Month: August 2026

5. Higher ed at a crossroads: Winston-Salem State’s effort to stand out amid an HBCU-rich region

Brianna Atkinson/WUNC News Winston-Salem State University is the next-to-smallest of five public historically Black colleges and universities in North Carolina. The university is focused on social mobility and has lately been investing more in health sciences like nursing. It serves almost 5,000 students, with most coming from Forsyth, Mecklenburg, and Guilford counties. Enrollment has been […]

Written by on August 25, 2026

6. Attorneys spar ahead of hearing on zoning lawsuit

Bill Moss/The Hendersonville Lightning A developer is returning fire after the city of Hendersonville sought dismissal of its lawsuit seeking to reverse the city council’s denial of its rezoning request last January. Advenir Azora Development LLC, a Miami-based builder of duplex, triplex and quadraplex communities, sued the city in March, two months after the city […]

Written by on August 25, 2026

7. Lawsuit claims nurse negligence led to Mission Hospital patient death

Kara Fohner/Asheville Citizen Times A wrongful death lawsuit against Mission Hospital alleges that the negligence of a nurse anesthetist resulted in the death of a patient after a surgery. The lawsuit, filed Aug. 21 in Buncombe County Superior Court by the estate of Noe Serrano Hernandez, targets HCA Healthcare, the for-profit corporation that owns Mission, […]

Written by on August 25, 2026

8. County to focus on water infrastructure

Ana Risano/The Southern Pines Pilot   The Moore County Board of Commissioners is set to talk about water infrastructure at an upcoming meeting, with more than $1 million in state funding available for such work. County Manager Wayne Vest said one of the county’s biggest priorities is pinning down a future water source option. But […]

Written by on August 25, 2026

9. Parents share concerns with YMCA summer camps after Brunswick County Schools ends partnership

Brenna Flanagan/Port City Daily The Brunswick County Board of Education has chosen to end its partnership with the YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina, but representatives of both are mum on the specific circumstances that led to the decision. Some parents have shared experiences highlighting potential management problems with the YMCA’s programs. On Aug. 19, Brunswick […]

Written by on August 25, 2026

10. Kitty Hawk Town Council approves changes to accessory dwelling unit rules

Danielle Puleo/The Coastland Times The Kitty Hawk Town Council approved changes to the town’s accessory dwelling unit regulations Monday, Aug. 3, following an extended discussion about property rights, neighborhood character and the role of ADUs in providing additional housing. The council voted 4-1 to approve the zoning text amendment to Section 42-528 of the town’s […]

Written by on August 25, 2026

1. As Atrium pursues WakeMed, a look inside its last big North Carolina deal

Michelle Crouch/NC Health News & Charlotte Ledger As Atrium Health continues its push to join forces with Raleigh-based WakeMed Health & Hospitals, its leaders have repeatedly pointed to another North Carolina deal as evidence of what to expect: its 2020 combination with Winston-Salem-based Wake Forest Baptist. “Don’t judge us by what we say; judge us […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

2. Outgoing NC State Senator Bobby Hanig resigns from post

Mark Jurkowitz/Outer Banks Voice  On the morning of Monday, Aug. 24, State Senator Bobby Hanig announced he has retired from that post. The decision comes a few months in advance of his term expiring on Jan. 1, 2027. In his statement, Hanig thanked his constituents for “allowing me the honor and privilege to serve northeast […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

3. Whispering Pines formalizes opposition to air service

Frank Daniels IV/The Southern Pines Pilot A resolution formalized Whispering Pines residents’ stance against commercial air service at the Moore County Airport. Months of meetings and two surveys culminated during the Whispering Pines Village Council meeting Monday in a presentation from residents Bill Bruton and Kurt Thompson. The two provided an overview of efforts surrounding […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

4. City Council delays fixes to ‘broken’ bus system

Dan DeWitt/Asheville Watchdog Bus riders like John Rowe illustrate the tension between building ridership and providing broad coverage that all transit networks must address — and that has stymied the Asheville City Council. It was set to vote Tuesday on a plan aimed at boosting the efficiency of Asheville Rides Transit (ART), which costs three […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

5. Asheville considers early termination of Flock, but leaves door open for other license plate readers

Laura Hackett/BPR News Asheville may soon join the growing list of communities, including the towns of Hillsborough and Pittsboro, that are canceling contracts with Flock. On Tuesday, Asheville City Council will vote on a resolution that would force an early termination of the police department’s contract with the Atlanta-based company and request the removal of […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

6. GOP switches commissioner candidate

Paul B. Johnson/The High Point Enterprise The Guilford County Republican Party has replaced its at-large candidate for the Guilford County Board of Commissioners after the initial candidate withdrew from the race because of personal matters limiting his campaigning. The executive committee of the party chose Michael Perdue to replace Tony Jacobelli during a meeting Thursday […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

7. One vote decided the GOP nomination to fill vacant Pender commissioner seat

Sophia DePhillips/Port City Daily The Pender County GOP has tallied its executive committee to decide who should fulfill Brad George’s seat on the Pender County Board of Commissioners. The recommendation, now to be taken up by commissioners, came down to one vote. Pender County Board of Education member Beth Burns beat out Shayne Frey in […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

8. $1 million statewide math instructional partnership launches in three NC districts

Molly Steur/Education NC The Innovation Project (TIP) and Modern Classrooms Project (MCP) have launched the first cohort of their statewide partnership, which aims to “accelerate student-centered learning aligned with high-quality math curriculum in North Carolina.” According to a recent press release, three districts will participate in MCP’s two-year Math Mentorship Program: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS), Rowan-Salisbury […]

Written by on August 24, 2026

9. Divided Spring Lake board appoints Dennis English as town manager

Rachel Heimann Mercader/CityView After months of public frustration and lingering questions about transparency, the Spring Lake Board of Commissioners voted Monday to appoint interim Town Manager Dennis English as the town’s next permanent manager. The vote followed a public forum where residents submitted written questions in advance. Only five were asked—selected after review by the […]

Written by on August 24, 2026