FIRE gives most US schools low grades for campus free speech and rewards positions of institutional neutrality in higher education.

NC universities ranked by free-speech advocacy group is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Groups are suing to prevent the NC State Board of Elections from spoiling ballots over rules they see as unrelated to voter eligibility.

Election lawsuit season kicks off. Change in NC absentee ballot rules challenged in federal court. is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

In many Western NC communities devastated by Helene, volunteer organizations have helped bring relief while government funding has been slow.

Filling the gaps after Helene. Volunteer groups have stepped up across the NC mountains over last 2 years. is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Town officials have voted to move toward dissolving Ronda, based on advice from NC Local Government Commission. But some still hold out hope.

Ronda beyond help? NC town appears headed for dissolution. is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Growing pains, schools and property taxes are hot issues in each of the three close NC legislative contests in Wake County in 2026.

Three hot NC legislative races in Wake County is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Property owner describes Cherokee cultural artifacts and possibly burials. TVA plans transmission line there as data center drives demand.

Power-grid needs come up against cultural history claims in Cherokee County is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Some want NC courts to strike down certificate-of-need law, legislative repeal or partial reforms. Hospital lobby likes things as they are.

Fixing NC’s troubled hospital approval system is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

NC certificate-of-need law governs building healthcare facilities. Research and recent outcomes suggest it may do more harm than good.

Effectiveness of NC certificate-of-need law meant as healthcare guardrail in doubt is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

NC awards certificates of need for new healthcare facilities to qualified providers. Legal squabbles keep holding up those hospital beds.

Needed hospital beds across NC delayed by industry appeals is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

From proposed constitutional amendments about taxes and voter ID to a range of local referendums, 2026 NC voters will face ballot questions.

What’s up with all these ballot questions in NC in 2026? is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Successes at Fayetteville State University come as many other schools struggle. FSU officials say these wins are no accident.

Fayetteville State seeing record enrollment, retention is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Federal legal case stemmed from problematic Moore DSS placements of children while their mother was sick. County denies any wrongdoing.

Moore Co. DSS settles federal lawsuit with family of children with disabilities is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Answers to frequently asked questions about mail-in voting in North Carolina, which gets underway Sept. 4, the earliest in the nation.

What’s up with mail-in voting in NC in 2026? is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Littleton working to fix financial woes, but with audits in arrears, NC Local Government Commission to withhold town's sales tax distribution.

NC to withhold struggling town’s sales tax distribution is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

White House emphasizes administration's role in Western NC post-Helene recovery during G20 summit in Asheville. But some say it's a big "lie."

Rival Helene recovery narratives compete as Asheville hosts G20 summit is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Thanks to a sufficient number of objections, several proposed NC elections rules need further review and likely won't affect 2026 voting.

The NC elections rules that aren’t quite rules yet is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Candidates trying to unseat sheriffs criticize tendency to reelect incumbents and appoint handpicked successors in many NC counties.

Rising stars? Challengers to NC sheriffs bank on voters’ thirst for change. is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Move to end Flock contract fails to placate Asheville residents who object to city's continued investment in other surveillance technology.

Asheville terminates Flock contract in heated council meeting is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

New law creates studies through pilot programs to find solutions for involuntary commitment in NC that balance hospital and jail concerns.

Rethinking involuntary commitment in NC while trying not to break the system is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.

Citizens groups push for NC governments to cut off contracts with Flock and similar surveillance companies. Some sheriffs defend programs.

Flock backlash growing in some Western NC communities is a story from Carolina Public Press, an award-winning independent newsroom. Our breakthrough journalism shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues facing North Carolina’s more than 11 million residents. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.