Golden Corral’s Southern Pines test location for its Favorites fast‑casual concept has shut after about a year. The closure raises questions about whether the chain will scale the prototype.

Republican lawmakers filed four proposed state constitutional amendments that would cap the income tax at 3.5%, enshrine farming and right‑to‑work protections, and let the legislature limit local property‑tax increases.

Gunfire rang out on Putnam Road before 1:30 a.m.; police canvassed the neighborhood and no injuries were reported.

A Burlington-registered sex offender was arrested in Durham and returned to Alamance County on May 13, charged with failing to update her registration.

A 24‑year‑old Raleigh County man was charged April 28 with seven counts of first‑degree sexual assault and two counts of sexual abuse; he’s jailed on a $500,000 cash bond.

Spazio Vino & Cucina launched a Roman‑inspired event space in Holly Springs for private parties, corporate gatherings and chef‑led classes, now accepting reservations.

An Aberdeen man won a $130,000 Cash 5 jackpot after buying a $1 ticket at a Southern Pines Circle K; he claimed $93,613 after taxes at the NC Lottery headquarters.

State corrections officials will wind down Craggy Correctional Center this summer, blaming recruitment struggles tied to Asheville’s high housing costs.

Morning cool gives way to low‑90s heat through Wednesday with a Moderate heat risk; showers and thunderstorms are likely late Wednesday night into Thursday.

A plan to add four athletic fields at Hilltop Needmore has split Fuquay-Varina — parents say youth sports are at a breaking point while neighbors fight to save the park's hills and trails.

A car slammed into the outdoor patio at Bittersweet in downtown Raleigh early Friday; police called it a hit-and-run and no one was injured. The vehicle came close to propane tanks.

A local hemp processor filed a WARN to lay off 121 workers and shift operations to North Carolina, citing state licensing changes for hemp‑derived products.

Two people were bitten by a fox in Chapel Hill; animal control is searching and urging residents to keep pets' vaccinations current. Officials say capture is needed for testing.