Author: Jordan Meadows

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer Sanford, N.C. - For Dr. Shawn E. Williams, the vision behind MINA Charter School of Lee County was never just about education-it was personal. The school was founded in honor of his mother, who passed away in 2016. "MINA" was the name she was affectionately called, and it became the inspiration behind the school's meaning: More Is Now Achievable. "What we built was rooted in

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Born Leroy Paige on July 7, 1906, in Mobile, baseball legend Satchel Paige rose from difficult beginnings to become one of the most iconic figures in the sport's history. His family altered the spelling of their last name to distance themselves from his father, and he earned the nickname "Satchel" as a child while working as a porter at a train station, where he devised

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer A state advisory council convened by Governor Josh Stein is warning that North Carolina's rapidly expanding market for hemp-derived THC products is operating in a regulatory vacuum, describing the current system as a "wild west" that poses risks to consumers and calling on lawmakers to establish a comprehensive legal framework. In a newly released interim report on Friday, the North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer A state audit has found that years of mismanagement, weak oversight, and aggressive spending pushed the City of Rocky Mount to the brink of financial collapse, with officials warning that the city's fiscal trajectory had become "unsustainable" before recent corrective actions were taken. In a performance audit completed March 9, the North Carolina Office of the State Auditor detailed what it described as "serious financial

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer The 2026 Alpha South Regional Convention and FOCUS HBCU College Fair brought more than 1,500 students to the Raleigh Convention Center last Thursday. Running from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the annual event connected students from across North Carolina with representatives from historically Black colleges and universities throughout the Southeast region of the U.S., offering information on admissions, scholarships, academic programs, and extracurricular opportunities.  In

By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Southeast Raleigh residents are calling out city officials over a series of long-planned parks bond projects that community members say are drifting away from their original vision. At the center of the dispute are several initiatives tied to the South Park neighborhood, including the John P. "Top" Greene African American Cultural Center, the South Park Heritage Trail, Heritage Plaza, and Phase II of the John

[caption id="attachment_17029" align="alignnone" width="1760"] The current Rivers Correctional Institute in Winton, NC is closed but is actively maintained, according to its owner The GEO Group. (Aaron Sanchez-Guerra / WUNC News)[/caption] By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer A growing national debate over immigration detention has found a focal point in eastern North Carolina, where federal officials and private prison operators are exploring new sites for expanded Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities.

[caption id="attachment_17003" align="alignnone" width="1538"] Screenshot[/caption] By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Lawmakers on the North Carolina Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee spent Tuesday morning grappling with how best to measure student success, modernize curriculum, and address challenges in the state's teacher pipeline, with members raising pointed questions about both instructional methods and long-term outcomes. A recurring theme throughout the meeting was how students are being taught, particularly in early grades. Rep.

By Jordan Meadows  Staff Writer Artist Derwin Knight's work took center stage last Thursday at the Durham Main County Library, where visitors gathered for a showcase with his distinctive paintings and storytelling. Born in Long Island, New York, Knight studied at the State University College of New York at Old Westbury before graduating from North Carolina Central University. He joined the military in 1986, and it was during his time

[caption id="attachment_16662" align="alignnone" width="653"] The NC Court of Appeals ruled in 2013 that Cane Creek Village was entitled to a property tax exemption. (Photo: NC General Assembly Legislative Analysis)[/caption] By Jordan Meadows Staff Writer A growing set of tax incentives meant to encourage development and expand affordable housing in Wake County is now raising alarms among local officials, who say a surge in property tax exemptions could jeopardize funding for