The U.S. Department of Education has released a portion of North Carolina's $165 million in education funding frozen by the Trump administration, the state's education department announced Monday night.

Why it matters: The nearly $36 million in funding released will allow North Carolina's after-school and summer programs to continue operating.

• The programs, which served more than 10,000 K-12 students last year, "provide critical academic support and safe environments for students, particularly those in high-poverty areas," North Carolina's Department of Public Instruction said in a statement.

Catch up quick: North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson is one of a dozen attorneys general nationwide who are suing the U.S. Department of Education for withholding more than $6 billion in education funding nationwide. Those funds were expected to be accessible July 1.

• North Carolina's portion of that — more than $165 million — made up more than 10% of the state's federal education funding.
• The freeze comes amid what the Trump administration's Office of Management and Budget called an "ongoing programmatic review" and pointed to initial findings that they said "show that many of these grant programs have been grossly misused to subsidize a radical leftwing agenda," Axios' Avery Lotz reported earlier this month.

Driving the news: Nearly 30 statewide full-time jobs would have been in jeopardy had the federal government not released $36 million as part of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, which supports academic enrichment during non-school hours, per data released by North Carolina's Department of Justice.

• Wake, Durham and Charlotte-Mecklenburg school districts had not been awarded any funding under that program, according to the data.

State of play: Around $130 million in K-12 education funding remains frozen and under review, North Carolina's education department said. More than 900 jobs remain at risk.

• "We'll see them in court for the rest," Jackson said in a post on Facebook Monday.

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After withdrawing a rezoning request in 2023, prolific Raleigh developer Kane Realty is again asking the city for permission to build taller towers in North Hills.

Why it matters: The North Hills area has been one of the hottest spots for development in Raleigh for years, after Kane Realty turned an old mall into one of the region's densest upscale mixed-use developments straddling Six Forks Road and the Raleigh Beltline.

• The previous version of the rezoning, however, was met with skepticism from residents and the Raleigh City Council over concerns about traffic and a lack of affordable housing.
• Prior to its withdrawal, Kane had offered land for an upgraded fire station and a transit center in North Hills as part of the application.

Driving the news: Kane Realty will host a neighborhood meeting on July 30 in the North Hills area, with plans to file its rezoning request in August.

• Kane, which declined an interview request, wants to be allowed to build taller on six parcels, ranging from 12 stories to 37 stories. Currently, the tallest allowed on any of the parcels is 12 stories.

Zoom in: The tracts of land in the application include: 4421 Six Forks Road, 4220 Lassiter Mill Road, 4270 The Circle at North Hills St. and land near the intersection of Currituck Drive and Lassiter Mill Road.

Between the lines: The main difference between this rezoning and the previous one is that despite asking for more height, Kane is not asking for more residential units or square footage than what is already allowed, the developer told Raleigh Magazine.

• This request also comes before a different city council that just had to scrap plans for improving the road that goes right by the land under consideration.

🌳 There's no timeline yet for the reopening of Eno River State Park, which suffered significant damage during Tropical Storm Chantal. (News & Observer 🔒)

🎓 N.C. Central University's chancellor says the school needs more housing to meet the demand for a growing student body. (INDY Week)

• The historically Black college's enrollment grew by 13.5% last year, the most of any of the state's public schools.

A new restaurant and late-night lounge spot called 83 South is being planned in the Bloc[83] development in Raleigh's Glenwood South neighborhood. (Raleigh Magazine)

After more than three wonderful years at the most exciting, unpredictable and fun job I've ever had — and will probably ever have — Friday is my last day at Axios.

Why it matters: No other outlet I've worked at has such dedicated, kind and encouraging readers: You say hey to me at coffee shops, send me Instagram reels with tips for keeping my chickens cool and share your family recipes. You've also showered me with love as I've navigated a miscarriage and, now, motherhood.

• All of this thoughtfulness has kept me afloat in some of my hardest moments as a human and a journalist over the last few years.

Driving the news: Our readers will be the second saddest part of leaving this job.

• The first will be not having an excuse to blow up my newsletter co-pilot's phone with unsolicited hot takes, pictures of my kid and stream-of-consciousness thoughts.

Zachery has put up with a lot from me, and every day I am both surprised and grateful that he continues to do so. (Wish me luck in convincing him to still hang out with me when we're no longer coworkers.)

What's next: In addition to leaving Axios, I am also leaving journalism to explore a new career path. As the daughter of a journalist, I've been running around newsrooms for as long as I can remember, so it's hard for me to imagine who I am if not a reporter. It feels like it's time I find out.

The bottom line: A big thank you to all of you, my sources, Zachery and my colleagues at Axios for trusting me to tell the truth and report with fairness and humility — and for putting up with my many, many calls, questions and complaints over the years. I am forever grateful.