Michael Hewlett

Who Emerged Victorious in the State Appellate Court Primaries? Tuesday’s primary results set up a high-stakes battle for power over the state appellate court this fall, with several seats on the ballot.

Who Emerged Victorious in the State Appellate Court Primaries? www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Jerry Tillett Wins Republican State Senate Primary in Northeast N.C. During his campaign, the former Superior Court judge faced accusations of using racist language in an audio recording.

Jerry Tillett Wins Republican State Senate Primary in Northeast N.C. www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Durham Man Sues Over Alleged Wrongful Conviction The lawsuit said the case is part of a systemic problem in which Durham Police detectives have engaged in misconduct that resulted in wrongful convictions.

Durham Man Sues Over Alleged Wrongful Conviction www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Taking ICE to Court A new federal lawsuit alleges immigration agents are making wrongful warrantless arrests, including a U.S. citizen who said agents stopped him twice and smashed his truck window.

Taking ICE to Court www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

The Media Today: The Washington Post gave up on diversity well before layoffs. Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, staffers of color have been frustrated by supervisors’ lack of enthusiasm—and the paper’s diminishing resources—for their work.

The Media Today: The Washington Post gave up on diversity well before layoffs.! 🦋
www.cjr.org/the_media_to...

Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping Former Dare County Judge Jerry Tillett, now a candidate for state Senate, has denied using a racial slur in the audio recording.

Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping Former Dare County Judge Jerry Tillett, now a candidate for state Senate, has denied using a racial slur in the audio recording.

Accused of Using Racial Slurs, State Senate Candidate Sues for Defamation, Wiretapping www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

The Blame Game www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation A Dare County resident posted a recording that he said captures former Judge Jerry Tillett using the N-word, which Tillett denies.

State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation A Dare County resident posted a recording that he said captures former Judge Jerry Tillett using the N-word, which Tillett denies.

State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

ICE arrested more than 3,300 people across NC during Trump’s first 9 months in office • NC Newsline Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested more than 3,300 people in North Carolina during President Donald Trump’s first nine months in office, about double the number of people arrested in ...

ICE arrested more than 3,300 people across NC during Trump’s first 9 months in office ncnewsline.com/2026/01/20/i...

Lawsuit Accuses Former U.S. Senator of Stealing North Carolina Woman’s Husband The complaint says the former Arizona lawmaker wooed a married member of her security detail with Taylor Swift and U2 tickets.

Lawsuit Accuses Former U.S. Senator of Stealing North Carolina Woman’s Husband www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

A High-Court Press A judge vacated the convictions of four men accused of killing Nathaniel Jones. Now, prosecutors want the state Supreme Court to step in.

A High-Court Press www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

The Nice List: The Assembly's Favorite Stories of 2025 Here are our staff's favorite stories published throughout the year, which we are putting outside our paywall as a special gift to you.

The Nice List 2025 www.theassemblync.com/internal/the...

The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur How did the rapper, still omnipresent three decades after his death, come to rest in a Lumberton grave? Writer Jeff Pearlman finds out.

The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur www.theassemblync.com/news/culture...

Lawmakers Raise More eCourts Questions State lawmakers said court officials in their home districts have not seen the conveniences and cost-savings eCourts was supposed to bring.

Lawmakers Raise More eCourts Questions www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Michele Morrow Launches Bid for U.S. Senate The former candidate for state superintendent of public instruction will face Michael Whatley in the GOP Senate primary.

Breaking: Michele Morrow Launches Bid for U.S. Senate www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free A judge said two men incarcerated for 23 years didn’t kill the grandfather of NBA star Chris Paul. So why are they still in prison?

Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free A judge said two men incarcerated for 23 years didn’t kill the grandfather of NBA star Chris Paul. So why are they still in prison?

Must-read from Tori Newby:
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor Two attorneys filed State Bar complaints against a Wake County prosecutor who has been accused multiple times of violating discovery rules.

Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Two Democrats Accuse 2026 Primary Candidate of Racist Remarks State Sen. Graig Meyer says former state Rep. Michael Wray in 2014 told him to “watch out for the blacks.” Wray says it didn’t happen.

Two Democrats Accuse 2026 Primary Candidate of Racist Remarks www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Another Shot at Freedom Two men exonerated in the murder of Chris Paul’s grandfather are still in prison. Their lawyer asked the N.C. Supreme Court to release them.

Another Shot at Freedom www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

The Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up A section of the N.C. DOJ repeatedly erred and antagonized federal judges–even in cases they seemed guaranteed to win.

The Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deaths—But Will Struggle to Keep Pace Rural North Carolina communities are finally reversing opioid overdose deaths. But funding cuts could undo progress.

How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deaths—But Will Struggle to Keep Pace www.theassemblync.com/news/health/...

‘Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students Some parents and teachers say they expected better communication and more understanding from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools amid CBP presence.

‘Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...

The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing Quagmire Leslie Cooley Dismukes wants to prioritize reentry and reduce recidivism. But she has to solve a staffing crisis in the prison system first.

The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing Quagmire  www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

‘They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary • NC Newsline As Border Patrol agents swept the Triangle area, a construction worker born in the U.S. was among those detained.

‘They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary ncnewsline.com/2025/11/20/t...

N.C. Republicans Defend Gerrymandering Their Way to Victory North Carolina’s new congressional map had its first legal test Wednesday. The outcome will likely have ripple effects nationally as each party attempts to gerrymander its way to a U.S. House majority...

N.C. Republicans Defend Gerrymandering Their Way to Victory www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Law and Orders Even for immigration lawyers, figuring out the Border Patrol’s opaque operation in North Carolina is nearly impossible.

Law and Orders www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

Immigration Agents Coming to Raleigh Tuesday, Sources Say Mayor: 'It is the city of Raleigh’s understanding that the Border Patrol and ICE are already in Raleigh and that they will be active tomorrow.'

Immigration Agents Coming to Raleigh Tuesday, Sources Say www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...