Month: September 2025

2. Fewer North Carolinians are uninsured as Medicaid expanded, U.S. Census figures show

Aaron Sánchez-Guerra/WUNC Radio The number of uninsured Americans rose across 18 states and Washington, D.C. in 2024, but North Carolina wasn’t one of them, according to the 2024 American Community Survey 1-year estimates published Thursday morning. The working age population (19 to 64) in the state without health insurance decreased by 1.2% last year, which […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

4. Furniture industry confronts disruption, report says

Guy Lucas/High Point Enterprise A mixed bag of economic indicators combined with a surprise package of new tariffs seems likely to create “a new round of disruption for an industry looking for certainty and normalcy,” according to the latest monthly report by a High Point accounting and consulting firm that closely watches the furniture industry. […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

5. Ex-GOP Congressman Madison Cawthorn arrested

Michael Luciano/Mediaite Former Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), who is reportedly planning a political comeback, was arrested for failing to appear in court. Cawthorn was first elected to the House in 2020 at the age of 25, but lost his 2022 Republican primary after he ran afoul of congressional GOP leadership. He was arrested on Wednesday […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

6. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools consultant contract sparks school board tensions

James Farrell/WFAE Radio Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ new $180,000 contract with the education consulting firm SYDKIMYL sparked fresh tensions among CMS board members that were on display at Tuesday night’s board meeting. Last month, WFAE reported that CMS had entered into the new contract with SYDKIMYL despite some board members questioning a prior contract expansion in March. […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

8. Dare County and state officials tour NC 12 ‘hotspots’

Outer Banks Voice About two years after it first met, the NC Highway 12 Task Force issued its final report in February 2023. The report, which outlined the preferred options to keep the NC12 transportation corridor open on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, identified six NC 12 “hotspots” that are particularly vulnerable to weather events that […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

9. Chapel Hill, Carrboro civil rights activist and school reformer Hilliard Caldwell dies at 88

Brighton McConnell/WCHL Chapelboro Hilliard Caldwell, a longtime civil rights activist in the greater Chapel Hill community and former Carrboro elected official, died recently at 88 years old. A member of Caldwell’s family alerted Chapelboro to his passing on Monday. Known for his advocacy and work during Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools’ integration in the 1960s and for […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

10. Why some NC teachers are considering private school jobs

Kate Denning/Carolina Public Press Freedom, funds, faith. These are some reasons why educators leave public education in North Carolina to teach at independent schools, despite less-than-ideal benefits in private education and growing opposition to the state’s prioritization of private school vouchers. Public school teacher attrition has been a point of focus for education advocates as […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

Two incumbents trail in Charlotte council races

A low-turnout September primary is poised to turn a pair of Charlotte City Council incumbents out of office. Unofficial results indicate that District 3 and District 5 incumbents Tiawana Brown and Marjorie Molina lost their re-election bids, to challengers Joi Mayo and J.D. Mazuera Arias respectively. It remains to be seen whether Arias’ win will […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

Budd not happy with Helene aid backup

Our friends at McClatchy report that North Carolina U.S. Sen. Ted Budd is increasingly unhappy with U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s stranglehold on Hurricane Helene disaster aid. Noem has insisted on personally reviewing “every grant and mission assignment” worth more than $100,000, and claims this has saved taxpayers $10.7 billion as of Aug. 22. […]

Written by on September 11, 2025

1. Feds give CATS 15 days to detail safety fixes after Charlotte light rail killing

Desiree Mathurin/The Charlotte Observer The Federal Transit Administration on Wednesday officially launched its investigation of the Charlotte Area Transit System following the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian woman on the city’s light rail last month. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the administration would examine CATS’ safety plans, security spending and any risks to operators […]

Written by on September 10, 2025

2. NC’s Local Government Commission brings audit of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools closer

Adam Wagner/WUNC Radio The N.C. Local Government Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to help the N.C. State Board of Education with an audit of Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools. The school district is grappling with a $46M deficit after years of financial mismanagement. The district’s board voted last month to cut 343 positions. That decision is projected to […]

Written by on September 10, 2025

3. Brunswick County, planning board sued by developer over Sailor’s Haven denial

Port City Daily A Wilmington developer is taking Brunswick County and its planning board to court over a project that was denied to move forward in July. Coastal Cornerstone Development, LLC requested approval of the planned development Sailor’s Haven, on 117.3 acres of land — owned by Diane Blackman and Wayne Chykirda. Zoned R-7500 medium […]

Written by on September 10, 2025