Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and his wife Yolanda greet supporters at a campaign event in Elon, North Carolina on Nov. 3, 2024. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
North Carolina experienced more than its share of political and policy controversies in 2024, but here are three memorable ones to which NC Newsline devoted significant coverage.
The Robinson family nonprofit
As Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson campaigned as the Republican Party nominee for governor, one of many controversies to hit his campaign involved Balanced Nutrition, a nonprofit founded and run by his wife Yolanda Hill. The nonprofit, which helps childcare providers secure federal funding for children’s meals and comply with program regulations, came under intense public scrutiny after a state review uncovered multiple violations .
Both Robinson and Hill claimed the scrutiny was politically motivated, citing an alleged incident in which a DHHS employee shared photos of her with her husband to colleagues.
In April, however, Hill informed the clients of Balanced Nutrition that she was shutting down her nonprofit because of her husband’s campaign and as the state was preparing to conduct a compliance review. But the decision did not stop the state review.