Tag: nc

North Carolina public schools debate AI and technological approach to safety 

North Carolina school districts are debating AI-based school safety systems that monitor cameras for threats like weapons, smoke or suspicious behavior. Supporters say the technology could improve emergency response, while critics worry about false positives, privacy and increased surveillance. Some districts adopted pilot programs, while others rejected them over ethical and safety concerns.

Spotting the Sky: A Community Built Around Aviation

What begins as a fascination with aircraft has become something much bigger for plane spotters: a community. Through long hours near runways, shared photos and conversations about aviation, strangers bond over a common passion, forming friendships and connections rooted in the simple joy of watching planes cross the sky. 

From Four Teams to a Movement: North Carolina boys volleyball is finally sanctioned

This story captures the moment North Carolina boys’ high school volleyball finally achieves official sanctioning, tracing the nearly decade-long journey that made it possible. At its center is Sarah Conklin, a parent who started with a simple goal — helping her son find a place to play — and ended up leading a statewide movement. What began with just four teams has grown into nearly 200, fueled not by institutional support but by volunteers, families and players who built the sport from the ground up. The article shows how that grassroots effort reached a turning point with the N.C. High School Athletic Association’s vote, marking both a long-awaited victory and the beginning of a new era.
Through the voices of players, coaches and advocates, the story also explores what it took to sustain that growth without official recognition — from fundraising for basic equipment to fighting lingering stereotypes about boys in volleyball. Their experiences reveal both the passion behind the sport and the inequities that existed from school to school. With sanctioning now secured, the piece emphasizes what this moment means going forward: expanded access, greater legitimacy and a clearer pathway for future athletes. Ultimately, it frames the milestone as something bigger than a policy change — a testament to persistence, community and the power of building opportunity where none existed before.

NC Advocacy Against SB50

Advocates from across North Carolina gathered in Raleigh for Advocacy Day, organized by NCGV, Moms Demand Action, Students Demand Action and Giffords, to oppose Senate Bill 50. Supporters met lawmakers, shared personal concerns about gun violence and urged legislators to uphold Gov. Josh Stein’s veto protecting concealed carry permit requirements.

Recognition Does Not Create Identity: The Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina’s Federal Recognition Story

UNC student Peyton Brooks and Lumbee voices reflect on the tribe’s 2025 federal recognition after centuries of advocacy. The milestone brings validation, new opportunities in education and healthcare, and renewed cultural pride, while emphasizing identity existed long before recognition and that future progress will require continued effort and community resilience.

Eyes on the Sky

The Raleigh-Durham International Airport Plane Spotting Facebook group has reached more than 5,200 members, and some of those members have formed lasting friendships. Members take pictures, set up airside tours, and some even work for the airlines. While the airport sees over 400 flights daily, these plane spotters find something more: the chance to build meaningful relationships with others who share their passion for aviation.

Population Growth Fuels Change Across North Carolina’s Business Landscape 

North Carolina’s rapid population growth is fueling economic success while quietly straining the systems beneath it. As infrastructure lags and real estate pressures mount, small businesses face rising costs, tighter competition and uncertain futures — raising a critical question: can the state sustain its growth without losing the local character that built it?