Why Did N.C.’s Budget Take So Long?
A Raleigh Neighborhood Ditched Its Slave-Owning Namesake. Some Are Still Fighting to Keep It.
Many residents of the neighborhood formerly called Cameron Park say they’ve moved on under a new name, Forest Park. But some want a court to declare the name change invalid.
Small Town, Big Pride
Flamy Grant lived in fear growing up in Western North Carolina. Now She’s taking center stage.
The Rev. William Barber’s Case Against Trumpism
The civil rights leader preaches a religiously motivated opposition to MAGA. But in a less faithful nation, that message might not resonate.
North Carolina, the Wild West of Hemp
Hemp businesses operate without regulation, but worry about raids. State officials, meanwhile, say they lack tools to protect public health.
Politics
The Innocence Commission Lives On in State Budget. The Name Does Not.
The latest state budget spares the N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission from an attempt to abolish it.
Democratic Lawmaker Raises Concerns About Missing Republican
State Rep. John Sauls has participated in just four days of voting over the past year, but showed up for veto overrides last week.
Lumbee Tribe Rejects Amendment Opening the Door for a Casino
Tribal leaders said a casino could bring jobs to rural southeastern N.C., but critics worried about speed and transparency.
Higher Ed
Another Professor Leaves UNC-Chapel Hill’s Civics School
One of the School of Civic Life and Leadership’s most high-profile faculty members is the latest to depart.
What N.C.’s Budget Includes On Higher Ed Spending
The UNC System gets its long-awaited enrollment funding, schools can shield student disciplinary records, and out-of-state NC Promise tuition goes up under the spending plan.
N.C. Community Colleges Compete for $1 Million Prize
Forsyth Technical Community College and Stanly Community College were selected from more than 1,000 community colleges as finalists for the Aspen Institute award.
Health
Emergency Measures
Available data indicate that cannabis-related emergency visits have skyrocketed among people under 18 since the legalization of hemp.
What’s in My Weed?
Our investigation found many hemp products for sale don’t have the THC levels they claim—but do contain bacteria and other contaminants.
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.
Culture
What We Can’t Forget This Independence Day
We are gearing up to mark America’s 250th, but commemorating our history is a year-round commitment for these North Carolinians.
From Her Garden Post in Wilmington, Prolific Artist Minnie Evans Patrolled the Borders Between Worlds
A new documentary unspools the story of Minnie Evans, a North Carolina artist whose visionary work channeled a dialogue with the divine and broke through the art world.
A Magical Run: How Raleigh Came Together for the Canes
The Carolina Hurricanes’ journey to the Stanley Cup Final finally brought out some hockey joy in the capital city.
From Our Network
Durham County Moves Toward Data Center Moratorium
County commissioners could vote on a moratorium as early as next month, joining the City of Durham in banning data center construction.
Crowded N.C. Jails Grapple with Iryna’s Law
Some law enforcement officials and district attorneys say the law has put strain on local jails without providing more resources.
Fayetteville City Council Reinstates Youth Curfew
The ordinance restricts teens 16 and under after 11 p.m., penalizing adults—not juveniles—as council members clash over whether the policy protects or harms youth.
The Budget No One Wanted
A state-mandated moratorium on property tax revaluations gave Greensboro and Guilford county little time to pivot as they finalized their budgets. The result? A substantial tax rate increase.
Q&A: What Deborah Ross Saw Inside the ICE Processing Facility in Cary
U.S. Rep. Ross recently toured the Cary ICE facility as part of a congressional oversight visit.
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls and Blew a Hole in the City Budget
A county board granted billions in property value reductions to corporate landlords. City leaders, banking on the tax revenue, didn’t know until April.
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.
