Regional & State News

UNC System study finds growing gap in the state's workforce

DJ Simmons

A new report shows an additional 5,000 to 10,000 college graduates are needed annually to meet NC job demands.

A suited man speaks while seated at a conference table, surrounding by other men listening. An open laptop's screen is blurred in the foreground.

NC legislators call on attorney general to step up Medicaid fraud probes

Colin Campbell

State lawmakers are calling for stronger efforts to investigate fraud and abuse in North Carolina's Medicaid system. A state House committee held a nearly three-hour hearing Thursday on the topic, questioning Attorney General Jeff Jackson and Health and Human Services Secretary Dev Sangvai.

Officials with Guilford County Schools created a model classroom at Sternberger Elementary to show principals what social distancing would look like in some classrooms. The decorations are minimal. There's no carpet in reading spaces and all of the books, calculators, and other shared items have been removed. Plastic dividers would also be installed to separate eating sections. KERI BROWN/WFDD

Public school closures on the rise in NC amid enrollment declines

Amy Diaz

Public schools across North Carolina are seeing enrollment declines, resulting in reductions in state funding. As districts prepare their budgets under these financial constraints, many are making difficult decisions to close schools.

GCS approves county budget request, cancels school on May 1

Amy Diaz

The Guilford County School Board voted to request a nearly $25 million budget increase from the county. They also canceled school for students on May 1, when teachers plan to protest in Raleigh.

Drought conditions may lead to more water restrictions in the Piedmont

David Ford

The drought that began in August continues in North Carolina, where roughly 70% of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions. Raleigh and Statesville are among a handful of cities that are currently enforcing water restrictions.

A sea turtle released on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean while a large crowd of people watch at a public event at Oak Island, N.C.

Rescued sea turtles return to the wild on the shores of Oak Island

Mehmet Demirci

A group of 29 rescued sea turtles made their way toward the Atlantic Ocean during a public release event on Tuesday at East Beach Access in Oak Island, N.C.

A photo of the Norfolk Southern geometry train that passed through the Old Fort Loops in early April 2026.

Growth & Development

First freight train will roll through WNC's newly-restored Old Fort Loops this weekend

Felicia Sonmez

The twisting, turning stretch of railway known as the Old Fort Loops runs about 13 miles between Old Fort and Swannanoa. It sustained heavy damage during Helene.

Jonathan Lancho holds up a photo of students dressed up as him for dress like a teacher day

Meet the Piedmont Triad's 2026 Teacher of the Year

Amy Diaz

Surry County Schools’ Multilingual Learner Specialist Jonathan Lancho works with students learning English as a second language, drawing on his own experience.

Nearly 3,000 students applied to the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics this past year.

How gerrymandering impacts admissions to NC’s most prestigious high school

Brianna Atkinson

Redrawing the Congressional map for political purposes inadvertently changes the makeup of the North Carolina School of Science and Math’s incoming classes.

The campus of the University of North Carolina Wilmington

UNC Wilmington wants to build a medical school

Brianna Atkinson

Chancellor Aswani Volety shared initial plans at a UNC Board of Governors meeting Wednesday.