Stein stresses safety as citizens vote

Gov. Josh Stein provided an update about public safety and his priorities on Oct. 27 during early voting, one week before Election Day.

“Every second matters when someone calls 911,” Stein said. “These grants will give 911 operators the resources and technology they need to better connect North Carolinians with the help they need quickly.”

Rutherford County received $53,974.06 for radio console replacement.

“Every grant award is an investment in the first responder under the headset answering 911 calls in the community they serve,” said North Carolina 911 Board Executive Director L.V. “Pokey” Harris.

The county’s 2026 budget message identified a funding limitation:

“In effect, 9-1-1 fees pay for a call into the 9-1-1 center but not for the call to send help.”

The announcement did not include a local installation timetable.

On data center electricity costs, Stein said, “If it requires a new power plant, it is silent as to who pays for that power plant. That should not be the case.”

“Families shouldn’t pay for the cost of new data centers,” Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in the governor’s announcement. “Duke’s proposal is a real step in that direction, and it puts more of the cost on the data centers, where it belongs. It’s not final yet, and we’re going to keep pushing for more.”

On domestic violence, State Rep. Monika Johnson-Hostler said, “We cannot simply tell survivors to leave. We must build the conditions that make safety possible.”

“Survivors should not have to choose between their safety and keeping a roof over their heads or meeting their family's basic needs.”

He did not specifically mention voting in the press conference. Watch it here.