• Raleigh metro's population boom cools off, but still ranks in top 10 nationally
• Anticipated cuts to special education raise alarms in Wake
• Can fixing relief programs lower NC property tax bills?
• Syrian family's journey to education and rebuilding life in North Carolina
• North Carolina Opera's innovative strategies drive a successful comeback post-pandemic

This is our last newscast before we put Wake Up on the shelf (at least for now). Thank you for tuning in!

• Election officials certify historic NC election upset
• Wake County's affordable housing loopholes threaten public funding and possible tax hikes
• Durham plans affordable housing at former police headquarters site
• North Carolina food banks increase support as TSA agents work without pay
• NC State’s new research chief eyes $1B enterprise

• Phil Berger remains behind Sam Page in GOP primary recounts
• Epic Games to cut 1,000 jobs due to declining Fortnite engagement
• Debate over downtown Raleigh bus station's future amid racial and poverty concerns
• Chapel Hill leaders say they have limited control over UNC's Carolina North campus expansion
• FAA weighs expanding RDU airspace as flight volume climbs

• The issue of 'wandering officers' in Triangle law enforcement agencies and throughout NC
• North Carolina teacher pay drops amid ongoing budget stalemate and protests
• Nida Allam discusses her recent campaign and its significance for progressives
• Wake senator calls virtual charter school expansion 'educational malpractice'
• Raleigh company sues TD Bank over missing $1 million in wire transfer fraud

• Wake school board meeting on proposed special education cuts scheduled for Tuesday
• Opposition grows over Ligon Magnet Middle School demolition plan
• New build-to-rent community under construction near Crabtree Valley Mall
• Apex well-positioned to attract large businesses but faces headwinds
• Inside the 'spectacular unraveling' of a Raleigh entertainment venue

• Wake County teachers protest proposed special-ed cuts
• Petitions seek Wake Democratic Party chair’s removal over primary endorsement
• Ubisoft to lay off 105 at Cary gaming division
• NC House committee wants to close costly tax loophole for affordable housing
• Downtown Raleigh tower up for sale at a discount

• Raleigh mayor turns poetic in addressing city's growth, public safety, housing in State of the City
• 500-home community targets buyers priced out of Raleigh market
• After years-long search, Carolina Ballet to start new chapter in Cary
• Amedeo's Italian Restaurant faces redevelopment as rezoning for student housing is proposed
• With ambitious youth-led music festival, local history repeats itself in best way

• Wake County Schools plan budget cuts amid rising costs and funding challenges
• Public schools in Chapel Hill-Carrboro consider closures amid enrollment decline
• Triangle college enrollment shifts after affirmative action ruling
• Rural counties face budget pressure from new SNAP administrative costs
• TSA staff departures may cause delays at RDU Airport

• Severe weather causes flight cancellations and delays at RDU Airport
• Raleigh resumes water disconnections after five-month halt in billing changes
• Wiley Nickel plans to expand Wake County DA's office for better justice services
• Durham Farm Campus teaches about "people that work so hard to make (your) food”
• Retiring after nearly 40 years of reporting, Martha Quillin reflects on career at N&O

• Raleigh City Council weighs $101.5 million bond for affordable housing needs
• Raleigh nonprofit breaks ground on $14M campus expansion for women in recovery
• Wake County shelter receives $850K federal grant for upgrades
• Durham faces budget challenges amid rising costs and uncertain funding
• A new perk for state workers: Free surgery

• Apex considers moratorium on data centers and invites resident input
• UNC system: The end of tenure?
• NC State Health Plan seeks new bids for health insurance administration
• Trump immigration crackdown tied to fewer students attending Wake schools
• Raleigh diverts 911 mental health crisis calls to clinicians in 911 center

• Rep. Foushee discusses her recent primary win, campaign challenges
• Berger-Page Senate primary may extend beyond recount
• Horseshoe at Hub RTP fills initial leases after years of vacancy
• Nonprofits assist Morrisville families impacted by apartment fire
• Indoor amusement parks abound with another opening in Raleigh's Tarrymore Square

• NC State professor's experience stranded in Qatar during Iran war
• Elevated cancer rates linked to Poe Hall's PCB contamination, but cause unclear
• Raleigh mulls higher parking fees downtown, fewer free hours, to address shortfall
• Wake County's new hiking and biking trails near Lake Crabtree
• Wake County eyes nearby community garden site for Athens Drive library replacement

• Tax loophole harms Wake County budgets, threatening essential services funding
• Pentagon considers UNC for new educational partnership opportunities
• Orange County state senator stepping down. What’s next for Graig Meyer and his seat?
• Boliek: ‘There’s nothing to recuse myself from’ in recount between Berger, Page
• Artspace celebrates 40 years of supporting artists in downtown Raleigh

• Public details are scarce, but residents pushing back on rumored ICE office in Cary
• UNC-Chapel Hill concludes Civics School Investigation, won’t release findings
• Exploring the rise of microschools in North Carolina and their unique benefits
• Parking to shop or dine at North Hills could now come with fines
• Saks to close Raleigh store as slumping Triangle Town Center loses another anchor tenant

• Allam concedes to Foushee after tight Democratic NC-4 primary
• Republican NC elections board member resigns after spotlight on social posts
• Raleigh firefighter charged after protest at Senate Armed Services hearing
• 1,000-home project outside Raleigh advances
• 1 in 10 NC teachers are leaving the profession

• Major upsets in North Carolina primaries, new faces expected in Raleigh
• Winn Decker challenges Erin Paré in Wake's competitive House District 37
• Former Wake County teacher charged with child sex crimes, wife faces drug charges
• AI's impact on local jobs: Relias faces grant loss after hiring shortfall
• UNC considers options for the future of the Smith Center

• Foushee edges Allam in tight NC-4 Democratic primary result
• North Carolina's new program aims to boost social work in rural areas
• Deadline for NC universities to improve digital accessibility approaches
• Breeze Airways starts first international service from RDU to Punta Cana
• Five Points shop For Your Convenience to close, location available for lease

• Growing gap in local school funding between rich and poor counties in NC
• Students criticize NC State cybersecurity bootcamp for debt and lack of job prospects
• Morrisville launches affordable housing program for government and school employees
• Wake County investigates unauthorized riders on Broughton High bus
• Shop Local Raleigh's response to controversy over transgender comments

• Candidates for Wake County district attorney share visions for the office
• UNC Board of Governors finalizes academic freedom policy amid protests
• Durham leaders discuss solutions to escalating child care crisis
• Merck layoffs reduce workforce at Durham vaccine plant amid global demand decline
• Rise and fall of Triangle drug ring linked to former inmates

• Durham's zoning code rewrite paused over legal threats
• Increased security at Millbrook Magnet High due to social media threat
• Foushee ad pulled over alleged defamation in congressional race
• UNC Board of Governors approves tuition increases for incoming students
• Explore civil rights talk at City of Raleigh Museum event

• Loaded gun found on student at Millbrook High School leads to lockdown
• Wake County teen charged with murder of 12-year-old girl
• Candidates in NC-04 eye Western Wake County voters before primaries
• NC House committee considers ways to cut local property taxes
• Durham's Love Your Block initiative expands to Lakewood and Walltown

• Morrisville apartment fire injures six, displaces 40 residents
• Former violence interrupter sentenced for drug charges
• Breeze Airways expands flights from RDU to Alabama and Florida
• Attorney General sues Raleigh photographer for defrauding clients
• Wake County landfill to reach capacity by 2045

• Immigration arrests left NC restaurants short-staffed, job sites idle
• Durham metro leads way in residents with college degrees
• UNC Health seeks 63 more beds for Clayton, Smithfield hospitals
• DAE president apologizes for calling Durham schools leader by first name
• From sanctuary to senior housing, a reflection of shifting needs

• NC State faculty, students rallies behind pride center staffer
• Rep. Foushee, in tight race, backs Amazon union campaign in Durham
• Probe confirms NC juvenile detention problems
• Triangle office vacancy drops as discounted sales reshape market
• In East Durham, contaminated parks leave few options for young people

• Holly Springs Approves Wake County Nondiscrimination Ordinance
• RDU's $2.5 billion makeover includes shops, restaurants and traffic changes
• Design leader on what Downtown Raleigh needs
• Wake County legislators discuss community issues
• At 105, St. Aug’s long-serving president honored as piece of Raleigh history

• Testimony answers how Hedingham shooting rampage began at teen killer’s home
• Outside Money Flows into 4th Congressional District Primary, Again
• Fired NC State worker the latest in response to controversial secret recordings
• UNC says Carolina North won't damage the forest
• Bank merger could change Raleigh skyline

• Durham mayor blasts ‘status quo’ after 6 men and kids shot in 6 days
• The Triangle continues to see homicides fall from the pandemic peak
• Property taxes take center stage in Orange County Commissioners race
• Wake schools plans to show work on low-performing Restart schools
• Judge reverses UNC's campus bans against multiple former pro-Palestine protesters

• Six vie for Raleigh’s new at-large council seats
• CHCCS weighs closing up to two elementaries amid enrollment drop
• Misclassified as business, Crossroads FLEX lacked key fire systems
• RDU offers $3M bonus to accelerate new runway work
• Wake County studies landfill future as South Wake nears capacity

• 'Love Forward Together' march protests redrawn maps, Black vote dilution
• Raleigh mass-shooting teen gets life without parole
• Moore Square redevelopment with 160 affordable units collapses
• Leigh Village Center revived: 2,000+ homes, “15-minute” hub
• Parent alleges instability, abuse concerns at PreEminent Charter

• Teachers say Hedingham killer showed no warning signs before 2022.
• Wake OKs new hospital beds; Novant Knightdale hospital denied.
• Chatham Park lawsuit escalates over massive Pittsboro growth plan.
• Formerly incarcerated Black men headline Durham’s “I Am Successful” event.
• Tiger King rescue tiger Naveen euthanized after suspected strokes.

• Triangle Native group distributes ICE rights cards to members
• UNC tightens classroom recording rules after secret tapings
• “Cost We Carry” campaign targets Duke profits, rising bills
• Wake Stone appeals Umstead quarry ruling, 2031 deadline looms
• Sanford project pivots from ‘missing middle’ townhomes for single-family houses

• Wake DA primary tests Freeman legacy, reform visions
• Raleigh holds first council primary; early voting Feb. 12–28
• NC State Pride Center staffer fired after undercover video
• Durham accused of leaving $1.3M HIV housing funds unused
• NC State laser monitoring could cut costs for cell-made drugs

• Legal Aid closes nine offices after $6M IOLTA funding freeze
• Tourism tax panel weighs $23.5M for Wake arts, sports projects
• Wake County layoff notices total 241 jobs this week; Avantor latest
• Screenshots allege UNC Student Body candidate Bala ran smear campaign
• Raleigh Wide Open festival returns Oct. 1-3, free downtown music

• Raleigh-to-Richmond upgrades advance northbound Amtrak
• Wake’s 50-year “One Water” plan tackles growth, climate pressures
• UNC chancellor: Carolina North key to staff housing affordability
• Cedar Ridge teacher resigns after alleged porn image in slides
• Dix Park hits 1.7M visitors; Play Plaza, Dambo trolls boost

• Testimony: Hedingham shooter wrote hatred-for-humanity notes 
• HonorBridge sues feds over organ-procurement ratings system
• NC State joins SHIELD missile-defense contract, launches security institute 
• Wells Fargo to lay off 112 in Raleigh 
• FBI urges victims to report ex-Raleigh officer’s coercion

• Wake schools upgrade filters; new system fully live April
• Orange urges DHS reform, honors Black History, Human Relations
• Wake pipeline: 52 prospects, $11B, 11k jobs after Genentech
• Mattamy plans 1,200-home Sanford subdivision; first phase 193 units
• Barber’s ‘Love Forward Together’ march through NC targets budget impasse, voting rights

• 70,000 NC voters risk provisional ballots over missing ID
• Hedingham shooting: families relive loss at Thompson sentencing
• Wake commissioners expand; Democrats pitch schools, growth, housing
• Durham scraps Peregrine surveillance contract after mass-surveillance backlash
• Ackland exhibit ‘Boys Will Be Men’ explores masculinity, identity

• Light snow possible late Wed/Thu; icy roads linger
• UNC Health: winter injuries surge; sledding sends kids to ER
• NCSU abuse lawsuit grows: 31 athletes accuse trainer Robert Murphy
• Vivo hands Raleigh/Durham apartments to lender, avoiding foreclosure
• UNC Health raises gender-affirming care age to 19

• Raleigh’s weather doughnut hole breaks; 2–3 inches finally fall
• Snow-day calls strain families, even as snowfall declines
• Triangle businesses close or donate during immigration-strike protest
• Durham delays Hayti ARPA vote amid transparency worries
• UNC System draft would restrict student fees, ban legal services

UNC academic freedom policy criticized as chilling teaching, self-censorship

NC launches “Find Your Fit” campaign highlighting public school options

Durham mom alleges staff pushed nonverbal autistic son; retraining begins

Durham PAC endorsements split in key races ahead March 3

• Allam challenges Foushee in generational Democratic rematch
• Voucher student test results remain hidden from public view
• Poe Hall cancer plaintiffs sue NC State over PCB exposure
• Breeze adds RDU nonstop routes: San Antonio, Madison, Atlantic City
• Wake County approves $57M animal center design in east

• UNC Health to lead Chapel Hill student health
• Lawmakers probe involuntary commitment after Raleigh teacher killing
• Pullen Park amusements close Feb. 2 for lake repairs
• TowneBank buyout ends Raleigh-based Dogwood State Bank era
• Nasher’s Dis/orient reframes Asian diaspora art at Duke

• Cary ex-manager under SBI, DA scrutiny for spending
• Raleigh ranks 85th in livability; U-Haul pegs growth
• Bloc83 sells for $210.5M, far below 2021 price
• Wake Animal Center closes six weeks for repairs
• New state archivist expands public engagement, digitization

• Raleigh protests ICE shooting after video spreads nationally
• UNC to close six area studies centers amid $70M cut
• Groups sue Pittsboro over Chatham Park South Village approval
• SBIR grant lapse threatens Triangle startups’ early-stage research
• Durham Chief Patrice Andrews retires May 1, eyes politics

• Barber’s “This Is Our Selma” march set for Raleigh
• UNC syllabi become public records; conservative groups already requesting
• Durham Black PAC demands measurable gains amid gentrification
• Durham detention sergeant gets probation for bribe smuggling
• One year later, Raleigh family still seeks missing Rakeem Elliott

• NC House panel targets Raleigh, Asheville equity programs
• Family says stalking warnings ignored before teacher’s killing
• Plan filed for 20 rental townhomes on South Blount
• U-Haul index ranks Raleigh eighth for net moves in 2025
• Liberation Station reopens in Raleigh’s Washington Terrace neighborhood

• Wake teachers walk out, urge Leandro funding and pay boosts
• Repair work puts Raleigh Convention Center reopening on track
• Avelo drops more RDU routes, closes crew base
• Durham lifts City Hall ban on activist Amanda Wallace
• Coastal Credit Union Music Park starts paid parking, $20–$110

• NC teachers walk out at 52 schools today
• Cary mayor says manager’s resignation felt like betrayal
• Records detail suspect’s mental illness before Zoe Welsh killing
• Rosebud cocktail bar to open Feb. 14 downtown Raleigh
• Angie Brooks’ Shaw years in Raleigh shaped global advocacy

• Murder suspect sought mental health hearing weeks before arrest
• State retirees’ health lawsuit still delayed after 13 years
• Top Wake school forced into virtual-only instruction
• Raleigh-area road projects to disrupt traffic in 2026
• Cary activist group grows rapidly ahead of 2026 election

• Ravenscroft teacher killed during home burglary Saturday morning
• Teacher challenges GOP lawmaker in Wake House primary
• Shop Local Raleigh director apologizes for transphobic comment
• Dallas developer to renovate affordable apartments in Durham
• Grassroots group builds queer community for Triangle women

• WakeMed restricts visitors as flu admissions surge statewide
• UNC Health CEO Cristy Page plans growth amid funding threats
• Chatham Estates residents fear closure, looming displacement in Cary
• Liberation Station reopens near St. Augustine’s, celebrates Kwanzaa
• Zest Cafe closes after 29 years; sale set Jan. 6

• Four Triangle Democrats run unopposed; Wake expands early voting
• Duke, RTI cuts, solar bankruptcy fuel Triangle job losses
• Durham launches six-month gun violence plan with expert Abt
• Raleigh Ukrainian Vertep unites refugee families through carols
• Wake recycles Christmas trees into park trails through January 31

• 100+ candidates file for Triangle races ahead of March primary
• Raleigh City Council on ballot again before staggered terms begin
• Cary bought $540K trolleys, sold after ADA issues revealed
• New charter schools miss enrollment targets; High Point TISA closes
• Crabtree plans $60M makeover; Northgate, Triangle Town Center redevelop

• UNC faculty must post syllabi publicly starting January 15
• Faculty report rising fear, censorship across UNC campuses
• Durham mayor denies misconduct allegation by former student
• Wake County Commission expands, 2026 races now set
• Animate! Raleigh postponed amid Convention Center repairs

• Mother presses trooper-crash accountability.
• NC lawmakers eye property-tax relief; Paré warns seniors squeezed.
• Freeman challenges Chitlik in Durham’s blue Senate District 22.
• Report: NC near-bottom in teacher pay growth, per-pupil funding.
• NC Museum of Art campaign nears goal; East Building revamp.

• State workers face 2026 premium hikes amid plan deficit
• Ligon rebuild plan pits alumni against Wake schools
• LGBT Center reopens in long-term Cabarrus Street home
• Raleigh revives DWI unit after deadly impaired-driving surge
• Tardys launch downtown Raleigh Artist Lounge, multi-level arts venue

• Cary land deal bypassed council; flood-risk warnings ignored
• Meredith ousts deans; protests grow amid deficit, mold complaints
• Migrant advocates brace for 2026 after H-2A wage cuts
• Four Triangle restaurants get B grades in health inspections
• Raleigh rapper Madison Jay urges voting, civic engagement

• Wake may drop caps at five overcrowded schools
• Fuquay-Varina water transfer plan faces regional opposition
• Raleigh-Cary ranks No. 2 for wealthy millennials
• Raleigh ZIP 27608 tops $1.1M average home price
• Nonprofit aims to plant 50,000 trees by 2050

• ICE arrests doubled; Triangle saw about 770.
• Old Farm flood victims still waiting on promised aid.
• Chapel Hill-Carrboro schools weigh closures after enrollment slide.
• Raleigh residents sue over 30-story zoning near Peace Street.
• Sadie Oaks: 201 build-to-rent townhomes break ground in Wendell.

• Cary manager’s luxury travel raises questions, lacks receipts
• Nida Allam challenges Foushee in NC-4 primary
• Lawmakers clash with CHCCS over parental rights law
• UNC System to make all syllabi public by 2026
• Officer killed at WakeMed had troubled job history

• Legal Aid slashes services after $6M state funding freeze
• Smithfield medical building sale reflects Raleigh’s growth pressure
• Cary mayor: council left out of key decisions
• Durham judge limits CPS protester’s actions, sparking backlash
• Massage board’s law firm ties raise legal concerns

• Advocates report large ICE operation across Triangle.
• Snow day closures revive debate over Wake’s countywide school system.
• Zillow: Two-thirds of Raleigh homes lost value over year.
• Enloe Charity Ball targets $200K for Note in the Pocket.
• Raleigh “Jeopardy” champion in jeopardy of his own.

• Charter growth forces Durham schools to divert $51M locally.
• Apple delays RTP campus, wins four-year extension on incentives.
• WakeMed advances Garner mental hospital, citing soaring ER crises.
• Durham chief district judge charged in domestic violence case.
• Capital Boulevard DWI crackdown nets 10 arrests, 130 charges.

• UNC Chapel Hill Black enrollment drops, DEI cuts deepen isolation.
• Cary councilmember’s taxpayer-funded degree prompts ethics, transparency backlash.
• Durham eyes interim uses while preserving historic police HQ site.
• Western Boulevard Kmart rezoning could add 20-story transit-oriented village.
• OP-ED: Durham UDO rewrite aims for denser housing without silencing residents.

• Raleigh candidates file as city shifts to staggered four-year terms.
• Community debates future of historic, overcrowded J.W. Ligon Middle.
• Raleigh settles Darryl Williams Taser death lawsuit for $975,000.
• Cycle Labs raises $9.7M to grow supply-chain testing platform.
• Volunteers join Haw River Watch to track Triangle stream health.

• Report: NC teacher prep lags behind student diversity
• Immigration raids spur fear, absences across North Carolina communities
• UNC Chinese students build peer mental health support network
• Raleigh developer C.J. Mann builds equitable, community-focused projects
• Lockout reset propelled Hurricanes’ 2006 Stanley Cup breakthrough

• Roof fire at Raleigh Convention Center quickly contained, no injuries
• Asylum-seeking Wendell woman kept detained despite nationwide bail ruling
• Durham swears in new council as longtime members say goodbye
• Durham County seeks no-contact order against child welfare activist
• Property deal boosts hopes for 42nd Street Oyster Bar comeback

• Mike Lee elected Durham County commissioners chair; Allam vice chair
• Triangle Healthcare Summit warns electrician shortage threatens hospital projects
• Ypsomed investing $250 million in Holly Springs injection-device plant
• Merrick-Moore named Durham’s first Heritage Community honoring Black legacy
• Raleigh pay-what-you-can café strained by rising food insecurity

• ICE deployment warning in Triangle based on unconfirmed Siembra tip
• Wendell rally backs detained asylum seeker Fatima Velasquez-Antonio
• Democrats target Whatley’s Helene recovery record in NC Senate race
• Booming Triangle biomanufacturing faces lagging research and venture funding
• Wake County begins Kellam-Wyatt Park project near Raleigh, Knightdale

• Raleigh, Durham leaders and residents unsettled by secretive CBP immigration crackdown
• Ascension’s Amsurg deal quietly reshapes ownership of Triangle endoscopy centers
• Raleigh extends two-hour free parking as businesses cheer, revenues dip
• Clark Rinehart launches at-large council bid centered on housing, transit
• Durham zine vending machine maps ice cream, foraging, queer history

• TikTok video shows Border Patrol detain, release Raleigh-born landscaper.
• Immigration raids spike Durham absences, spark student walkouts and protests.
• Enrollment drop forces Durham schools cuts and higher charter transfers.
• Carolinas hospital chaplains shoulder unseen emotional burden, struggle with burnout.
• Rezoning could bring 190 townhomes, advancing missing middle housing.

• Site Slowdown: Immigration crackdown empties South Creek Chapel Hill crews
• Wendell Detention: Enforcement sweep seizes homeowner Fatima Velasquez-Antonio in Cary
• State Militia: Attorney urges Stein reactivate humanitarian defense force statewide
• Selma Housing: Officials weigh Waterbury Gardens rezoning, workforce affordability promise
• UNC Austerity: Independent audit disputes necessity ideological budget reductions

• Regional Raids: Protests surge after multiple detentions during federal operations.
• ICE Detentions: Witnesses describe chaotic arrests amid agent activity.
• Hiring Commitment: Insurance firm Aspida pledges high-paying jobs through state deal.
• Policy Shift: UNC system mandates costly coverage, sparking student criticism.
• Creative Leader: Raleigh native strengthens city culture via Artspace.

• Triangle Arrests: Federal agents make arrests in Durham, Cary, and Raleigh, prompting school assurances and community protests.
• Durham Response: City, county, and schools denounce fear-based immigration actions; sheriff reiterates non-cooperation.
• GOP Support: Republican leaders back expanded federal enforcement as Democrats condemn statewide raids.
• School Assurances: Wake schools reaffirm protections for all students amid raids, educators call for safeguards.
• Vendor Protection: Brown Berets launch safety initiative for Latino vendors amid raids and violence.

• Parade Sentencing: Driver gets 262 days for Raleigh parade death.
• Immigration Protest: Raleigh rally denounces ICE, Border Patrol surge.
• Shutdown Vote: Foushee, Ross oppose deal lacking health-care fixes.
• Raleigh environmental scientists expand work on toxic ‘forever chemicals.’
• Brewery Closures: Two Triangle taprooms shut amid craft-beer slowdown.

• Sheriff Reassurances: Wake, Durham sheriffs report no local immigration operations amid Charlotte arrests.
• Data Center Pushback: New Hill residents raise environmental, noise concerns over 200-MW Apex project.
• Apex Parking Dispute: Council rejects proposal to shift student-parking conflict to Wake County.
• Northgate Overhaul: Durham mall redevelopment pivots to big-box retail, drops housing plans.
• Missy Lane’s Closes: Downtown Durham jazz venue ends run; nonprofit foundation continues work.

• UNC Tuition: Trustees keep NC tuition flat; raise out-of-state rates.
• SEL Debate: Durham schools expand SEL despite statewide political backlash.
• Virtual Charters: NC cyber schools seek renewal after weak academic results.
• Apex Data Center: Residents question massive facility’s noise, utilities, rezoning needs.
• Wendell Growth: Downtown revitalizes through small-business reinvestment and redevelopment projects. 

• NCSU Professor Killed Near Campus: Driver charged after deadly crash near Raleigh campus.
• UNC Reports Hate Crime Spike: Stalking, bias incidents surge amid campus unrest.
• Pittsboro OKs Chatham Park Growth: Town approves major expansion adding homes, commerce.
• Durham Tests Modular Homes: Builders pilot sustainable designs easing housing demand.
• Wendell Startup Debuts Caption Glasses: Smart eyewear transcribes speech for hearing assistance.

• WakeMed Shooting Suspect: Friends describe Benji Martin Jr. as kind and artistic, struggling with mental health before fatal shooting.
• SNAP Delays Hit Students: Federal shutdown delays SNAP for 586,000 N.C. households, including students.
• Durham Enrollment Drop: Durham Public Schools loses 1,000 students amid vouchers, immigration fears.
• Hotel Conversions Rising: Raleigh, Durham rank top ten nationally for hotel-to-apartment conversions.
• Chancellor Installed: Kevin Howell inaugurated as NC State’s 15th chancellor, pledging innovation.

• UNC Rejects Trump Compact: UNC-Chapel Hill refuses Trump administration’s “academic excellence” compact.
• Elections Board Shake-Up: New GOP-linked hires reshape North Carolina’s State Board of Elections leadership.
• WakeMed Officer Remembered: Officer Roger Smith honored as hero after fatal WakeMed shooting in Garner.
• Wake County Waste Plan: County explores landfill expansion, waste-to-energy options before 2040 capacity deadline.
• Durham Home Erosion: Walltown homeowner battles severe erosion from city stormwater pipe runoff.

• WakeMed Shooting: Office killed and suspect charged with murder after shooting at WakeMed Garner Healthplex.
• Teacher Walkout: Wake County educators join statewide protest over pay and delayed budget.
• Durham Food Hall: Workers walk out after ICE recruitment ad appears without approval.
• Athletic Park Plan: Durham leans toward renovating historic Athletic Park instead of replacement.
• Faitheist on YouTube: Raleigh creator “Heliocentric” builds empathy through atheist church visits online.

• Electoral Recap: Wake County Democrats sweep local elections amid record voter turnout.
• Morrisville Race: Mayor TJ Cawley re-elected for third term with 64% support.
• WakeMed Expansion: Garner “whole health campus” to add mental and acute care beds.
• HealthWorks Program: New chamber-based plan offers small businesses affordable group insurance.
• Campus Marketing: Major brands host pop-ups at UNC, sparking debate over corporate access.

• Electoral Upsets: Wake County sees wave of new mayors; only Morrisville incumbent reelected.
• Food Aid Strain: Shutdown threatens SNAP, WIC support for 100,000 Wake residents.
• Amazon Union Drive: Durham warehouse workers renew organizing push over wages and safety.
• IBM Restructuring: Tech giant cuts jobs globally, Triangle positions potentially affected.
• AP Gains: NC students set records for AP participation and passing rates.

• Special-Needs Settlements: Wake County Schools pay $1.3M resolving special-education service disputes.
• Investigation: Chief Justice Newby’s ruling enabled GOP gerrymandering, reshaping elections.
• Rare-Earth Factory: Vulcan Elements secures $1B to build U.S. magnet plant.
• AI in Classrooms: UNC sets new AI-use guidelines, encouraging responsible academic integration.
• Raleigh Lot Sale: Downtown parking lot sells for $7.15M, eyed for future development.