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Growth in the Triangle cools slightly but still among nation's fastest

Immigration across the country slowed down in the first year of the Trump administration

News

Population growth is slowing in most counties nationwide amid a massive drop in immigration, new U.S. Census data shows.<ul><li>But that isn&#x27;t stopping the Triangle from still being among the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="fastest-growing areas" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2025/03/13/raleigh-durham-population-growth-census-immigrants" data-vars-content-id="7f345a6e-a50f-44b0-a890-6fedede25457" data-vars-headline="Growth in the Triangle cools slightly but still among nation&#x27;s fastest" 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/raleigh-durham-population-growth-census-immigrants" target="_self">fastest-growing areas</a> in the country. </li></ul>Why it matters: The new data offers the best look yet at how tighter immigration enforcement is affecting America&#x27;s demographic makeup, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick writes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/county-population-growth-immigration" data-vars-content-id="7f345a6e-a50f-44b0-a890-6fedede25457" data-vars-headline="Growth in the Triangle cools slightly but still among nation&#x27;s fastest" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/26/county-population-growth-immigration" target="_self">Axios&#x27; Alex Fitzpatrick writes</a>.

Rocky Mount nears rare state financial takeover

Late audits and overspending pushed the city toward insolvency, triggering a final warning from state officials.

Politics

Rocky Mount is at risk of a rare state takeover of its finances after years of overspending and missed audits pushed the city toward insolvency.Why it matters: State takeovers are extremely rare. It&#x27;s only ever happened to 12 local governments, and they&#x27;re all far smaller than <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Rocky Mount" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/17/where-president-trump-jd-vance-have-been-north-carolina" data-vars-content-id="1433d93a-bdd2-464e-80fb-9cfd9a1350eb" data-vars-headline="Rocky Mount nears rare state financial takeover" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2026/03/17/where-president-trump-jd-vance-have-been-north-carolina" target="_self">Rocky Mount</a>, a city of around 55,000 about 60 miles east of Raleigh.

Jean's By The Sea brings a new laid-back seafood joint to Durham

The menu jumps from Calabash-style fried baskets and shrimp rolls to raw oysters and crudo.

Food and Drink

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jean&#x27;s By The Sea" data-vars-click-url="https://www.jeansbythesea.com/" data-vars-content-id="7c618f05-bfcf-49bc-a944-baa62c620741" data-vars-headline="Jean&#x27;s By The Sea brings a new laid-back seafood joint to Durham" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.jeansbythesea.com/" target="_blank">Jean&#x27;s By The Sea</a>, a loving ode to the fish shacks of the coast, is providing a fresh injection of shellfish and seafood into the Durham food scene. Zoom in: Jean&#x27;s, run by local wine and hospitality veteran <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kate Elia" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/news/in-other-news-march-2026/" data-vars-content-id="7c618f05-bfcf-49bc-a944-baa62c620741" data-vars-headline="Jean&#x27;s By The Sea brings a new laid-back seafood joint to Durham" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kenan-flagler.unc.edu/news/in-other-news-march-2026/" target="_blank">Kate Elia</a>, opened last month in a former Wimpy&#x27;s Grill location off Hillsborough Road in the Old West Durham neighborhood. <ul><li>The spot still retains the small and laid-back charm of a roadside grill, but offers ample outdoor seating and a beverage program that punches above its weight.</li></ul>

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.

Education

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>.

Taking home these 5 fish triggers new North Carolina rule

The data gives the state a window into a recreational fishing industry that commercial anglers argue is opaque.

Environment

Starting next week, anglers who catch some of North Carolina&#x27;s most popular coastal fish species are required to file reports with the state if they&#x27;re taking those fish home to eat.Why it matters: More than 1 million people fish every year in North Carolina waters, the state reports, and many of them have bristled against the new rule, which applies to flounder, red drum, spotted seatrout, striped bass and weakfish.<ul><li>Advocates say the data being collected will grant the state new insights into the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="multi-billion-dollar" data-vars-click-url="https://cals.ncsu.edu/agricultural-and-resource-economics/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2020/10/ECONOMIST.FALL-2020-von-Haefen-FINAL-FINAL-FINAL.pdf" data-vars-content-id="bf5024d9-3ef8-4243-bdb6-9fe52ad7fddb" data-vars-headline="Taking home these 5 fish triggers new North Carolina rule" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cals.ncsu.edu/agricultural-and-resource-economics/wp-content/uploads/sites/46/2020/10/ECONOMIST.FALL-2020-von-Haefen-FINAL-FINAL-FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">multi-billion-dollar</a> recreational fishing industry. </li></ul>

Water

Taking home these 5 fish triggers new North Carolina rule