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☀️ In Today’s Edition

1. Beyond the Opioid Crisis
2. Schools Deal With Lingering Immigration Fears
3. Around Our Network
4. What We’re Reading
5. Our Recent Stories

Rural North Carolina has been devastated by opioid addiction since the rise of prescription painkillers in the 1990s. While urban areas have not been immune, the overdose rate in rural areas has been significantly higher, adding to the woes of communities already reeling from high unemployment and an exodus of young people for more prosperous cities.

But the number of people who died of drug overdoses in North Carolina fell by 35 percent between April 2024 and April 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The state saw among the biggest drops in the nation, which experienced an overall decline of 24.5 percent during that time.

Sarah Nagem reports from from the Border Belt.

How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deaths—But Will Struggle to Keep Pace

After years of fighting rising rates of overdoses, communities are finally reversing the trend. Now they face dramatic funding cuts that could undo the progress.

This story is part of a package we published today across The Assembly Network looking at how the state is using the $1.4 billion in settlement funds from multiple opioid lawsuits. The series looks at how the money is being distributed, what progress has been made, and the challenges that remain.

Read All Our Reporting Here

Addressing School Fears in Charlotte

Since the launch of what U.S. Customs and Border Protection dubbed “Operation Charlotte’s Web,” the presence of immigration enforcement agents has rippled across neighborhoods, campuses, and after-school programs. Last Monday, more than 30,000 Charlotte-Mecklenburg students—roughly 21 percent of the district—didn’t show up to school. This is triple the typical rate of absence. 

When Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools emailed families and faculty that evening, they tried to strike a balance between reassurance and routine. No federal agents were on campus, they wrote, and agents couldn’t enter without a warrant. The email also said, in bold letters, that “students were expected to attend school” and that CMS would operate on a normal, in-person schedule. 

As Whitney Clegg reports from Charlotte, the message fell short for many families. Nothing felt normal.

‘Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students

Some parents and teachers said they want better communication from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in the future, and they worry about how students will move forward.

Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.


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Around Our Network

When a children’s book about gay penguins was removed from Summerfield Elementary School bookshelves last May, parents and teachers pushed back. Now, the book is available to students of all ages, per The Thread.

What does it take to put on the annual Chinese Lantern Festival in Cary? 100,000 feet of wiring, 20,000 lights, and 14 acres of land, as INDY reports.

Want to watch Fayetteville’s leaders conduct the people’s business? You’ll have to jump through a few hoops, as CityView details.

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What We’re Reading

Mid-Term Exam: Politico talks to some North Carolina Republicans who are worried President Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown could backfire in the midterms.

Three-Fer: Willis P. Whichard, who served as a state Supreme Court justice, representative, and senator, died last week at 85. Coastal Review looks at his legacy.

Alley-Oop: N.C. native Chris Paul may be ending his 21-career run in the NBA, per Winston-Salem Journal.

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Our Recent Stories

Into the Woods with the Dix Park Trolls

Danish artist Thomas Dambo’s family of five recycled troll sculptures now cavort across the Raleigh’s Dix Park.

DOGE Eat DOGE?

North Carolina’s 4th District was the hardest hit in the entire country. What will that mean for 2026?

‘It’s Very Bleak’

As the Border Patrol’s Charlotte operation continued—or ended?—the city’s Latino businesses began to assess the damage done.