The N.C. Supreme Court has thrown out a plan that would have injected billions more into public schools statewide after a decades-long legal battle.

Why it matters: North Carolina's education funding per student lags behind the national average, and the Leandro case decision comes at a time when student performance is still recovering from sharp pandemic-era declines in math and reading proficiency.

Driving the news: Yesterday's ruling puts an end to the Leandro case, which has gone back and forth in the state's court system for more than three decades.

• The court was split 4-3, with Republican Richard Dietz and Democrats Allison Riggs and Anita Earls dissenting.

Catch up quick: The Leandro v. North Carolina lawsuit dates back to 1994, when five low-income counties sued the state over what they considered inadequate funding for public education.

• The case has been heard at many different levels of the court, including multiple times at the state Supreme Court. But the current hearings trace back to 2021, when a superior court judge approved a settlement plan that ordered the state legislature to spend $5.6 billion over eight years to ensure a right to "sound, basic education" for public school students.
• Republican lawmakers objected to the idea that the court could order it around on spending decisions, arguing that is not the judiciary's role. But in 2022, the then-Democrat-majority state Supreme Court ruled the courts could compel the legislature to spend the money.
• Shortly after that ruling, however, Republicans took a majority on the Supreme Court and blocked the money. The case was heard again in 2024, but justices had not ruled on the case again until yesterday.

Caveat: Some policy-makers believed the plan would have cost billions more than the $5.6 billion estimate generated by consultants.

Between the lines: The state has embraced school choice in recent years, establishing opportunity scholarships in 2013 that cover the cost of private education tuition with tax dollars, allowing "families to access the best education for their child's needs."

• The News & Observer reports that the state has already spent $579 million this school year on vouchers for the vast majority of the state's 135,000 private school students.

Go deeper

The Carolina Hurricanes released new renderings yesterday of their planned renovations for Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

Why it matters: This summer will be a significant one for the $300 million renovation of Lenovo Center, with much of the work beginning once the Hurricanes' season is over.

Zoom in: The next phase of construction for the arena will include:

• A new exterior and an expanded lobby and entrances.
• A beer hall open every day of the year.
• A new team store.
• Added seating in the lower bowl and an upgraded club level.

⚡️ Hitachi Energy will add another 150 jobs in Cary. (Triangle Business Journal 🔒)

📻 WUNC, the Triangle's NPR station, is celebrating 50 years of being on the air. (WUNC)

🌯 Carrburitos, a staple of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro food scene, is moving to a new home: the former Grata Cafe (and before that, Elmo's Diner) space at Carr Mill Mall. (News & Observer)

Jean's By The Sea, 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's, run by local wine and hospitality veteran Kate Elia, opened last month in a former Wimpy's Grill location along Hillsborough Road in the Old West Durham neighborhood.

• 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.

What to expect: The menu is thoroughly seafood-obsessed.

• The main focus is Calabash-style baskets of shrimp, oysters, catfish and the market fish of the day. Depending on the choice of seafood, you can get it fried, blackened or grilled.

What we tried: On our visit, we ordered the smoked fish dip ($12), a refreshing Crystal Coast shrimp roll ($14.95) and a side of hushpuppies ($4), which were doughy and slightly sweet.

📍 Location: 617 Hicks St., Durham

Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 11am-9pm

The weekend weather is looking lovely, though we may get some April showers on Sunday.

• Here are some ideas for your Easter weekend.

🎟️ Get tickets to Don Lemon and D.L. Hughley's "Anything Goes" show tonight at Meymandi Concert Hall.

🖼️ Find a First Friday art event happening across downtown Raleigh.

🪕 Head to the N.C. Museum of Art on Saturday for Busk and Bloom to see musicians perform throughout the Museum Park.

🤣 Laugh along with comedian Gabriel Iglesias at Lenovo Center tonight.

🐣 Go egg-hunting with your little one:

• And have breakfast with the Easter Bunny on Saturday at Biltmore Hills in Raleigh.

🏒 Cheer on the Carolina Hurricanes when they play the New York Islanders at home Saturday night.

⚽️ Support the N.C. Courage on Saturday as they take on the Portland Thorns in Cary.

⚾️ Have a hot dog in the stands while the Durham Bulls host home games all weekend long.