Month: September 2026

1. Rebuilding I-40 after Helene will cost more, take longer than previously thought

Richard Stradling/The Raleigh News & Observer The N.C. Department of Transportation says the cost of rebuilding Interstate 40 through the Pigeon River Gorge has risen again and that it will take a year longer than expected to reopen the highway to four lanes at the Tennessee state line. NCDOT now expects to spend about $2.8 […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

2. How North Carolina wasted the chance to fix hog pollution

Lisa Sorg/Inside Climate News & NC Health News Thousands of dead and bloated pigs floated down country roads, buoyed by floodwaters. Tens of millions of gallons of feces and urine spilled over the brims of lagoons and contaminated everything in their path, including rivers, streams and private drinking water wells. It was September 1996, when […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

3. As their party criticizes Israel, local Jewish Democrats remain loyal — mostly

Steve Harrison/WFAE Radio Israel’s nearly three-year war against Hamas in Gaza has shifted much of the national Democratic Party into a new, openly critical stance against the Jewish state. A crop of young, progressive, anti-Israel candidates have won primaries or general elections. This summer, a majority of the Democratic U.S. House caucus — including two […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

4. Why American Airlines continues to scale back at Charlotte Douglas

Marshall Terry/WFAE Radio When American Airlines recently announced its resumption of nonstop flights between Charlotte and Barcelona, it hailed the move as another example of American expanding in Charlotte. But American actually continues to cut back on the number of flights and seats in Charlotte. That’s according to an analysis by The Charlotte Ledger, whose […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

7. NC to withhold struggling town’s sales tax distribution

Mackenzie Thomas/Carolina Public Press With four audits still missing, the town of Littleton faces its sales tax distributions being held back after a failed appeal to the North Carolina Local Government Commission at its latest meeting on Tuesday. The town previously told the LGC that it was aiming to finish the 2022 audit by this […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

8. HVAC maker buys former Klaussner site

Pat Kimbrough/The High Point Enterprise   One of High Point’s largest employers has advanced its plans to expand into Randolph County. HVAC manufacturer Environmental Air Systems, or EAS, last month acquired a 62.6-acre parcel on the southern tip of Asheboro along U.S. 220 Business that includes about 425,000 square feet of industrial building space that […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

9. Fayetteville wants to hire manager to focus on downtown development

Rachel Heimann Mercader/CityView Fayetteville has begun searching for its first Downtown & Urban Development Manager, moving from months of discussion to action as the city seeks a single leader to coordinate downtown development, business support, and day‑to‑day problem solving. Applications opened August 23 and will close Friday. The move comes after months of debate over […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

10. Lee County residents renew call for data center moratorium, zoning changes

Mark Rogers/The Sanford Herald Along Lower Moncure Road, signs reading “No Data Center” have become a common sight in front yards and along the roadsides, visible evidence of opposition that has persisted for months over a proposed large-scale data center development in the area. Now, some of those residents are taking their concerns back to […]

Written by on September 3, 2026

1. NC fast-tracks power line for $920M rare-earth magnet factory

Caroline Yaffa/WRAL News The North Carolina Utilities Commission on Monday cleared the way for faster construction of a transmission line in Johnston County — a move expected to help power a $920 million plant expected to employ up to 1,000 workers. The 1.31-mile, 230-kilovolt line is expected to serve Vulcan Elements, a North Carolina-based maker […]

Written by on September 2, 2026

2. NC students show gains in testing, graduation rate reaches record high

Ahmed Jallow/NC Newsline North Carolina’s graduation rate reached a record high last school year as overall test proficiency climbed to its highest level in three years. The four-year graduation rate reached 88.8%, up from 87.8% the previous year and marking the fourth consecutive annual increase, according to results the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction […]

Written by on September 2, 2026

3. Planned 7-story tower near NC State could replace ‘naturally occurring’ affordable housing

Nolan Wilkinson/The Raleigh News & Observer  A developer wants to build a new seven-story student apartment complex next to N.C. State University. The problem, some Raleigh residents have pointed out, is that the new apartments would replace existing “naturally occurring” affordable housing. Developer Gilbane is asking the city of Raleigh to rezone about 3.5 acres […]

Written by on September 2, 2026

4. “Mecklenburg reveals plan to fix ‘systemic’ problems after 6-year-old found dead

Mary Ramsey/The Charlotte Observer Mecklenburg County rolled out its plan Tuesday to address “systemic” problems within its social services department that were found after a child’s death triggered a state investigation. The Department of Health and Human Services ordered the county to develop a corrective action plan in May after a review of child welfare […]

Written by on September 2, 2026

5. Trump Administration’s deportation efforts in NC include $1 million or more in fines for some immigrants

Aaron Sánchez-Guerra/WUNC News An aging apartment complex where evicted tenants left empty units behind is a typical jobsite for Tito Sabillón. That’s because landlords in the Charlotte metro area consistently hire Sabillón to do what he does best: professionally remodel the apartments before they’re listed for rent again. Paint-stained hands and jeans and a trusty […]

Written by on September 2, 2026