Lena Geller/Indy Week Property taxes in Durham went up nearly universally last year in the wake of a countywide revaluation. So when City Manager Bo Ferguson announced, last month, that the city faces a $9 million budget deficit due to low property tax revenue—the largest source of income for both...

Ali Swenson/The Associated Press On hot afternoons, DeAnna Brandon’s three dogs zag around while she splashes in a backyard kiddie pool with her grandkids. These are the moments the 48-year-old blood cancer survivor cherishes — and wonders if she will get to have in the years to come. Brandon, who...

Lucas Thomae/Carolina Public Press Charlotte just became the latest, and largest, North Carolina community to instate a temporary pause on the development of new data centers. Its city council unanimously approved a 150-day moratorium in front of a packed house Monday night, in a scene similar to ones which have...

Jack Evans/Asheville Watchdog The town of Woodfin’s largest employer, Silver-Line Plastics, sits snug on the eastern bank of the French Broad River. For years, a grassy embankment separated its inventory — tight curls of black tubing and ramrod lengths of white PVC pipe stacked in chunky rectangular piles — from...

Sarah White/The (Waynesville) Mountaineer A century after construction began on the Waterville dam and connecting hydroelectric power station, Duke Energy is looking toward the next phase of the facility’s life. Duke’s license to operate the power plant will expire in 2034 — and while that deadline is almost eight years...

Andrew Pomeranz/Carolina Journal Ethics compliance, potential conflicts of interest, and a history of progressive policing policies of Jeffrey Smythe are under review by a North Carolina General Assembly panel ahead of a Senate confirmation hearing. Smythe, former police chief in Burlington, was picked by first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. He...

Emily Sawaked/Port City Daily Residents will have an opportunity to provide feedback on almost 13,000 homes planned for Brunswick County at June 15’s commissioners meeting. The county and Strategic Real Estate Partners have drafted a development agreement and Monday will be the first time the commissioners have taken up the...

Richard Craver/Charlotte Observer The accelerating consolidation of not-for-profit healthcare systems in North Carolina is magnifying the spotlight on executive compensation. The focus is particularly bright for Eugene Woods, chief executive of Advocate Health, whose fiscal 2024 compensation jumped 39% to $25.87 million as he became the system’s lone chief executive...

Henry Taylor/WCHL Chapelboro Brisket, beef jerky, fudge and a whole lot of gasoline. Buc-ee’s, a Texas-based gas station chain famous for its ginormous travel centers, is bringing its first North Carolina location to 1425 Trollingwood-Hawfields Road in Mebane. The 74,000 square foot facility is expected to be completed by November...

Emily Mikkelsen/WGHP News A Raleigh-based company has purchased a Triad staple brand that has been absent from store shelves for months. On Friday, it was announced that Neese’s Country Sausage had been acquired by Jesse Jones, LLC, a Raleigh-based brand, stating that the beloved sausage would return to store shelves...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...