Trump Administration Rolls Out Rural Health Funding, With Strings Attached

(AP)-States will share $10 billion for rural health care next year in a program that aims to offset the Trump administration's massive budget cuts to rural hospitals, federal officials announced Monday. But while every state applied for money from the Rural Health Transformation Program, it won't be distributed equally. And critics worry that the funding might be pulled back if a state's policies don't match up with the administration's. Officials

The Resilient Third Act of Liberation Station

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer In the world of entrepreneurship, the "third time" is often cited as a charm, but for Victoria Scott-Miller, the founder of Liberation Station, this third iteration feels less like luck and more like a spiritual homecoming. From the humble beginnings of selling books out of a car trunk to navigating the complexities of physical storefronts that didn't quite fit the vision, Scott-Miller has arrived at

Zebulon Mayor to Lead National Equity Council

Zebulon, N.C. - Mayor Jessica Harrison has been appointed chair of the National League of Cities' 2026 Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) Council. Harrison was elected to a one-year term and will help develop and guide programs for local elected officials from communities with similar demographics, size or geographic characteristics. The appointment was announced by National League of Cities President Kevin Kramer, a Louisville, Kentucky, council member. "This council's work

The Reopening of Liberation Station Bookstore in SE Raleigh

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer Liberation Station, North Carolina's first Black-owned children's bookstore, has officially reopened its doors in Raleigh.  Now the Miller family-owned bookstore returned before a large and celebratory crowd in a recommitment to its original mission: creating a safe, affirming space where children can see themselves reflected as heroes, leaders, and central figures in the stories they read.  For owner and founder Victoria Scott-Miller, the moment represents

After Approving Ban On DEI, NC House Votes To Honor The Tuskegee Airmen

[caption id="attachment_15442" align="alignnone" width="2048"] The Tuskeegee Airmen[/caption] By Clayton Henkel NC Newsline The irony of the moment was likely not lost on Rep. Renée Price. Shortly after a tense, hours-long debate in the state House and the passage of a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across North Carolina government, it was her time to speak on House Bill 254. The Orange County Democrat stood and asked her colleagues

Gut-amend-release. How NC’s translucent lawmaking tactics hurt democracy.

WFAE - What you see is not always what you get in the North Carolina legislature. For decades, lawmakers have used a "gut-and-amend" strategy to quickly pass legislation without much, if any, time for the public, opposing advocacy groups - and sometimes, other lawmakers - to weigh in. This year, an effort to regulate cellphone use in schools transformed into an anti-squatter law. A campaign finance bill turned into a

Greg Rice and the Foundations of BCG Concrete Construction

By Jheri Hardaway Staff Writer In the world of commercial construction, "solid foundations" usually refers to the PSI of a concrete slab. But for Greg Rice, founder of BCG Concrete Construction, the foundation of his firm is built on something far more enduring: a commitment to Christian values, family legacy, and a standard of customer service that he feels the industry has long missed. I recently sat down with Greg

NC Fails Annual School Funding Report

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer North Carolina's public schools are facing renewed scrutiny after the Education Law Center released its annual Making the Grade report, which gave the state an overall F for school funding. The report evaluates states based on funding level, funding distribution, and funding effort, and North Carolina failed two of the three categories. The most damaging mark for North Carolina was its ranking in funding effort,

Trying to improve your health and wellness in 2026?

AP NEWS - The new year is a time when many try to start new good habits and commit to improving health and wellness. But resolutions, lofty as they may be, can turn daunting quickly with all the advice and sometimes contradicting information coming at you from news reports, advertisers, influencers, friends and even politicians. But they don't have to be. This year, The Associated Press got the downlow on

Tarboro Road Tradition Serves Holiday Joy At Breakfast With Santa

  By Judaea Ingram Staff Writer The line stretched out the door as cars filled the parking lot and spilled onto Tarboro Road outside the Tarboro Road Community Center, where hundreds of families gathered Saturday morning for the 44th annual Breakfast With Santa, a holiday tradition rooted in the Tarboro Road community and led for decades by Octavia Rainey. Held from 10 a.m. to noon on the Saturday before Christmas,