In a monumental Supreme Court decision regarding a North Carolina case, the majority of justices just issued a ruling that could reshape state election laws across the country. The ruling pertained to who has the authority to determine the specifics of how, when, and where Americans can vote and whether state courts can regulate the process.

The court, led by Chief Justice John Roberts, in a 6-3 decision, dismissed an expansive interpretation of the theory known as “independent state legislature”. The theory proposes that the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution gives state legislatures exclusive control over federal elections, free from the usual oversight of state constitutions, courts, and governors.

Moore v. Harper (2023) pic.twitter.com/W1tc7HC6gW

— Simplified SCOTUS (@SimpleSCOTUS) June 27, 2023

The case in question, Moore v. Harper, revolved around a gerrymandered voting map implemented by the North Carolina state legislature. The state’s Supreme Court had invalidated the map for being inconsistent with the state’s constitution, and the U.S. Supreme Court was asked to reinstate it.

Chief Justice Roberts, along with Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett ruled against the Republican lawmakers involved in the dispute over the North Carolina congressional map.

In his written opinion, Roberts stated that the Elections Clause “does not insulate state legislatures from the ordinary exercise of state judicial review.” This ruling effectively dispels the theory that state legislatures can conduct federal elections without the usual checks and balances.

Experts in election and democratic processes had cautioned that a full adoption of the “independent state legislature” theory could significantly influence the operation of elections and the drafting of voting regulations in the U.S.

The dissenting justices on the bench were Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Samuel Alito.

What do you think about the decision?

North Carolinians will travel in record numbers for Independence Day. In a new report, AAA forecasts nearly 1.5 million North Carolinians will take at least one trip of 50 miles or more, between Friday, June 30 and Tuesday, July 4. That’s 60,000 more holiday travelers than the previous record high, set last year.

Nationally, travel figures are also expected to set new records. An estimated 50.7 million Americans are forecast to travel for the holiday weekend. That’s nearly 2.1 million more travelers than last year’s holiday and almost 1.8 million more than the previous high, set back in 2019.

“Independence Day weekend appears to be the continuation of what has already been a very strong summer travel season,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Although airfares and hotel rates are more expensive than last year, North Carolinians are still eager to travel. So, expect to see congested roads, busy hotels, and long lines at airports and attractions.”

Road Trips Remain the Preferred Mode of Transportation

Nearly 85% of all travelers will take a road trip. AAA predicts 43.2 million Americans will drive to their destinations. That’s a little over 1 million more people on the road than last year. In North Carolina, more than 1.3 million are forecast to take a holiday road trip. That’s 35,000 more than last year.

Gas Prices to Remain Lower than Last Year’s Holiday

While it’s still too early to know exactly what drivers will pay at the pump this Independence Day, it’s likely to be well below what drivers paid during last year’s holiday period. The North Carolina average was $4.53 per gallon on July 4^th, 2022. So far this summer, gas prices have been somewhat erratic, but the state average has remained below $3.35 per gallon, thanks to the lower cost of oil.

419,000 more Americans will board a flight

A record-setting 4.17 million Americans will fly to their destinations this Independence Day weekend. That surpasses the previous July 4^th weekend air travel record of 3.91 million travelers, which was set in 2019. The share of air travelers in the overall holiday forecast this year is an impressive 8.2% – the highest percentage in nearly 20 years. An estimated 118,339 North Carolinians are forecast to fly this year. That’s over 11,000 more than the previous high, which was set last year.

Other modes of transportation are also on the rise this year. AAA expects 3.36 million people will travel by bus, cruise, or train over the long weekend, an increase of 24% over last year. This national figure is not expected to surpass 2019 levels. The estimated 70,275 North Carolinians does not surpass the over 75,000 travelers from 2019.

Best/Worst Times to Travel and Peak Congestion by Metro

Friday, June 30 is expected to be the busiest day on the roads during the Independence Day holiday weekend, according to INRIX, a provider of transportation data and insights. The worst travel times vary by day but are generally in the afternoon and early evening.

Average travel times are estimated to be 30% longer than normal, particularly in major metro areas, near beaches and attractions. To avoid the heaviest congestion, INRIX recommends drivers leave in the morning or after 6 p.m.

North Carolina’s popular Free Fishing Day is set to return this July 4, providing an open invitation to all, irrespective of age, to engage in one of the state’s finest outdoor pursuits without any cost. The event will start at midnight and continue until 11:59 p.m.

This annual event grants both local residents and out-of-state visitors the chance to fish without procuring a license. However, participants must adhere to all other fishing rules, such as those regarding daily possession limits, length of catch, and bait and tackle restrictions.

Sanctioned by the N.C. General Assembly in 1994 and organized by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, the Free Fishing Day initiative aims to raise awareness about the joys of fishing. It consistently takes place on July 4 each year.

Christian Waters, Chief of the Inland Fisheries Division, views Free Fishing Day as a valuable occasion for families to bond over a shared activity. He said, “Fishing is a relatively inexpensive activity that individuals of all ages and skill levels can partake in and enjoy.”

To ensure participants have a successful day, the Commission undertakes the task of stocking various fish species, including trout and channel catfish, in waters throughout the state. It also provides public access to fishing spots and boating areas. The Commission’s website features interactive maps detailing more than 500 free-to-access public fishing and boating spots.

Given that the holiday weekend is expected to attract large crowds, the Commission advises boaters to exercise patience, courtesy, and observe the following boating etiquette:

• Wait calmly for an open parking space to become available.
• Join the launch line without obstructing or overtaking others.
• Once the boat is off the ramp, park your vehicle and trailer.
• Assign someone to move the boat away from the ramp as you retrieve your vehicle and trailer.
• Always respect no-wake zones and remain cautious.

Remember that while fishing is free for all on July 4, people aged 16 and above must obtain a fishing license on all other days for both inland and coastal waters in North Carolina. Licenses can be purchased effortlessly online or:

• By calling the Commission at 888-248-6834, operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• By visiting a local Wildlife Service Agent.

For more details about fishing in public, inland waters, you can visit the Commission’s Fishing page here.

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has just announced they will give $1.5 billion to North Carolina to bolstering high-speed internet infrastructure in the state, as part of the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) initiative.

Planning for the funds is being spearheaded by the North Carolina Department of Information Technology’s (NCDIT’s) Division of Broadband and Digital Equity. The Division has released a draft five-year plan outlining proposed investments of BEAD funding across the state, which is open for public comment until 5 p.m. on Monday, July 17 via email to NCDITpartnerfeedback@nc.gov. The finalized plan will be submitted to the NTIA by July 29, enabling North Carolina to tap into its allocated BEAD funds.

“We continue to work tirelessly to achieve the best return on our investment as we allocate federal resources to address unserved and underserved locations across North Carolina,” said NCDIT Secretary and State Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver in a press release. “We appreciate the strong partnerships that have helped us identify needs throughout the state so that we can take strategic steps to reach every North Carolinian.”

The broadband division recently revealed that their challenges to the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Map resulted in uncovering an additional 115,000 North Carolina homes and businesses lacking high-speed internet access. This discovery led to North Carolina adding more new unserved locations to the map than any other state, subsequently increasing the state’s funding allocation from the BEAD program.

According to the Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Deployment Report, about 21% of North Carolinians lack a wired broadband connection capable of delivering speeds of at least 25 Mbps. Furthermore, data from BroadbandNow indicates that 13% of the state’s population lacks access to a broadband service of any type, wired or wireless. This grant from the NTIA will significantly assist in addressing these disparities, and contribute to expanding digital equity across the state.

For more info about the NCDIT Division of Broadband and Digital Equity and Governor Cooper’s mission to bridge the digital divide in North Carolina, please visit www.ncbroadband.gov.