James Farrell/WFAE Radio The state Board of Education is working to finalize a new rule that could make it easier for experienced out-of-state teachers to get their license in North Carolina, members heard at their meeting Wednesday. Recent legislation removed a requirement for out-of-state teachers with more than three years of experience to provide data […]
Emilee Phillips/The (Southern Pines) Pilot Developers connected to the Junction Hall project, a two-story food hall concept that had been proposed for a well-known corner in downtown Aberdeen, have announced their decision to suspend moving ahead on the project. Owners Johnny and Lindsay Cauthen announced their initial plans for the building at the corner of […]
The (Waynesville) Mountaineer Well-known documentary film maker Paul Bonesteel may soon be starting on a new project near and dear to the hearts of many in Haywood — a history of the Thomson-Gibson family and Champion International’s role in Western North Carolina. Bonesteel spent the better part of a week filming memories of a family […]
Bradley George/WUNC Radio Cumberland County is putting the brakes on construction of the Crown Event Center in Downtown Fayetteville. The $144 million facility, scheduled to open in 2027, will replace the nearly 60-year-old Crown Coliseum with a three-story venue that can host concerts, conventions, and other large events. The decision came after the Cumberland County […]
Brighton McConnell/WCHL Chapelboro As the U.S. government and court system grapples with President Donald Trump’s administrative efforts to reduce or scrap the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Town of Carrboro passed a resolution in solidarity with the agency’s workforce that has lost their jobs. During the council’s business meeting on Tuesday, Carrboro Council Member […]
Hallie Golden/The Associated Press A bucktoothed llama that spends his days comforting chronically ill children at a North Carolina camp founded by NASCAR royalty has been crowned the world’s oldest llama in captivity. At 27 years and more than 250 days, the selfie- and snuggle-loving llama called Whitetop dethroned Dalai Llama, the Guinness World Records […]
The thing about speed humps is, once they’re in the rear view, you can hit the gas. So it seems for House Bill 92, House Speaker Destin Hall’s proposal to give North Carolina’s treasurer permission to invest a portion the state’s cash reserves in cryptocurrency ETFs. It cleared House Commerce and Economic Development on Wednesday, […]
Two legislators who represent parts of Mecklenburg County had some cautionary words for N.C. Turnpike Authority officials who are sizing up toll-road proposals for other parts of the state. Sen. Vickie Sawyer, R-Iredell, said the “dynamic pricing” used on Interstate 77’s express lanes between downtown Charlotte to Mooresville is “absolutely predatory.” The public-private partnership that […]
Sen. Julie Mayfield, D-Buncombe, isn’t particularly buying the idea that the state constitution’s ban on “exclusive or separate emoluments” rules out a small-business grant program for hurricane relief. As the Senate prepared Wednesday to pass its version of the next relief package for western North Carolina, she said the precedent of disaster-related crop-loss programs suggests […]
Sarah Michels/Carolina Public Press Upon taking office, President Donald Trump wasted no time before issuing a series of wide-reaching executive orders impacting federal funding, immigration, diversity efforts and environmental work. Now, some North Carolina lawmakers are falling in line while others are planning how to fight back. For state Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, Trump’s […]
Felicia Sonmez/Blue Ridge Public Radio The City of Asheville on Tuesday released its draft proposal for spending $225 million in federal Hurricane Helene disaster recovery funds, with a trio of public input sessions scheduled for later this month before the plan heads to City Council for approval in April. The funding comes from the Community […]
David Beasley/The Center Square North Carolina state employees and retirees could soon have health insurance premiums nearly doubled, state treasurer Brad Briner said Tuesday. The state insurance plan is projected to have a $500 million shortfall in 2026 which will increase to $800 million in 2027, Briner said during a meeting of state leaders Tuesday. […]
Liz Schlemmer/WUNC Radio A bill to study whether North Carolina’s five biggest school districts might be too large advanced Tuesday. The House K-12 Education Committee approved House Bill 82, which would create a commission to study whether a school district experiences any negative outcomes caused by a large student population. The bill would also charge […]
Jaymie Baxley/NC Health News In December 2023, North Carolina became the 40th state to expand eligibility for Medicaid, opening up the government-funded health insurance program to low-income adults who previously made too much money to qualify. Nearly 630,000 people have gained coverage since expansion took effect, surpassing state health officials’ initial two-year enrollment projection months […]
Jenna Fryer/The Associated Press NASCAR’s revenue-sharing charter system is under threat of being disbanded according to a Wednesday counterclaim filed by the stock car series against Michael Jordan-owned 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports that singles out Jordan’s longtime business manager. The contentiousness began after more than two years of negotiations on new charter agreements […]
