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Ex-Democrats hand North Carolina GOP key votes

Two Mecklenburg lawmakers helped Republicans advance constitutional amendments and override a veto.

Politics

Two former Democrats gave Republicans in the North Carolina House the three-fifths majority they needed for several votes Wednesday, passing a trio of constitutional amendments that will likely appear on ballots across the state in November.Why it matters: Charlotte state Reps. Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed having joined the Republican majority Wednesday may have long-term effects, given the high threshold for altering the state constitution.

North Carolina sues VinFast to take back control of Chatham County land

The lawsuit is meant to take back control of the Chatham County land VinFast wanted to build on.

Business

N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson is suing the Vietnamese car maker VinFast, alleging the electric vehicle company breached its agreement with the state to build a manufacturing facility in Chatham County. Why it matters: Announced with much fanfare in 2022, VinFast&#x27;s promise to build a $4 billion EV plant in Chatham County and employ some 7,500 workers has not materialized, according to the lawsuit. <ul><li>The lawsuit is part of an effort by the state to reacquire the 1,765-acre site from VinFast and begin marketing it to new companies. </li></ul>

Why a Raleigh church is rethinking its parking lot's future

Many churches across the country are now using excess land to add affordable housing.

News

One of Raleigh&#x27;s most historic churches, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Edenton Street United Methodist Church" data-vars-click-url="https://www.esumc.org/" data-vars-content-id="9115327a-afae-4966-bbd1-0316fa8cf9e6" data-vars-headline="Why a Raleigh church is rethinking its parking lot&#x27;s future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.esumc.org/" target="_blank">Edenton Street United Methodist Church</a>, is contemplating the future of its downtown parking lot and how it can be best used going forward in a rapidly changing city. Why it matters: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The church&#x27;s 1.2-acre parking lot" data-vars-click-url="https://www.esumc.org/dawsonlot" data-vars-content-id="9115327a-afae-4966-bbd1-0316fa8cf9e6" data-vars-headline="Why a Raleigh church is rethinking its parking lot&#x27;s future" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.esumc.org/dawsonlot" target="_blank">The church&#x27;s 1.2-acre parking lot</a> sits in the heart of downtown Raleigh, where the church has been located since the early 1800s.

North Carolina Aquarium closing for yearslong expansion

The aquarium closes after Memorial Day for a renovation that will add a huge new shark habitat.

<figure><img alt="A shark moves through the screen, its multiple rows of teeth and dead-looking eye nearing the camera lens." height="450" id="10af9e22-a47b-481f-8ca1-65b5730e5a68" src="https://images.axios.com/WCIhcD3MIptV2oxxjZP1B4fDUy0=/2026/05/21/1779378719507.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>A sand tiger shark at Fort Fisher Aquarium. Video: Mary Helen Moore/Axios</figcaption></figure>This is the final weekend the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher will be open for several years. Why it matters: A lengthy renovation and expansion begins after Memorial Day that will give the already popular destination a new look and make it the state&#x27;s largest aquarium.Zoom in: Today, the aquarium is home to around <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="200 species" data-vars-click-url="http://inaturalist.org/guides/1499?page=1" data-vars-content-id="2a2d2d2e-f96d-4944-8fce-fdff17ba1be1" data-vars-headline="North Carolina Aquarium closing for yearslong expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://inaturalist.org/guides/1499?page=1" target="_blank">200 species</a>, many native to North Carolina&#x27;s waters, including sand tiger sharks, an albino alligator and, sometimes, sea turtles. <ul><li>Many of the fish and other animals. including two families of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Asian small-clawed otters" data-vars-click-url="https://www.facebook.com/NCAquariumFF/posts/1332249242280196?ref=embed_post" data-vars-content-id="2a2d2d2e-f96d-4944-8fce-fdff17ba1be1" data-vars-headline="North Carolina Aquarium closing for yearslong expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.facebook.com/NCAquariumFF/posts/1332249242280196?ref=embed_post" target="_blank">Asian small-clawed otters</a>, will remain on-site throughout construction, aquarium staff said.</li><li>Renovations will add a massive 400,000-gallon shark habitat, new touch tanks and more.</li></ul>Driving the news: Construction breaks ground Tuesday. The state says it will take around 30 months, putting completion in late 2028. <ul><li>North Carolina has <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="two other state-run aquariums" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncaquariums.com/" data-vars-content-id="2a2d2d2e-f96d-4944-8fce-fdff17ba1be1" data-vars-headline="North Carolina Aquarium closing for yearslong expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncaquariums.com/" target="_blank">two other state-run aquariums</a>, but Fort Fisher is the closest one to the Triangle.</li><li>Fort Fisher&#x27;s Civil War-era historic site and beach access both will remain open.</li></ul>By the numbers: The aquarium had about 474,000 visitors in 2025.If you go: Aquarium entry continues <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="9am-5pm" data-vars-click-url="https://www.ncaquariums.com/visit-fort-fisher" data-vars-content-id="2a2d2d2e-f96d-4944-8fce-fdff17ba1be1" data-vars-headline="North Carolina Aquarium closing for yearslong expansion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.ncaquariums.com/visit-fort-fisher" target="_blank">9am-5pm</a> through Monday. Adult tickets cost $15.<ul><li>The drive from Wilmington takes about 30 minutes. </li><li>900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach</li></ul><figure><img alt="View of visitors, including many children, as they view various fish in a tank at the Fort Fisher Aquarium, Kure Beach, North Carolina, 1997. " height="3125" id="eb139a25-ff97-4611-841b-fc98a2b44e19" src="https://images.axios.com/dMbGQ11G1AI8i0MxbapijzwHlhA=/2026/05/21/1779385682123.jpeg" width="4800"/><figcaption>The Fort Fisher aquarium in 1997. Photo: Brownie Harris/Corbis via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

Some North Carolina schools still lack AEDs as lawmakers push bill

Advocates say quick access to AEDs can help save students during cardiac emergencies.

Education

North Carolina lawmakers are considering requiring <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AEDs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/11/21/north-carolina-911-drone-defibrillator" data-vars-content-id="1f389ccf-67b0-4f16-b7cb-a5f120894d36" data-vars-headline="Some North Carolina schools still lack AEDs as lawmakers push bill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/11/21/north-carolina-911-drone-defibrillator" target="_self">AEDs</a> on every public school campus.Why it matters: During cardiac arrest, getting a shock from a defibrillator in time can be the difference between life and death.

Commencement surprise: Debt relief for N.C. State grads

The gift honors Prakash Chand Kochhar, who immigrated from India to Raleigh 80 years ago to study textiles.

A donor surprised around 200 N.C. State students at their graduation Friday with a promise to erase all debt they took on during the current school year.Why it matters: The gift from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Anil and Marilyn Kochhar" data-vars-click-url="https://axenehp.com/consultants/anil-kochhar-asa-maaa/" data-vars-content-id="92398968-307b-4e3e-8288-a6093d53f85c" data-vars-headline="Commencement surprise: Debt relief for N.C. State grads" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://axenehp.com/consultants/anil-kochhar-asa-maaa/" target="_blank">Anil and Marilyn Kochhar</a> will benefit graduates in N.C. State&#x27;s Wilson College of Textiles.

On your left! Triangle group rides highlight road safety gaps

Hundreds of students will ride as advocates push for safer streets after a teen cyclist's death.

Transit

Hundreds of Triangle students are expected to bike to school Wednesday for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Bike &amp; Roll to School Day" data-vars-click-url="https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/registration/whosbiking.php?sid=NC" data-vars-content-id="e4dcb4fe-712d-4f3c-85a6-1aff3bb0e277" data-vars-headline="On your left! Triangle group rides highlight road safety gaps" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.walkbiketoschool.org/registration/whosbiking.php?sid=NC" target="_blank">Bike &amp; Roll to School Day</a>.Why it matters: Advocates hope the group rides boost kids&#x27; confidence on the roads and also highlight safety risks tied to gaps in biking infrastructure.

10 best signs we saw at Raleigh teachers rally

With no new state budget, schools remain on old funding levels as educators demand action.

The streets of downtown Raleigh surrounding the General Assembly and State Capitol are typically sleepy on Friday mornings, at least in recent years.<ul><li>But on May 1, they swelled with crowds of thousands of people protesting the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="state of public education" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/04/30/north-carolina-teachers-rally-raleigh-school-funding-protest-ncae-budget-cuts" data-vars-content-id="cdef9761-78a9-401a-b3fb-2f6f66cf4587" data-vars-headline="10 best signs we saw at Raleigh teachers rally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/04/30/north-carolina-teachers-rally-raleigh-school-funding-protest-ncae-budget-cuts" target="_self">state of public education</a> in North Carolina.</li></ul>Why it matters: Friday&#x27;s protest is the first gathering on its scale that North Carolina educators have organized since rallies in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2018" data-vars-click-url="https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickgleason/2018/05/16/public-school-teachers-play-hooky-again-this-time-in-north-carolina/" data-vars-content-id="cdef9761-78a9-401a-b3fb-2f6f66cf4587" data-vars-headline="10 best signs we saw at Raleigh teachers rally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickgleason/2018/05/16/public-school-teachers-play-hooky-again-this-time-in-north-carolina/" target="_blank">2018</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="2019" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wbtv.com/2019/05/01/thousands-gather-nc-teacher-rally/" data-vars-content-id="cdef9761-78a9-401a-b3fb-2f6f66cf4587" data-vars-headline="10 best signs we saw at Raleigh teachers rally" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wbtv.com/2019/05/01/thousands-gather-nc-teacher-rally/" target="_blank">2019</a> attracted national attention.

Ahead of teacher rally, schools face tough budget choices

Thousands rally as districts face cuts, closures and widening gaps in school funding statewide.

Thousands of teachers from across North Carolina are descending on Raleigh for a &quot;Kids Over Corporations&quot; protest Friday.Why it matters: School is canceled across much of the state, and the North Carolina Association of Educators is hoping the mass protest pushes lawmakers to pass raises for teachers and increase school funding.

Duke study: AI model detects ADHD in kids as young as 5

Researchers say the tool could help clinicians identify ADHD sooner using large-scale health data.

Health

Duke University researchers created an artificial intelligence model they say can accurately detect ADHD in 5-year-olds&#x27; health data.Why it matters: That&#x27;s years earlier than most kids are diagnosed, an example of how AI tools that analyze large datasets could <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="reshape health care" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2026/03/26/health-care-ai-tools-assessment" data-vars-content-id="01610a3d-7732-4821-85a9-bbdce1ddaf22" data-vars-headline="Duke study: AI model detects ADHD in kids as young as 5" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/pro/health-tech-deals/2026/03/26/health-care-ai-tools-assessment" target="_self">reshape health care</a> in the coming decades.

North Carolina faces a degree shortfall in key industries, report finds

The state has identified nursing, engineering and education as critical need industries

North Carolina is not graduating enough students with degrees in several critical industries to meet a growing demand for workers in the state, a new report from the UNC System says. Why it matters: The report makes the case that the state&#x27;s 16 public universities need to produce 5,000 to 10,000 more degrees every year to meet demand from workers, especially in industries like <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="health care" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/05/health-worker-shortages-predicted-2028" data-vars-content-id="a2d37f6b-599a-47e6-a6cc-ceb42368abdf" data-vars-headline="North Carolina faces a degree shortfall in key industries, report finds" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/05/health-worker-shortages-predicted-2028" target="_self">health care</a>, engineering and education.

North Carolina's top court bows out of public school funding fight

The Leandro case decision comes at a time when North Carolina student performance is still recovering from sharp pandemic-era declines.

The North Carolina Supreme Court has thrown out a $5.6 billion school funding plan put forward after a decades-long fight over public education spending. Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Leandro" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2022/11/14/a-massive-education-plan-that-could-transform-cms-hangs-in-the-balance-313318" data-vars-content-id="b1266f12-51a3-490c-952c-49e05bda2a72" data-vars-headline="North Carolina&#x27;s top court bows out of public school funding fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2022/11/14/a-massive-education-plan-that-could-transform-cms-hangs-in-the-balance-313318" target="_self">Leandro</a> case decision comes at a time when North Carolina student performance is still recovering from sharp pandemic-era declines in math and reading proficiency. Funding per student <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lags behind the national average" data-vars-click-url="https://www.wunc.org/2025-12-16/nc-ranks-dead-last-in-the-country-for-school-funding-effort-new-report-shows" data-vars-content-id="b1266f12-51a3-490c-952c-49e05bda2a72" data-vars-headline="North Carolina&#x27;s top court bows out of public school funding fight" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.wunc.org/2025-12-16/nc-ranks-dead-last-in-the-country-for-school-funding-effort-new-report-shows" target="_blank">lags behind the national average</a>.

A year of major decisions looms at UNC-Chapel Hill

Hubert Davis' position as UNC basketball coach seemed secure before a March Madness loss to VCU.

Hubert Davis&#x27; future as the head coach of UNC&#x27;s basketball team <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="hangs in the balance" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48270301/sources-unc-davis-discussing-future-tournament-loss" data-vars-content-id="c6d3c727-73e5-4906-8565-637214235999" data-vars-headline="A year of major decisions looms at UNC-Chapel Hill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/48270301/sources-unc-davis-discussing-future-tournament-loss" target="_blank">hangs in the balance</a>, with the university set to make a decision in the coming days.<ul><li>It&#x27;s a sign of how fast things can change in Chapel Hill, as his position seemed secure until a 19-point lead <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="evaporated" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/23/blue-devils-dance-on" data-vars-content-id="c6d3c727-73e5-4906-8565-637214235999" data-vars-headline="A year of major decisions looms at UNC-Chapel Hill" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/23/blue-devils-dance-on" target="_self">evaporated</a> against VCU in the NCAA Tournament last week.</li></ul>

Duke commits $203M to Triangle amid pressure over affordability

Most of that will be spent buying more from local businesses and hiring local construction firms.

Duke University says it will invest $203 million over the next three years to help make living in the Triangle more affordable. Why it matters: The university has been under <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="increasing pressure" data-vars-click-url="https://www.theassemblync.com/news/education/higher-education/duke-respect-durham/" data-vars-content-id="d5c9c7c7-9429-41c8-8e92-1f2a265a4472" data-vars-headline="Duke commits $203M to Triangle amid pressure over affordability" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/news/education/higher-education/duke-respect-durham/" target="_blank">increasing pressure</a> to contribute more to the community, especially in Durham, where its land holdings are largely tax-exempt.

Education 📚

Some North Carolina schools still lack AEDs as lawmakers push bill

Commencement surprise: Debt relief for N.C. State grads

On your left! Triangle group rides highlight road safety gaps

10 best signs we saw at Raleigh teachers rally

Ahead of teacher rally, schools face tough budget choices