Brought to You By Japan, But Made in Mebane
What N.C. State’s Arena Move Tells Us About the Dean Dome’s Future
Nearly 30 years ago, N.C. State basketball moved from Reynolds Coliseum to an off-campus court.
Feds Fine Durham-Based Energy Efficiency Company $722 Million
American Efficient says it incentivizes energy savings. One FERC commissioner claims “their entire business is a scam.”
U.S. House Committee Investigated Alma Adams for Alleged ‘Inappropriate Relationship’ With Staffer
Several former aides say they were interviewed about the lawmaker’s relationship with her deputy chief of staff.
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.
Politics
N.C. Republicans Reach Deal to Close $319 Million Medicaid Shortfall
Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall said they plan to send a bill to the governor soon.
Berger Calls to Shorten Early Voting After Primary Loss
The state Senate leader said he thinks the current early voting period is “pretty excessive” for primaries.
N.C. Lawmakers Haven’t Passed a Budget Since 2023. Can They Do It Now?
When lawmakers return to Raleigh, the top priority will be passing a budget. But GOP leaders haven’t signaled they’re any closer to a resolution.
K-12 Education
Leandro Is Dead. Long Live Leandro?
After landmark litigation collapsed this month, public education advocates are mulling the next best way to make the state’s constitutional promise of a sound, basic education for all a reality.
Amid Enrollment Declines, Public Schools Reckon With Potential Closures
Even districts in the state’s most affluent and growing areas are under pressure. Chapel Hill-Carrboro school leaders now confront an impossible choice.
How One N.C. Charter School On the Brink of Failure Made a Massive Comeback
The Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy was at risk of closure. Now the state board that oversees charters hails the school as a success.
Higher Ed
St. Andrews University Rape Case Ends With Settlement
Webber International University reached an out-of-court agreement with a former St. Andrews student, but few details are publicly available.
How N.C. Universities Plan to Prove Their Value
Three chancellors discussed pressures on higher education during a Durham event hosted by The Atlantic and The Assembly.
Why We’re Suing UNC-Chapel Hill
The Assembly and five other media outlets filed suit over UNC-CH’s refusal to release a report on the School of Civic Life and Leadership.
Culture
Will Federal Recognition for the Lumbee ‘Transform’ Southeastern North Carolina?
Members of the Lumbee tribe, which won full federal recognition last December, can soon access more federal programs and may open a casino.
New Documentary Features Joan Little’s Fight for Justice
In the 1970s, Joan Little was a poor, young Black woman who killed a Beaufort County detention officer who she said tried to sexually assault her. Her case sparked an international movement.
Putting the ‘Gold’ in Golden Years
Senior communities are playing to win in the hyper competitive world of post-retirement living, as seen at Raleigh’s Liberty Games.
From Our Network
‘Power to the People, Y’all’ Revisits a Revolutionary Chapter
Tressie McMillan Cottom’s new documentary short looks back on the first Black Panther Party chapter to be established in the South, and how its legacy lives on today.
Sober Living Home Ignites Opposition in Haymount Neighborhood
City officials and residents say the business violates zoning rules; the owner says she’s being harassed and unfairly targeted.
Lawmakers Threaten Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools Over Books, Policies on Gender
Republican legislators harangued school officials and announced a new bill that would withhold funding from districts that don’t comply with the Parents’ Bill of Rights.
Cumberland Commissioners Schedule Hearing on Data Center Moratorium
The public can comment on plans for a temporary ban during the hearing on May 18.
St. Pauls’ Fight Against Flooding
The Robeson County town has gotten millions of dollars from the state for flood mitigation projects. But there’s more work to do.
‘Democracy is Hard’
At the inaugural Greensboro Newsmakers event, students, and higher education leaders talked about civic health and engagement.
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.
Why Alamance County’s Pro-Trump Sheriff Iced Out ICE
Terry Johnson abruptly ended his agreement to hold immigrant detainees just before Trump’s crackdown in N.C.
Southern Discomfort
Over 200 years ago, George Washington toured North Carolina, and struggled to find its charm.
Greg Bovino’s Last Stand
North Carolina native Greg Bovino was known for being theatrical and hyperaggressive. Those traits just cost him his job.
How Much Could Trump’s Cuts Cost Your College?
We crunched the numbers on five significant higher ed cuts from the Trump administration’s first year.
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.
Lost and Found
Meet the teams working to reunite people with mementos they lost during Hurricane Helene.
N.C.-Based Nonprofit Sues Trump Administration Over Organ ‘Hunger Games’
The state’s largest organ procurement organization argues new rating system will lead to cutthroat competition and fewer lives saved.
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?
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.