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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>

Why Triangle homebuyers are picking boutique firms

Small real estate firms like J Patterson Realty can provide white-glove service with deep personalization.

Partners

In the Triangle&#x27;s housing market — spanning Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill and Cary — steady demand and shifting inventory are raising the stakes for buyers and sellers.Why it&#x27;s important: For clients navigating big life transitions like relocating, upsizing or investing, property is just one part of the puzzle.<ul><li>These clients require clarity, confidence and a trusted partner throughout the process.</li></ul>

The questions you should be asking your primary care provider — and why they matter

Patients with a primary care provider they trust have better health care outcomes.

<div data-sponsor-disclosure="&quot;{&quot;logoUrl&quot;:&quot;https://images.axios.com/4CJecxx3TgEaWLyJ9p7cy8u4iS0=/2026/03/25/1774474220755.png&quot;,&quot;headline&quot;:&quot;A message from: Amazon One Medical&quot;}&quot;"></div><div style="display:none"></div>Nearly half of Americans feel anxious before a doctor&#x27;s appointment — and most leave at least one question they forgot or didn&#x27;t feel comfortable asking.Here&#x27;s the deal: The relationship between a patient and their primary care provider (PCP) is one of the strongest predictors of long-term health.Studies show that patients with a PCP they trust have better health outcomes, lower hospitalization rates and higher satisfaction with their care, but the structure of most primary care visits makes that relationship difficult to organically build.

Health care cost illusions still underpin debates

North Carolina's 2026 session could reshape health care affordability statewide.

North Carolinians are feeling the strain of rising healthcare costs — and as the 2026 short session approaches, how lawmakers address affordability could influence what families pay, how employers structure coverage and how providers are reimbursed.Why it&#x27;s important: Health care affordability is shaped by a complex mix of insurance design, pharmaceutical pricing, regulatory decisions, provider costs and patient needs, all interacting within the broader health care landscape.<ul><li>For policymakers, that means reform requires examining how decisions in one part of the ecosystem affect the rest — not just the most visible components of care delivery.</li></ul>

Delta's THC-infused seltzers offers a new way to vibe for any occasion

THC seltzers from local North Carolina brand Delta Beverages are delivering the vibe without the booze and offering a zero-calorie way to raise a glass this holiday season.

Food and Drink

THC seltzers from local North Carolina brand Delta Beverages are delivering the vibe without the booze and offering a zero-calorie way to raise a glass this holiday season.Why it&#x27;s important: The U.S. drinking rate hit a new low this year and more Americans than ever think moderate drinking is bad for your health.

Find space and savings at Copper Ridge

True Homes is helping first-time buyers find quality homes — without leaving the Raleigh area.

Affordability feels increasingly out of reach for many first-time homebuyers in the Triangle. Prices are up, inventory is low and competition for starter homes is fierce.The story: True Homes wants to change that with new home communities like Copper Ridge at Flowers Plantation — a new community just outside Clayton that makes spacious, high-quality living more accessible to Raleigh-area buyers.

📍 REALTORS® know the market — and the map

Raleigh's population is booming — and NC REALTORS® help buyers and sellers keep up.

86% of homebuyers and almost 90% of sellers worked with a real estate professional in 2023 — and with good reason.Here&#x27;s why: North Carolina REALTORS® have the local knowledge and skills you need to keep up with Raleigh&#x27;s breakneck growth.

How EarnIn's Early Pay gives workers more financial flexibility

EarnIn's Early Pay allows workers access to their paychecks up to two days early — no matter the bank.

Many workers face a frustrating reality: bills don&#x27;t wait for payday. When rent, gas or groceries are due before a paycheck arrives, the gap can create unnecessary financial stress.The story: For Imani Brown, a college student and assistant manager in Raleigh, NC, that gap was all too real. Moving from California to attend an HBCU was both exciting and challenging — especially when balancing school, work and financial obligations.

Building your dream home is easier and more affordable than you think

Discover how True Homes can make your dream home a reality.

Real Estate

Staying on budget while home shopping is a challenge on its own — especially in today&#x27;s housing market. Staying on budget while personalizing a brand-new home? It may sound completely out of reach, but it&#x27;s possible with True Homes.

Sunshine is free — here’s how to use it to your advantage

Why get solar now? Prices have dropped significantly — and homeowners save even more money with federal tax credits that offset installation costs.

&quot;Solar and batteries completely changed how I think about using electricity,&quot; says Michael J., a Freedom Solar PowerⓇ customer who &quot;never wants to live in a house without solar energy again.&quot;Why it&#x27;s important: Solar replaces fossil fuels with homegrown renewable energy, so every panel installed lessens the need to burn dirty fossil fuels.This makes a difference by…

4 ways True Homes gives back in Raleigh

True Homes has made it a priority to deliver affordable housing in each of the five metropolitan markets it serves, including in Raleigh.

True Homes has made it a priority to deliver affordable housing in each of the five metropolitan markets it serves, including in Raleigh.