The latest U.S. Drought Monitor, released Thursday, shows a massive rainfall deficit of more than ten inches since last August. This persistent dry spell has pushed parts of the northern Coastal Plain into the "Extreme" category—the second-highest severity level.

The move involves roughly 248 acres of land, including a massive 229-acre site on Sarge Martin Road and smaller tracts on Bishop and East Ocean Roads. While the land is already used by the town, officials say the goal is operational independence.

Officials say the upgrades will lower flood levels for roughly 200 nearby homes and businesses. It will also help ensure that East Fire Tower Road—a major artery used by more than 33,000 drivers every day—stays open and passable even during torrential rain.

The Environmental Management Commission has launched a series of public hearings on proposed rules that would require industrial facilities and water treatment plants to monitor for 1,4-dioxane and three specific types of PFAS—PFOA, PFOS, and GenX.

The tour, which included stops in Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, and Pamlico counties, focused on identifying high-priority capital projects for the 2027 fiscal year.

The 2023 law changed same-day registration rules, making it easier for ballots to be disqualified if a single address-verification letter is returned as undeliverable by the post office.

Police say Bobby Jackson was arrested Tuesday after officers responded to reports of a masked man armed with what appeared to be swords at Maplewood Cemetery on South Queen Street. Upon arrival, officers found Jackson actively damaging headstones.

Montes is accused of using a cellphone camera to record a person inside one of the changing rooms at Plato’s Closet.

Officials with the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation said more than 150 officers from 13 different agencies worked in Nashville to stop online exploitation, resulted in more than 80 criminal charges.

The report also confirmed a clear favorite for North Carolina consumers: Tito’s Handmade Vodka remains the state’s top seller by a landslide, moving over 300,000 cases.

Senator Ted Budd urged the President to advocate for the release of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri. The lead pastor of Zion Church is one of many Christian leaders currently imprisoned as part of what lawmakers call a "violent crackdown" on unsanctioned churches in China.

U.S. Attorney W. Ellis Boyle said the updated program offers a path to leniency for insiders who come forward with information before an investigation begins.

Surry County Schools Superintendent Travis Reeves is leaving the district on June 30 and taking a new role as executive director of the North Carolina Association of School Administrators.

As the Iran war enters its second month, Israel has invaded Lebanon to drive out Iran-backed Hezbollah and a humanitarian disaster is unfolding as over one million Lebanese people are displaced.

NPR's Michel Martin asks Biden administration National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan for his reaction to the latest developments in the war in Iran.

Young Latino voters in Mecklenburg County turned out in higher numbers in this month’s primary election, but participation is still low in the Latino community as a whole.

The legislature’s budget stalemate has hit North Carolina’s prison system hard, making it difficult to pay bills and keep enough staff to safely operate its 55 facilities.

All children, regardless of immigration status, have the right to a free K-12 public education. But without birthright citizenship, access to schools and colleges could get complicated.

The Dietary Guidelines released this year recommend higher levels of this essential nutrient. But protein needs are personal. Here's how to assess yours.

Over one million Lebanese displaced by Israel's invasion, thousands of U.S. troops deployed to the Middle East, with more on the way, delays continue at U.S. airports with no funding deal in sight.

NPR's Steve Inskeep speaks with Tristan Harris, co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology, about the use of AI by the Pentagon.

Ahead of a Supreme Court case, U.S. Catholic bishops have filed a brief in support of birthright citizenship, arguing that its absence would "increase the susceptibility of children to statelessness."