Month: June 2026

5. Top general’s early exit shows Hegseth’s ‘paranoia,’ Tillis says

Joe Gould/NOTUS Republican Sen. Thom Tillis lambasted Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over reports that the Pentagon chief is forcing the retirement of Gen. Christopher “C.D.” Donahue, calling the move an example of the Cabinet member’s “paranoia” and “inexperience.” Tillis told NOTUS that pushing out one of the Army’s most celebrated and senior commanders would damage […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

6. The push to hold plastics producers accountable in North Carolina

Will Atwater/NC Health News In recent years, North Carolina environmentalists and researchers have raised more red flags about how much plastic debris is accumulating in the environment — in creeks and parks and on roadsides. This comes alongside awareness of how those plastics are increasingly showing up inside the human body. Research reveals possible links […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

7. Company scraps data center project

Pat Kimbrough/High Point Enterprise A technology company confirmed Wednesday that it will not go forward with development of a proposed data center in north High Point. DC Blox did not cite a reason for withdrawing its plans for what was touted as a potential $300 million project, which would have been one of the largest […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

8. Progress report: What’s the status of the S-Line project from Raleigh to Richmond?

Baron James/WNCN North Carolina is getting millions more in new federal funding to keep the S-line corridor project on track. As state and federal leaders Wednesday toured the Durant Road grade separation project in North Raleigh, they praised the project’s progress report as part of a much bigger plan—to create a faster, safer passenger rail […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

10. State senator pushing Fayetteville, Cumberland County to merge their 911 systems

Paul Woolverton/CityView Under pressure from state Sen. Tom McInnis, Fayetteville city council members and Cumberland County commissioners have been meeting this week to negotiate how the two governments could merge their 911 call centers. They hope to reach an agreement by next week in what has been a long-running, fraught issue between them. McInnis, a […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

1. Four vetoes fall to House Republicans’ override; trio of new laws on books

Alan Wooten/The Center Square  Two bills related to diversity policy and a third on immigration became law in North Carolina on Wednesday through override of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes. A third bill on diversity policy next goes to the Senate where an expected successful override would also make it law. “By overriding four […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

2. NC Attorney General Jackson on Chemours, EPA agreement: ‘This is an insult’ to eastern NC

Adam Wagner/WUNC News A proposed federal consent decree between Chemours and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency likely fails to provide further protections to communities downstream of the chemical company’s Fayetteville Works plant, N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in an interview with Wednesday. “This is an insult to the people of eastern North Carolina. It […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

3. Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup run generated $13.4 million economic impact in Wake County, report shows

Keaton Eberly/WNCN The Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup championship run generated $13.4 million in economic impact for Wake County, according to figures released on Wednesday by the team, Visit Raleigh and the National Hockey League. Officials said three sold-out Stanley Cup Final home games at Lenovo Center, along with three Hurricanes watch parties for away games, […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

4. Duke Energy makes rare cut to NC rate hike request after customer complaints

Nora O’Neill/The Raleigh News & Observer Duke Energy Carolinas has reduced its proposed residential rate increase from about 18% to 11.6% after months of criticism from customers, consumer advocates and state officials. The reduction, filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission ahead of a July hearing, is the first time the company has voluntarily cut […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

5. NC Senate approves ban on ‘unauthorized camping,’ new rules for property tax changes

Greg Childress/NC Newsline After a spirited debate Wednesday, the North Carolina Senate approved a bill that would require local governments to regulate and police homeless camps and make homeless shelters drug-free zones. Critics say it amounts to criminalizing homelessness. Sen. Brad Overcash (R-Gaston) said House Bill 437 is needed because North Carolina is experiencing a […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

7. Report on effects of hardened shorelines offers no easy fix

Catherine Kozak/Coastal Review Online If the Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel’s draft report to the state last week was a master class in explaining ocean beach erosion processes along the state’s 320-mile Atlantic Coastline, there may have been some state legislators who were wishing they could cut class. Lawmakers hustled to get a proposed bill […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

8. Plans for YMCA in Southern Pines withdrawn

Ana Risano/The Southern Pines Pilot The long-awaited plan to bring a YMCA to Southern Pines has ended with an official withdrawal from an affiliate of the global nonprofit. On Tuesday, the Southern Pines Town Council heard about the YMCA of the Sandhills decision to not go forward with plans to build a facility off Morganton […]

Written by on June 25, 2026

9. Western Governors University cuts ribbon for new Raleigh offices

WTVD One of the nation’s leading online universities is expanding its business here in North Carolina. Western Governors University held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday for its new 48,000-square-foot office in the Glenlake Office Park on Edwards Mill Road in Raleigh. The office will eventually house as many as 300 employees and will be […]

Written by on June 25, 2026