Every day, our journalism dismantles barriers and shines a light on the critical overlooked and under-reported issues important to all North Carolinians.
Before you go …
If you like what you are reading and believe in independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan journalism like ours—journalism the way it should be—please contribute to keep us going. Reporting like this isn’t free to produce and we cannot do this alone. Thank you!
Your membership makes our work possible.
Fraught Forests, Part 2 of 5
Lose the red spruce, lose an entire suite of species
Tiny endangered droplets of high-elevation forest are home to one of richest areas of biodiversity in North America. Western NC conservation efforts seek to connect this archipelago of habitat islands with ecological bridges.
Whipsawed by erratic weather, mountain forest ecosystems under stress
Researchers seek to understand risks climate change poses for the Blue Ridge woodlands of Western NC, while many residents experience the disruption of extreme weather.
Modular home builder expansion to bring 182 jobs to southeastern NC
Champion Home Builders coming to Scotland County after state offers $1.3 million incentive package. Company expects to recruit from counties throughout region.
Latest News
The Carolina Public Press shop is open!
Show your Carolina Public Press spirit! New merchandise includes hats, baby bibs, mugs and more!
Carolina Public Press: The next 10 years
Carolina Public Press in 2021 celebrated 10 years of independent, investigative journalism for all of North Carolina. See what we are planning as we move into our second decade!
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.
Carolina Public Press launched the Eastern North Carolina news bureau in January 2022. Based in Fayetteville and Cumberland County, CPP East provides local and regional nonpartisan journalism toward strengthening accountability and democracy. Visit the page.
SPECIAL REPORTS
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.
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
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?
RECOMMENDED
NC counties struggle to find qualified DSS workers
Why NC legislators are arguing a legal theory that could upend US democracy
COVID-19 treatment in 2022: An FAQ
DSS to take over pandemic rental assistance in Cumberland County
Connecting some rural areas of Western NC to high-speed internet getting boost from ARPA
MORE STORIES
UPDATED: Missing campaign finance reports in Durham
City official in Durham could face steep fines over missing documentation, now says he spent more than $2,000 on last year’s successful campaign.
GOP voters reject Cawthorn, Senate duel set between Beasley and Budd, and other results from NC primary
A look at top statewide and legislative results across North Carolina from the May 17 primary election.
1.4M NC voters cast ballots in smooth-running primary
Engagement near record-high for midterm primary, still fewer than 1-in-5 NC eligible voters participated. Conspiracy theorist activity in Surry County doesn’t seem to dampen the vote.
Buncombe commits $3M in ARPA funds to preschool programs
Initiative designed to improve funding and resources for preschools, seen as essential for children’s recovery from pandemic but unaffordable for many families.
DHHS takes over child services in Bertie County
Precise reason for state takeover unclear. Agency had lost numerous workers to surrounding counties in recent years.
What does Supreme Court action on abortion mean for North Carolina: An FAQ
The leaked U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has created political waves across the country, but what would it mean for abortion in North Carolina?
Crime & Justice
Not all crime-fighting ideas created equal: City unveils scoring system for grant applicants
NC city has launched program to provide grants to those with ideas to reduce crime in the community. City will score proposals based on inclusivity, collaboration, resourcefulness and innovation, plus a bonus for certain zip codes.
Economy
What governments are doing to bring high-speed fiber internet to rural NC
A pandemic that forced remote school and work is creating more political will than ever to bring high-speed broadband to more of North Carolina.
Education
Pilot program brings sexual assault nurse training to historically Black university
Dr. Sheila Cannon seeks to train SANE nurses at Fayetteville State University to serve in Cumberland County and nearby rural areas. She hopes for additional funding to sustain program.
Environment
City accepts $10.5M in NC ARPA funds to address drainage issues
Fayetteville will receive money from the state’s ARPA funds to improve stormwater drainage in various parts of the city.
Health
Cumberland adds opioid settlement funds to budget
With overdose frequency increasing, county health department to conduct meetings around the county in coming weeks to get feedback on how to spend the funds.
Politics & Government
Previewing Tuesday’s primary: What May vote will teach us about NC and US politics
Individual voters have more power in North Carolina midterm primaries to set direction for the parties and state government.