What's it like to own a shuttered bar in the time of COVID? Zack Medford of the N.C. Bar and Tavern Association discusses the unique challenges posed to his industry by government restrictions in North Carolina. NC Insider editor Colin Campbell hosts.

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The week ahead for March 1 is hosted by Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan, with Colin Campbell. They'll tell you what's going to happen at the legislature this week around COVID-19, reopening and more.

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Everything you need to know about former North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael Regan, now President Joe Biden's nominee for the Environmental Protection Agency. Our Washington correspondent Brian Murphy hosts, with hurricane recovery, environmental and now vaccine reporter Adam Wagner.

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The school reopening debate continues this week as we await Gov. Roy Cooper's action -- and possible veto -- on a legislation that would force schools to resume in-person classes within weeks. Legislators will also take action on a proposed summer school program for kids who have fallen behind. Danielle Battaglia hosts, with Dawn Vaughan.

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A look at an oversight agency being eliminated by North Carolina Republican legislative leaders . The Program Evaluation Division is tasked with targeting waste, fraud and abuse. State politics reporter Lucille Sherman hosts.

Read more from Sherman and the rest of The News & Observer's politics team at newsobserver.com.

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In our look ahead at the week of Feb. 15, we'll discuss what might happen as the school reopening bill nears final passage and action from Gov. Roy Cooper. And we'll take a look at prospects for marijuana legalization in North Carolina. Will Doran hosts.

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The majority of voters in the swingiest of swing states, North Carolina voted for former President Donald Trump. But there's more to that story. We discuss our findings from the most detailed yet on the 2020 election. State politics reporter Lucille Sherman hosts with investigative reporter Tyler Dukes.

Read more from Sherman and the rest of The News & Observer's politics team at newsobserver.com.

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In our look ahead at the week of Feb. 8, we'll discuss what's next in the legislature's effort to reopen public schools and pass COVID-19 aid. And we'll take a look at how the "consensus revenue forecast" due out this week could affect those efforts. Dawn Baumgartner Vaughan hosts, with Colin Campbell.

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A year of remote work and virtual schooling has exposed the inequities in broadband internet access in North Carolina. What will it take to get every rural corner of the state online with high-speed connections? "North Carolina probably has a billion-dollar broadband need gap," says Jody Heustess, this week's guest on the podcast. He's a vice president at ATMC, which has received several of the state's "GREAT" grants to help private internet providers expand service in rural areas. Insider editor Colin Campbell hosts.

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