A two‑line budget change removed North Carolina's decades‑old traffic‑stop reporting law, wiping out the statewide dataset researchers used to document racial disparities.

A Wake County Republican says she may file a bill to set “gender‑appropriate” dress standards for public‑school staff after complaints about a transgender music teacher. The district points to anti‑discrimination policy as the debate heats up.

Raleigh will add a 3% processing fee to credit, debit and digital‑wallet utility payments starting Sept. 1. The city says the charge covers card‑processing costs and lists fee‑free payment options.