A new state report finds 159 North Carolinians died in fires in 2025, and early‑2026 data show a worrying uptick; officials urge testing smoke alarms.

Sen. Ted Budd and Rep. Mary Miller introduced the Stop Illegal Alien Cops Act to bar government entities from arming people in the U.S. unlawfully. Sponsors say it closes an enforcement gap exposed by recent ICE arrests.

Raleigh crews extinguished a blaze Wednesday at an abandoned apartment building off Marriott Drive; it was the second fire at the site this week.

Millbrook Magnet High School went into a Code Red lockdown Wednesday after a potential threat; officials say students are safe and police are on scene.

Gov. Josh Stein joined tribal and state leaders to celebrate federal recognition for the Lumbee Tribe, a change that opens access to federal health, housing and education benefits for thousands.

Greystone arranged $80.9M to recapitalize and rehab a 640-unit portfolio across 10 rural North Carolina properties, pairing USDA 538 financing with LIHTC equity.

Woody's Bar‑B‑Q is set to open its first North Carolina location at Oxford Commons in Durham this March, offering Carolina-style vinegar barbecue and family feasts.

A Pitt County man pleaded guilty to first‑degree murder in the 2023 deaths of Jasmine Cooper and their unborn child; he was sentenced to life without parole. The killings date to July 2023 in Greenville.

A peer-run recovery café opened in downtown Raleigh on Feb. 24, offering no-referral drop-in peer support backed by state funding and local partners. Organizers say the space will connect visitors to jobs, housing and clinical care.

Michele Dancy of Raleigh claimed a $400,000 scratch-off top prize and took home $288,041 after taxes.

Hillsborough resident Steven Smith claimed a $100,000 MAX-A-MILLION scratch-off prize and took home $72,018 after taxes. The ticket was purchased in Roxboro and several top prizes remain.

A year after Clinton “Clint” Bonnell’s remains were found, friends and family have held quiet remembrances while prosecutors move the case forward. The community says it’s watching the next court dates closely.

Police say Tesla location logs and texts placed a North Carolina man at the scene of an August fatal shooting near Loris. He has been extradited to Horry County on murder and weapons charges.