State Budget Talks: North Carolina GOP leaders are still hashing out the final details of the long-awaited budget, with Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger now signaling the bill may not be finished as quickly as first hoped, though both chambers aim to deliver before the end of June. Medicaid Work Rule: Federal guidance has upended North Carolina’s Medicaid work requirement plans, with CMS’s interim final rule adding new complications for defining who counts as “medically frail,” potentially affecting coverage for hundreds of thousands of adults. Health Costs & Access: A western North Carolina couple says ACA coverage became unaffordable after enhanced tax credits expired, a sign of how rising premiums could push more residents off insurance. Medical Oversight: An investigation highlights how the North Carolina medical board has disciplined doctors in cases involving risky care, while critics argue lawmakers largely ignored audit calls for stronger consumer protections. Elections & Power: A Senate-control analysis flags an “unforced error” that could decide the 2026 race, pointing to candidate quality concerns in key states. Federal Court in NC: A judge in Eastern North Carolina says no friend-of-the-court briefs will be allowed in the Comey case tied to “86 47” markings on the Outer Banks. Public Safety: Concord police say a Sun Drop murder suspect from 2008 has been arrested in Washington state after nearly 18 years. Local Crime: Bertie County’s stolen vehicle investigation has ended with the arrest of a second suspect. Energy Prep: Dominion Energy crews are months ahead of hurricane season, hardening the grid and replacing aging poles to reduce outages.