Independent. Informative. Intelligent.

Local

Work starts on gas line reaching into Rockingham County

MVP Southgate’s backers have notified federal regulators that they’ve begun construction of their 31-mile gas pipeline, which will run from Virginia into Rockingham County. The July 2 notice to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission came nine days after the agency told them they could go ahead. It also followed a...

By Ray Gronberg

July 13, 2026

Health researchers criticize WakeMed/Atrium deal

Brown University analysts have joined State Treasurer Brad Briner and the rest of the chorus that contends the proposed WakeMed/Atrium Health merger will only wind up increasing healthcare costs. This is because mergers like this one give hospitals more leverage to use against insurers, says Dan Arnold and other researchers...

By Ray Gronberg

July 8, 2026

A win off the field for the Tar Heels and Wolfpack

UNC Chapel Hill and NC State are the big winners from the budget’s reshuffle of the split of the proceeds from North Carolina’s sport-book tax — but they both can lament what could have been. The fiscal 2026-27 for the first time allots the flagships a share of the money,...

By Ray Gronberg

July 8, 2026

Stein signs reg-reform bill, touts benefits for housing

Gov. Josh Stein has signed a bill he says will give North Carolina “another tool in the toolbox to build more homes and make housing more affordable.” He was referring to House Bill 162, which loosens parking-space minimums in many parts of the state and drainage-related restrictions on redevelopment in...

By Ray Gronberg

July 7, 2026

Budget upholds JetZero incentives payout plan

The fiscal 2026-27 budget continues the state’s previously announced strategy for supplying up to $450 million in direct appropriations to support JetZero’s plans to build an airliner factory in Greensboro. Now awaiting Gov. Josh Stein’s signature, the bill releases another $133.9 million for the project, on top of the $118.1...

By Ray Gronberg

July 7, 2026

Let the hunt begin: pork and the state budget

Now that the state’s fiscal 2026-27 is out of the legislature and on Gov. Josh Stein’s desk, the search for its inevitable pork content has begun. Rep. Pricey Harrison’s staff has taken the first stab at this and figures there are almost $1.6 billion in one-time earmarks in the spending...

By Ray Gronberg

July 7, 2026

Berger explains delay of tax-loophole bill

Senate Republicans haven’t taken up a House bill that would close a property tax loophole because they want to address local taxation policy more broadly, Senate leader Phil Berger says. “We’ve got members who are looking at that,” he said of House Bill 1042, which has been parked in Senate...

By Ray Gronberg

July 6, 2026

Democrats question budget-bill prediction-markets tax

Democrats are voicing increasing criticism of a budget-bill provision that establishes a 6% tax on the net trading-fee revenue prediction markets receive from sports betting. Sens. Julie Mayfield and Michael Garrett, and Rep. Pricey Harrison, all questioned why legislators would set a lower tax rate than the 23% the state...

By Ray Gronberg

July 6, 2026

Ferry tolls trigger GOP dissent in Senate

Republican Sens. Bobby Hanig and Norman Sanderson say they voted against the budget bill because it requires the N.C. Department of Transportation to institute tolls on all of the state’s coastal ferries. The move is unfair to coastal residents and a threat to the economic vitality of eastern North Carolina,...

By Ray Gronberg

July 6, 2026

Page sues a Berger

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page has sued one of Senate leader Phil Berger’s sons, alleging that he and the county government improperly retaliated against him for running against the elder Berger. Page’s federal-court lawsuit against Rockingham County Commission Kevin Berger, and the county government, contends the alleged retaliation also concerned...

By Ray Gronberg

July 6, 2026

RTP rolls out its 3.0 development standards

Tenants and landowners in Research Triangle Park have approved a set of new development standards that line up with park leadership’s vision for “RTP 3.0.” This is an expansion of the park’s push over the last decade or so to accommodate a broader range of development beyond just the corporate...

By Ray Gronberg

July 6, 2026

Duke gives up its Carolina Long Bay lease

Federal officials announced they’ve made a deal with Duke Energy to give it “partial reimbursement” for its $129.2 million offshore-wind lease south of Bald Head Island. Duke agreed to “voluntarily terminate” the lease it signed in 2022 and will use its money on other generating capacity. Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, CEO of...

By Ray Gronberg

July 6, 2026

Senate proposes time limits for local zoning reviews

Senators have passed and sent to the House a regulatory reform package that among other things would force cities and counties to act more quickly on land-use decisions. Senate Bill 1047 gives them a maximum of 135 days to act on a rezoning application, unless the developer involved agrees it...

By Ray Gronberg

June 29, 2026

Cohn back in race; Kiger replaces Stevens

Rep. Bryan Cohn, D-Granville, is back on the campaign trail after party leaders in Granville and Vance counties picked him to replace a candidate for the District 32 House seat who backed out of the race for health reasons. Cohn had intended to step down at the end of the...

By Ray Gronberg

June 29, 2026

Group urges Wake commish to put strings on WakeMed/Atrium deal

A Washington-based advocacy group is urging Wake County Commissioners to asked more questions and attach some strings to the proposed WakeMed-Atrium Health merger. The strings should include written commitments that WakeMed will preserve essential services, expand mental-health programs, and maintain its charity care community benefit standards, says the group United...

By Ray Gronberg

June 29, 2026