Jo Napolitano/The74 While some might envision Gen Z welcoming artificial intelligence into their lives, a new Gallup survey finds people between the ages of 14 and 29 are becoming increasingly skeptical of — and downright mad at — AI. Compared to a similar survey last year, they’re less excited and...

Charlie Fossen/Port City Daily Uncertainty and a lack of clear answers now surround Pender County’s controversial 2026 property revaluation after commissioners abruptly suspended the use of newly aggregated data, leaving the county — and its municipalities — in limbo during the height of budget season. Local governments rely on updated...

Ben Humphries/Education NC North Carolina school districts are facing an uncertain budgeting season as both federal and state funding sources hang in the balance. Over the last year, school districts have seen cuts to federal education grant programs and no pay raises for teachers after the General Assembly failed to...

Kyle Perrotti/Smoky Mountain News An attorney representing former Graham County Sheriff Brad Hoxit said his client will appeal a recent decision by Superior Court Judge William T. Stetzer that bars Hoxit from returning to office. District Attorney Ashley Welch filed a petition for Hoxit’s removal on Jan. 29, alleging Hoxit...

Dan DeWitt/Asheville Watchdog Officers left the Asheville Police Department in droves following the protests sparked by a Minneapolis officer’s murder of George Floyd, according to APD statistics provided to Asheville Watchdog. The exodus left its sworn force about 30 percent understaffed from 2021 through 2025 and overwhelmed by a surge...

Kirstyn Clark/WRAL News Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell said she does not support a $200 million housing bond for the city. It comes as ONE Wake, a local faith-based group, held an assembly Saturday, demanding affordable housing initiatives and to hear where officials stand on those demands. Mary Kintz, a strategist...

Brenna Flanagan/Port City Daily The chief of the Wilmington Police Department is defending his officers’ handling and the department’s dissemination of information in the wake of three stabbings in downtown Wilmington over the weekend; however, he said he will be readdressing resource allocation, including where he assigns officers, as the...

Brianna Atkinson/WUNC News North Carolina college students are concerned a UNC System policy draft could end some financial aid and legal services programs. The regulation would prohibit student activity fees from funding initiatives that aren’t available to the whole student body. This includes individual grants and financial assistance, which outgoing...

Allen G. Breed & Gary D. Robertson/The Associated Press An Army veteran has been charged with sharing classified information about an elite commando unit with a journalist, which one official said put the country, members of the U.S. military and the nation’s allies at risk. Courtney Williams, 40, of Wagram,...

Shabnam Danesh/WNCN Raleigh city leaders are facing a $13 million budget shortfall, and it could result in higher property taxes for residents. While property taxes make up a big chunk of the city’s $1.8 billion budget, city leaders said that revenue isn’t coming in as expected. Budget Director Sadia Sattar...

Mackenzie Thomas/Carolina Public Press A recent state audit of Elm City found almost $64,000 in outstanding checks dating back to 2012 and a series of financial policy violations by town officials, which the auditor said “increased the risk of fraud, waste, or abuse of tax dollars.” Elm City is a...

William F. West/Rocky Mount Telegram The town of Speed is on track to give up its town charter, with a dissolution set to officially happen by June 30 if everything goes according to plan. Once those final steps are complete, the Edgecombe County town will be a town no more....

Joe Marusak/The Charlotte Observer A defiant Mooresville Mayor Chris Carney said Tuesday he sees no reason to resign after Monday night’s 4-2 no-confidence vote by the town board. “There is nothing that came out last night that would make me believe that should be an option,” Carney said in an...

DJ Simmons/WFDD Radio Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough called for better funding to support his staff during a press conference on Wednesday. The press conference follows a county commission meeting, where it was revealed that his office could be over budget by more than a million dollars. Sheriff Kimbrough says...

Kara Fohner/Gaston Gazette Gastonia has a baseball stadium, but its parking lot is off-limits. The now defunct Gastonia Honey Hunters baseball team owns it, according to the city. The owners, N.C. Gas House Gang, have been embroiled in a lawsuit with the city of Gastonia for years. The Atlantic League...