Republican bills would cut North Carolina’s 17‑day early voting window to as few as 10 days, prompting warnings from election officials and voting‑rights advocates.

Strong thunderstorms hammered parts of the Piedmont Tuesday with gusts near 50 mph; NWS alerts warned of downed limbs and hazardous travel.

An early‑morning blast at International Paper's Manson plant injured multiple workers and triggered a hazmat response, officials say.

A woman was found shot and killed Monday at a wooded encampment off Bureau Drive in Fayetteville as Cumberland County detectives investigate. Authorities ask anyone with tips to come forward.

A man was found with a gunshot wound on the 6100 block of Horseshoe Drive and taken to a nearby hospital as deputies investigate.

Crews rebuilding five miles of eastbound I‑40 through the Pigeon River Gorge say timber rattlesnakes are spotted almost every day. Officials say no workers have been bitten and safety protocols are in place.

Three men were shot Saturday near Poole Road in Raleigh; injuries weren't believed to be life‑threatening and police are searching for a suspect.

Southern High School in Durham was placed on lockdown Friday after a student was found with a gun on campus, and Durham police are investigating.

A Cary resident scratched a $100,000 Cash Payday ticket bought in Durham and claimed $72,018 after taxes at the lottery’s Raleigh headquarters. The $30 game launched in March and still has dozens of big prizes unclaimed.

The UNC Board of Governors approved a $493,500 performance bonus for System President Peter Hans, raising his pay to more than $1.09 million as campuses cut budgets.

A Chapel Hill resident took home $72,011 after a $100,000 Powerball prize doubled with the 2X Power Play.

Raleigh police were on the scene after reports that someone fired into a home; investigators found shell casings and at least one residence was struck. The case remains under investigation.

Unsealed court documents suggest the Dec. 31 shooting in Durham followed a Dec. 27 self‑defense killing; police say a car bought the night before was used in the attack. Investigators have charged Kaheem Jackson and are still seeking an accomplice.