WUNC News

WUNC News

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Your source for local news and community connections that reflect NC’s Triangle region and offer a unique perspective on the place we call home. More at wunc.org.

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Democrats hold significant advantages going into Election Day, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. But lagging enthusiasm among key groups is just one indicator that gains may not come easy. www.wunc.org/2026-10-27/d...

wunc.orgDemocrats still poised to make gains, but poll shows warning signs for just how manyDemocrats hold significant advantages going into Election Day, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. But lagging enthusiasm among key groups is just one indicator that gains may not come easy.
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Breaking: Jurors returned a verdict on Friday afternoon finding Miguel Salguero Olivares guilty of murdering Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill www.wunc.org/news/2026-10...

wunc.orgJury deliberations underway in trial of man accused of killing UNC student Faith Hedgepeth in 2012Jurors have begun deliberations in the trial of a North Carolina college student 14 years ago. Faith Hedgepeth was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when she w...
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President Donald Trump this week raised the possibility that midterm election results could affect how quickly U.S. Marine Corps veterans and their families receive payments from the federal government for illnesses tied to decades of water contamination at Camp Lejeune www.wunc.org/politics/202...

wunc.org'This has no place for partisan politics' say Camp Lejeune contamination victim advocatesAt a Greenville rally this week, President Donald Trump said he will order swift settlement of remaining claims only if Republicans hold Congress.
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It will soon be illegal to dispose of lithium-ion batteries in landfills. That means you can't throw these batteries in your household trash. Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in electric vehicles, cellphones, security systems, and many household appliances. www.wunc.org/business-eco...

wunc.orgNorth Carolina residents must follow a new law for tossing lithium-ion batteriesStarting Dec. 1, it will be illegal to dispose of lithium-ion batteries in landfills and incinerators. The highly-flammable batteries can be found in cellphones, security systems, and many other house...
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Although the drought remains extensive in eastern North Carolina, many counties across the state saw some level of relief from drought conditions this week. www.wunc.org/environment/...

wunc.orgN.C. drought update Oct. 22: Charlotte metropolitan area breaks free from statewide drought, Wake County still in severe droughtConditions steadily improved in western and parts of central North Carolina over recent weeks, but the drought continues to afflict nearly 4.5 million residents across the state. Though it's a more th...
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The decision to merge Raleigh City and Wake County schools was years in the making and deeply contentious. Fears of busing and broader desegregation fueled strong opposition to the merger. Read installment 3 of our 4 part series about school integration www.wunc.org/education/20...

wunc.org50 years ago, Raleigh City Schools and Wake County Schools mergedThe decision was years in the making and deeply contentious. Fears of busing and broader desegregation fueled strong opposition to the merger.
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Back pain, eye strain, sluggishness, shoulder aches, restlessness. If you sit in front of a computer for long periods of time, whether it's for work or leisure, you've probably experienced one of these symptoms. www.wunc.org/2026-10-22/5...

wunc.org5 simple ways to relieve the aches and pains of sitting at a desk all daySitting at a desk all day hurts. And it isn't good for us. Strategies to make it a little more comfortable, from eye muscle exercises to alleviate eye strain to a back pain-fighting body movement.
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The Davidson County Planning Board is recommending approval of Duke Energy's plans for a massive natural gas facility along the Yadkin River, despite strong opposition from residents concerned about environmental impacts. www.wunc.org/2026-10-21/d...

wunc.orgDavidson County Planning Board recommends approval of Duke Energy natural gas projectDavidson County’s Planning Board is recommending approval of Duke Energy’s massive natural gas project along the Yadkin River, despite strong opposition from residents. The proposal now heads to count...
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Gov. Josh Stein is criticizing what he says is an unusually high number of mail-in ballot rejections, urging voters to instead cast their votes in person "if possible." www.wunc.org/politics/202...

wunc.orgGov. Stein encourages in-person voting, citing 'rejection rate' for mail-in ballotsGov. Josh Stein is criticizing what he says is an unusually high number of mail-in ballot rejections, urging voters to instead cast their votes in person "if possible." He blamed the State Board of El...
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In the second installment of our series on the integration of Raleigh and Wake schools, read about how long after Brown vs. Board of Ed that it took to finally see Black students attend white schools. www.wunc.org/education/20...

wunc.orgDesegregating Raleigh schools: The first Black students braved hostility and isolationThe Raleigh City school board began to allow Black students to transfer to white schools six years after the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. But desegregation was piecemeal, and the process was...
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A year ago this month, Republican state lawmakers redrew North Carolina's 1st Congressional District to make it more conservative. But as Election Day draws near, incumbent Congressman Don Davis appears to have an increasingly strong shot at keeping his seat. www.wunc.org/politics/202...

wunc.orgCan U.S. Rep. Don Davis beat a gerrymander?A year ago, Republican state lawmakers redrew North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District to make it more conservative. But as Election Day draws near, incumbent Congressman Don Davis appears to have ...
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Raleigh-based musician Cannon Pence, who records under the name Twilark, has released his new album, "Never Learned the Tide." The North Carolina native sat down with Morning Edition host Eric Hodge to discuss the record www.wunc.org/arts-culture...

wunc.orgRaleigh artist Twilark releases new album - and it features castanetsRaleigh-based musician Cannon Pence, who records under the name Twilark, has released his new album, "Never Learned the Tide." The North Carolina native sat down with Morning Edition host Eric Hodge t...
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Durham is getting some help to build more affordable housing. The Bull City is one of 30 selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies for a pilot program that looks to build on lessons learned from housing construction and permitting in Austin, Atlanta, and San Diego. www.wunc.org/news/2026-10...

wunc.orgDurham selected for Bloomberg affordable housing programThe Bull City is one of thirty selected by Bloomberg Philanthropies for a pilot program that looks to build on lessons learned from housing construction and permitting in Austin, Atlanta, and San Dieg...
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Wake County voters will choose between incumbent Sheriff Willie Rowe and Republican challenger Kenny Blackwell on Nov. 3, while former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel is poised to become the county's next district attorney www.wunc.org/politics/202...

wunc.orgWake County sheriff's race puts public safety, jail overcrowding in focus as DA race goes uncontestedRepublican Kenny Blackwell is looking to unseat incumbent Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe, a Democrat, in the 2026 general election.
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French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday voiced the public's "anger" and "shame" over rioting and looting during nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. At least 1,800 people have been arrested. www.wunc.org/2026-10-17/f...

wunc.orgFrance's Macron vows to hold accountable those who 'sought to bring down the Republic'Police arrested at least 1,800 people across France after violent groups clashed with officers and looted shops during nationwide demonstrations that drew hundreds of thousands of people.
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U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis said Thursday that fellow Republican Michael Whatley should be focusing more tightly on issues that North Carolina voters care about rather than criminal justice policy in an effort to win the seat Tillis holds. www.wunc.org/politics/202...

wunc.orgU.S. Sen. Thom Tillis: 'I don't think crime is top of mind' in race for NC seatRepublican candidate Michael Whatley and Republican-aligned PACs have largely focused on former Gov. Roy Cooper's record on criminal justice issues.
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The Trump administration provided few details about its process for canceling hundreds of thousands of Affordable Care Act enrollments — even as the next stage of the anti-fraud effort is underway. www.wunc.org/2026-10-15/a...

wunc.orgAfter booting 760K off ACA health plans, the Trump administration adds some people backThe Trump administration provided few details about its process for canceling hundreds of thousands of Affordable Care Act enrollments — even as the next stage of the anti-fraud effort is underway.
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WFAE: Workers are demanding that company management “start taking their concerns about safety, harassment, verbal abuse and intimidation seriously” after an ABM cabin cleaner died on the job last month. www.wunc.org/2026-10-14/c...

wunc.orgCharlotte airport workers strike Wednesday after colleague dies while working in the heatABM cabin cleaner Colleen Coates died on the job last month, with advocates and co-workers pointing to extreme heat as a contributing factor. Workers are demanding that company management “start takin...
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Organized criminal rings target SNAP recipients because of the government program's outdated security features. But upgrading the tech costs money and states' SNAP budgets are getting squeezed. www.wunc.org/2026-10-14/t...

wunc.org'They're stealing from the poor': A major source of SNAP fraud robs recipients of millionsOrganized criminal rings target SNAP recipients because of the government program's outdated security features. But upgrading the tech costs money and states' SNAP budgets are getting squeezed.
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UNC-Chapel Hill is updating its emergency alert system after pressure from students, faculty, and other campus community members. The change comes nearly two months after a potentially dangerous incident on Carolina's campus. www.wunc.org/education/20...

wunc.orgNearly two months after intruder incident, UNC-Chapel Hill updates emergency alert systemUniversity administrators didn't send out a campus-wide alert when an intruder racially and physically threatened a group of Black students during a late-night watch party. They say the incident and r...
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A Wake County Superior Court judge denied the State Health Plan's request for a temporary restraining order against Atrium's proposed plan to charge state employees less for services. www.wunc.org/health/2026-...

wunc.orgState Treasurer warns that Health Plan premiums could go up by $50 a month if Atrium plan proceedsA Wake County Superior Court judge denied the State Health Plan's request for a temporary restraining order against Atrium's proposed plan to charge state employees less for services.
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Free samples, high-pressure pitches and $50,000 bills: An NPR investigation reveals how a network of mall skincare stores systematically targeted older adults and people with disabilities across the U.S.. www.wunc.org/2026-10-14/t...

wunc.orgThe skincare scheme that led to consumer complaints, lawsuits and a federal investigationFree samples, high-pressure pitches and $50,000 bills: An NPR investigation reveals how a network of mall skincare stores systematically targeted older adults and people with disabilities across the U...
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In a letter, Cornell's president apologized for what happened to the student who alleges she was raped by several men at a fraternity house in 2024 and promised 'meaningful action.' www.wunc.org/2026-10-13/c...

wunc.orgCornell University bans frat parties, vows to address 'disturbing' campus cultureIn a letter, Cornell's president apologized for what happened to the student who alleges she was raped by several men at a fraternity house in 2024 and promised 'meaningful action.'
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With Election Day just a few weeks away — and millions of votes already cast — midterm polls are everywhere. While polling can be a helpful tool to understand the electorate, it's not a crystal ball. www.wunc.org/2026-10-13/p...

wunc.orgPolls are a snapshot, and other helpful things to remember during the midterm electionsWith Election Day just a few weeks away — and millions of votes already cast — midterm polls are everywhere. While polling can be a helpful tool to understand the electorate, it's not a crystal ball.
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WFAE: Charlotte's data center moratorium is set to expire Nov. 5. Monday night, the City Council heard from the public on a proposal to extend the ban on new data center development by up to 11 months. www.wunc.org/2026-10-12/a...

wunc.orgAhead of data center vote, City Council hears from residents who want ban extended and workers who want it liftedCharlotte's data center moratorium is set to expire Nov. 5. Monday night, the City Council heard from the public on a proposal to extend the ban on new data center development by up to 11 months.
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Seven critically endangered red wolves are moving from the Museum of Life and Science in Durham to a conservation center in New York. The Durham museum will receive two red wolves from New York in exchange. www.wunc.org/environment/...

wunc.orgEndangered red wolves in Durham journey to New York to help conservation effortsSeven critically endangered red wolves on Tuesday are moving from the Museum of Life and Science in Durham to a conservation center in New York. The Durham museum will receive two adults from New York...