By Paul Woolverton, includes “Yes, it is true that the state has not passed a comprehensive biennial budget since June 28, 2017. … When North Carolina last had a budget in place — the end of June 2019 — the average price of regular grade gas was $2.65 per gallon … Now the House and Senate leaders are in private negotiations with Cooper in hope that they can get a compromise with him — and that the state will finally get a budget instead going two more years without a full spending plan.”