Blowing Off Balloons
Durham Energy Company Accused of Fraud Files for Bankruptcy
In April, federal regulators fined American Efficient $1.1 billion for perpetuating “a scam” they said cost ratepayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
U.S. Soldier Killed in Iraq Identified as Fayetteville Father of Two
The 30-year-old was killed in an explosion while helping dispose of a downed Iranian drone in Iraq, officials said.
Belles and Whistles
In 2020, Wilmington decided to do away with the Azalea Belles. Now some are waging a campaign to bring them back.
The Assembly Network Wins 39 State Reporting Awards
The North Carolina Press Association will honor winners at a September 10 dinner.
Politics
Suite Dreams
For more than 40 years, North Carolina’s politicians worked, ate, and slept at the Sir Walter hotel in Raleigh.
Stein Signs Long-Awaited N.C. Budget
The budget funds many of the governor’s priorities, but it strips his power to make appointments to several state boards.
Puff, Puff … Pass?
Everyone agrees the hemp industry needs to be regulated. Why can’t lawmakers figure out how to do it?
Higher Ed
UNC-Chapel Hill Journalism Dean to Step Down
Raul Reis will step down on August 1. He has led the journalism school since 2022.
Before She Took Historic Moon Photos, Christina Koch Honed Her Skills in N.C.
Koch is credited with taking “Earthset” on a mission that made her the first woman to orbit the moon.
Why Davidson College Is Offering Free Tuition to Families Making Less Than $175K
President Doug Hicks said the change is expected to expand Davidson’s applicant pool by simplifying the school’s financial aid offerings.
Health
These Church Members Disagree on Politics. Together They’re Wiping Out Medical Debt.
Trinity Moravian Church, a politically diverse congregation in Winston-Salem, has been raising money to retire medical debt.
North Carolina, the Wild West of Hemp
Hemp businesses operate without regulation, but worry about raids. State officials, meanwhile, say they lack tools to protect public health.
Emergency Measures
Available data indicate that cannabis-related emergency visits have skyrocketed among people under 18 since the legalization of hemp.
Culture
White Men and White Metal
How a small group of white men engineered the violent 1898 overthrow of Wilmington’s duly elected multiracial government.
The Man Who Put the Outer Banks on the Map
Aycock Brown, small of stature but gigantic of heart, almost single-handedly brought N.C.’s barrier islands to the outside world.
What We Can’t Forget This Independence Day
We are gearing up to mark America’s 250th, but commemorating our history is a year-round commitment for these North Carolinians.
From Our Network
Durham County Moves Toward Data Center Moratorium
County commissioners could vote on a moratorium as early as next month, joining the City of Durham in banning data center construction.
Crowded N.C. Jails Grapple with Iryna’s Law
Some law enforcement officials and district attorneys say the law has put strain on local jails without providing more resources.
Fayetteville City Council Reinstates Youth Curfew
The ordinance restricts teens 16 and under after 11 p.m., penalizing adults—not juveniles—as council members clash over whether the policy protects or harms youth.
The Budget No One Wanted
A state-mandated moratorium on property tax revaluations gave Greensboro and Guilford county little time to pivot as they finalized their budgets. The result? A substantial tax rate increase.
Q&A: What Deborah Ross Saw Inside the ICE Processing Facility in Cary
U.S. Rep. Ross recently toured the Cary ICE facility as part of a congressional oversight visit.
How $4 Billion Came Off Durham’s Tax Rolls and Blew a Hole in the City Budget
A county board granted billions in property value reductions to corporate landlords. City leaders, banking on the tax revenue, didn’t know until April.
Featured Stories
Even if Phil Berger Wins, He Lost
The Senate leader’s primary might not be resolved for weeks. But even Berger’s best-case scenario will leave the political giant diminished.
Whistleblower Pushes to Regulate Controversial Organ Retrieval Technique
A North Carolina surgeon has raised concerns about an innovative procedure that reanimates a dead body to enable organ transplants.
Greg Bovino’s Last Stand
North Carolina native Greg Bovino was known for being theatrical and hyperaggressive. Those traits just cost him his job.
As Helene Survivors Await State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their Homes
A new housing recovery program created to avoid the delays and cost overruns that plagued past efforts is already seeing similar problems.
The Enduring Hazards of College Hazing
Administrators have worked for years to eliminate fraternity hazing. But we found more than 1,500 pages of records showing it continues.
Well I’ll Be Dammed
North Carolina is about to get its first Buc-ee’s, the massive, cult-classic gas station. What’s all the hype about?
Lost and Found
Meet the teams working to reunite people with mementos they lost during Hurricane Helene.
If You Build It, Will They Come?
New charter schools are struggling to enroll enough students to stay solvent. One High Point school’s implosion shows the consequences.
How Tupac Came to Rest in North Carolina
The cremated remains of the rapper, still omnipresent three decades after his death, now lie in a Lumberton grave.
UNC-Chapel Hill’s Lesson in Civics
The School of Civic Life and Leadership’s hiring battle is part of a long-running rupture over the mission of similar efforts.
From ‘Superstar’ Cop to Drug Kingpin
A talented police officer busted drug rings along I-85. Then he bewildered everyone who knew him by becoming a drug trafficker himself.
How North Carolina Officials Kept the Truth About a Police Shooting Hidden
In 2019, a state trooper killed Brandon Webster claiming self defense. Evidence contradicted that account but wasn’t made public—until now.
A Tale of Two Six: J. Cole’s Fayetteville
A native son, a homecoming-inspired final album, and how Fayetteville—if only for a weekend—became the center of the hip-hop universe.
Transgender State Workers Are Facing Whiplash
The state’s health insurance plan no longer covers gender-affirming care, which has left some employees in limbo.
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.
