WUNC News

Rockingham County Sheriff Page extends lead in bid to win primary against Senate leader Phil Berger Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page led the Senate's Republican leader by two votes heading into Friday's tally of provisional ballots. It is now 23 votes.

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page led the Senate's Republican leader by two votes heading into Friday's tally of provisional ballots. It is now 23 votes.

www.wunc.org/elections/20...

CHCCS names 3 schools for possible closure Due to falling enrollment and budget pressures, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has narrowed a list of elementary schools it might close to save money.

Due to falling enrollment and budget pressures, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has narrowed a list of elementary schools it might close to save money.

www.wunc.org/education/20...

Ratboys open up on 'Singin' To An Empty Chair' WUNC music reporter Brian Burns catches up with Julia Steiner of the band Ratboys ahead of their show at Motorco on March 8.

WUNC music reporter Brian Burns catches up with Julia Steiner of the band Ratboys ahead of their show at Motorco on Sunday, March 8.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

North Carolina is not on a path to carbon neutrality, new greenhouse gas inventory shows The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has released an updated inventory of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions, detailing trends in the pollutants most responsible for climate change...

WFAE: A report from the NC Department of Environmental Equality shows that North Carolina has reduced its gross emissions by 20% since 2005.

But the state is not on track to meet its goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-05/n...

Grand jury indicts former State Rep. Cecil Brockman The indictment comes after Brockman was arrested last year for alleged sex crimes with a minor.

WFDD: A Guilford County grand jury recently indicted former Democratic state representative Cecil Brockman, just months after he was arrested for alleged sex crimes with a minor.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-05/g...

Proposed data center in Wake County is withdrawing its application New Hill Digital Campus was a proposed 300 MW facility in Apex. The project faced intense community backlash.

Apex Town Council Member Terry Mahaffey said in a Substack post that he plans to propose "a one-year moratorium on any further applications, permits, or construction of data centers in Apex."

www.wunc.org/environment/...

BOOM Club is celebrating a new beginning in downtown Durham After last year's residency on the American Tobacco Campus, BOOM Club has moved into the space recently occupied by PS37.

BOOM Club, which invites people to experiment with electronic instruments, has moved into a space on Durham's Foster Street that was occupied by former event space PS37.

The clubhouse celebrates the grand opening of its new location on Friday.

www.wunc.org/wunc-music/2...

Proposed data center in Wake County is withdrawing its application New Hill Digital Campus was a proposed 300 MW facility in Apex. The project faced intense community backlash.

New Hill Digital Campus was a proposed 300 MW facility in Apex. The data center project faced intense community backlash.

www.wunc.org/environment/...

WUNC Politics North Carolina's primary brought rebukes to incumbent legislators in both parties, including a razor-thin margin in the closely watched GOP primary challenge to Senate leader Phil Berger. Why did vote...

Want more analysis of Berger-Page, #ncga primary upsets and even the Wake DA race? New @wunc.org Politics Podcast is up now...listen to me and @byadamwagner.bsky.social nerd out over the results, and the next steps in counting votes: play.prx.org/listen?uf=ht... #ncpol

Trump fires Kristi Noem as DHS chief, names Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her Stepping in as acting secretary is GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma who Trump said had "Wisdom and Courage required to Advance our America First Agenda."

President Trump has fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and said GOP Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma would replace her.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-05/t...

NC increasingly votes early, and other primary election data points North Carolina saw a record high total voters for a midterm primary election, but it wasn't the highest turnout by percentage terms.

North Carolina saw a record high total voters for a midterm primary election, but it wasn't the highest turnout by percentage terms.

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

Teacher attrition ticks up and vacancies tick down, but not by much Teacher attrition and vacancies at North Carolina schools held steady in the 2024-25 school year. But this year’s State of the Teaching Profession report highlights the continued challenges of retaini...

WFAE: Teacher attrition and vacancies at North Carolina schools held steady in the 2024-25 school year. But this year’s State of the Teaching Profession report highlights the continued challenges of retaining early-career teachers.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-04/t...

N.C. Marine veteran, three Capitol Police officers treated for injuries after scuffle in Senate hearing room A man protesting the war in Iran has been arrested after a struggle in a U.S. Senate building. The protester, identified as Marine Brian C. McGinnis of North Carolina, faces three counts of assaulting...

AP: A N.C. Marine veteran protesting the war in Iran was arrested after a struggle in a U.S. Senate building on Wednesday.

He faces three counts of assaulting a police officer and three counts of resisting arrest and unlawful demonstration.

www.wunc.org/term/news/20...

NCDHHS reverses course on assistance cuts for rural homeless people The Back @ Home Program relied on Covid-ERA funds to house people in need. When those ran out, tenants faced a fiscal cliff with just a month's notice.

WHQR: The Back @ Home Program relied on Covid-ERA funds to house people in need. When those ran out, tenants faced a fiscal cliff with just a month's notice.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-05/n...

Q&A: Sole BOG member to vote against university tuition hike speaks on fight to keep costs flat Art Pope talks to WUNC’s Higher Education reporter on the UNC BOG’s decision to raise tuition for the first time in nine years.

Last week, for the first time since 2017, the UNC Board of Governors voted to allow individual campuses to raise tuition.

WUNC spoke to Art Pope, the lone vote against raising tuition, a position he has held consistently since joining the Board of Governors in 2020.

www.wunc.org/education/20...

Allam concedes to Foushee in Congressional primary, won't seek recount Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam said Wednesday evening that she won't ask for a recount in her close race against incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Valerie Foushee. Allam's decision to concede ...

Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam's decision to concede Wednesday evening effectively ensures a third term for incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Valerie Foushee, who is seeking reelection in a left-leaning Triangle district.

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

What comes next to decide virtually tied N.C. Senate District 26 race? After Election Day voting was tallied, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page led Republican Senate leader Phil Berger by two votes. But there may be more ballots to count.

After Election Day voting was tallied, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page led Republican Senate leader Phil Berger by two votes. But there may be more ballots to count.

www.wunc.org/elections/20...

UNC has 40 years of history in its Smith Center home. Deciding what's next is proving complicated North Carolina is mulling options for whether to renovate the 40-year-old Smith Center or relocate to a new basketball arena in the coming years.

AP: North Carolina is mulling options for whether to renovate the 40-year-old Smith Center or relocate to a new basketball arena in the coming years.

www.wunc.org/education/20...

Q&A: School board chair on why CHCCS plans to close schools Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools will consider closing up to two elementary school buildings and redistricting all its students due to falling enrollment and budget pressures.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education expects to vote this week to study whether to close up to two elementary schools in fall 2027, at the earliest.

www.wunc.org/education/20...

Wiley Nickel wins Democratic primary for Wake County District Attorney, will run unopposed in general Former U.S. congressman and state senator Wiley Nickel has clinched the role of Wake County District Attorney with 49% of the vote.

Former U.S. congressman and state senator Wiley Nickel has clinched the role of Wake County District Attorney. With all precincts reporting, Nickel had secured 49% of the vote in the three-candidate race.

wunc.org/politics/202...

At least eight incumbent NC legislators lose their primaries While the fate of Senate leader Phil Berger’s race will hinge on a possible recount and legal challenges, eight other incumbent state legislators lost their primary Tuesday — a sign that voters weren’...

Eight incumbents (possibly nine if Berger loses) in the #ncga were defeated in their primary, an unusually large number that indicates voters weren't happy with their performance: www.wunc.org/politics/202... #ncpol

NC Congresswoman Valerie Foushee holds off primary challenger Nida Allam, but recount is possible Congresswoman Valerie Foushee appeared to narrowly fend off a strong challenge from Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam in Tuesday’s primary, but the race could be eligible for a recount.

Congresswoman Valerie Foushee appeared to narrowly fend off a strong challenge from Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam in Tuesday’s primary, but the race could be eligible for a recount.

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

This will get recounted and challenged for sure, and the lead could change, but as of right now two voters just decided the direction of the #ncga Senate. #ncpol

Sheriff Sam Page defeats Senate Leader Berger in GOP primary by two votes Page held a significant lead in the two politicians' home of Rockingham County, and Berger could not catch up in rural Guilford County. The race is almost certainly headed to a recount.

By a margin of two votes, North Carolina's most powerful politician has lost a primary election to his home county's sheriff.

www.wunc.org/elections/20...

Laurie Buckhout wins GOP Congressional primary to set up rematch against U.S. Rep. Don Davis Retired U.S. Army Colonel Laurie Buckhout won the Republican primary in the 1st Congressional District, and she'll face a rematch of her 2024 race against incumbent Democratic Congressman Don Davis.

Retired U.S. Army Colonel Laurie Buckhout won the Republican primary in the 1st Congressional District, setting up a rematch of her 2024 race against incumbent Democratic Congressman Don Davis.

www.wunc.org/politics/202...

Democratic Reps. Cunningham, Majeed trail challengers in Mecklenburg Rev. Rodney Sadler opened with a big lead over longtime state House member Carla Cunningham in the Democratic primary Tuesday, a result that could shift North Carolina Democrats more to the left.

WFAE reports: Rev. Rodney Sadler opened with a big lead over longtime state House member Carla Cunningham in the Democratic primary, a result that could shift North Carolina Democrats more to the left.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-03/d...

Wow, Rockingham County is really not happy with its #ncga representation. With all precincts reporting, Berger got 33% of his home county (but could still win with Guilford), and Rep. Reece Pyrtle appears to have lost to Seth Woodall. #ncpol

Roy Cooper and Michael Whatley clinch North Carolina Senate nods, setting up high-stakes fall fight Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and ex-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley have won their respective party nominations for a North Carolina U.S. Senate seat.

Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and ex-Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley have won their respective party nominations for a North Carolina U.S. Senate seat.

www.wunc.org/term/news/20...

Tillis criticizes DHS Secretary Noem, demands answers on Charlotte's Border Patrol operation North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis criticized DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday for her handling of DHS and federal immigration enforcement.

WFAE reports: North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in a U.S. Senate hearing today for her handling of the Department of Homeland Security and federal immigration enforcement.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-03/t...

North Carolina and Texas have primary elections Tuesday. Here's what you need to know The midterm elections are officially underway and contests in Texas and North Carolina will be the first major opportunity for parties to hear from voters about what's important to them in 2026.

The midterm elections are officially underway and contests in Texas and North Carolina will be the first major opportunity for parties to hear from voters about what's important to them in 2026.

www.wunc.org/2026-03-03/n...