Tensions Swell Over the Price of Parking in Wrightsville Beach
Trump and GOP Leaders Line Up Behind Michael Whatley for N.C. Senate Seat
While Whatley hasn’t formally announced a bid, the party is unifying around him.
How UNC-Chapel Hill Could Find $20.5 Million to Pay Athletes
Internal documents show the school is considering everything from selling stadium naming rights to putting ads on jerseys.
‘Let Me Go ’Way From This Lonely Town’
An effort to save the Tryon house where Nina Simone was born reveals the artist’s complicated relationship with her hometown.
UNC Board of Governors Demands New DEI Compliance Committees
The campus-level committees will scrutinize whether schools have complied with policies targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.
Politics
When Thom Tillis Went Rogue
The senator tried to persuade Trump and state GOP leaders that the “One Big Beautiful Bill” would devastate health care in N.C. Then all hell broke loose.
FEMA’s Uncertain Future Leaves N.C. and Other States in Limbo
Trump’s shifting position on FEMA has created uncertainty for storm-prone southern states.
Former GOP County Election Officials Say They Were Forced Out
Some former local board members say they lost their seats because they weren’t devoted enough to the Republican Party.
Culture
‘R’ You Ready to Eat Oysters All Year Long?
Researchers and restauranteurs are trying to shuck the idea that you’re only supposed to eat oysters September through April.
I’ve Seen How the Neo-Nazi Movement Is Escalating. You Should Worry.
A reporter gets a first-hand look at how the ‘militant accelerationism’ movement operates.
Food for Thought: Summer Tomato Sandwiches
The tomato sandwich in summer is a sacred Southern thing. But is there room for innovation, or only blasphemy?
Education
In North Carolina, It’s Do or DEI
Federal and state officials have declared war on DEI at North Carolina’s colleges and universities. But what their orders mean is sometimes far from clear.
Guilford College Raised $6 Million. It May Not Be Enough.
The school exceeded its fundraising goal, but declining enrollment means it still hasn’t met its revenue targets.
Federal ‘Disruption’ Aside, NC Leaders Are Bullish on Higher Ed
At The Assembly’s inaugural Newsmakers event, UNC System President Peter Hans and other leaders reflected on funding cuts, partisanship, AI, and the importance of liberal arts.
From Our Network
Saint Augustine’s Appeals to Alums Following Loss of Accreditation
University leaders shared new financial information in an effort to repair the strained relationship between the administration and alumni.
At Greensboro’s ‘City in the House,’ Parents Can Unleash Their Kids and Socialize
Situated in a small shopping center off Lawndale Drive, across from Target, City in the House is a new indoor playhouse cafe, and is as parent-friendly as it is kid-centric.
Downtown Lumberton, Gritty and Historic, Looks for New Life
For the first time in a long time, business owners and town officials say, Lumberton is on the precipice of becoming a true destination.
FEMA Cancels $11 Million for Flood Mitigation in Columbus and Robeson
Attorney General Jeff Jackson has joined 19 other states in a lawsuit asking for the money to be restored.
Camp HEAL Intervenes for Kids at Risk of Drug Use
Funded by Cumberland County’s share of national opioid settlements, the free day camp offers therapies and recreation activities for elementary and middle schoolers.
For Thousands of 9/11 Survivors in NC, Health Care Is Under Threat
The program that provides health care to some 2,000 North Carolinians faces a $3 billion shortfall amid federal cuts.
Featured Stories
Pride Cometh Before The Fall
After a two-year fight over LGBTQ books and displays, Yancey County is pulling its public library out of a regional system.
Voices in the Wilderness
A traditionalist religious order is building a new home in the woods of Western N.C. Not everyone is happy to see them.
The Disappearance of Julio Zambrano
The Venezuelan asylum seeker was living in N.C. legally. So why did the Trump administration send him to El Salvador?
How the N.C. Legislature Bankrolls Anti-Abortion Centers
Over the past three years, the state legislature has given $30 million to crisis pregnancy centers, with little oversight or outcomes.
UNC’s Risky Belichick Math
UNC-Chapel Hill transferred $21 million to the athletic department last year–and that was before hiring Bill Belichick.
How a Widow’s Appointment to the State Dental Board Got Spiked
Shital Patel became a patient advocate after her husband died at the dentist. Then her appointment got mysteriously nixed.
Amid An Unprecedented Immigration Crackdown, Durham Tries to Hold the Line
As Trump ramps up deportations, Durham is contending with the limits of its ability to protect immigrants.
UNC’s Project Kitty Hawk Cleans Up After a CEO’s Departure
An audit found the UNC System failed to monitor its $97 million online ed program, which has returned $102,000 in unallowable expenses.
Nine Years After HB2, Trans North Carolinians Wonder Who Is Looking Out For Them
The ‘Bathroom Bill’ sparked an outpouring of protest. But a new wave of attacks on trans rights has failed to generate the same response.
North Carolina’s Deadliest Inlet
Last March, Oregon Inlet claimed the life of a seasoned mariner. Navigating the tempestuous waters is the stuff of legends and nightmares.
The Fight that Fractured Saint Augustine’s University
Internal complaints and lawsuits reveal deep disputes about how the board of trustees has managed the institution.
A Small City Fights to Hold on to Baseball
The minor league Kinston Wood Ducks are about to depart, and now the former tobacco hub is looking for a new baseball team.
My 50-Year Obsession with an Unsolved Mountain Murder
The rape and killing of a young woman in Madison County has captivated me for half a century. Now I know who did it.
The Abandoned Pools of Columbus County
Columbus County no longer has any public and community swimming pools—a reflection of racism, rural decay, and lost opportunity.
A Professor Walks Into a Storm
The dean of UNC-CH’s School of Civic Life and Leadership promotes civil discourse. Critics highlight the school’s conservative roots.
Jefferson Griffin Lost. The Reputation of State Courts Might Be the Biggest Loser.
The six-month challenge did more than rekindle long-simmering partisan debates over election administration. It also raised questions about the state’s judiciary.
Searching For Michael Jordan in Wilmington
The NBA superstar has become a global icon and billionaire. But you have to strain to find signs of him in his hometown.
Helene’s Unheard Warnings
As Hurricane Helene barreled toward Yancey County, there were no evacuation orders. Few grasped what was coming.