Long wait lists and high tuition are squeezing Charlotte families. Experts propose steady public funding, higher pay for early educators and employer partnerships to ease the crunch.

A USDA inspection says a sloth at Aloha Safari Park bit a child during an up‑close encounter; inspectors listed the incident as a critical violation.

Raleigh celebrates National Tooth Fairy Day with a free event focused on dental health and fun at John Chavis Memorial Park.