Nearly $1.7 billion sits in North Carolina's unclaimed property fund; state officials are stepping up outreach to return money to rightful owners.

New Orleans-based JECohen topped $100M in assets under management on Jan. 31, 2026 as the firm prepares a Cotton Exchange headquarters renovation and street-level restaurant. The milestone follows a 2025 merger and strong 2025 investment returns.

Kuppa Joe opened on Saturday at 3888 W. Franklin Blvd. The family-run cafe is named for the owner’s late siblings and aims to tune hours around neighborhood needs.

Petty Thieves Brewing in Charlotte's North End was sold to a local buyer who will take over March 1 and plans to keep the taproom's name.

Four York County residents received federal prison terms after prosecutors tied them to a meth and fentanyl trafficking conspiracy that federal investigators say moved large quantities of drugs. One defendant remains unsentenced.

A federal judge cited body‑worn video and qualified immunity when dismissing the Lipscomb family's 2025 suit over the deadly 2022 Gastonia police shooting. The family is weighing next steps.

Microsoft has resumed work on a long‑paused $1B, four‑site data center project in Catawba County; permits show nearly $909M in construction value and officials say obligations run through 2032.

State data show fewer reportable crimes in NC schools, and districts with touch-free scanners report steeper drops in weapons even as accuracy and contract questions linger.

U.S. Forged Rings will invest up to $875 million in a three-phase project in Hertford County; the first two phases are expected to add roughly 625 full-time jobs.

The Polar Express at the N.C. Transportation Museum carried nearly 93,000 riders in 2025 and helped drive a record $31.1 million economic impact for the Charlotte region.

A viral clip shows a DoorDash driver speaking to a 12‑year‑old in Winston‑Salem; public registry listings indicate the man is on the sex‑offender registry.

Southern Strain is closing its Plaza Midwood taproom this weekend and holding a farewell party; the Concord location will remain open. The closure is tied to the end of the lease.

Skyview22 will close its Walmart storefront on March 1 and pivot back to a food truck and catering operation. The owners say they’ll keep taking bookings and posting truck locations.