VOLUME 146 ISSUE 44 | THURSDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2023
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
C HATHAM NEWS & R ECORD THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF THE NORTH STATE JOURNAL
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BRIEF this week
First Medicaid expansion data shared More than 600,000 North Carolinians are newly eligible for health coverage through a recent expansion of NC Medicaid, and the state has recently shared numbers on how many residents have enrolled in the expansion. Chatham County has seen 977 newly eligible adults sign up for Medicaid, some 2.3 percent of the county’s 42,570 adult population between 19 and 64 years of age. This data is current as of December 1, though the data was only recently made available by the state. Numbers will be updated monthly. “Hundreds of people each day are gaining health care coverage and getting the care they need,” said NC Health and Human Services Secretary Kody H. Kinsley in a press release. In total, 272,937 North Carolina residents have signed up for the program, with nearly 33 percent of whom are under the age of 30. Most of that 273,000 were part of the family planning population who were automatically moved to full Medicare coverage as part of the expansion. To learn more (including income requirements) or to find out if you’re eligible, visit medicaid.nc.gov.
Agriculture risk and price loss coverage receive 1-Year extension Agricultural producers can enroll in the Farm Service Agency’s Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2024 crop year. Enroll and make election changes for the 2024 crop year between now and March 15, 2024. In November, the 2018 Farm Bill was extended through September 30, 2024. This extension allows authorized programs, including ARC and PLC, to continue operating. ARC and PLC are part of a broader USDA safety net that also includes crop insurance and marketing assistance loans.
GENE GALIN FOR CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
Waiting for the new year to begin Seaforth senior wrestler Josh Miller competes in a match at UNC’s Carmichael Arena. Seaforth beat Cardinal Gibbons and Cary but lost to Laney for its first defeat of the year. Turn to B4 and B5 for more of our favorite sports photos from 2023.
Cooper says Medicaid expansion and other investments made 2023 a big year The Associated Press RALEIGH — As Republicans used their legislative heft in 2023 to enact policies that he opposes, North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said federal capital investments, Medicaid expansion and more jobs announcements are building historic momentum for the state. “We’re strengthening our communities, our infrastructure and our economy,” the second-term governor said in a year-end interview with The Associated Press. “We’re laying a groundwork to help North Carolinians right now and for
decades in the future.” Billions of dollars are entering the state from federal legislation, such as for high-speed internet in rural areas and for building roads, bridges and public transportation. Earlier this week in Raleigh, Cooper and U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg celebrated the state receiving a $1.1 billion grant to begin construction of a high-speed passenger rail line connecting the state capital and Richmond, Virginia. The contributions also include the hundreds of millions of dollars a month that will cover the costs of low-income adults who until recently made
too much to enroll in Medicaid. In March, the governor signed a bipartisan bill that directed his administration to accept the Medicaid expansion offered through the 2010 federal Affordable Care Act. After the state cleared a final hurdle with the passage of a state budget in October, expansion began on Dec. 1, with the number of people automatically enrolled approaching 300,000. Another 300,000 or so are expected to be added over time. Cooper had made expansion a top priority since becoming governor in 2017, but it took Republican lawmakers several years to come around to the
idea. Cooper said one of his best days as governor happened Dec. 1 when he met in Charlotte with people who, with tears in their eyes, were able to obtain health insurance. “It’s a big deal for our state,” the governor said. The year was also marked by economic development announcements, particularly in the so-called “clean energy” field, that Cooper has highlighted. Toyota said in October that it would spend another $8 billion on its electric battery plant it’s building outside of Greensboro, generating another 3,000 jobs. See MEDICAID, page A3
Chatham Arts Council awards grassroots grants to five local nonprofits Arts audiences in Chatham County generated over $4 million in event-related spending in fiscal 2022.
Additional funding announced for diverse arts initiatives in Chatham County Chatham News & Record THE CHATHAM ARTS COUNCIL (CAC) has awarded Grassroots Arts Grants to five nonprofits in Chatham County, marking over two decades of collaboration with the North Carolina Arts Council. These grants play a crucial role in supporting the local arts community, contributing to the county’s cultural and economic vitality. A recent study claims that arts audiences in Chatham County generated over $4 million in event-related spending in fiscal 2022. Notably, visitors from outside the county accounted for nearly three-quarters of this expenditure, underscoring the arts’ substantial economic and cultural influence in the region. The CAC is distributing over $15,000 to local artists and organizations. The recipients include the Chatham County Partnership for Children, Chatham Artists Guild, Community Organizing for Racial Equality (CORE), Pittsboro Elementary, and Shakori Hills Hoppin’ John Festival. Following advocacy efforts by ArtsNC and the North Carolina Arts Council, along with state officials’ support, the North Carolina General Assembly has increased funding for the arts and the CAC has an additional $13,000 to allocate to local nonprofits for arts projects. The new grants are expected See CAC, page A7
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The Chatham County Board of Commissioners Congratulates Karen VonCannon as the recipient of the Chatham County 2023 Employee of the Year Award.
Chatham County Recognizes 2023 Employee of the Year Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — On December 18, 2023, Chatham County Human Resources Director Courtney Jones gave a special presentation at the Board of Commissioners meeting in Pittsboro recognizing Karen VonCannon as the County’s 2023 Employee of the Year. VonCannon has served the residents of Chatham County for more than 15 years while at the Department of Social Ser-
vices. She currently serves as the Food and Nutrition Supervisor and Program Integrity SuSee EMPLOYEE, page A7
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