Month: June 2026

1. NC Democrats highlight impacts on state workers’ pay due to years with no state budget

Claire Michal/NC Newsline Nearly 1,000 days since the North Carolina legislature passed its last budget, state Senate Democratic leaders gathered to express frustration Thursday morning that the body is still failing to fulfill its most fundamental function. Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch (D-Wake), Sen. Lisa Grafstein (D-Wake), and Sen. Michael Garrett (D-Guilford) spoke about how […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

2. A group formed to advise on Carolina North has some questions for UNC

Jane Winik Sartwell/The Raleigh News & Observer At the first meeting of the Carolina North stakeholder advisory committee, one phrase prevailed: “We don’t know yet.” Carolina North is a 230-acre tract of land one-and-a-half miles north of the main campus, where UNC plans to build a satellite campus. It’s a project the school has been […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

3. Feed solutions company selects Cumberland County for first facility; investing $6.5M and creating 25 direct jobs

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal The Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC) is excited to announce that Upcycle Feed Commodities has selected Cumberland County for its first manufacturing facility. The project will create 25 direct jobs and invest over $6 million in real estate and equipment. Upcycle Feed Commodities specializes in the manufacturing of animal feed […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

4. Property tax rates are going up in the Triangle. Where is all the money going?

Liz Schlemmer/WUNC News Durham, Orange, and Wake Counties are all raising their property tax rates this year to fund schools and county services. Despite those tax hikes, the counties still don’t have enough money to avoid budget cuts. WUNC Weekend Host Bradley George spoke with Education Reporter Liz Schlemmer about why schools and county agencies […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

5. Jaleeyah’s Law clears House 111-2

Alan Wooten/The Center Square  Prevention of violent crime, protection of the most vulnerable and stronger tools for lawmen and prosecutors are in a North Carolina proposal to crack down on gang violence. Jaleeyah’s Law, named in memory of the Goldsboro 13-year-old killed in December, cleared the House of Representatives 111-2 on Wednesday and next is […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

6. Private equity firms now own nearly 40% of Triangle apartments. Why it matters.

Chantal Allam/The Raleigh News & Observer Private equity firms now own more than 46,700 apartments — or about 39.5% of total units — in the Raleigh-Cary metro area, according to new data from the Private Equity Stakeholder Project (PESP), a nonprofit financial watchdog. That’s among the highest concentrations in the country — a level of […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

7. Drought taking toll on Sampson

Anthony Goodman/The Sampson Independent As Sampson County farmers continue monitoring their fields following weeks of dry weather, agricultural experts say the effects of the recent drought could linger well beyond the arrival of recent rainfall. Sampson County is one of North Carolina’s leading agricultural producers, with thousands of acres devoted to corn, soybeans and cotton. […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

8. The Pilot a blueprint for newspaper success in 2026

Cristin Severance/WRAL News At a time when newspapers across the country are shrinking or disappearing, The Pilot in Southern Pines has become an example of how a local news organization is diversifying to survive. David Woronoff, a fourth-generation North Carolina newspaper publisher, bought The Pilot 30 years ago when he was 30 years old. He […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

9. North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s breaks ground in Mebane

Mary Helen Moore/Axios Raleigh Construction has begun on North Carolina’s first Buc-ee’s travel center, a massive gas station and convenience store slated to open in Mebane in 2027. Why it matters: The Texas gas station chain has built a devoted following since the 1980s, thanks to its beaver mascot merch, clean bathrooms and endless array […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

10. City improvements discussed at Lumberton board meeting

Michele Chavis/The Robesonian Projects including the Lumberton Police Department, downtown revitalization and sewer improvements were among the items discussed in Monday’s Lumberton City Council meeting. Lumberton Chief of Police Michael McNeill requested and gained approval of a $46,345 grant from the Bulletproof Vest Partnership for the use of 45 female bulletproof vests and 55 male […]

Written by on June 12, 2026

1. With hemp regulations stalled, NC House tries for an age limit

Colin Campbell/WUNC News The state House is trying again to put an age limit on the sale of hemp-based products that have similar effects to marijuana. For several years, efforts to regulate hemp and THC products have stalled at the legislature. The House has passed bills with a wide range of regulations, while the Senate […]

Written by on June 11, 2026

2. Big changes for more than 200k NC student loan borrowers as SAVE plan set to dissolve

Kate Denning/Carolina Public Press  The student loan repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), introduced by former President Joe Biden will officially cease in light of the passage of President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer. An estimated 269,000 North Carolina borrowers who are enrolled in SAVE will need to select […]

Written by on June 11, 2026

3. Trio of NC Senate bills propose overhauling state’s coastal hardened structure rules

Adam Wagner/NC Newsroom With 32 homes toppled since 2020, Buxton’s fast-eroding shoreline has become emblematic of challenges some North Carolina’s coastal communities are facing. Wednesday, North Carolina’s Senate Agriculture, Energy and Environment Committee discussed a trio of bills meant to protect Buxton and other communities with eroding shorelines. They would repeal the state’s long-standing ban […]

Written by on June 11, 2026

4. Durham mother sues property owner over son’s death in laundry room

Greg Childress/NC Newsline The mother of a Durham man who died of heart failure after he became trapped in the laundry room of her downtown apartment building has sued the property owner and management firm. Debra Davies seeks compensatory damages for the estate of Jason Pulliam, who was 39 at the time of his death. […]

Written by on June 11, 2026