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What Raleigh's density bonus looks like in practice

Raleigh tweaked rules for development near high-frequency bus routes in 2022.

Development

A condo building going up in east Raleigh will be the first to be built in the city that takes advantage of a<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text=" density bonus" data-vars-click-url="https://udo.raleighnc.gov/sec-371-frequent-transit-development-option" data-vars-content-id="2415d6c1-8c8d-403e-a9b7-568b134d61bf" data-vars-headline="What Raleigh&#x27;s density bonus looks like in practice" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://udo.raleighnc.gov/sec-371-frequent-transit-development-option" target="_blank"> density bonus</a> for areas along frequent transit corridors.Why it matters: To encourage more housing near frequent transit, Raleigh <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="changed its land-use rules" data-vars-click-url="https://udo.raleighnc.gov/sec-371-frequent-transit-development-option" data-vars-content-id="2415d6c1-8c8d-403e-a9b7-568b134d61bf" data-vars-headline="What Raleigh&#x27;s density bonus looks like in practice" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://udo.raleighnc.gov/sec-371-frequent-transit-development-option" target="_blank">changed its land-use rules</a> in 2022 to allow taller, denser development in exchange for affordable housing.

Your permission to jump on the Carolina Hurricanes bandwagon

New to hockey? Meet the stars, learn the chants and find the best places to watch in Raleigh.

Sports

The Carolina Hurricanes are in the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 20 years after cruising through the first three playoff rounds 12-1.Why it matters: This team has the talent and experience to win it all, meaning Raleigh could be in for an unforgettable summer. <ul><li>If you haven&#x27;t been paying attention yet, now is the time. We&#x27;ll help you catch up.</li></ul>

Triangle couples see wedding costs soar

Raleigh and Durham weddings now cost well above the U.S. average, new data shows.

Business

Wedding season is here, and so is the sticker shock.The big picture: The average <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="wedding" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/12/davids-bridal-wedding-dress-fit-guarantee" data-vars-content-id="4442ccc3-41a4-41b9-a503-d78238c5b436" data-vars-headline="Triangle couples see wedding costs soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/05/12/davids-bridal-wedding-dress-fit-guarantee" target="_self">wedding</a> in metro Raleigh cost around $39,000 last year, while the Durham-Chapel Hill metro came in around $38,000, per industry research firm <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Wedding Report" data-vars-click-url="https://wedding.report/action/wedding_statistics/view/market/id/38300/idtype/m/location/Pittsburgh__PA/" data-vars-content-id="4442ccc3-41a4-41b9-a503-d78238c5b436" data-vars-headline="Triangle couples see wedding costs soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wedding.report/action/wedding_statistics/view/market/id/38300/idtype/m/location/Pittsburgh__PA/" target="_blank">The Wedding Report</a>.<ul><li>Both are well above the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="national average" data-vars-click-url="https://wedding.report/action/wedding_statistics/view/market/id/00/idtype/s/location/United_States/" data-vars-content-id="4442ccc3-41a4-41b9-a503-d78238c5b436" data-vars-headline="Triangle couples see wedding costs soar" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://wedding.report/action/wedding_statistics/view/market/id/00/idtype/s/location/United_States/" target="_blank">national average</a> of $32,899.</li></ul>

A Korean-style convenience store is opening in downtown Durham

The store will open in a small, incubator space in downtown.

Food and Drink

A Korean-style <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="convenience store" data-vars-click-url="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/cu-opens-first-korean-convenience-093846110.html" data-vars-content-id="f52ea8bc-3930-4317-98d6-0f9bad6400be" data-vars-headline="A Korean-style convenience store is opening in downtown Durham" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/cu-opens-first-korean-convenience-093846110.html" target="_blank">convenience store</a> is coming to downtown Durham this summer as part of an effort to encourage more women- and minority-owned businesses to open. Why it matters: Korean culture has grown more prominent in the U.S. in the past decade, thanks in part to K-Pop as well as the growth of the Korean-American population. <ul><li>Still, Durham doesn&#x27;t have the same level of accessibility of Korean goods and food that much larger cities like Los Angeles have. </li></ul>

North Carolina weighs new limits on data center construction

The bill would regulate how data centers use water and study noise levels

Legislation that would rein in how data centers are built and operated in North Carolina is scheduled for an N.C. House vote Wednesday. Why it matters: Data center construction has become a political lightning rod in recent months, with municipalities across the state <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="passing construction moratoriums" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/02/23/data-center-opposition-grows-across-north-carolina" data-vars-content-id="1a236248-d86d-4972-bdcc-118be4dffc96" data-vars-headline="North Carolina weighs new limits on data center construction" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/02/23/data-center-opposition-grows-across-north-carolina" target="_self">passing construction moratoriums</a> over residents&#x27; concerns about rising electricity cost and environmental impacts. <ul><li>At the same time, many local leaders see data centers as a potential way to increase their tax bases at a time when budgets are tight. </li></ul>

Whatley and Cooper both back congressional stock trading ban

Whatley and his family own a long list of individual stocks, including Duke Energy. Cooper is invested in mutual funds.

Politics

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley&#x27;s campaign tells Axios he would support making members of Congress divest from their individual stock ownership — including his own holdings like Duke Energy — if elected. Why it matters: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Roy Cooper&#x27;s campaign has pushed for a ban on stock trading among members of Congress and has repeatedly pointed to Whatley&#x27;s ties to Duke Energy, both as a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="lobbyist" data-vars-click-url="https://consumerenergyalliance.org/2019/06/consumer-group-says-goodbye-longtime-executive-vice-president/" data-vars-content-id="8bdec970-39aa-4820-a110-9beaa10ffdee" data-vars-headline="Whatley and Cooper both back congressional stock trading ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://consumerenergyalliance.org/2019/06/consumer-group-says-goodbye-longtime-executive-vice-president/" target="_blank">lobbyist</a> and as an owner of its stock, in its messaging against him. <ul><li>Congress passes laws that affect companies across many industries. Banning stock trading is extremely popular with voters, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios reported last year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/22/senate-democrats-congress-stock-trading-ban" data-vars-content-id="8bdec970-39aa-4820-a110-9beaa10ffdee" data-vars-headline="Whatley and Cooper both back congressional stock trading ban" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/05/22/senate-democrats-congress-stock-trading-ban" target="_self">Axios reported last year</a>. But no bills have passed yet.</li></ul>

Rep. Ross introduces bill to give indie musicians collective bargaining power

The bill aims to give indie musicians more bargaining power against streaming and AI companies

Surrounded by award-winning musicians, U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, a Democrat from Wake County, made the case Thursday for legislation that would give musicians more power to collectively bargain against music streaming and artificial intelligence companies. Why it matters: At a press conference at the Pour House in Raleigh, local musicians like Tift Merritt, Shirlette Ammons and Rissi Palmer, as well as Merge Records co-founder Laura Ballance, said low <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="payouts" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/media-trends-membership/2026/04/04/streaming-music-payout-gap" data-vars-content-id="d6b7096a-eb00-4cb3-b9c5-0c7daff4c20d" data-vars-headline="Rep. Ross introduces bill to give indie musicians collective bargaining power" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/media-trends-membership/2026/04/04/streaming-music-payout-gap" target="_self">payouts</a> on streaming platforms are making it harder for artists to make a living. <ul><li>On top of that, they worry that AI companies are using their art without compensation to train models that make music that will crowd out human artists. </li></ul>

Housing becomes part of North Carolina's strategy to attract businesses

The state's new economic development plan pinpoints housing as vital for landing new jobs.

Housing is becoming an even more important part of North Carolina&#x27;s ability to attract new companies, according to a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="new strategic plan" data-vars-click-url="https://www.commerce.nc.gov/first-opportunity-strategic-economic-development-plan/open" data-vars-content-id="d4f8fa2a-4665-4c17-b92b-fe027b6624cb" data-vars-headline="Housing becomes part of North Carolina&#x27;s strategy to attract businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.commerce.nc.gov/first-opportunity-strategic-economic-development-plan/open" target="_blank">new strategic plan</a> released by Gov. Josh Stein&#x27;s administration. Why it matters: By 2029, the entire state could have a housing gap of more than 760,000 units, the NC Chamber estimated in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="report last year" data-vars-click-url="https://ncchamber.com/foundation/nc-housing-analysis/" data-vars-content-id="d4f8fa2a-4665-4c17-b92b-fe027b6624cb" data-vars-headline="Housing becomes part of North Carolina&#x27;s strategy to attract businesses" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://ncchamber.com/foundation/nc-housing-analysis/" target="_blank">report last year</a>, which will likely mean higher home prices for residents and missed opportunities for economic development.

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.

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.

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>

Ex-Democrats hand North Carolina GOP key votes

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

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 SBI pushes to expand license plate camera network

A pilot program captured millions of license plates across the state and led to many arrests.

Even as a growing number of North Carolina towns end contracts with companies that provide license-plate-reading cameras, the amount of cameras using the technology could expand on state-owned roads.Why it matters: The State Bureau of Investigation has been piloting a program to put automated license plate recognition (APLR) cameras in the rights-of-way of state roads across North Carolina for the past year.

Triangle library cuts draw backlash amid budget crunch

Wake, Durham and Orange leaders say slowing revenue growth is forcing difficult choices.

Proposed cuts to public libraries are starting to draw protests in the Triangle.Why it matters: Libraries are a small slice of county spending, but local leaders hoping to avoid steep tax hikes see a potential for savings.

GOP leaders say a budget deal is close after yearlong stalemate

North Carolina was the only state that was unable to pass a full budget last year.

After a year of negotiations, North Carolina Republicans are close to finalizing a state budget, legislative leaders said Tuesday. Why it matters: North Carolina is the only state that did not pass a full budget last year, and the stalemate has delayed potential raises for state employees and teachers.

Politics 🇺🇸

North Carolina weighs new limits on data center construction

Whatley and Cooper both back congressional stock trading ban

Rep. Ross introduces bill to give indie musicians collective bargaining power

Housing becomes part of North Carolina's strategy to attract businesses

Some North Carolina schools still lack AEDs as lawmakers push bill