Between the Ropes, Beyond the Tropes
The ‘Surreal’ World of Political Spouses
The plus-ones of elected officials and candidates have to be an asset—whether they want to or not.
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.
No Pipe Dream on the French Broad
Pipe from IPEX’s Asheville factory is still in the river 18 months after Hurricane Helene, with no indication the company will clean it up.
A Tale of Two Six
A native son, a homecoming-inspired final album, and how Fayetteville—if only for a weekend—became the center of the hip-hop universe.
Politics
Where in North Carolina Is ICE Looking to Expand?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement currently has field offices in Charlotte, Cary, and Hendersonville, which are also described as temporary holding spaces.
Advocates Say N.C.’s System for CAFO Complaints Is Falling Short
The state has only 14 inspectors for thousands of hog, poultry, and cattle farms, making it impossible to evaluate every complaint.
Set in Stone: Court Says Gaston County Confederate Monument Can Stay
The three-judge Court of Appeals panel dismissed a legal challenge describing the monument as “a symbol of intimidation, oppression and injustice.”
Culture
No Pipe Dream on the French Broad
Pipe from IPEX’s Asheville factory is still in the river 18 months after Hurricane Helene, with no indication the company will clean it up.
Southern Discomfort
Over 200 years ago, George Washington toured North Carolina, and struggled to find its charm.
Duke’s Kara Lawson Doesn’t Care If You Underestimate Her
Duke’s women’s basketball team has turned its season around, but its coach is under more pressure than ever ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
Higher Ed
How Phil Berger Shaped North Carolina’s Universities
With controversial funding decisions and emboldened governing boards, the powerful state senator has transformed North Carolina’s public colleges and universities.
The Duke Researcher Who Thought He Could Reform Jeffrey Epstein
The wealthy sex offender gave a former Duke University employee money for a YouTube show.
UNC-Chapel Hill Concludes Civics School Investigation, Won’t Release Findings
The university says it is confident in the school’s future under the leadership of Jed Atkins.
From Our Network
Faced with $1 Billion in Needed Repairs, DPS Considers Closing Older Schools
While they are far from making any decisions, administrators are tentatively looking at consolidating some schools in an attempt to reduce maintenance costs.
Justice in Your Pocket
N.C. A&T junior Danielle Bunker is creating a mobile app to help average people navigate the complexities of the legal system.
Cumberland County School Board Backtracks on Consolidating Campuses
The Cumberland County Board of Education rescinded several student reassignment and facility decisions it approved on February 9, reversing course after weeks of criticism.
A Beloved House, A Beloved Community
A 150-year-old house has been locally recognized as historically significant. The owners now want to renovate it to continue social justice work in Greensboro.
As Apex Creates Data Center Rules, What Role Should Residents Have?
With one major project apparently up in smoke, the debate over data centers, how to regulate them, and the role of community input burns on.
Talking With Rep. Foushee After a Close Primary Win
Newly reelected Rep. Valerie Foushee reflects on a competitive and expensive primary, and diving into her third term in Congress.
Featured Stories
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.
Former Hunt Institute Employees Describe a ‘Culture of Fear’
Ex-staffers say its leader has created a toxic environment that imperils the institute’s future—and former Gov. Jim Hunt’s legacy.
UNC’s Risky Belichick Math
UNC-Chapel Hill transferred $21 million to the athletic department last year–and that was before hiring Bill Belichick.
How a Widow’s Appointment to the State Dental Board Got Spiked
Shital Patel became a patient advocate after her husband died at the dentist. Then her appointment got mysteriously nixed.
The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano
The Venezuelan asylum seeker was living in N.C. legally. So why did the Trump administration send him to El Salvador?
Pride Cometh Before The Fall
After a two-year fight over LGBTQ books and displays, Yancey County is pulling its public library out of a regional system.
Voices in the Wilderness
A traditionalist religious order is building a new home in the woods of Western N.C. Not everyone is happy to see them.
Nine Years After HB2, Trans North Carolinians Wonder Who Is Looking Out For Them
The ‘Bathroom Bill’ sparked an outpouring of protest. But a new wave of attacks on trans rights has failed to generate the same response.
How the N.C. Legislature Bankrolls Anti-Abortion Centers
Over the past three years, the state legislature has given $30 million to crisis pregnancy centers, with little oversight or outcomes.
The Cattle Con
The recent sentencing of a Surry County man sheds light on how the shady world of fraudulent cattle traders operates.
What Remains of St. Andrews
Following the sudden closure of St. Andrews University, Laurinburg grapples with a now-empty campus at the heart of the community.
An Inmate’s Unlikely Ally
Charles McNeair has been in prison for more than 45 years. He has a surprising new advocate for clemency: the police chief.