Alan Wooten/The Center Square  Two bills related to diversity policy and a third on immigration became law in North Carolina on Wednesday through override of first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s vetoes. A third bill on diversity policy next goes to the Senate where an expected successful override would also make...

Adam Wagner/WUNC News A proposed federal consent decree between Chemours and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency likely fails to provide further protections to communities downstream of the chemical company’s Fayetteville Works plant, N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson said in an interview with Wednesday. “This is an insult to the people...

Keaton Eberly/WNCN The Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup championship run generated $13.4 million in economic impact for Wake County, according to figures released on Wednesday by the team, Visit Raleigh and the National Hockey League. Officials said three sold-out Stanley Cup Final home games at Lenovo Center, along with three Hurricanes...

Nora O’Neill/The Raleigh News & Observer Duke Energy Carolinas has reduced its proposed residential rate increase from about 18% to 11.6% after months of criticism from customers, consumer advocates and state officials. The reduction, filed with the North Carolina Utilities Commission ahead of a July hearing, is the first time...

Greg Childress/NC Newsline After a spirited debate Wednesday, the North Carolina Senate approved a bill that would require local governments to regulate and police homeless camps and make homeless shelters drug-free zones. Critics say it amounts to criminalizing homelessness. Sen. Brad Overcash (R-Gaston) said House Bill 437 is needed because...

Randall Kerr/WRAL News Wednesday is the deadline for Saint Augustine’s University to show federal agencies how it spent millions of dollars of grant money. The school was required to hand over documentation by noon. We’re talking about money that was supposed to go toward student improvement, renovations and high-tech expansion...

Catherine Kozak/Coastal Review Online If the Coastal Resources Commission Science Panel’s draft report to the state last week was a master class in explaining ocean beach erosion processes along the state’s 320-mile Atlantic Coastline, there may have been some state legislators who were wishing they could cut class. Lawmakers hustled...

Ana Risano/The Southern Pines Pilot The long-awaited plan to bring a YMCA to Southern Pines has ended with an official withdrawal from an affiliate of the global nonprofit. On Tuesday, the Southern Pines Town Council heard about the YMCA of the Sandhills decision to not go forward with plans to...

WTVD One of the nation’s leading online universities is expanding its business here in North Carolina. Western Governors University held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday for its new 48,000-square-foot office in the Glenlake Office Park on Edwards Mill Road in Raleigh. The office will eventually house as many as...

WFAE Radio The North Carolina Turnpike Authority is adjusting toll rates on parts of the I-485 Express Lanes beginning Sunday. The changes affect five segments of the express lanes and are intended to keep traffic moving as demand grows. Some tolls will increase by up to 25 cents during peak...

Alan Wooten/The Center Square  Conservation tax credits are extended until 2031 in legislation signed into law Monday by North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein. The first-term Democrat signed NC Farm Act of 2025-2026, known also as Senate Bill 401, and five other bills. As of Tuesday morning, only one bill remains...

Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline For many residents of western North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene, it’s been 20 long months of waiting and wondering — when will things get back to normal? And just how much more funding is coming from the government? Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) told members of the...

Steve Wiseman/The Raleigh News & Observer After he watched 150,000 people pack downtown Raleigh for the Canes celebration parade and rally on Saturday, Tom Dundon said his hockey team’s success and support shows the region is ready for another professional team. Dundon has expressed interest in Raleigh’s bid to get...

Mackenzie Thomas/Carolina Public Press While not out of the woods yet, the city of Rocky Mount has reported making “steady” progress on getting its finances back on track at a NC Local Government Commission meeting this month. The city has been in hot water since a scathing report from State...

Noor Nazir/WFAE Radio Inside Bojangles Coliseum on a Sunday afternoon, a few hundred fans erupt into cheers as players for the Charlotte Crown take the floor, their sneakers squeaking on hardwood in celebration, stopping to high-five supporters waiting courtside. It’s the team’s ninth game ever and its third win. And...