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?
Politics
A Walk for Peace: Raleigh Welcomes the Monks
Volunteers and faith leaders gather at Greg Poole Jr. All Faiths Chapel to prepare a welcoming lunch for traveling Buddhist monks. As crowds assemble from Dorothea Dix Park to the North Carolina Capitol, Raleigh unites in celebration, fellowship, and peace, culminating in a powerful speech before thousands.
Venezuelans in North Carolina Watch Closely as Maduro’s Case Unfolds
When the U.S. took Venezuela’s president into custody, the shock rippled far beyond Caracas. In North Carolina, Venezuelans gathered around phones, family, and food. A UNC student seeking asylum and a Cary food-truck owner unsure about returning home, they reveal how communities are processing political shock from thousands of miles away.
Invisible hands: the communities of support behind the 19 monks’ journey
Story by Zoe Sinclair Photos by Allison Helms Sounds of rushing feet, moving tables and…
Between Tehran and Washington, Iranian Americans Wait
As protests intensify in Iran and tensions rise between Tehran and Washington, members of North Carolina’s Iranian community navigate distance, limited communication, and uncertainty about what comes next. While many share deep ties to their homeland, perspectives within the diaspora often diverge from those inside Iran, particularly regarding the role of U.S. intervention.
HB 307 charts new path in N.C.’s complicated history of criminal justice
By Emma Unger North Carolina’s 122 death row inmates have spent up to 40 years…
Understanding Iryna’s Law
KYLA MCGHEE: Iryna’s Law, also known as House Bill 307, took effect on December 1st …lawmakers…
‘Backdoor form of a church tax’: Vouchers raise concerns about the separation of church and state
Story by Rachel Moody There are now over 100,000 Opportunity Scholarship Recipients. The Opportunity Scholarship…
Cut off from opportunity: International students and the U.S. visa crackdown
UNC–Chapel Hill campus, students crossing the quad between classes. Story by Emaan Parvez The number…
North Carolina colleges battle food insecurity
Nearly 30% of college students in a recent survey reported suffering from food insecurity, according…