What’s in My Weed?
Barely Legal: An Assembly Investigation Into N.C. Hemp
N.C. created what one industry insider called “the best recreational cannabis state in the country” in legalizing, but not regulating, hemp.
A Father, a Son, and a Gift from the Past
I started searching for a boy my dad met on an airplane near the end of World War II. I won’t forget what I learned along the way.
Trump Labor Pick Ran UNC-CH Newspaper That Belittled Minority Students
One issue of the Carolina Review featured a Black man in the center of a bullseye, while another showed a Jewish student with horns and a pitchfork.
Casino Vote Divides Lumbee Tribe
Some tribal members say they support gaming but question who should hold the power to make big decisions.
Politics
A Scientist’s War
Shortly after Congress legalized hemp, toxicologist Michelle Peace started a private drug-testing lab. Then she bit the hand that feeds.
Hemp Investigation: Our Methodology
Our reporters purchased hemp products from N.C. convenience stores and dispensaries, and had them tested at the Laboratory for Forensic Toxicology Research.
What Else Is In My Weed?
Our tests found dozens of chemical compounds in hemp products that were not cannabinoids—including some that might surprise you.
Higher Ed
How the Rise and Fall of Shaw’s Medical School Helps Explain Modern Racial Disparities
Journalist Nicole Carr’s debut book includes pieces of North Carolina history that surprised the Tar Heel State native.
Students Criticize UNC Charlotte Disability Office’s Handling of Accommodation Requests
Eight students say the office objected to their requests for adjustments due to disabilities. The office and legal experts say the situation is complicated.
Jordon Hudson Celebrates Her ‘BANniversary’ With More UNC-CH Records Requests
Jordon Hudson, who is dating Tar Heels football coach Bill Belichick, filed requests for information on the university’s communications with reporters.
Health
Former Partners Accuse Embattled Hospital Owner of Siphoning Revenue For Personal Gain
Lawsuits accuse Mike Sarian of using company accounts to fund personal expenses, including a luxurious Beverly Hills hotel and a Rolls-Royce.
How Asheville Became a City of Healing
Tuberculosis patients flocked there 100 years ago. Here’s why health nuts of all stripes still come to this mountain oasis.
Community Leaders Ignored Red Flags and Gave a CEO Millions to Buy Their Hospital. Now He’s Ghosting Them
Local politicians were desperate to save Asheboro’s only hospital. Now they say the for-profit buyer hasn’t kept his promises.
Culture
Filmed in Durham, a New Movie About Cosmic Coincidences Has Flown Under the Radar
The Bull City is somewhat of a main character in the indie rom-com ‘Everything & the Universe,’ streaming since last year on Amazon Prime. So why has no one heard of it?
When Billy Graham Peered Into the Nation’s Soul
The young minister from N.C. took Los Angeles by storm in 1949, holding tent revivals that made him a national figure.
The End of the Line
For decades, K&W Cafeterias fed the South on familiarity and habit. Their closure marks the loss of more than a restaurant chain—it signals the erosion of a shared, middle-class dining culture.
From Our Network
Cary Spent $330,000 on Videos Taxpayers Were Never Meant to See
The highly produced films—which include a surprise staff dance performance—offer a glimpse into governance under the former town manager.
UNC Pembroke Wants To Train More STEM Teachers
A new program will offer free tuition to students who pledge to teach math and science in the Sandhills.
Fayetteville Renews School Police Contract After Clash Over Transparency
The Fayetteville City Council approved providing 18 police officers and 66 crossing guards to public schools despite questions about whether the school resource officer program has ever been properly evaluated.
Great Things Start in Gas Stations
Pantry Fried Chicken started in a High Point gas station and has spread across N.C. and Virginia. Stop at the location on West Gate City Blvd and you’ll see why.
Cary Town Council to Consider Data Center Moratorium
Cary Town Council members voted unanimously to direct town staff to prepare a report and recommended timeline for a data center moratorium.
Durham Seeks Funding to End Homelessness by 2031
A new plan would aim to place people experiencing homelessness in the city into housing within 30 days.
Featured Stories
Even if Phil Berger Wins, He Lost
The Senate leader’s primary might not be resolved for weeks. But even Berger’s best-case scenario will leave the political giant diminished.
Whistleblower Pushes to Regulate Controversial Organ Retrieval Technique
A North Carolina surgeon has raised concerns about an innovative procedure that reanimates a dead body to enable organ transplants.
Greg Bovino’s Last Stand
North Carolina native Greg Bovino was known for being theatrical and hyperaggressive. Those traits just cost him his job.
As Helene Survivors Await State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their Homes
A new housing recovery program created to avoid the delays and cost overruns that plagued past efforts is already seeing similar problems.
The Enduring Hazards of College Hazing
Administrators have worked for years to eliminate fraternity hazing. But we found more than 1,500 pages of records showing it continues.
Well I’ll Be Dammed
North Carolina is about to get its first Buc-ee’s, the massive, cult-classic gas station. What’s all the hype about?
Lost and Found
Meet the teams working to reunite people with mementos they lost during Hurricane Helene.
If You Build It, Will They Come?
New charter schools are struggling to enroll enough students to stay solvent. One High Point school’s implosion shows the consequences.
How Tupac Came to Rest in North Carolina
The cremated remains of the rapper, still omnipresent three decades after his death, now lie in a Lumberton grave.
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Lesson in Civics
The School of Civic Life and Leadership’s hiring battle is part of a long-running rupture over the mission of similar efforts.
From ‘Superstar’ Cop to Drug Kingpin
A talented police officer busted drug rings along I-85. Then he bewildered everyone who knew him by becoming a drug trafficker himself.
How North Carolina Officials Kept the Truth About a Police Shooting Hidden
In 2019, a state trooper killed Brandon Webster claiming self defense. Evidence contradicted that account but wasn’t made public—until now.
A Tale of Two Six: J. Cole’s Fayetteville
A native son, a homecoming-inspired final album, and how Fayetteville—if only for a weekend—became the center of the hip-hop universe.
Transgender State Workers Are Facing Whiplash
The state’s health insurance plan no longer covers gender-affirming care, which has left some employees in limbo.
I’ve Seen How the Neo-Nazi Movement Is Escalating. You Should Worry.
A reporter gets a first-hand look at how the ‘militant accelerationism’ movement operates.
