☀️ In Today’s Edition

1. Rubbing the Massage Board the Wrong Way
2. Another Step for Lumbee Recognition
3. Around Our Network
4. What We’re Reading
5. Our Recent Stories

Inside a neoclassically inspired office building, past marble columns and inside double glass doors, massage therapists gathered inside a crowded conference room.

The North Carolina Board of Massage and Bodywork Therapy was holding its regular meeting in its attorney’s Raleigh office. The eight-member board, most of whom are massage therapists, regulates the practice across the state. But the chairs, the tables, the flat-screen television streaming the meeting–all of it belongs to the law firm that both represents the board and doubles as its administrative staff.

The firm also keeps 65% of most of the board’s revenue from licensing fees for the more than 10,460 therapists in the state. It’s an unusual arrangement that’s generated some critics, as Johanna Still reports.

Discord on the Massage Board

Critics have raised concerns about the state board overseeing massage therapy’s unique legal arrangement, which some see as a convenience and others as a potential conflict.

“It’s almost like it’s an open secret how messed up this is,” said Mai Lin Petrine, the director of legal and regulatory affairs at the Federation of State Massage Therapy Boards.

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Another Step for the Lumbee

A revised national defense spending agreement released this week would give full federal recognition to the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina.

Congress is expected to vote in the coming days or weeks on the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, a $900 billion compromise between the U.S House and Senate.

The Lumbee have been seeking full federal recognition for more than a century, as Sarah Nagem reports. And while the U.S. House has passed legislation several times, it has repeatedly stalled in the Senate—until now. 

Congress Includes Lumbee Recognition in Defense Spending Bill

The North Carolina tribe has been seeking full federal recognition for more than a century. The latest effort comes after President Trump began pushing for Lumbee recognition.

Around Our Network

The Houston Astros are selling the the minor league Fayetteville Woodpeckers, CityView reports.

A state Senator and a former state House member dove headlong into a competitive state House primary by accusing a fellow Democrat of making racist remarks more than a decade ago, per The Caucus.

State law prohibits anyone from serving in two elected positions, causing some voters to wonder why Lumbee Chairman John Lowery can also serve in the N.C. House, as Border Belt Independent reports. 

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What We’re Reading

Water We Waiting For: Burlington and Asheboro are less than 50 miles apart, but their approach to addressing pollution couldn’t be more different, as Carolina Public Press reports.

Renaissance Man: The former UNC system vice president, congressional candidate, lawyer, and television host D.G. Martin Jr. died this week in his Chapel Hill home at 85, per Charlotte Observer.

Under Water: 9th Street Journal looks at the lasting impact of this summer’s tropical storm Chantel on one Durham family: “Everything you paid for and put in here is gone. Now we’re on our own.”

Our Recent Stories

Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor

Two attorneys have filed State Bar complaints against a Wake County prosecutor who has been accused multiple times of violating discovery rules.

Promises Piled High 

The Roseboro community is hopeful a landmark agreement with the Sampson County Landfill’s owners will bring meaningful change.

On the Hunt for North Carolina’s Biggest Trees

Two arborists’ uncommon hobby takes them deep into the woods to look for the state’s leafy giants.