Columbus approved its FY2026–27 budget Thursday, holding the property tax rate at 51.5¢ while hiking water and sewer rates and adding a $3 card fee.

The North Carolina House approved HB1029 to let state‑chartered banks custody crypto and create a licensing path for payment stablecoins, with strict reserve and audit rules.

Chester County will stop taking new data‑center applications for six months while staff study energy, water and environmental impacts.

Federal prosecutors have subpoenaed major banks to probe whether accounts were closed for political or religious reasons. The requests seek customer lists and internal explanations.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools placed Dr. Crystal Hill on paid leave Wednesday as the district reviews administrative and operational matters.

Newly released expense reports show Charlotte councilmembers billed taxpayers for travel since Jan. 1, 2025; LaWana Mayfield tops the list at $18,659. Some trips were missed but still charged to the city.

A 36‑page elections package was revived in Raleigh and a short public‑comment portal closes at 1 p.m. Wednesday. Gov. Josh Stein says the bill would politicize election administration.

FEMA approved about $45 million for more than 40 Hurricane Helene recovery projects in North Carolina, funding debris removal, road repairs and buyouts in mountain communities.

Former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau will speak at Queens University on Oct. 27 at the Sarah Belk Gambrell Center. Tickets go on sale in August.

Rep. Tim Moore says roughly $22M in FEMA aid will reimburse debris removal and infrastructure repairs across NC‑14, with the largest single award going to Burke County.

Cabarrus County commissioners voted 5-0 to hire John Eller IV, tapping a health-and-human-services veteran to steady county government; he starts July 27.

DOE issued a brief emergency order allowing Duke Energy to boost output this weekend to prevent blackouts as North Carolina endures extreme heat. The allowance is limited and timebound.

Lawmakers sent Gov. Josh Stein HB 315 on June 12, 2026 — a bill that would bar outside investors from funding lawsuits and reshape how some big cases are financed in North Carolina.