North Carolina

North and South Carolina are among the top five U.S. states for shark attacks. Together, they account for 11.5 percent of all U.S. shark attacks during the analyzed period.

Ohio surpassed North Carolina as the top state for business in CNBC’s 2026 ranking, with North Carolina dropping to second place. North Carolina excelled in economy, workforce, and access to capital but declined in cost of living and quality of life metrics. Governor Josh Stein highlighted economic strengths while urging legislative action on affordability issues.

Gas prices in the Carolinas and nationwide are rising due to escalating conflict in Iran, with AAA reporting a 12-cent increase over two days. North Carolina's average price is $3.60 per gallon, and drivers like Janis Crisp report budget impacts. Phillip Annas of Mel’s Superette in Hickory notes limited control over price hikes.

North Carolina drivers will no longer receive license plate renewal stickers and paper registration cards in the mail. The North Carolina DMV is ending the distribution of these physical documents.

William 'Liam' Schuyler Jr., a candidate for Pitt County Board of County Commissioners, withdrew from the election after being charged with felony secret peeping. The Pitt County Democratic Party issued a statement acknowledging his decision, emphasizing the need for integrity in public office.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed 17 laws, including regulations for cryptocurrency ATMs under House Bill 920 and property tax changes via Senate Bill 474. The laws include measures to limit crypto ATM fees, require fraud warnings, and adjust property tax revaluation moratoriums in specific counties.

Congress passed a bipartisan housing bill that will make HUD's sporadic disaster aid a permanent program, aiming to speed up long-term recovery for disaster-affected communities. The current HUD program, which has provided over $100 billion in disaster assistance, is criticized for delays and inefficiencies, such as a five-year delay in rebuilding affordable housing in New Bern, North Carolina, after Hurricane Florence.

A race team is being sued by a Cabarrus County company for over $75,000. A Romanian theft ring linked to the Charlotte area was dismantled in a multi-state SNAP fraud scheme involving illegal immigrants. North Carolina car owners face a notable change buried in the state’s new budget, and weekend storm chances are increasing with possible rain and cooler temperatures.

North Carolina will eliminate physical vehicle registration cards and license plate stickers, replacing them with electronic registration starting October 1, 2026. The change, part of the state's recently passed 634-page budget, aims to reduce administrative costs and improve efficiency. Vehicle owners can still request printed copies for a fee, while renewal and inspection requirements remain unchanged.

Families of disabled children in North Carolina face significant challenges in finding affordable and accessible childcare, leading to long waitlists, high costs, and untrained staff. State lawmaker Zack Hawkins, a father of two children with autism, advocates for policy changes, including recent budget allocations for higher pay for direct-support professionals and increased Medicaid funding for disability resources.

North Carolina's budget law delegates oversight of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket to the CFTC, recognizing its federal regulatory authority. The state taxes these platforms at 6%, significantly lower than rates pursued by other states.

North Carolina has passed a bill recognizing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) authority over prediction markets. The state's new law imposes a 6% tax on prediction market platforms' net trading fee revenue linked to North Carolina residents.

More than 200 cases of a diarrhea-causing illness have been reported in North Carolina, with 14 cases in Mecklenburg County. Public health officials note that some affected individuals had traveled internationally.

North Carolina faces severe drought conditions, with 43.6% of the state in extreme drought and 6% in exceptional drought. Farmers report low crop yields and water shortages, while Raleigh struggles with high residential water usage despite conservation efforts. Falls Lake, a key water source, is declining weekly.

Nine North Carolina counties are still experiencing exceptional drought. Recent rainfall provided some relief but did not significantly alleviate the ongoing drought conditions.

Four people were injured when a bus carrying a high school football team overturned in North Carolina. A 5-year-old boy was killed by his father in Mecklenburg County, and SpaceX successfully launched a Falcon 9 rocket carrying 29 Starlink satellites.

Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a bill that would ban unauthorized public camping in North Carolina, arguing it does not address homelessness root causes and imposes new local government responsibilities without state funding. Republicans pledged to override the veto.

A three-time deported illegal immigrant has been charged with killing a 6-year-old girl and injuring a mother and a 4-year-old after running a stop sign in North Carolina. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) described the individual as a 'monster' responsible for the crash.

New Trump rules increase costs for electrifying homes in North Carolina, particularly affecting residents in Ashe County who rely on affordable heating methods like woodstoves and propane. The impact is exacerbated for families still recovering from Hurricane Helene nearly two years later.

Republicans are gaining confidence in holding the Senate majority as Democrats face internal turmoil in Maine over candidate Graham Platner's sexual assault allegations. The Democratic race in Maine has become uncertain, shifting focus to other states like North Carolina, Iowa, and Alaska for potential pickups.

North Carolina's new state budget includes a significant starting salary increase for new teachers, with raises averaging 8% and $12.5 billion allocated to K-12 education. However, veteran teachers criticize the raises as insufficient, with some experiencing a 5.5% increase that fails to keep pace with inflation. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Board Chair called the raises a 'great start,' but noted starting salaries still fall short of a living wage in Charlotte.

A Honduran national was sentenced to two years in prison for a refund scheme that defrauded Home Depot stores in North and South Carolina of nearly $500,000. The case involved a conspiracy to defraud the retailer through fraudulent refunds.

North Carolina students will have easier access to mental health resources through the Student Lifeline Act, which adds crisis resources to student IDs and school websites. Gov. Josh Stein signed the state budget including this act, effective this school year.

A man from Spencer was found guilty of sex trafficking a minor across North and South Carolina. The article includes a call to report human trafficking via the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center.

A cyclosporiasis outbreak causing explosive diarrhea has led to 145 reported cases in North Carolina since May 2026, with surges also noted in Michigan and Ohio. The CDC reports 145 nationwide cases across 17 states as of June 16, with no evidence of a single outbreak source. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, and weight loss, treatable with antibiotics.

Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a North Carolina bill (House Bill 437) that would have banned unauthorized homeless encampments and required municipalities to provide temporary shelter sites with sanitation and safety facilities. Stein criticized the bill as unfunded and ineffective, while supporters argued it would create humane, drug-free conditions. Republican leaders may attempt to override the veto.

An ex-president of a local charity pleaded guilty to charges and was sentenced to prison. A sickness causing explosive diarrhea has reached 145 cases in North Carolina, linked to a parasite in herbs and produce. A woman was rescued after a tree fell on her Huntersville home.

Duke Energy is seeking North Carolina's approval to raise rates, with a 7-hour hearing held to evaluate the request. State officials are determining whether the company's proposal is reasonable.

A North Carolina school counselor and wife of a wealthy banker has had her life disrupted after allegedly sexting two teenage students, according to police. The incident reportedly ended her 'charmed life.'

A Mexican man was sentenced for meth trafficking in North Carolina after an investigation by the Homeland Security Task Force. Anselmo Nava-Sanchez, 32, distributed hundreds of kilograms of methamphetamine into the U.S. for a Mexico-based drug trafficking organization.

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed a $34 billion budget with increased education funding and teacher pay raises, while imposing a financial penalty on Charlotte for withdrawing support from the I-77 widening project. The budget raises starting teacher pay from $41,000 to $48,000 but offers smaller increases for veteran teachers, sparking concerns about equity. Charlotte city council members have 90 days to reverse their decision to avoid repaying $60 million in state funds.

A suspect is in custody after a shooting at Greenview Meadows apartments in Gastonia, North Carolina. Police responded to reports of the incident on Tuesday afternoon, but have not identified the involved individual.

A new Catawba College–YouGov Survey shows 72% of North Carolinians have cut back on purchases due to rising prices. Despite the Dow Jones Industrial Average reaching 53,000, a Kenan-Flagler Business School economist warns of declining job growth, falling labor force participation, and a rise in long-term unemployment. Consumer sentiment and sector-specific job losses, including 61,000 in leisure and hospitality, raise concerns about economic health.

A person was seriously injured after a tree fell on a house in Huntersville, North Carolina, around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7. The incident occurred following strong storms that caused three house fires in Charlotte due to lightning strikes overnight into early Tuesday. The injured individual was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, and the cause of the tree fall remains unclear.

Brittany Armstrong is charged with involuntary manslaughter after illegal fireworks caused a fire that killed Cashmere Elijah Parker in Dunn, North Carolina. The incident occurred in an apartment and is linked to fireworks that are prohibited in the state.

Brittany Armstrong is charged with involuntary manslaughter after illegal fireworks caused a fire that killed Cashmere Elijah Parker in an apartment in Dunn, North Carolina. The incident is under investigation by Dunn police, who confirmed the connection between the fireworks and the fatal blaze.

Brittany Armstrong is charged with involuntary manslaughter after an illegal fireworks fire killed Cashmere Elijah Parker in Dunn, North Carolina. The fire started by fireworks, which are illegal in the state, led to the fatal incident.

The Trump administration has narrowed the definition of 'medically frail' for Medicaid exemptions from work requirements, requiring significant health conditions and impairment in work ability. States worry this change could lead to coverage loss for sick and disabled enrollees, prompting a lawsuit from 25 Democratic-led states. Medicaid agencies face challenges implementing the new guidelines, which add documentation hurdles for recipients.

North Carolina's state budget, signed by Governor Josh Stein, includes salary increases for teachers and state-funded employees. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School board and educators argue the raise does not fully meet expectations.

Shelby Community College in North Carolina has been awarded $1.7 million to build a healthcare training facility. The funding comes from the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) disaster supplemental grant program, which allocates $1.5 billion to support economic recovery in areas affected by disasters.