Print NC Newsline | September 22, 2026

‘A lot less bad’: Wake commissioners approve updated deal to combine WakeMed and Atrium

Members of the State Employees Association of North Carolina (SEANC) estimate a combined WakeMed-Atrium would raise healthcare premiums for state employees another $10 a month.

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TV ABC11 | September 22, 2026

WakeMed releases renovation plans after merger vote passes

The State Employees Association of North Carolina estimates that current and retired state workers across the state could see health insurance premiums rise by up to $15 per month if the merger is approved. The organization said it received calls and emails from concerned workers in the hours following the vote. "They are losing their minds over the thought of it because they can't take any more coming out of their paycheck," said Ardis Watkins, the association's executive director.

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Print NC Health News | September 22, 2026

Wake commissioners clear the way for Atrium-WakeMed combo at contentious meeting

Ardis Watkins, an attorney who’s head of the State Employees Association of North Carolina and a Wake County resident, said after the meeting that she was surprised by how many legal threads were still hanging. “One of the more disturbing parts of this whole thing was that the county attorney’s staff did not appear able to answer some of the more serious questions about what is left — what it means legally,” Watkins said. “I was really concerned that we would have folks vote, then figure out later what the deal that they just agreed to means. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.”

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TV WRAL | September 21, 2026

WakeMed-Atrium deal approved after protests and tense 5-2 vote by Wake commissioners

Ardis Watkins, the executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, was present at the meeting. Although she wasn’t there to protest, she said she’s against the deal. "This process has been such a mess," she said. "The citizens have had it. So they ended up with complete chaos, but that’s fitting because this entire process has been nothing but chaos."

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TV ABC11 | September 21, 2026

In 5-2 vote, Wake County commissioners allow WakeMed-Atrium deal to proceed

The State Employees Association of North Carolina said the merger would likely increase premiums for all State Health Plan members by $10 to $15 per month. Among those expressing concerns was state employee Wendell Powell, a correctional captain at Harnett Correctional Institution. Powell said he has his wife and six children covered under his health plan. He said his daughter is battling lupus and recently underwent brain surgery, making any additional financial burden difficult to absorb. "The rising costs — we're already getting hit by inflation at the grocery store, the gas pumps, and higher health care premiums. It's not right," Powell said. In a separate comment, Powell added, "Those doctor bills, someone has to pay them." He also said, "I need gas, I need food, you know, I need to take care just to look, the little expenses."

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TV CBS 17 | September 21, 2026

WakeMed and Atrium Health merger moves forward

“There is no control of that meeting, but that’s not surprising; there has been very little control of this process,” Executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, Ardis Watkins, said. Months of negotiations and hours of public comment during the meeting culminated in commissioners approving the legal documents in a vote of 5 to 2.

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Radio/Podcast WPTF | September 18, 2026

WAKEMED-ATRIUM COMBO: County commissioners set key votes for Monday

The State Employees Association of North Carolina, which represents many state workers, and State Treasurer Brad Briner are also opposing the deal, warning of increased costs and reduced services.

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Print NC Health News | September 18, 2026

After months of contention and behind-the-scenes lobbying, new Atrium-WakeMed deal has more benefits for Wake County

Stephens said the union and the State Employees Association of North Carolina emailed a request to the commissioners this week asking for a meeting that would allow more substantial discussion about the proposal beyond the few minutes allotted to each person in the public comment period.

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Print ABC11 | September 18, 2026

WakeMed-Atrium merger faces scrutiny ahead of county vote; Stein no longer opposes deal

Some stakeholders have described the process as "undemocratic." The State Employees Association of North Carolina said the merger will likely increase premiums for State Health Plan members statewide by at least $100 per year. "This would be a double whammy with just a paltry raise in this year's budget," said Ardis Watkins, executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina.

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Radio/Podcast WUNC | September 16, 2026

In new State Health Plan program, a cluster of rural NC hospitals could cost patients more

State employees will likely pay more for healthcare if they use hospital systems in four rural counties north of the Triangle.

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TV ABC News 12 | September 15, 2026

NC State Health Plan, Atrium Health partner to expand options for 750,000 members

RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina State Health Plan and Atrium Health have announced a new partnership that will expand coverage options for plan members beginning Jan. 1, 2027.

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Print News & Observer | September 14, 2026

In a reversal, NC Health Plan moves some Atrium hospitals to mid-tier for 2027

Patients at some Atrium hospitals and associated clinics no longer will see higher out-of-pocket and deductible costs when North Carolina State Health Plan’s new tiered hospital network takes effect next year.

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Print Governor's Office | August 25, 2026

Governor Stein Celebrates North Carolina’s State Employees at Richard Caswell Service Award Ceremony

Today Governor Josh Stein joined the Office of State Human Resources’ Richard Caswell Service Award Ceremony to honor employees who have achieved 45 years of public service with the state of North Carolina.

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TV WRAL | August 21, 2026

WakeMed-Atrium deal ‘deserves close scrutiny,’ governor’s office says ahead of possible merger vote

Gov. Josh Stein’s office this week sent a letter to WakeMed Chief Executive Donald Gintzig, asking about a dozen questions about particulars of the proposal including financials and oversight.

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Print News & Observer | August 20, 2026

These are NC’s highest-paid state government employees. Who earns the most?

Kevin SigRist, chief investment officer for the North Carolina Investment Authority, is paid an annual salary of $772,500 to provide expertise for state government investing, making him the highest paid state employee as of Aug. 3, according to salary data provided by the Office of State Controller.

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Print News & Observer | August 20, 2026

NC teachers start school year with ‘real money’ raises. Stein says there’s more to do

Thousands of teachers across the state are already back at work preparing for the new school year that begins for most students next week. New teachers are starting their careers with significant raises, and teachers across the board are seeing an average 8% in their upcoming paychecks.

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Print Lenoir News-Topic | August 19, 2026

My Spin: Is this the best budget our lawmakers could come up with?

Ardis Watkins, head of the State Employees Association said, “Legislators love to tell us how well North Carolina’s economy is doing, but this budget looks like the work of a state that’s struggling.”

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Print Daily Tar Heel | August 19, 2026

Wake County judge orders mediation in media’s lawsuit against UNC

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TV Spectrum News | August 17, 2026

WakeMed-Atrium Health hearing draws differing opinions

Ardis Watkins, the executive director of the State Employees Association of North Carolina, spoke against the proposal and questioned why the commission would ever consider this deal.

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TV WRAL | August 12, 2026

Where are the teachers? New data shows full-time teacher shortages in the Triangle

Several districts around the Triangle said they are struggling to fill vacancies just two weeks before the start of the traditional school calendar.

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Print News from the States | August 12, 2026

If Idaho insurer met hospital’s pay raise, state employees’ costs would rise, official says

“It’s my understanding: had we given them what they were requesting for an increase, it would have increased our entire health plan by 7%,” Knowlton said. “The entire 65,000 members would see a 7% increase, to allow 3,000 members to stay in the network.”

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Print BusinessNC | August 12, 2026

Another competitive SECU board election?

The N.C. State Employees’ Credit Union is gearing up for its board election that concludes at the Oct. 13 annual meeting, with five people vying for three slots. The credit union’s five-member nominating committee, including four board members, recommended Charles Stone, Michael Clements and Christopher Dillon, according to a letter to members on the credit union’s website.

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Print News & Observer | August 5, 2026

NC lawmaker warns opening ICE detention center could hurt state prisons

Democratic U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross is calling on Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to reconsider opening an immigration detention facility in Eastern North Carolina, citing concerns about st

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Print News & Observer | August 5, 2026

UNC Health says new scheduling system won’t pay nurses less. Why it has critics.

UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill is implementing a new staffing system that changes how nurses sign up for extra shifts they want to pick up, typically in hard-to-fill time slots like nights and weekend

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Print News & Observer | August 4, 2026

Wake schools facing $17.6M in budget cuts. When will employees get their raises?

The Wake County school system is facing more than $17 million in budget cuts to pay for higher-than-expected state raises for school employees this year.

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TV WRAL | August 4, 2026

NC lawmakers advance changes to new state budget, election rules

State House lawmakers gave near-final approval Tuesday to technical corrections to the recently approved state budget.

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Print Carolina Journal | August 3, 2026

NC pension fund gains as Social Security insolvency concerns loom

North Carolina public pension fund posted a strong year, earning an estimated $17 billion and returning 12.4% during the year ending June 30.

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Print NC Treasurer | July 29, 2026

State Health Plan and Atrium Health Meet: Entities Agree to Further Conversations

State Health Plan leaders, including Board of Trustees Chair and State Treasurer Brad Briner, met with Atrium Health leaders on Monday in Raleigh.

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Print NC Newsline | July 29, 2026

NC Senate approves controversial elections bill along party lines

House Bill 834 focused mostly on ballot counting and voters supplying missing signatures.

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Radio/Podcast WUNC | July 29, 2026

NC legislature changing budget provisions, restoring some cuts

Less than a month after state lawmakers passed a long-overdue budget, they are making changes to the spending plan.

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Print Washington Post | July 27, 2026

Governments don’t have to settle for mediocre workers

The Public Workforce Modernization Act, which takes effect in October, eliminates many credential requirements that made it unduly difficult to hire state workers.

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Print BusinessNC | July 27, 2026

State Health Plan officials meet with Atrium execs

State Treasurer Brad Briner and the leader of the N.C. State Health Plan met with Atrium Health officials today.

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Radio/Podcast WPTF | July 22, 2026

Executive Director of SEANC Ardis Watkins discusses the new system for the state health plan

Reactions from major health systems continue for North Carolina new tiered system for the State Health Plan.

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TV Spectrum News 1 | July 21, 2026

Health systems buck at State Health Plan, state employees executive defends change

We want members to be able to go to any provider they want to go to, Watkins said.

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Print WUNC News | July 21, 2026

State employees will wait another month for raises — and longer for bonuses

Ardis Watkins with the State Employees Association of North Carolina says the delay looks political.

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Print Substack | July 17, 2026

Is Private Equity Failing America’s Retirees?

As Ardis Watkins puts it, the industry figured out these pools of public money are where they can get super rich.

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Print News & Observer | July 16, 2026

NC state workers have questions after State Health Plan switches network & insurer

Watkins said while the method is complex and hard to understand, we do need to give it time.

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Print Triangle Business Journal | July 16, 2026

Viewpoint: Hospital market needs more competition

Ardis Watkins, executive director of SEANC, and NC State Health Plan vice-chairman Brian Miller wrote a joint op-ed.

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TV Spectrum News | July 15, 2026

N.C. budget will provide raises for prison staff, but officials say more is needed

Wendell Powell is a captain at Harnett Correctional and president of SEANC. He said the budget will help with staffing, but there are a lot of areas and other issues.

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Radio/Podcast NC Newsline | July 13, 2026

Ardis Watkins, executive director of the SEANC, discusses shortcomings in the state budget

Newsline sat down with Ardis Watkins for a broader look at the spending plan.

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Radio/Podcast WFAE | July 13, 2026

North Carolina state employees get another premium hike, but sweeping changes to their health insurance could lower other costs

A 3% raise for most state employees is not going to cover inflation for this year alone.

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Print NC Newsline | July 10, 2026

Premiums rise, but overall costs could fall for NC State Health Plan members under a new system

Ardis Watkins said workers should not have to pay higher premiums when their raises have not kept up with inflation.

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TV WRAL | July 10, 2026

Premiums to rise 5% for State Health Plan; state workers to be pushed to UNC for care

Ardis Watkins told the board that state employees got no raises in the last fiscal year, when premiums also increased.

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Print NC Newsline | July 10, 2026

Blue Cross to return as the NC State Health Plan third-party administrator

Blue Cross NC will return to processing State Health Plan benefit claims as its third-party administrator, replacing Aetna in 2028.

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Print NC Health News | July 10, 2026

What’s coming for state employees insurance in the coming year? Here are the details.

Ardis Watkins, executive director of SEANC, pointed out friction as she spoke to the trustees.

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Print Carolina Journal | July 10, 2026

Budget prioritizes western NC rebuilding

SEANC has argued that many vacancies stem from compensation that has not kept pace with the labor market.

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TV WRAL | July 7, 2026

Stein signs $34B NC budget, ushering in tax cuts and raises for state employees after GOP agreement

Gov. Josh Stein signed a $34 billion state budget that Republican legislative leaders finalized last week.

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TV WRAL | July 7, 2026

NC law extends parental leave to 12 weeks for state employees

State employees will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave after Gov. Josh Stein signed new legislation.

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TV WRAL | July 3, 2026

As NC prisons struggle with vacancies, new budget ramps up spending. Will it be enough?

If you don't know how prisons work, no one knows what is going on behind closed doors, said Powell.

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Print ABC 11 | July 2, 2026

North Carolina lawmakers approve new state budget, sending plan to Governor Stein

This is a very disappointing budget, said Flint Benson, a political strategist and lobbyist for SEANC.

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TV ABC 11 | July 2, 2026

NC lawmakers approve new state budget — video report

Flint Benson, political strategist and lobbyist for SEANC, reacts to the budget approval.

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Print Axios | July 1, 2026

North Carolina lawmakers release full state budget proposal

State employees got no raise last year, while their healthcare costs went up dramatically.

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Print News & Observer | June 30, 2026

Raises for teachers, police and state workers in NC budget. Here is the breakdown

Ardis Watkins said the 3% raises do not keep up with inflation and pointed out the lack of raises in 2025.

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Print The Assembly NC | June 30, 2026

N.C. Lawmakers Release Long-Awaited Budget. What’s In and What’s Out?

If NC is being run like a business, it is a business in terrible financial shape, said SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins.

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TV WFMY | June 30, 2026

Pay raises and tax cuts included in new NC state budget

WFMY News 2 breaks down how the budget will impact your bank account, with Ardis Watkins.

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Radio/Podcast WPTF | June 30, 2026

Ardis Watkins discusses SEANC reaction to proposed pay increases in NC budget

A deal has been reached on the North Carolina state budget including income tax cuts and pay raises for state employees.

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TV CBS 17 | June 30, 2026

NC lawmakers release proposed $34.4 billion state budget

This budget sends a strange message, we are doing great financially, but we do not have any money to do the right thing by most of our workers.

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Print NC Newsline | June 30, 2026

NC legislature releases $34B budget deal, expects votes this week

Ardis Watkins noted the raises did little to financially help most state workers who saw no increase in pay last year.

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Print WUNC | June 30, 2026

Long-delayed NC budget released with raises, Helene funding, ferry tolls and more

SEANC says the raises do not keep pace with inflation and is also concerned about the elimination of vacant positions.

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TV WRAL | June 30, 2026

NC lawmakers unveil long-awaited state budget with tax cuts, raises for state employees

SEANC strongly disputed the rosy view and pointed to the relatively small raises most state workers will receive.

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TV Spectrum News | June 30, 2026

We simply aren’t competitive: State employee group reacts to proposed pay increases in NC budget

Ardis Watkins, executive director of SEANC, does not think the raise is enough.

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TV CBS 17 | June 26, 2026

No budget, no raises: July 1 pay bumps likely delayed for NC teachers, state employees and retirees

It puts a financial hardship on us, a strain. It is like they do not care.

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Print Carolina Public Press | June 17, 2026

Strange bedfellows. Selling WakeMed and Atrium deal as a marriage.

SEANC warned that the deal would increase premiums for state employees.

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TV ABC 11 | June 14, 2026

Dangerous heat leads to families, workers changing daily routines to stay safe

Wendell Powell, President of SEANC, discusses heat safety resources available to members.

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Print EdNC | June 8, 2026

State Health Plan board votes to increase out-of-pocket costs, copays for Medicare Advantage plans

Suzanne Beasley, director of government relations for SEANC, said these increases are going to turn our folks on their head.

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Print Carolina Journal | May 22, 2026

Mergers only make hospital monopolies worse

SEANC Ardis Watkins co-authored this Carolina Journal opinion piece on why the public should be suspicious of the Atrium Health WakeMed merger.

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TV WFMY | May 15, 2026

State employees will push lawmakers for budget, higher pay on lobby day

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TV WRAL | April 18, 2026

North Carolina State Employees fighting for raises with budget up in the air

Ardis Watkins talks with WRAL about the need for state employees to receive cost-of-living raises.

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Print NC Health News | February 5, 2026

NC prisons face dire staffing crisis

Our staffing situation is dire, and it is dangerous to my staff, to the people in my custody and to the people of North Carolina.

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Print News & Observer | January 6, 2026

Does NC government have $1B in lapsed salaries? Auditor and governor disagree

If we are serious about providing decent services to the public, we have to be serious about funding the agencies providing those services, Ardis Watkins said.

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Radio/Podcast WPTF Morning Show

SEANC director Ardis Watkins discusses her concerns about eliminating unfilled state jobs

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