NC politics still a tough play for millennials and Gen Z
Grassroots organizations and PACs are backing young candidates in hopes of changing the face of politics.
Upcoming radio show highlight: Delving into the hog farming in NC debate
Tune in as college student and Central North Carolina local, Will Burnett, sheds light on the significance of critically examining hog farming practices within our state.
Did you know: Background on poll watching in North Carolina
In the U.S., poll watchers have participated in elections since the 18th century.


NC Connection:
Closing the News Gap
A special CPP research project on the news needs of rural North Carolinians
Keep up with what’s important
Keep up with all of our in-depth, investigative news and the public interest issues that matter most in North Carolina.
SPECIAL REPORTS

A multi-part series examining charge stacking in North Carolina and its role in plea bargaining and disparities in sentencing.

The uncertain future of old-growth forests in North Carolina
This four-part series focusing on the Southside Project, a recent initiative by the U.S. Forest Service, to make the national forest more resilient and sustainable.

Social services in NC may be in the hands of people who don’t meet minimum qualifications.
Why and how it happens, and how other states avoid the problem.

How climate change affects North Carolina’s fisheries
and the people who rely on them for a living.

The importance of sexual assault nurse examiners
and the difficulty of locating them in North Carolina

Justice elusive for NC sexual assault survivors

Climate change is causing erratic weather events and altering ecosystems in the forests of Western North Carolina’s mountains.
What these changes mean and the challenges they pose for managing the forests.

How and why North Carolina counties decide to build
or expand jails, the costs of those decisions
and possible alternatives.

Inconsistency and inequity in child welfare policies across NC

Struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic in state’s prison system

Is one of North Carolina’s main systems
for housing those with mental illness failing?
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MORE STORIES
Nuevas reglas de votación en NC: lo que debe saber
Aquí les compartimos las respuestas a sus dudas sobre el requisito de ID con foto para votar.
Latino votes drop in N.C.: Why it happened and why some Latinos are voting Republican
The Latino vote in N.C. is more complex than the single issue of immigration. Some voters’ priorities have shifted to their faith and value of tradition.
La disminución del voto latino en Carolina del Norte: Por qué ocurrió y por qué algunos latinos están votando al Partido Republicano
El voto latino en Carolina del Norte no se centra solo en el tema de la inmigración. Algunos votantes priorizan su fe y valores tradicionales.
‘Behind the Byline’: Special Democracy Day Show
Join Walter Gomez of Enlace Latino NC and Grace Vitaglione as they discuss the role of Latino voter participation, the community’s political influence, and democracy reporting in the state.
‘Behind the Byline’: Cobertura especial para Día de la Democracia
Únase a la conversación con Walter Gomez de Enlace Latino NC y Grace Vitaglione mientras hablan sobre el papel de la participación de los votantes latinos, la influencia política de la comunidad y los informes sobre la democracia en el estado.
New voter ID rule in North Carolina sparks worries about fairness for Black and Latino voters
The new requirement, considered part of a larger trend of voter suppression efforts in North Carolina, has drawn criticism from civil rights groups, experts, and nonprofit voting organizations in the state, as it is believed to make it more difficult for minority voters to cast their votes.
Crime & Justice
Weekend essay: What it’s like share your story with a reporter
Recently, I interviewed Jacobs about this story, specifically about his experience speaking to me over the course of my reporting.
Economy
Reclaiming Indigenous narratives in media and entertainment (video)
Four prominent voices discuss the importance of visibility and how to create more opportunities for Indigenous storytellers.
Education
The burden of student loan debt for Black women in North Carolina and prospects for relief
Black women have the highest average total of undergraduate and graduate student loan debt in the nation, according to a study. Black women on average leave undergraduate study with $30,400 in debt.
Environment
A River’s Destiny: The battle for wild and scenic status
Achieving the coveted designation for the North Fork and similar rivers is like navigating a challenging whitewater stream. It involves skillfully maneuvering through intricate civic waypoints, which can impede progress.
Health
Opioid settlement payouts to localities made public for first time
Some states, like North Carolina and Colorado, have posted their distribution specifics online. But in most other places, tracking payment amounts requires people to make phone calls, send emails, and file public records requests with every local government for which they want the information.
Politics & Government
NC Judge Earls fights for job and free speech, challenges Judicial Standards Commission’s role in unprecedented state case
Judge Earls risks her job in a legal battle over free speech, earning bipartisan support and igniting debate over judicial oversight in North Carolina.