Gastonia says its airport operator diverted tuition, withheld records and skipped revenue shares tied to the municipal field. The dispute is now playing out in court.

A 244‑page opinion filed April 2 voids key Leandro orders and hands funding authority back to lawmakers.

Three recent polls give Democrats a plurality on North Carolina’s legislative ballot, even as Republicans keep a Senate supermajority and near‑control of the House.

Lawmakers in Raleigh will consider overriding Gov. Josh Stein’s veto of HB 87 to opt North Carolina into a federal tax‑credit scholarship program. The vote could hinge on a single swing vote.

Deputy Fire Chief Brad Best will take over as Gastonia’s fire chief on May 1, 2026, when Phil Welch retires. Best brings decades of experience and advanced fire‑service credentials.

A Charlotte Observer payroll review shows more than 1,000 Mecklenburg County and Charlotte city employees earn six‑figure salaries, while the county median household income is about $87,005.

Twenty years after North Carolina’s first lottery ticket, the poorest counties still spend far more per person on tickets than wealthier areas, renewing equity questions as education funds flow.

A federal judge in Raleigh upheld North Carolina’s photo voter‑ID law while noting it can disproportionately burden minority voters. The ruling keeps the statute in place as appeals loom.

A Gaston County school board member’s Facebook post prompted calls for his resignation from local civil‑rights leaders and parents.

The North Carolina Association of Black Lawyers warns a DOJ proposal would let the attorney general review bar complaints first and could delay state discipline. Comments close April 6.

Sheriff Garry McFadden tapped retired CMPD Sgt. Ricky Robbins as Mecklenburg County’s new chief deputy; Robbins will oversee courts and field operations beginning April 1.

Kamala Harris is lining up fundraisers across the Deep South as she weighs a 2028 White House bid. The trip would test her fundraising and grassroots strength in Georgia, the Carolinas and Arkansas.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg put a one-year, $347,592 PowerSchool contract on the board agenda for hiring and evaluation tools even after the vendor’s December 2024 data breach. The deal would leave grades and attendance on Infinite Campus.