Keeping the Lights On
Bets Are Off, Budget Is On
15 things included in the General Assembly’s 611-page draft budget that you shouldn’t overlook.
Bull City Beef
How a set of proposed amendments to Durham’s zoning regulations has become the city’s most explosive political issue.
Why Some Stay
Climate change is making life along the Lumber River more uncertain. But for many people, moving isn’t a meaningful option.
Politics
The Troubled Last Days of Speaker Tim Moore
As he moves toward finishing an unprecedented 10-year reign, the House speaker leaves a complicated legacy.
The Price of a Moral Panic
In 1987, Andrew “Junior” Chandler was convicted of sexually abusing several young children. He’s the only person in N.C. still in prison from that era.
Oppo Man
Charles Hellwig, a self-described “right-wing nut,” works behind the scenes to elect Republican candidates. Sometimes that means deploying the darker arts to reveal secrets.
Place
A Site To Behold
The pandemic rush into wild places accelerated human damage to places like Max Patch. Can outdoor enthusiasts balance conservation and access?
A Judge, A Reporter, And a Notebook
A case in Guildford County raises questions about a reporter’s First Amendment rights.
The Last Fish
As competing interests vie for the state’s fisheries and coastal tourism, how can policymakers ensure a future for both?
Education
Public Money, Private Schools
Lawmakers plan to vastly expand Opportunity Scholarships, but questions about oversight, accountability, and what it will cost public schools remain.
The College That Refused to Die
What happens when survival becomes a college’s No. 1 priority? St. Andrews University offers a cautionary tale.
Schoolyard Brawl
Orange County has been swept up in cultural clashes over education. Superintendent Monique Felder is the latest casualty.
