Our Most-Read Stories of 2025

Another year is in the books. Between the beginning of Trump’s second term, the never-ending state Supreme Court race that finally ended, a new governor, and legislative wrangling, it was hard to keep up with the news.

Nearly 3.6 million different readers visited The Assembly Network this year, an all-time high. And the stories that drew you in were as diverse and unique as this place we call home.

Here are the 10 most-read Assembly stories of 2025.

10. North Carolina’s Deadliest Inlet

Last March, Oregon Inlet claimed the life of a seasoned mariner. Navigating the tempestuous waters is the stuff of legends and nightmares.

9. 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.

8. Tensions Swell Over the Price of Parking in Wrightsville Beach

The town says parking fees fund services that benefit beach-goers. Surfers say it’s intensifying the region’s class divide.

7. UNC Men’s Basketball is Having a Kodak Moment–and Not in a Good Way

Kodak was among the most valuable brands in the world before its insular culture contributed to its demise. UNC men’s basketball could be making the same mistake.

6. How an Aggressive Church is Making Waves at N.C. State

Former members of Restored Church Raleigh say they felt pressured to be baptized and to isolate from friends and family.

5. How I Accidentally Became Part of China’s PR Campaign

Dozens of Duke students signed up for a free trip to China. Even the school was surprised by what happened.

4. Elections Officials Narrow Jefferson Griffin’s Path to Victory

The State Board of Elections said a key part of the state Supreme Court’s ruling last week will only apply to Guilford County.

3. 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.

2. The Cattle Con

The recent sentencing of a Surry County man sheds light on how the shady world of fraudulent cattle traders operates.

1. 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.