Duke Energy says it spent nearly $1 billion with North Carolina suppliers in 2025 and could expand that to nearly $5 billion over five years to shore up grid equipment and jobs.

FEMA has cleared another major package — roughly $179M in public‑assistance and $18M in mitigation grants — to accelerate Helene recovery across western North Carolina.

Two Raleigh men face attempted murder charges after deputies say shots were fired into a Greenville home; authorities say license‑plate cameras helped lead to arrests.

Chapel Hill will replace its traditional Fourth of July fireworks with a 300‑drone light show at Chapel Hill High School, a move tied to resident feedback and climate goals.

Postino is coming to University Place in Chapel Hill with indoor dining, a large patio and a rotating wine-and-shared-plates menu; no opening date yet.

Mary Helms, 45, escaped the North Piedmont Confinement in Response to Violation Center for Women in Lexington on Tuesday while serving a 90‑day term for a probation violation.

NC wildlife officials rolled out early-season hunts and new carcass-disposal rules aimed at slowing chronic wasting disease in affected counties. Hunters are being asked to test and to change how they handle deer remains.

Two parking-lot break-ins in Wake County hit 19 cars in Cary and Morrisville; police are investigating and asking for tips and footage.

A deputy fired after two Cane Corsos attacked a woman on West Farm Loop in Stokesdale. The missed shot ricocheted into a nearby house and the dogs’ owners were cited.

Red Lotus, a Chapel Hill staple since 2006, announced a permanent closure on June 30. Staff say a new Asian restaurant is slated to take the space in August.

A severe thunderstorm warning for Watauga County sent Boone and nearby communities indoors Tuesday as storms brought possible 60 mph gusts and flood risk.

A multi‑day heat event hits Raleigh July 1–6 with highs in the mid‑90s to low‑100s and heat indexes up to 105°F. Wake County will open cooling centers when the index tops 100°F.

Duke Energy will relinquish the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease and redeploy about $129 million into generation and grid upgrades across the Carolinas. The move pauses a major coastal project and shifts planning inland.