cambridgeblackhistoryproject.org/project/charlotte-hawkins-brown/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Hawkins_Brown

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Memorial_Institute