The Wrong Side of Forever
As governments crack down on PFAS, residents of affected areas say it’s too little, too late as a new industrial boom is already underway.
Shibumi Has Taken Over N.C. Beaches. Next, The World.
The ubiquitous sun shade is on a quest for coastal domination—and isn’t afraid to fight.
Thin Blue Line
A police shooting in Cherokee County raises questions about who decides whether a legal boundary has been crossed.
Objects Can’t Lie
A Greensboro museum has been working to return artifacts taken from Japan during World War II.
Politics
How Jewish Democrats Are Navigating a Difficult Year
Gubernatorial candidate Josh Stein and other Jewish politicians working to hold their traditional coalition together.
Nothing to See Here
Lawmakers gave themselves the ability to sell, destroy, and disclose records as they see fit. Few are choosing to be transparent.
Jesse Helms Lives On
The bomb-throwing TV commentator and arch-conservative U.S. senator died 16 years ago, but his legacy is alive and kicking.
Education
North Carolina A&T Names Its Next Leader
The UNC System Board of Governors has selected James R. Martin II as the new leader of the country’s largest HBCU.
Why I Left Teaching
I taught in public schools for more than two decades, but I just quit—and you need to know why.
Is the Long Reign of UNC Women’s Soccer Over?
There are several signs of trouble in Anson Dorrance’s famed program.
Culture
Turning On a Dime
Food festivals have tried to correct for exploitation and elitism, but still struggle financially.
How Pinehurst Became a Destination for Dreamers and Golfers Alike
Introducing our new podcast series on the backstory of Pinehurst and the U.S. Open.
The Most Magical Place in North Carolina
Disney’s new planned development in Chatham County adds to tensions over growth, infrastructure, and the environment.
Around the State
After a Tragedy, A Fight Over Video Footage
News outlets have been seeking body-camera footage amid questions about how four Charlotte officers were killed.
At A Crossroads
We took a road trip along one of the state’s oldest highways to probe what “Carolina Core” might mean for the region’s future.
The War Inside
Some of the worst brain injuries soldiers face come from their own weapons, and North Carolina is at the epicenter of this growing crisis.
Dads of Death Row
Fathers on North Carolina’s death row are navigating complicated relationships with their children amid uncertainty about their fate.
A Town’s Entire Staff Resigned. What Happens Now?
The resignation of Summerfield’s town staff puts the future of the antigrowth suburb into question.
What Is Really Going On With Charlotte the Stingray?
A Hendersonville aquarium blew up the internet with the announcement of a “miracle” pregnancy.
Featured Stories
When the State Comes for Your Estate
Medicaid was designed to provide healthcare for the poorest Americans. But after death, their relatives can be socked with massive bills.
How South of the Border Keeps Going After All These Years
South of the Border is not what it used to be, but people keep stopping.
Jim Hunt’s Daughter Tries to Win In a New North Carolina
Rachel Hunt will have to navigate a state that is much different from when her father dominated.
UNC’s $97 Million Online Education Gambit Hits Headwinds
North Carolina’s ambitious foray into online education, has slashed enrollment projections. Will the investment pay off?
‘We Come Here Broken and Desperate’
The Durham Rescue Mission takes in people with nowhere else to go, but some former guests say the nonprofit exploited them at their lowest point.
A North Carolina Comedy Legend Finally Gets Her Due
“Moms” Mabley gained national fame as the mother of stand-up comedy, but it took nearly 50 years for her to be recognized back home in Brevard.
No Safe Haven
As more people move to “climate havens” like Western North Carolina, they are learning nowhere is immune from a changing climate.
A Holy Union of Cheese and Biscuit
Ask for a cheese biscuit west of Wilson and you’ll likely get confused looks. But in Eastern North Carolina, it’s a whole way of life.
Mark Robinson, Teflon Man
Like Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner for governor is expected to easily secure his party’s nomination despite scandals and outrages.
The Wizard of Mars Hill
Ehren Cruz gazes into the horizon of North Carolina’s burgeoning psychedelic renaissance.
Mark Harris Is Not Asking For Forgiveness
The minister and politician stepped aside after ballot fraud tainted his congressional race. Now he says his seat was stolen—and he wants it back.
See No Evil
Former employees have accused the founders of No Evil, a North Carolina-based vegan food brand, of skirting accountability on labor concerns.