A disturbing moment in history still haunts one American city more than a century later. In downtown Wilmington, North Carolina, a memorial stands to remember the families that were slain and taken away during a successful coup in 1898. Meanwhile, Gracie Abrams has gone from a shy girl to opening for music's biggest names and her own version of pop stardom. In Washington D.C., the Trump administration's plans to remake the nation's capital are sparking controversy, and a medical drama series, The Pit, shines a spotlight on the dedication of doctors and nurses. In Tuscany, a centuries-old tradition of wine barrel racing brings the community together. [... more]

A federal judge upholds a North Carolina law changing same-day voter rules, while the state's Board of Elections reviews 15,000 comments on its adoption of a rule for non-citizen list maintenance. Meanwhile, the state's tax policy is compared to that of Vegas casinos, which treat high-net worth individuals well, and the North Carolina Forest Service is working to contain multiple wildfires across the state. [... more]

North Carolina State Representative Cecil Brockman has resigned from office after being charged with taking indecent liberties with a child and statutory sexual offenses. The move comes as the North Carolina General Assembly considers his expulsion. Meanwhile, the state's DEI policies are under fire, with some lawmakers questioning the use of quotas and hiring targets. In other news, a cash-for-vote scheme has been alleged in the Wilmington City Council elections, with voters receiving text messages offering payment in exchange for voting for certain candidates. The North Carolina State Board of Elections has been referred the allegations for further investigation. [... more]

A third of college students believe violence is an option to stop campus speech, with 34% of North Carolina college students thinking it's acceptable to use violence to stop someone from speaking on campus. This trend is concerning and growing, with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's sixth annual report showing a 10% increase in students who think violence is acceptable to stop speech over the past four years. Meanwhile, late night television shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon are struggling to attract audiences, with ratings plummeting compared to their heyday in the 2000s and 2010s. The FCC's Brendan Carr has been speaking out about the importance of serving the public interest in broadcasting, and the potential for the FCC to take action against ABC for its handling of Jimmy Kimmel's show. [... more]

North Carolina voters are concerned about the safety of public transit, with many feeling it's not secure due to a lack of checks and ticketing systems. The state is also grappling with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, with Governor Josh Stein requesting $13.5 billion in federal aid for recovery efforts. Meanwhile, a new poll shows that 94.9% of North Carolinians are concerned about the rise of political violence, with 60% blaming elected officials and the media for its increase. The poll also found that 93.4% of voters believe it's never acceptable to use violence or assassination attempts against political leaders or public figures. [... more]

North Carolina prepares for impacts from Hurricane Aaron, which is expected to bring coastal flooding, beach erosion, and dangerous surf conditions. A gas leak and building explosion in Wilmington injured four firefighters, and a search is underway for a criminal illegal alien who escaped from police in Apex. The state election board has corrected over 20,000 voter registration records and is seeking more ID numbers from affected voters. [... more]

North Carolina received a $4 million grant for workforce re-entry training for incarcerated individuals, aiming to build a strong workforce, improve re-entry outcomes, and provide people with real opportunities for a second chance. [... more]

A healthcare policy analyst discusses the economic analysis of Medicaid expansion in North Carolina, revealing a funding gap of $119 to $171 million in the first year. The analyst argues that the governor's plan is misguided and costly, and that the state should instead apply for a state innovation waiver to restructure healthcare subsidies and lower insurance premiums. Meanwhile, a lawsuit challenges the city of Wilmington's vacation rental rules, which the city claims are constitutional but the Institute for Justice argues are unconstitutional. The case has significant implications for property rights in North Carolina. [... more]