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has-post-thumbnail hentry entry"> <div class="entry-content"> <div class="wp-block-group newspack-pattern homepage-posts__style-15"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"><div class="wp-block-columns is-style-default is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex" style="padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0"><div class="wp-block-column homepage-featured is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:66.66%"><div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-default wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-7 is-3 is-uncropped show-category is-style-default has-text-align-left" style="" > <style id="newspack-blocks-inline-css" type="text/css">.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles article .entry-title{font-size: 1.2em;}.wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles .entry-meta{display: flex;flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;margin-top: 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.more-link,.wpnbha.ts-3 article .entry-meta{font-size: 0.8em;}.newspack-post-subtitle--in-homepage-block{margin-top: 0.3em;margin-bottom: 0;line-height: 1.4;font-style: italic;}</style> <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="41056" class="category-legislation category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/legislation/pro-wrestling-hall-of-fame-nc/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1000" height="750" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-uncropped size-newspack-article-block-uncropped wp-post-image" alt="Make ’em Say WOOOOO!" data-hero-candidate="1" loading="none" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?w=1000&ssl=1 1000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=780%2C585&ssl=1 780w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?resize=706%2C530&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Ric_Flair_hulkmania.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/legislation/">Legislation</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/legislation/pro-wrestling-hall-of-fame-nc/" rel="bookmark">Make ’em Say WOOOOO!</a></h2> <div class="newspack-post-subtitle newspack-post-subtitle--in-homepage-block"> A state senator is making another go at a bill to get a pro-wrestling hall of fame in North Carolina—and this time he’s constructed a better backstory. </div> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/joekillian/">Joe Killian</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <aside> <div class="newspack-popup-container newspack-popup hidden newspack-inline-popup newspack-lightbox-large-border " role="button" tabindex="0" style="background-color:#FFFFFF;color:#000" id="id_18233" data-segments="" data-frequency="0,0,0,month" > <div class="wp-block-group" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-10 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"><h6 class="wp-block-heading has-secondary-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-64b46b4a425825ec71c62ffd4926f3f3" id="h-statewide-newsletter"><strong>📨 STATEWIDE NEWSLETTER</strong></h6> <h2 class="wp-block-heading entry-title" id="h-get-the-assembly-s-north-carolina-reporting-in-your-inbox">Get <em>The Assembly</em>'s North Carolina Reporting in Your Inbox</h2> <p class="margin-top-half"><em>The Assembly</em> delivers reporting and storytelling deep into the heart of North Carolina's triumphs, challenges, and complexities. Don’t just read about North Carolina—truly understand the stories shaping our home. Sign up for our newsletter to get new coverage in your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.</p> <div class="wp-block-newspack-newsletters-subscribe newspack-newsletters-subscribe " data-success-message="Thank you for signing up! You should begin receiving our emails in the coming days." > <form id="newspack-subscribe-2" data-newspack-recaptcha="newspack_newsletter_signup"> <input type="hidden" name="newspack_newsletters_subscribe" value="1" /> <input name="newspack_popup_id" type="hidden" value="18233" /> <input type="hidden" name="lists[]" value="group-2d2330f89f-6839f50437" /> <div class="newspack-newsletters-email-input"> <input id="newspack-newsletters-subscribe-block-input-22567-email" type="email" name="npe" autocomplete="email" placeholder="Email Address" value="" /> <button class="submit-button has-background-color has-secondary-background-color"type="submit" style="background-color: #ff584e;"> <span class="submit">Sign Up!</span> </button> </div> </form> <div class="newspack-newsletters-subscribe__response"> <div class="newspack-newsletters-subscribe__icon"></div> <div class="newspack-newsletters-subscribe__message"> </div> </div> </div></div></div> </div> </aside></div> <div class="wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top homepage-rail is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:33.33%"><div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignbehind ts-2 is-3 is-landscape is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="41352" class="category-courts type-post post-has-image" style="min-height: 16vh; padding-top: 3.2vh;" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/courts/ecourts-north-carolina-lawsuit/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="600" height="450" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CourtDoc.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-intermediate size-newspack-article-block-landscape-intermediate wp-post-image" alt="eCourts’ Continuing Legal Mess" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CourtDoc.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CourtDoc.webp?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CourtDoc.webp?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CourtDoc.webp?zoom=2&resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/CourtDoc.webp?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/courts/ecourts-north-carolina-lawsuit/" rel="bookmark">eCourts’ Continuing Legal Mess</a></h2> <p>A judge ruled this week that a federal lawsuit against eCourts, the state’s $100 million digital records system, can go forward.</p> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignbehind ts-2 is-3 is-landscape is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="41099" class="tag-charlotte category-business category-politics type-post post-has-image" style="min-height: 15vh; padding-top: 3vh;" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/charlotte-doge-elon-musk-trump-jack-cobb/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="A Charlotte Regulator Gets DOGE’d" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/20250327_JackCobbCFPB_ASSEMBLY_00132-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/charlotte-doge-elon-musk-trump-jack-cobb/" rel="bookmark">A Charlotte Regulator Gets DOGE’d</a></h2> <p>A lifelong Republican with decades of blue-chip legal experience decided to move into consumer protection. Then Elon Musk took a chainsaw to his agency.</p> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignbehind ts-2 is-3 is-landscape is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="40640" class="tag-unc-asheville category-higher-education type-post post-has-image" style="min-height: 16vh; padding-top: 3.2vh;" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/colleges-universities-free-tuition-north-carolina/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="How Low Can You Go? N.C. Colleges Try Free-Tuition Programs" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17B2650B-775B-4472-9898-010DC12253A6-scaled-e1743008323279.jpeg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/colleges-universities-free-tuition-north-carolina/" rel="bookmark">How Low Can You Go? N.C. Colleges Try Free-Tuition Programs</a></h2> <p>Many small colleges are trying to get more students in the door, while others want to be accessible to low-income applicants.</p> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignbehind ts-2 is-3 is-landscape is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="40868" class="tag-western-nc category-culture category-religion type-post post-has-image" style="min-height: 16vh; padding-top: 3.2vh;" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/religion/catholic-monastery-marian-friars-western-nc/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="Voices in the Wilderness" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Barber_WNCFriars_20250301_2-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/religion/catholic-monastery-marian-friars-western-nc/" rel="bookmark">Voices in the Wilderness</a></h2> <p>A traditionalist religious order is building a new home in the woods of Western N.C. Not everyone is happy to see them.</p> </div> </article> </div> </div></div></div></div></div> <broadstreet-zone zone-id="173680" active-style="text-align: center;"></broadstreet-zone><div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-default wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-2 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-landscape is-style-default has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <h2 class="article-section-title"> <span><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/">Politics</a></span> </h2> <article data-post-id="40899" class="tag-jeff-jackson category-courts category-legislation category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/legislation/jeff-jackson-attorney-general-trump-executive-orders/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="A Bill to Bench the State’s Top Cop" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Medley_KamalaHarris_Charlotte2024_33423-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/legislation/jeff-jackson-attorney-general-trump-executive-orders/" rel="bookmark">A Bill to Bench the State’s Top Cop</a></h3> <p>A new bill would make Jeff Jackson the only state attorney general in the country prohibited from suing the Trump administration. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/michael-hewlett/">Michael Hewlett</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="40856" class="tag-western-nc category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/fema-north-carolina-tillis-noem-trump/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="What Are Trump’s Plans for FEMA? Depends Who You Ask." data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP24289679848350-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/fema-north-carolina-tillis-noem-trump/" rel="bookmark">What Are Trump’s Plans for FEMA? Depends Who You Ask.</a></h3> <p>The head of Homeland Security says she’s going to “eliminate” the agency. N.C. lawmakers say they’re working on reforms. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/calen-razor/">Calen Razor</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="40372" class="category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/nc-labor-commissioner-luke-farley-dei-diversity-inclusion-office/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="The Politics of Defining DEI" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=706%2C530&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-21-dei-statewide-rollback-feature-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/nc-labor-commissioner-luke-farley-dei-diversity-inclusion-office/" rel="bookmark">The Politics of Defining DEI</a></h3> <p>Republican Labor Commissioner Luke Farley eliminated a DEI metric in employee evaluations to gauge whether a worker “treats all people fairly.” </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/renlarson/">Ren Larson</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div><div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-2 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-3 is-landscape has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <h2 class="article-section-title"> <span><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/">Culture</a></span> </h2> <article data-post-id="40682" class="category-environment category-place type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/place/oregon-inlet-shipwrecks-nc/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="North Carolina’s Deadliest Inlet" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/AP16247602731601-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/place/oregon-inlet-shipwrecks-nc/" rel="bookmark">North Carolina’s Deadliest Inlet</a></h3> <p>Last March, Oregon Inlet claimed the life of a seasoned mariner. Navigating the tempestuous waters is the stuff of legends and nightmares.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/emily-cataneo/">Emily Cataneo</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="40132" class="tag-nc-state category-higher-education category-sports type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/sports/nc-state-dance-team-first-male-dancer-ryan-cawley/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cofield_Assembly_Dance-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="The Man Can Dance: N.C. State Team Spotlights First Male Dancer" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cofield_Assembly_Dance-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cofield_Assembly_Dance-4.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cofield_Assembly_Dance-4.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cofield_Assembly_Dance-4.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cofield_Assembly_Dance-4.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cofield_Assembly_Dance-4.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/sports/nc-state-dance-team-first-male-dancer-ryan-cawley/" rel="bookmark">The Man Can Dance: N.C. State Team Spotlights First Male Dancer</a></h3> <p>Ryan Cawley is one of a handful of male performers on university dance teams.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/sylvia-adcock/">Sylvia Adcock</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="40108" class="tag-macon-county category-books category-business category-courts category-culture category-religion type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/religion/cliff-graham-kavod-ministries-franklin-nc/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="Out of the Lion’s Den" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CliffGraham_illustration_03172025-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/culture/religion/cliff-graham-kavod-ministries-franklin-nc/" rel="bookmark">Out of the Lion’s Den</a></h3> <p>A Christian author with a long list of abandoned business deals and unpaid creditors finds a new home for his work in N.C. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/kyle-perrotti/">Kyle Perrotti</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div><div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-2 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-1 is-landscape has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <h2 class="article-section-title"> <span><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/">Education</a></span> </h2> <article data-post-id="39455" class="tag-unc-chapel-hill category-higher-education category-sports type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/unc-football-bill-belichick-salary-chapel-hill-athletics-budget/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="UNC’s Risky Belichick Math " data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Assembly_Belichick-0120-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/unc-football-bill-belichick-salary-chapel-hill-athletics-budget/" rel="bookmark">UNC’s Risky Belichick Math </a></h3> <p>UNC-Chapel Hill transferred $21 million to the athletic department last year–and that was before hiring Bill Belichick. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/matt-hartman/">Matt Hartman</a></span> and <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/zachery-eanes/">Zachery Eanes</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="38576" class="tag-saint-augustines-university category-higher-education type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/the-fight-that-fractured-saint-augustines-university/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="The Fight that Fractured Saint Augustine’s University" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=706%2C530&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/2025-02-26-SAU-mismanagment-accreditation-overview-feat-illo_v2.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/the-fight-that-fractured-saint-augustines-university/" rel="bookmark">The Fight that Fractured Saint Augustine’s University</a></h3> <p>Internal complaints and lawsuits reveal deep disputes about how the board of trustees has managed the institution.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/egretzinger/">Erin Gretzinger</a></span> and <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/chloe-courtney-bohl/">Chloe Courtney Bohl</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="40762" class="tag-unc-chapel-hill category-education category-health category-higher-education type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/unc-chapel-hill-lab-baric-five-years-covid-19/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="A Chapel Hill Lab Faces New Threats Five Years After Covid-19" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=1536%2C1152&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=2048%2C1536&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=1024%2C768&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=1568%2C1176&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=2000%2C1500&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=706%2C530&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-03-26-baric-unc-covid-illo-feature.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/education/higher-education/unc-chapel-hill-lab-baric-five-years-covid-19/" rel="bookmark">A Chapel Hill Lab Faces New Threats Five Years After Covid-19</a></h3> <p>Public health leaders looked to UNC-Chapel Hill virologist Ralph Baric to end the pandemic. Their critics blamed it on him. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/matt-hartman/">Matt Hartman</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div><div class="wp-block-group wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-2 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-1 is-landscape has-text-align-left margin-bottom-half" style="padding-top:32px"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"><h2 class="article-section-title" id="h-around-the-state"><span> Around the State </span></h2></div></div><div class="wp-block-group wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-2 show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-1 is-landscape has-text-align-left margin-top-half"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"><article class="wp-block-group margin-top-none"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"><div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-1 is-landscape has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="40908" class="tag-greensboro tag-regional category-books category-business category-culture type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/business/black-bookstore-greensboro-next-chapter/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Next-Chapter.png?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="‘Unapologetically Who We Are’" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Next-Chapter.png?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Next-Chapter.png?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Next-Chapter.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Next-Chapter.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Next-Chapter.png?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Next-Chapter.png?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/business/black-bookstore-greensboro-next-chapter/" rel="bookmark">‘Unapologetically Who We Are’</a></h2> <p>At Greensboro’s Next Chapter, Black stories are centered on and off the page.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/sayaka-matsuoka/">Sayaka Matsuoka</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div></div></article> <article class="wp-block-group margin-top-none"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained"><div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-4 is-1 is-landscape has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="40261" class="tag-orange-county category-courts category-law-enforcement type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/law-enforcement/orange-county-jail-death-maurice-king/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250218_AE_ASSEMBLY_TiffanyKing_selects_003-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="Suit Alleges Deadly Indifference At Orange County Jail" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250218_AE_ASSEMBLY_TiffanyKing_selects_003-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/20250218_AE_ASSEMBLY_TiffanyKing_selects_003-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, 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rel="bookmark">Suit Alleges Deadly Indifference At Orange County Jail</a></h2> <p>Five years ago, Maurice King died while in custody on federal charges. 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UNC-Greensboro offers a case study. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/egretzinger/">Erin Gretzinger</a></span> and <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/david-jesse/">David Jesse</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="20630" class="tag-chatham-county tag-pittsboro category-development category-environment category-place type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/business/development/disney-asteria-chatham-county-magical-place-north-carolina/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" 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Still</a></span> and <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/kevin-maurer/">Kevin Maurer</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="14375" class="tag-nc-supreme-court category-courts category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/courts/anita-earls-supreme-court/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="The Majority v. Anita Earls" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Anita-Earls-The-Assembly_resized.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/courts/">Courts</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/courts/anita-earls-supreme-court/" rel="bookmark">The Majority v. Anita Earls</a></h2> <p>As one of two Democrats and the only Black justice on the state Supreme Court, Earls at the center of an ongoing debate about politicization.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/michael-hewlett/">Michael Hewlett</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="22275" class="category-business type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/business/shibumi-shade-takes-over-north-carolina-beaches/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/resizedshibumi.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="Shibumi Has Taken Over N.C. Beaches. Next, The World." data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/resizedshibumi.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/resizedshibumi.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/resizedshibumi.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/resizedshibumi.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/resizedshibumi.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/resizedshibumi.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/business/">Business</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/business/shibumi-shade-takes-over-north-carolina-beaches/" rel="bookmark">Shibumi Has Taken Over N.C. Beaches. Next, The World.</a></h2> <p>The ubiquitous sun shade is on a quest for coastal domination—and isn’t afraid to fight.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/johanna/">Johanna F. Still</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape show-category has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="819"> <article data-post-id="15692" class="tag-asheville category-climate category-environment type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/environment/climate-haven-wildfire-western-nc/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="No Safe Haven" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/climate_refugees0658.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/environment/">Environment</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/environment/climate-haven-wildfire-western-nc/" rel="bookmark">No Safe Haven</a></h2> <p>As more people move to “climate havens” like Western North Carolina, they are learning nowhere is immune from a changing climate.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/storms-reback/">Storms Reback</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="19900" class="tag-2024-assembly-favorites tag-western-nc category-environment category-media category-place type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/environment/charlotte-the-stingray-pregnant-north-carolina/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="600" height="450" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Charlotte-e1716921658142.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-intermediate size-newspack-article-block-landscape-intermediate wp-post-image" alt="What Is Really Going On With Charlotte the Stingray?" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Charlotte-e1716921658142.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Charlotte-e1716921658142.png?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Charlotte-e1716921658142.png?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Charlotte-e1716921658142.png?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/environment/">Environment</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/environment/charlotte-the-stingray-pregnant-north-carolina/" rel="bookmark">What Is Really Going On With Charlotte the Stingray?</a></h2> <p>A Hendersonville aquarium blew up the internet with the announcement of a “miracle” pregnancy. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/emily-cataneo/">Emily Cataneo</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="24661" class="tag-2024-assembly-favorites tag-charlotte category-business category-politics category-sports type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/olympic-center-charlotte-nc-state-funding/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/www.theassemblync.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240619_OlympicTrainingCenter_ASSEMBLY_RAW_01078-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 400px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/">Politics</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/olympic-center-charlotte-nc-state-funding/" rel="bookmark">North Carolina’s $55 Million Olympic Dream</a></h2> <p>Top legislators quietly allocated large state grants to attract Olympic organizations to the Charlotte area, with little to show for it.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/author/renlarson/">Ren Larson</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div style="height:20px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div></div></div> </div> </article> </main> </section> </div> <footer id="colophon" class="site-footer"> <div class="footer-branding"> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="footer-logo-link" href="https://www.theassemblync.com/" rel="home"> <img width="400" height="144" 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