Age 65 remains the standard for determining who is and who is not elderly, regardless of other indicators such as physical and mental health, personal circumstances, and economic security.
In 1984 North Carolina spent approximately $23.6 million on social services for the elderly, mainly funded by federal programs designed for poor people.
Two recent lawsuits brought by prison inmates represent the most severe threat of federal intervention into the state prison system in the history of North Carolina. The federal government could usurp the state's power if the cases aren't resolved expeditiously and satisfactorily.
Senate Bill 726 would abolish 67 boards, commissions, or councils in the executive branch of North Carolina government. The North Carolina Center recommends that 62 be abolished and that the legislature begin monitoring the overall system.
North Carolina is moving toward a dual economy, characterized by booming urban centers and depressed rural areas. The state is striving for economic development that will assist in both areas and address the needs of each.