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GE Aerospace will invest more than $160M across North Carolina

The aircraft engine maker plans to hire another 5,000 workers across the U.S. this year.

Business

For the second time in as many years, the aircraft engine maker GE Aerospace plans to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="invest" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/03/13/ge-aerospace-invests-100m-in-north-carolina-facilities" data-vars-content-id="fca0fe52-e0d9-4a54-bce4-0d3457483ee6" data-vars-headline="GE Aerospace will invest more than $160M across North Carolina" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/03/13/ge-aerospace-invests-100m-in-north-carolina-facilities" target="_self">invest</a> $1 billion into its U.S. plants and create another 5,000 jobs. Why it matters: The investment will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="exceed $160 million" data-vars-click-url="https://www.geaerospace.com/company/investing-in-manufacturing" data-vars-content-id="fca0fe52-e0d9-4a54-bce4-0d3457483ee6" data-vars-headline="GE Aerospace will invest more than $160M across North Carolina" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.geaerospace.com/company/investing-in-manufacturing" target="_blank">exceed $160 million</a> across North Carolina, where GE Aerospace has plants in Durham, Asheville, West Jefferson, and Wilmington.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro narrows list of possible school closures

The 4-3 motion takes Estes Hills and Frank Porter Graham Bilingüe off the chopping block.

Education

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools board voted Thursday to narrow its list of possible <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="elementary school closures" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/02/13/chapel-hill-carrboro-city-schools-closure-north-carolina" data-vars-content-id="2d3fa901-e6ab-47ac-b0b5-336274ea3a92" data-vars-headline="Chapel Hill-Carrboro narrows list of possible school closures" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/02/13/chapel-hill-carrboro-city-schools-closure-north-carolina" target="_self">elementary school closures</a> to three: Seawell, Glenwood and Ephesus. <ul><li>The 4-3 motion means Estes Hills and Frank Porter Graham Bilingüe won&#x27;t be considered for closure.</li></ul>Why it matters: Facing declining enrollment and possible budget cuts, Chapel Hill-Carrboro leaders are seeking to &quot;right-size&quot; the district to match its smaller student population.

North Carolina gardeners kick off spring planting amid drought

After a dry winter, experts say improving weather could steady soon.

Things to Do

If you were considering planting a garden this spring, now&#x27;s the time to put those plans into action.Why it matters: Central North Carolina&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="spring planting season" data-vars-click-url="https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/central-north-carolina-planting-calendar-for-annual-vegetables-fruits-and-herbs" data-vars-content-id="98779f56-79a0-42cd-94ce-db6e73fe1db3" data-vars-headline="North Carolina gardeners kick off spring planting amid drought" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/central-north-carolina-planting-calendar-for-annual-vegetables-fruits-and-herbs" target="_blank">spring planting season</a> is getting underway in the midst of a months-long drought, though meteorologists believe weather conditions are improving.

Duke Energy is betting new battery-storage facilities will help it use more renewable energy

Battery storage helps energy companies deploy solar power when it is most needed.

If Duke Energy intends to meet a state-mandated goal of being <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="carbon neutral by 2050" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/10/01/duke-energy-plan-will-delay-coal-retirements-and-study-more-nuclear-plants" data-vars-content-id="8f6d66bd-8233-48ba-b915-c3d292d14e2e" data-vars-headline="Duke Energy is betting new battery-storage facilities will help it use more renewable energy" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/10/01/duke-energy-plan-will-delay-coal-retirements-and-study-more-nuclear-plants" target="_self">carbon neutral by 2050</a>, then it&#x27;s going to need to build more large-scale battery facilities like the one it recently opened in the suburbs of Raleigh.Why it matters: The new battery-storage facility in Knightdale can run 100 megawatts of power for up to two hours, and represents nearly half of all of Duke Energy&#x27;s battery storage built in the state so far. <ul><li>That&#x27;s the equivalent of powering up to 70,000 homes for two hours, and it&#x27;s a critical technology for making sure solar power can be used when it is most needed, like early mornings in the winter before the sun rises. </li></ul>

Deliberately aggressive immigration tactics in North Carolina sow fear, confusion

Immigration agents want to persuade immigrants to leave the U.S. voluntarily.

Immigration

The aggressive tactics used by immigration agents in North Carolina, which advocates say sow fear and confusion, aim to persuade immigrants to leave the U.S. voluntarily, Border Patrol&#x27;s chief recently affirmed.Driving the news: Federal agents surged into <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Charlotte" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2025/11/19/first-amendment-charlotte-volunteers-border-patrol" data-vars-content-id="4549ebd5-be74-4288-8d2f-6ca3d44a784e" data-vars-headline="Deliberately aggressive immigration tactics in North Carolina sow fear, confusion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2025/11/19/first-amendment-charlotte-volunteers-border-patrol" target="_self">Charlotte</a> and the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Triangle" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/11/18/immigration-agents-spotted-triangle-north-carolina-durham-cary-raleigh" data-vars-content-id="4549ebd5-be74-4288-8d2f-6ca3d44a784e" data-vars-headline="Deliberately aggressive immigration tactics in North Carolina sow fear, confusion" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/11/18/immigration-agents-spotted-triangle-north-carolina-durham-cary-raleigh" target="_self">Triangle</a> last month, and were documented wearing tactical gear and masks while making arrests in public places, sparking widespread fear.<ul><li>The Department of Homeland Security reports making over 250 arrests in &quot;Operation Charlotte&#x27;s Web,&quot; and Immigration and Customs Enforcement maintains a permanent presence here.</li></ul>

Immigration agents arrive in the Triangle

Customs and Border Protection announced an operation in Charlotte, but have also been seen in other parts of North Carolina.

Politics

Residents in Raleigh and Durham are spotting <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="immigration agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/11/18/ice-border-patrol-north-carolina-triangle" data-vars-content-id="02824a47-c262-476d-b488-32be9d4961b4" data-vars-headline="Immigration agents arrive in the Triangle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/11/18/ice-border-patrol-north-carolina-triangle" target="_self">immigration agents</a> Tuesday after the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="02824a47-c262-476d-b488-32be9d4961b4" data-vars-headline="Immigration agents arrive in the Triangle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">Trump</a> administration deployed Border Patrol in North Carolina. Why it matters: U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents have carried out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="multiple days of arrests in Charlotte" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2025/11/17/immigration-arrests-border-patrol-trump-ice" data-vars-content-id="02824a47-c262-476d-b488-32be9d4961b4" data-vars-headline="Immigration agents arrive in the Triangle" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/charlotte/2025/11/17/immigration-arrests-border-patrol-trump-ice" target="_self">multiple days of arrests in Charlotte</a>, and leaders in the Triangle warned Monday that locals should brace for a federal presence.