Lumbee tribal voters rejected a constitutional amendment that would have allowed gaming, dealing a setback to the newly federally recognized tribe's plans for a casino in Robeson County.

Why it matters: A casino along Interstate 95 was pitched as a potential economic game-changer for one of North Carolina's poorest regions.

Driving the news: In yesterday's election, tribal members rejected a constitutional amendment that would have led to a major casino development.

• Over 62% of the tribe was against the proposal, per unofficial Lumbee Board of Elections results.
• More than 9,200 people voted. The tribe's membership was approaching 50,000 in 2025.

What they're saying: Tribal Chairman John Lowery was disappointed, writing on Facebook after 9pm that the election results were a rejection of progress.

• "We had an opportunity, like so many of our brother and sister tribes, to exercise our sovereign rights to the fullest and generate billions of dollars," Lowery said.

State of play: The tribe spent over $6 million in December on a large plot of land in Robeson County off I-95 near Exit 10, per WRAL.

• It's around 100 miles south of Raleigh — roughly a 90-minute drive.
• The Lumbee Dark Water Resort was already designed. Long-term plans called for hotels, a convention center and a golf course in addition to casinos and shops.

The other side: Some residents who voted "no" questioned the land purchase or expressed skepticism that the proposed constitutional changes go too far.

• Others oppose casinos on moral grounds.

By the numbers: Robeson County, where the Lumbee have long lived, is in one of the most economically challenged regions of the state.

• Its median household income of $42,180 is the lowest among North Carolina's 100 counties, according to the state commerce department.
• Amid the struggling economy, Robeson County's population is shrinking. It dipped 8% in 10 years, even as North Carolina's population grew 11%.

Zoom in: Advocates for a "yes" vote said a casino would create around 3,000 jobs and allow the tribe to invest in education, health care, housing and public safety.

Zoom out: Virginia already has opened five casinos since granting select cities the right to do so in 2022. Two are short drives from North Carolina.

• Ceasars Virginia in Danville was built in partnership with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who operate two casinos in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Eastern Band was a prominent opponent of Lumbee federal recognition.

What's next: Lowery said he "will not bring the issue forward" in his remaining 18 months in office.

Editors note: This story has been updated with the final vote totals.

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A Michelin-starred chef is helping open one of Chapel Hill's most anticipated restaurants later this summer.

Why it matters: Ayra, a partnership between renowned chef Sujan Sarkar and the owners of Lime & Lemon, will bring another Indian fine dining option to the Triangle.

• The Triangle, home to a large South Asian population, has seen a wave of new fine-dining Indian restaurants open in recent years, including Tamasha in Raleigh and Cheeni in Durham.

Driving the news: The collaboration is notable because of Sarkar's work at Indienne, a Chicago restaurant that earned a Michelin star and many other plaudits.

• In addition to Indienne, Sarkar has opened several other restaurants in Chicago, New York and California.

Zoom in: Ayra plans to open later this summer in the East54 development at 2110 Environ Way.

• That development has become a hot spot for restaurants, like Hawthorne & Wood and the recently opened Geo's Tavern.
• Ayra is taking over a 5,000-square-foot space, where it plans to offer three different dining areas: a cocktail bar, an à la carte dining room and a private room for a tasting menu experience.

⛹🏽‍♂️ Two local university students got picked early in the first round of the NBA draft last night. (ESPN)

• The Memphis Grizzlies took Duke freshman Cameron Boozer at No. 3.
• The Chicago Bulls selected Carolina freshman Caleb Wilson at No. 4.

💦 Raleigh issued 92 water restriction warnings to residents last week. (WRAL)

Peter Klopfer, a Duke biologist and founder of its Lemur Center, as well as a civil rights activist, died at the age of 95 earlier this month. (WUNC)

🐂 Oscar Diaz's Little Bull will reopen in a new downtown Durham space in August. (News & Observer)

"When I first heard about it, I thought they were in Charlotte. When you buy a pro sports team, you think that is pretty cool. But at the time it wasn't that great."

Why it matters: Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon gave one of his most in-depth interviews to date on the "Spittin' Chicklets" hockey podcast out yesterday.

• The interview covered buying the Canes, his relationship with Rod Brind'Amour and Eric Tulsky, and the future of Lenovo Center.

The intrigue: Dundon said he only bought the Hurricanes after failing to buy an NBA team. (He now owns the Portland Trail Blazers.) A banker came to him and said if he wanted to own a sports team, the Carolina Hurricanes were available.

• At the time, the Canes were losing $20 million a year, he said, a figure he thought he could get down to $5 million.
• The Canes have gone to the playoffs every season since. "When I bought it, I never thought it would be like this," he said of the success.
• Dundon said the organization will need to start thinking about a new stadium in around 10 years and will leave space for one as the surrounding land redevelops.

Fun fact: Dundon left Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final in frustration after the second period. The Canes were down 4-0 at the time.

• He was on his plane when he learned the Canes had scored four straight to send the game to overtime.

We're down to the Final Four in our best mountain town bracket.

State of play: The semifinals will pit the region's largest city of Asheville against Bryson City, the gateway to the Smoky Mountains.

• In the other matchup, we have the village of Blowing Rock up against Brevard, the land of waterfalls.

The verdict: Vote below by 4pm, and we'll feature semifinal winners in tomorrow's newsletter.

Vote for who should make the championship round here.