Hidden in the Hills
In Search of Lost Education
A Syrian family’s commitment to education never wavered, even when civil war forced them to flee. They found what they were looking for in North Carolina.
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.
Phil Berger Concedes to Sam Page in State Senate Upset
The Rockingham County sheriff led by 23 votes, ending the decades-long reign of the state’s most powerful Republican lawmaker.
N.C. Republicans Want Markwayne Mullin to Unlock FEMA Funds
All 10 House Republicans in the delegation wrote the new secretary of Homeland Security to ask for a review of unallocated FEMA funds.
Politics
Robinson Reemerges, Admits To Porn Habit and Lying About Allegations
In a lengthy conversation, Robinson says he was obsessed with porn and sex and lied to protect Trump’s campaign in N.C.
No Shortcuts
Prosecutors wanted the state Supreme Court to review an August ruling that overturned four men’s convictions in the murder of Nathaniel Jones.
The Life and Tragic Death of Eleanor Rush
Newly released federal records shed light on Eleanor Rush’s 1954 death in a North Carolina prison—and the uprising and reforms that followed.
K-12 Education
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.
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.
Six Teachers Who Became Republicans for Midterms All Lost Primaries
They hoped their candidacy would bring more robust debate about education policy into the GOP, but that didn’t exactly happen.
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.
Culture
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.
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.
The Epic Real-Life Friendship Behind an Acclaimed Novel
Lily King’s “Heart the Lover” commemorates three men who bonded as students in Chapel Hill.
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
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.