Month: January 2026

7. Does one of NC’s US Senate candidates live in Florida? Answers will be delayed.

WRAL News State elections officials agreed Wednesday to delay a legal hearing on the eligibility of a Republican running for U.S. Senate in North Carolina, who is alleged to live out of state. Elections officials have been investigating whether Margot Dupre is actually a Florida resident following a complaint by Jerry Reinoehl, a Fayetteville Republican, […]

Written by on January 28, 2026

8. $7 hourly weekend parking, other changes suggested in WB next season

Emily Sawaked/Port City Daily A popular coastal town is once again looking to restructure rates in its parking program, which could come with an increase for hourly parkers on the weekend, but a decrease for weekday visitors. Wrightsville Beach held its budget meeting between town staff and the board of aldermen on Thursday, Jan. 20. […]

Written by on January 28, 2026

10. Peters to pay $8.8M after fraud allegations

Guy Lucas/The High Point Enterprise Bethany Medical and founder Dr. Lenny Peters have agreed to pay more than $8.8 million to resolve allegations of submitting bills to Medicare, Medicaid and TRICARE for medically unnecessary urine drug tests, N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced Tuesday. Peters was accused by state and federal officials of implementing and […]

Written by on January 28, 2026

WSSU only UNC school holding out against tuition increase

Only one of the UNC System’s 16 universities — Winston-Salem State — wants to continue holding the line on in-state undergraduate tuition heading into the 2026-27 academic year. Thirteen others have proposed 3% increases in line with the signals the system Board of Governors and state legislators have sent in favoring of lifting the de […]

Written by on January 28, 2026

Federal gag order prompts House Oversight delay

State House leaders have postponed a Thursday oversight hearing they’d scheduled to discuss the security situation on Charlotte’s transit system and in Charlotte generally. The decision to move the hearing to Feb. 9 came after U.S. Magistrate Judge David Kessler barred legislators from releasing anything they’ve gleaned from the investigative files of the Iryna Zarutska […]

Written by on January 28, 2026

1. Canton proposes crypto mining moratorium

Sarah White/The Waynesville Mountaineer Canton is finally taking a stand on crypto mining, trailing three years behind Waynesville and Haywood County on taking steps to prevent the controversial facilities. Canton is considering a moratorium on cryptocurrency mining, data center operations and server farms. The moratorium would freeze any applications or permits from going through while […]

Written by on January 27, 2026

3. Riverwalk dock fight drags on as judge keeps ban, tour boats remain

Charlie Fossen/Port City Daily A judge has upheld a ban on commercial boat slip rentals at the Riverwalk Condominiums, while allowing one downtown tour company to continue operating amid a years-long legal dispute. New Hanover County Superior Court Judge George Jones signed an order maintaining a ban on commercial boat slip rentals at the Riverwalk […]

Written by on January 27, 2026

4. UNC and town take action on Chapel Hill’s housing crunch

Zachery Eanes/Axios On the same day that UNC-Chapel Hill announced it would proceed with developing its Carolina North satellite campus, the town of Chapel Hill also passed a sweeping set of reforms meant to make it easier to build new housing in the town. Why it matters: Local leaders hope those two decisions will give […]

Written by on January 27, 2026

5. Murphy introduces legislation to boost American cotton

Katherine Zehnder/The Carolina Journal On Jan. 22, US Rep. Greg Murphy, MD,  R-NC3, introduced the “Buying American Cotton Act,” which would create a tax credit to incentivize the purchase of products made with American-grown cotton. “American cotton growers, especially those in Eastern North Carolina, play a critical role in our nation’s farm economy,” Murphy said […]

Written by on January 27, 2026

6. Youth voices drive Vaya Health’s new mental health approach in six NC counties

Jennifer Fernandez/NC Health News In Alamance County, Ivey Broadnax works with young people who may be struggling with mental health issues. Instead of focusing on mental health symptoms or deficits, Broadnax and other “youth partners,” through Vaya Health, want to build positive childhood experiences for the young people they are helping. Similar to adult peer […]

Written by on January 27, 2026

7. Duke and QB Darian Mensah reach settlement to resolve legal fight, clearing way for his transfer

Aaron Beard/The Associated Press The legal fight between Duke and Darian Mensah is over. Now the quarterback can transfer elsewhere after bringing the Blue Devils an unexpected Atlantic Coast Conference title. The school and Mensah’s agency released statements Tuesday confirming they had reached settlement without providing any details. It came roughly a week after Duke […]

Written by on January 27, 2026

8. Democrats Carla Cunningham and Vilma Leak not endorsed by Political Black Caucus

Glenn H. Burkins/Q City Metro The Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg has announced its endorsements for the Democratic primary elections, scheduled for March 3. Notable was the absence of two long-serving incumbents: Mecklenburg Commissioner Vilma Leak and state Rep. Carla Cunningham. Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden, who has faced accusations of mismanagement and a court petition […]

Written by on January 27, 2026

9. UNC Asheville used weather balloon to help collect data for Winter Storm Fern

Jose Sandoval/WFAE Radio As Western North Carolinians braced for an incoming winter storm last week, professor Doug Miller and his students in the University of North Carolina Asheville’s Department of Atmospheric Sciences weighed a key question: Should they deploy the weather balloon? Forecasts from the National Weather Service last week showed a high likelihood that […]

Written by on January 27, 2026