Month: July 2025

1. WMPO subcommittee: Funding CFM Bridge could come with tri-county bond referendum

Shea Carver/Port City Daily A new committee has formed from the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization to assess potential funding mechanisms for large-scale projects regionwide, including the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement. Some are even suggesting a tri-county bond referendum, mimicking recent transportation legislation passed in North Carolina’s largest city. WMPO’s Alternative Funding Subcommittee […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

4. Federal funding cuts, delays undermine HIV response in North Carolina

Jennifer Fernandez/NC Health News The first domino fell when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention didn’t renew North Carolina’s $13.8 million HIV Prevention and Surveillance grant before it ran out on May 31. The second blow came when the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services passed that nonrenewal along to 13 […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

5. General Assembly passes mini-budget with funds for salary step increases, enrollment growth

Ben Humphries/Education NC After weeks of negotiations and nearly one month into the new fiscal year, the North Carolina General Assembly voted this week to adopt a continuing budget resolution — a “mini-budget” — that funds essential parts of the state government. The mini-budget funds step adjustments for employees on salary schedules, including teachers, principals, […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

6. The rise and ruination of Swain County Sheriff Curtis A. Cochran

Cory Vaillancourt/Smoky Mountain News For nearly two decades, a self-styled reformer with no law enforcement experience who toppled a longtime sheriff and rode a rising red tide to four reelection victories enjoyed his unusual transformation from outsider to one of the most powerful law enforcement figures in rural Western North Carolina, but it came with […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

7. WS/FCS asks state lawmakers for financial help, likely to make more budget cuts

Kelly Kendall/WXII News It’s crunch time for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools leaders. More than 50,000 students will return to classrooms in about two weeks, as district leaders continue to grapple with a $46.1 million budget shortfall from the previous fiscal year. The board of education came together for a special-called meeting Tuesday night during which interim […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

8. Incarcerated firefighters protect North Carolina. The benefits don’t always flow both ways

Stella Mackler/WFAE Radio Building, rehabilitating, instructing, developing, growing, employing. Those are the promises made by the BRIDGE program, which trains incarcerated young men to fight fires, among other skills. But does it hold true to those promises? For Burt Torrain, the answer is complicated. Torrain participated in BRIDGE in 1991. Locked away on drug charges, […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

9. Saint Augustine’s University appeals to alumni for donations following loss of accreditation

Chloe Courtney Bohl/IndyWeek After Saint Augustine’s University lost accreditation this week, the school’s leaders are appealing to alumni to fundraise $1 million they say they’ll need for a lawsuit against their former accreditor. On Monday night, about 200 SAU alumni joined a Zoom call with interim university president Marcus Burgess, board chair Brian Boulware, and […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

10. I-26 project in Henderson County is complete, NCDOT announces

Hendersonville Lightning The final overnight closures of Interstate 26 in Henderson County related to the widening project are set to occur this week. “There will be no more full closures in Henderson County,” Resident Engineer Mike Patton said. “As far as what the travelling public will notice, our project in Henderson County is complete.” NCDOT […]

Written by on July 31, 2025

1. Duke University hit with two federal investigations over diversity practices

Bradley George/WUNC Radio The Trump Administration is investigating Duke University over its diversity practices. The probe comes as hundreds of employees prepare to leave the university due to federal funding cuts. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and Education Secretary Linda McMahon recently sent a letter to Duke administrators. In it, they […]

Written by on July 30, 2025

2. Roy Cooper raises millions in first 24 hours after announcing Senate bid

WSOC News Former North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper raised over $3 million in the first 24 hours after announcing his bid for the U.S. Senate. According to campaign officials, Cooper’s campaign received $2.6 million, while nearly $900,000 was directed to the Democratic Party. North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race is expected to be one of the […]

Written by on July 30, 2025

3. Some North Carolina Democratic lawmakers break from party to pass Republican priorities

The Associated Press North Carolina Republican lawmakers on Tuesday overrode several vetoes by Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, getting just enough votes from Stein’s own party to enact some laws while falling short on others. The votes were key tests for Republican General Assembly leaders since they narrowly lost their veto-proof majority following last fall’s elections. […]

Written by on July 30, 2025

4. UNC leaders propose an estimated $70 million in budget cuts amid federal financial crunch

Brighton McConnell/WCHL Chapelboro Facing funding cuts from both the state and federal governments, UNC administrators shared some broad areas it aims to trim roughly $70 million from its operating budget on Wednesday — including consolidating jobs and scaling back financial aid to out-of-state students. Ahead of a budget presentation to the Board of Trustees’ Budget, […]

Written by on July 30, 2025

5. AG Jackson anticipates legal win over pulled federal funding

Trista Talton/Coastal Review Online North Carolina’s attorney general is confident federal funding unceremoniously stripped from local governments earlier this year will be reinstated under a court ruling. “I think we’re going to win in court,” Jeff Jackson said Tuesday afternoon. “I think our argument is very strong.” Jackson had just wrapped up a short tour […]

Written by on July 30, 2025