Month: February 2026

3. Snow days for NC schools becoming rare even when there’s lots of snow

Kate Denning/Carolina Public Press The snow and ice that coated North Carolina from mountains to sea, and kept kids home from school for days, has finally begun melting in most places. But as the state thaws, schools will have to confront the damage the winter weather did to the academic calendar — right? Perhaps not […]

Written by on February 15, 2026

4. NC loses 7,200 manufacturing jobs in 2025, says NC Commerce

Anna Claire Walker/The Carolina Journal North Carolina’s manufacturing sector reported one of the largest yearly job losses of any major industry. Unemployment rates have declined across North Carolina, while overall employment increased in other sectors, according to new data from the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The manufacturing job market fell by 7,200 jobs over […]

Written by on February 15, 2026

6. After internal investigation, Wilmington fires two top employees

Ben Schachtman/WHQR An investigation into the city’s recycling and trash division substantiated claims of timecard fraud, substance abuse, and other policy violations, leading to the termination of the two longtime, high-ranking employees. The city has also seen several other senior employees resign over the last several months. In late January, the City of Wilmington fired […]

Written by on February 15, 2026

7. Trump visits Fort Bragg, mixing military celebration with campaign‑style rhetoric

Rachel Heimann Mercader & Paul Woolverton/CityView President Donald Trump mixed politics with praise for the military, promises to soldiers, and criticism of former President Joe Biden during a sweeping, campaign‑style address at Fort Bragg on Friday with first lady Melania Trump. Melania Trump opened the event with a short introduction. The crowd, waiting since late […]

Written by on February 15, 2026

8. Running in the red, Shining Rock may end high school instruction

Cory Vaillancourt/Smoky Mountain News Shining Rock Classical Academy’s governing board is weighing whether to end its high school operations by summer after a new financial sustainability report revealed the Dellwood Road campus is operating at a $300,000 deficit and would require more than $1.1 million in facility investments over the next few years. The 24-page […]

Written by on February 15, 2026

9. NC film production boosts economy with $185.5M in spending, supporting 7,000 jobs

WCNC Film and television production activity in North Carolina generated an estimated $185.5 million in direct spending last year, marking the fourth-highest annual total since the state’s current film grant launched in 2015. The 38 productions that filmed across the state created more than 7,000 crew, talent and background extra job opportunities, according to figures […]

Written by on February 15, 2026

10. Panthers owner aims to build Charlotte into a destination city

Ben Horney/Front Office Sports The company that houses the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte FC MLS club, and the facility both teams play in, has big plans over the next few years, including an $800 million arena renovation and the construction of a new music venue. “We do believe Charlotte has become an entertainment destination, and […]

Written by on February 15, 2026

1. Who gets a bed in NC’s state psychiatric hospitals — and who waits?

Rachel Crumpler & Taylor Knopf/NC Health News North Carolina’s three state-run psychiatric hospitals — Cherry, Central Regional and Broughton — serve about 570 patients each day. But hundreds more who need inpatient treatment wait weeks — even months — for a bed to open. The three state-operated facilities are designed to serve North Carolinians with […]

Written by on February 12, 2026

2. NC pension plan’s crypto bet is down $30 million. Why supporters remain confident

Will Doran/WRAL News The North Carolina Retirement Systems began investing pension fund money in cryptocurrency in late 2025, after legislative leaders pushed through a law enabling such market bets over the objection of state employees whose paychecks fund the plan. Several months later, the state has seen more than half the value of its cryptocurrency […]

Written by on February 12, 2026

3. After internal investigation, Wilmington fires two top employees

Benjamin Schachtman/WHQR In late January, the City of Wilmington fired the two top employees leading and overseeing the Recycling and Trash Services Division, following an investigation. In early February, the city confirmed that Public Services Director Dave Mayes and Superintendent of Recycling and Trash Rick Porter were no longer with the city, but at the […]

Written by on February 12, 2026

4. Miguel Cardona says expanding bilingual education is ‘an economic imperative’ at NC State event

Liz Bell/Education NC Miguel Cardona, former U.S. Secretary of Education, encouraged a room of bilingual educators and education leaders on Friday to rally around bilingual students and advocate for policies that strengthen their educational opportunities. During the Biden administration, one of Cardona’s priorities was his 2023 “Being Bilingual is a Superpower” initiative, which provided toolkits […]

Written by on February 12, 2026

5. Lake Lure to refill after Helene, businesses feel hopeful

Jose Sandoval/Blue Ridge Public Radio Lake Lure had to be drained 20 feet after Hurricane Helene so engineers could clean out all the silt and grime. The town is slowly refilling the lake, hoping it will be ready for business Memorial Day weekend. The Town of Lake Lure hopes to welcome back tourists, boaters and […]

Written by on February 12, 2026

6. Novant Health moves forward with $1.1B investment in Wilmington infrastructure

Port City Daily Novant Health’s board of trustees has approved a multi-year master facility plan for the Coastal Region, featuring a new heart and vascular tower and a relocated rehabilitation hospital. The projects, estimated to cost upwards of $1 billion over the next five to seven years, are designed to address regional population growth and […]

Written by on February 12, 2026