A new bill filed this week in the N.C. General Assembly, with some bi-partisan support, would ban the use of cellphones in public schools during instructional time.

Why it matters: A growing number of states have moved to ban cellphones and other smart devices in classrooms, as part of an effort to reduce distractions during learning time and boost socialization among students.

Driving the news: Senate Bill 55 would ask public school districts to create policies to ban students from using wireless communication devices during class time.

• The ban would apply to cellphones, tablet computers, laptops, pagers, radios, gaming devices or any device that can provide voice, messaging or other data communication.
• Devices would be allowed if authorized by a teacher for educational purposes.

Between the lines: The bill has three primary Republican sponsors in Sens. Michael Lee (New Hanover County), Jim Burgin (Harnett) and Lisa Barnes (Nash), but there is some bipartisan support.

• State Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, a Democrat representing Wake County, introduced a similar bill last year with Burgin and applauded the new effort, saying "Study after study, superintendent after superintendent have told us that phone-free schools benefit students, teachers, and parents."

State of play: 68% of U.S. adults support cellphone bans during class, and about 36% favor an all-day ban, a Pew Research survey found last year.

• A group of parents in Wake County schools pushed last year for a district-wide ban in the state's largest school district. But so far, Wake County lets each school set its own policy on phones.

The other side: Those who oppose the bans, especially parents of K-12 students, argue that parents should be able to reach their children when needed, Axios' April Rubin previously reported.

• Many parents see cellphones as critical for safety and connectedness, especially in the face of emergencies like school shootings.

Zoom in: While new North Carolina Superintendent Mo Green said on the campaign trail that "we've got to figure out ways to limit the access of cellphones in schools," he hasn't supported an outright ban publically, NC Newsline reported.

Zoom out: Health experts and policymakers have called for stricter regulations on youth social media use, while social media companies have been reckoning with accountability about their platforms' harmful effects on children.

• Research has found that excessive cellphone use can impact children's mental health.

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Super Bowl Sunday will be filled with plenty of North Carolina connections.

Why it matters: One of the world's biggest sporting events isn't just a moment for splashy commercials and indulging in your favorite treats. It's a big source of pride for hometown fans.

State of play: The Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Feb. 9, at 6:30pm. The game will be broadcast on FOX.

The North Carolina's connections to the game — from players and coaches to the officials — include:

• 😈 Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray, who played at Duke
• 🐺 Chiefs offensive lineman Joe Thuney, who attended N.C. State
• 🌳 Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt, a star at Millbrook High in Raleigh who also played at N.C. State
• ⌚️ Mike Morton, a former UNC football player who will be the umpire for the Super Bowl

Keep reading for more connections

🥯 New York bagel shop H&H Bagels says it will open five locations in the Triangle. (News & Observer 🔒)

⚽️ The National Women's Soccer League has established a $5 million fund for players harmed by abuse or harassment as part of a settlement stemming from allegations against five coaches, including a former coach of the N.C. Courage. (Axios)

Raleigh Magazine has compiled some of the city's best Black-owned businesses for Black History Month. Check out the list here.

🎤 Popular rapper GloRilla will perform at the Dreamville Festival this year in Raleigh. (Axios)

🎓 Former N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper will take an eight-week teaching role at Harvard. (News & Observer 🔒)

Football season has proven to be the most popular time for North Carolinians to place sports bets since the state legalized online betting last year.

Why it matters: This will be the first Super Bowl held since North Carolinians could legally bet on it, and the event could break records for money wagered in the state.

The big picture: Americans tend to wager far more money during the NFL and college football seasons than during other periods of the year, an Axios review of a dozen states' betting data finds.

• Most follow the same trend — a boost during the fall months and a peak during football playoff season, then a dip during the summer.

North Carolina's problem gambling helpline number is 877-718-5543, and the state has more resources at morethanagame.nc.gov