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Up and Atom?

Duke Energy is leaning on advanced but unproven nuclear technology in its plans to decarbonize North Carolina’s electricity. Environmental advocates say that will delay meeting climate goals.

by Daniel Walton

Conclusion, But No Closure

A Davidson County murder case drew international media coverage, but the conclusion brought little closure.

Can Charlotte Re-Sort Itself?

One year ago, the city passed a landmark zoning reform aimed at reversing a century of segregation. The battle still rages.

Press On

One of the state’s oldest Black newspapers is clinging to life in Wilmington, but some are optimistic for its revival.

Politics

The Land War in Brunswick

How an annexation-hungry town in the state’s fastest-growing county drew the ire of its most powerful lawmaker.

by Johanna F. Still November 2, 2023November 2, 2023

How Tim Moore Got a Sanctioned Lawyer on a Commission That Disciplines Lawyers

The speaker named a friend to a commission that oversees lawyer misconduct despite a recent sanction.

by Bryan Anderson October 30, 2023November 2, 2023

Battle for the ’Burbs

Suburbs have historically been a key part of the Republican coalition in N.C., but they have begun to realign.

by Eric Cunningham and Johanna F. Still October 25, 2023October 30, 2023

Culture

The Demon Deacons’ Dilemma

Wake Forest, the smallest school in the Power Five, is fighting to stay relevant as conference consolidation favors larger schools.

by Will Zimmerman November 8, 2023November 8, 2023

Fancy Feat

Anson Dorrance is the most successful women’s college soccer coach in history. His daughter is an acclaimed tap dancer.

by Lauren Wingenroth November 5, 2023November 8, 2023

Contra Dance Meets the Culture Wars

Contra dance callers have one of the toughest jobs you’ve never heard of. After getting entangled in the country’s culture wars, it got even harder.

by Storms Reback November 1, 2023November 2, 2023

Education

A UNC Student’s Overdose Death at Duke

A Carolina freshman died in March after being found unconscious in a Duke dorm room. Neither university said anything publicly.

by Charlotte Kramon and Michael Hewlett October 16, 2023October 25, 2023

The Heartbreak of College Suicides

Ben Salas was one of seven N.C. State students who ended their lives last academic year. His devastated family has no idea why.

by Jade Neptune October 11, 2023November 7, 2023

The College That Refused to Die

What happens when survival becomes a college’s No. 1 priority? St. Andrews University offers a cautionary tale.

by Pam Kelley August 16, 2023August 22, 2023

Featured Stories

Culture

The Ambiguous Artisan

North Carolina’s most important furniture maker was a free man of color who owned slaves. He also might have been an abolitionist. Is the state ready for his story?

by Matt Hartman

Business

Do The Right Thing

The State Employees’ Credit Union is embroiled in a fight over who will decide the identity and future of the country’s second-largest credit union.

by Carli Brosseau

Food

Making A Name In Outer Banks Seafood

Vicki Basnight is carrying on the family legacy, one catch at a time.

by Kathleen Purvis

Politics

The Troubled Last Days of Speaker Tim Moore

As he moves toward finishing an unprecedented 10-year reign, the N.C. House speaker leaves a complicated legacy of mixing his political, business, and personal interests.

by Jim Morrill

Environment

A Site To Behold

The pandemic rush into wild places accelerated human damage to Max Patch, a beloved lookout on the Appalachian Trail. Can outdoor enthusiasts balance conservation and access?

by Allison Salerno

Education

Schoolyard Brawl

Orange County has been swept up in the nationwide cultural clashes over education, and Superintendent Monique Felder is the latest casualty.

by Barry Yeoman

Politics

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.

by Bryan Anderson

Place

The Last Days of Papertown

For 115 years, the paper mill was central to Canton’s identity – for better or worse. Now the town must figure out what comes next.

by Lisa Rab

Criminal Justice

A Black Teen. A White Woman. A Life Sentence.

Charles McNeair was 16 when a white woman accused him of rape. He accepted a plea deal because he thought his life was on the line. Now, his advocates say the case deserves another look.

by Michael Hewlett

Environment

The USS North Carolina’s Next Battle

America’s most-decorated battleship from World War II helped win the war in the Pacific. Now, the USS North Carolina is fighting for resiliency amid rising water levels.

by Ben McNeely

Sports

Pay For Play Is On The Way

Some college athletes are now making big money from endorsements. Next up: whether they should be paid as university employees.

by Dwayne Ballen

Courts

Judgment Day

N.C. Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Ruffin was long celebrated as one of America’s greatest jurists. One attorney has spent the last 23 years trying to change how history regards him.

by Barry Yeoman