Republican state lawmakers, who lead both chambers of the General Assembly, released a long-awaited state spending bill with hopes of voting on it this week.

Why it matters: The state has gone more than a year without a budget, as the N.C. House and N.C. Senate remained at odds over priorities, leaving things like raises for teachers and state employees in limbo.

Driving the news: The budget bill, which is more than 600 pages long, was released yesterday morning. It is the result of months of negotiations between outgoing state Sen. leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Destin Hall.

Zoom in: Top of the line spending agreements include:

• ✂️ A repeal of previously scheduled tax cuts that became a sticking point in negotiations. Income taxes — currently 3.99% — would drop to 3.49% in 2027 and hold there for three years before dropping further to eventually reach 2.49%.
• 👨‍🏫 Teachers would get 8% raises on average, and a bonus of either $1,000 or $500, depending on years of service.
• 💸 Other state employees would get a raise of around 3% on average and a bonus of at least $1,000.
• 🚓 State law enforcement agents, like Highway Patrol and prison guards, would all get significant raises as part of an effort to fill vacant roles.
• 🏥 The N.C. Children's Hospital would get $208.5 million. A provision would provide antitrust immunity to UNC Health and Duke Health in how they run the children's hospital.
• 🧬 NCInnovation, a controversial nonprofit started with $500 million in state funds, is not mentioned in the budget. There had been discussions of clawing back some taxpayer money from it.
• 🌀 More than $700 million would be put toward Hurricane Helene relief.
• 🥊 The tax rate on sports gambling would increase to 23% from 18%. For the first time, UNC and N.C. State's athletic departments would get a cut.
• 💾 A sales tax exemption on electricity used by data centers would be repealed as part of a growing examination of data center operations in the state.

What's next: Lawmakers are combing through the bill ahead of votes in both chambers today and tomorrow.

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North Carolina's deepening drought is raising fire danger ahead of July 4, but no burn bans are expected to disrupt Triangle fireworks shows.

Why it matters: Extreme heat and dry conditions are increasing wildfire risk, even as holiday celebrations move forward.

Zoom in: The state has no burn bans in effect that would prohibit fireworks.

• Local fire marshals oversee fires within 100 feet of homes and businesses, and no Triangle counties currently have restrictions in place. All were lifted in early May.

What they're saying: "While we encounter high fire danger days here and there this time of year, we're in a better situation now relative to fire danger than we were two months ago," Christie Adams, spokesperson for the N.C. Forest Service, told Axios by email last week.

• "Vegetation has greened up and is a less receptive fuel for fire. That's a good thing," she continued, adding that drought nonetheless "contributes to fires burning longer, hotter [and] more intensely."

Threat level: Fire danger is high across central North Carolina, and is projected to become extreme by Friday before easing next week, according to projections by the N.C. State Climate Office.

Fun fact: The town of Chapel Hill is trading fireworks for drones this year because of the noise and environmental impact.

Keep reading for a list of fireworks shows today through Sunday

📈 North Carolina's Hispanic population grew last year, but at a slower rate than in 2024. (WUNC)

💦 Raleigh's drinking water supply in Falls Lake has held steady this week thanks to several rainstorms. (WRAL)

⚖️ The U.S. Supreme Court upheld birthright citizenship. (Axios)

Prezell Robinson, former president of St. Augustine's University, died at age 105. (News & Observer)

50 years ago today, SAS Institute was spun out of N.C. State University, transforming what began as an effort to better analyze agricultural data into a company with a handful of employees.

Why it matters: The data analytics system those employees pioneered would create arguably North Carolina's most successful technology startup — minting billionaires, employing thousands of high-paying roles and making Cary into one of the state's most prosperous towns.

Zoom in: Jim Goodnight, the company's 83-year-old co-founder, has remained CEO for all 50 of those years.

• He's been focused for the past few years on advancing SAS's artificial intelligence tools to keep the company relevant to customers.
• "While we're proud of what we've accomplished over the last 50 years, we're even more excited about what comes next," Goodnight said in a statement.

Between the lines: What's next for the company and who succeeds Goodnight at its helm remains to be seen.

• The company said in 2021 it wanted to go public. Five years later, however, it remains tightly controlled by its co-founders with no initial public offering imminent.

It's win-or-go-home for the U.S. at the World Cup.

Why it matters: Between the Stanley Cup and the World Cup, it's been a summer of gathering in front of the big screen for Triangle residents.

Here are five places to watch the USMNT take on Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. The game kicks off at 8pm.

• 🌆 Downtown Raleigh's Moore Square watch parties continue for U.S. games as long as they're in the tournament. Admission is free.
• 🎥 The Rialto is throwing the game on the big screen. Admission is free and no ticket is required.
• 🤠 The American Outlaws supporters group will host watch parties at the Boot Room in Durham and Trophy Brewing in Raleigh.
• 📻 The Ovies & Giglio podcast will host a watch party in the courtyard at Sitti in downtown Raleigh.
• 🍻 Sports & Social at Cary's Fenton shopping district will host a watch party featuring giveaways and prizes.