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.

State Board of Elections mostly backs fewer Sundays, more Saturdays in early voting plans. Increasing evidence of auditor staff interference.

NC Elections Board decides early voting plans for 20 counties, mostly siding with GOP 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.

Lawyer shocked that judge found every page in long UNC document covered by attorney-client privilege. News media coalition may appeal.

UNC gets to keep report on controversial program secret, judge says 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.

Anita Earls and Sarah Stevens compete for voters' attention and make case for why people should back them in race for NC Supreme Court seat.

Political parties see high stakes in NC Supreme Court election 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.

At current pace, DEQ program would need 99 years to investigate all the sites of old landfills that pose health risk, NC audit reports.

Lags in NC landfill site investigations by underfunded DEQ program pose risk to public health, audit says 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.