GOP Pushes Budget Overhaul; Dems Target Mecklenburg Sweep

Republican senators are renewing their push for zero-based budgeting, aiming to reset state spending and require agencies to justify expenses from the ground up. In politics, Democrats are targeting a full sweep of Mecklenburg County’s 13 House seats, while a new poll shows Roy Cooper holding a 9-point lead over Michael Whatley in the U.S. Senate race. In federal court, a supporter of “ballot selfies” is making a case at the 4th Circuit challenging North Carolina’s ban, continuing the legal fight over election laws. Meanwhile, a busy day is expected at the General Assembly, with multiple key issues on the agenda.