Month: November 2025

10. UNCA hires consulting firm to help with its Millennial Campus Development Commission

Jose Sandoval/Blue Ridge Public Radio UNC Asheville will partner with a consulting firm to establish and guide its Millennial Campus Development Commission, the university announced Tuesday. This latest development comes months after the university halted negotiations for its controversial development of portions of its Millennial Campus property, which includes 45 acres of urban forest. The […]

Written by on November 17, 2025

NCSU seeks OK for semiconductor degree

UNC’s Board of Governors meets this week to address a docket that includes an NC State proposal to launch a new master’s degree in wide-bandgap semiconductors. Campus officials at State say they expect the program to ramp up over time, with a target of serving 26 students in its fifth year. They also say it […]

Written by on November 17, 2025

Scout HQ decision sparking criticism in S.C.

One state’s business-recruiting win is another’s nascent political issue, judging from reaction of a South Carolina gubernatorial candidate. U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, R-5th, took to Twitter recently to complain about “crony capitalism” after Scout Motors announced that it would place its corporate headquarters in Charlotte. The Volkswagen EV startup is building a $2 billion factory […]

Written by on November 17, 2025

1. Finding hope in Edgecombe after latest job creator doesn’t pan out

Jane Winik Sartwell/Carolina Public Press Yet another company has abandoned Edgecombe County, one of the poorest corners of North Carolina, after making promises it couldn’t keep. This time, it’s Natron Energy, the battery manufacturing company that planned to bring 1,000 jobs and a $1.4 billion investment — until the company shut down. It’s the latest […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

2. Parents win pause on NC Medicaid cuts they say threatened children’s progress

Jaymie Baxley/NC Health News The parents of more than 20 children with autism notched a recent victory in a lawsuit that accused the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services of discrimination after it slashed Medicaid reimbursement rates for certain behavioral health providers. During a hearing in Wake County on Nov. 10, a Superior Court […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

3. Robbins adopts resolution to keep control of water resources

Jonathan Bym/The (Southern Pines) Pilot The Robbins Board of Commissioners on Thursday expressed its intent to keep the Charlie Brooks Reservoir and the nearby dam connected to the water intake on Bear Creek in its hands. Commissioners approved a resolution drafted by town attorney T.C. Morphis, made at the request of the board, which stated […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

4. Guilford Democrats select Cook to fill remainder of Brockman term

A.P. Dillon/North State Journal The Guilford County Democratic Party selected High Point City Councilwoman Amanda Cook to fill the remainder of former statehouse Rep. Cecil Brockman’s term during an executive committee meeting on Saturday. “After a vote of the HD60 CEC, the Guilford County Democratic Party has selected Amanda Cook to serve the remainder of […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

5. ECU details plans to build chancellor’s home near Dail House residence; trustees vote for 3% tuition increase

Pat Gruner/The Daily Reflector East Carolina University’s Board of Trustees reviewed plans to build a chancellor’s residence on property adjacent to the old residence near campus this week, the same day officials gave a nod to a 3% tuition increase. The full board on Friday approved both items Jessica Bossierre, a principal at HH Architecture […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

6. ‘Mutual aid’ in the days and months after Hurricane Helene

Ben Humphries/Education NC What happens in a region ravaged by a natural disaster, where communications are disabled and the power is cut off indefinitely? How do its residents react? How is help delivered to those in need? Last year, the people of western North Carolina — and others across the state and the nation — […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

7. The Trump administration plans major shift away from long-term housing for homelessness

Jennifer Ludden/WUNC Radio The Trump administration is upending its homelessness policy, with deep cuts to funding for long-term housing. Instead, it will shift money toward transitional housing that requires work and addiction treatment. In a statement, the Department of Housing and Urban Development said the new policies will “restore accountability” and promote “self-sufficiency” by addressing […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

8. UnitedHealthcare announced WakeMed facilities and providers now out of network

WRAL News UnitedHealthcare officials announced WakeMed is leaving the network. On Saturday, UnitedHealthcare officials told WRAL News that WakeMed’s facilities and specialty providers will be out of network for members enrolled in commercial and Medicare Advantage plans, effective Nov. 15, 2025. “WakeMed has chosen to leave our network after refusing to move off its demands […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

9. Fisheries to vote on proposed blue crab harvest rules

Jennifer Allen/Coastal Review Online The coastal county lawmakers that formed a new group to support commercial fishing have submitted a resolution opposing more restrictions on the commercial harvest of blue crabs ahead of the Marine Fisheries Commission Nov. 19-20 meeting in Wrightsville Beach. The Marine Fisheries Commission is expected to consider adopting management strategies developed […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

10. Developers submit industrial park plans

Pat Kimbrough/High Point Enterprise Developers have submitted plans for the first phase of a proposed major industrial park in south High Point. A site plan to support ground-up construction of a 131,040 speculative warehouse building on South Road is under review by the city. The plan depicts a truck court and parking lot associated with […]

Written by on November 16, 2025

DEQ OKs water-quality permit for MVP Southgate

The MVP Southgate gas pipeline project has cleared another regulatory hurdle, this time at the state level. N.C. Department of Environmental Quality officials have certified the project’s compliance with state water-quality standards, subject to conditions that include testing of any private wells within 150 feet of the construction site. MVP Southgate, you’ll remember is the […]

Written by on November 14, 2025

Emergency rooms

Hospital emergency rooms across the state are already struggling to cope with mental-health patients, and there’s worry that things will get worse because of the new legislators passed in response to the slaying of Iryna Zarutska. The so-called Iryna’s Law — House Bill 307 — is going to put further strain on the state’s involuntary […]

Written by on November 14, 2025