Pryor Gibson

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The chief operating officer for the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency is no longer working in the position as of Wednesday. An office spokesperson confirmed Laura Hogshead is out of the role and Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s legislative lobbyist Pryor Gibson will serve in the interim. Hogshead’s departure comes after a scathing rebuke of her work by GOP state lawmakers during a Monday hearing. The recovery office is facing a more than $220 million deficit to continue housing projects in parts of eastern North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence. Republican legislators say the office has mismanaged its funds.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republicans are voicing frustration over how the state is still struggling to recover from two hurricanes that ravaged the region long before Hurricane Helene hit in September. The issues bubbled to the surface Monday during a legislative committee hearing about a budget shortfall in the state Office of Recovery and Resiliency. At issue are projects stemming from hurricanes Matthew in 2016 and Florence in 2018. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper asked for money to eliminate the shortfall last month as part of a larger package to address Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding. One top recovery official says pausing projects is an “option on the table” if lawmakers don’t come up with enough cash.