The Carolinian Newspaper

Dunn Chamber’s EmpowerHer Inaugural Event

Jheri Hardaway — Sun, 24 May 2026 11:30:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Smithfield, NC - Former Governor RoyDunn, NC - In a powerful demonstration of community and collaboration, the Dunn Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its inaugural EmpowHer event last Monday morning at the Dunn Shrine Center. Brought to life by powerhouse presenting sponsor KS Bank, the morning gathering was explicitly designed as an intentional space to encourage, equip, and empower local women making an impact in business, at home, and behind the scenes. Featuring a panel of local leaders and an energetic keynote address, the event challenged attendees to step away from their endless to-do lists and actively invest in their own self-preservation.

The morning’s keynote address was delivered by Melissa Overton, local leadership consultant, nurse, and author of the upcoming book Focused and Fearless Leadership. Overton centered her remarks on a critical bottleneck that destroys organizational culture: the breakdown of clear communication. "Clarity is going to reduce the risk of conflict," Overton told the audience. "We have to stop hoping people will just 'read the room' and figure it out. We need to step up and be clear about our expectations." Overton noted that maintaining clear communication requires intentional trust and selective transparency, warning that a lack of clarity forces people into harmful cognitive traps. "When we get burnt out, we experience an increase in assumptions," Overton explained. "Instead of stopping to think and process, we're too tired. We just take things at face value and assume that's what they meant. And you know what they say about assumptions—it makes an absolute mess out of a situation."

Drawing from her own recent experience at a silent women’s retreat, Overton touched on a highly relatable modern affliction she dubbed the "busyness sickness.

“Busyness kills compassion and creativity," Overton stated plainly. "The busyness sickness is when we keep expecting to do more and more with less and less, and somehow, that becomes normalized. But when you are completely burnt out, your 'giving-on' button is busted. The people you used to have immense compassion for become just a checklist item, a chest pain, and not a person." Overton explicitly challenged the common narrative that prioritizes constant grinding over personal well-being, especially for women trying to balance multiple cultural roles. "Self-care is not selfish; self-care is self-preservation," Overton said to murmurs of agreement from the crowd. "We are naturally expected to be the nurturers and the caregivers. That's fine, but at some point, we also decided to be these fierce, badass businesswomen. We didn't get to shift our energy, we just had to be fully present for both."

To combat burnout, Overton left the audience with practical tools for everyday life:

Take a Victory Lap: Celebrate successes great and small. "We think we can only celebrate when we get 'there,'" Overton said, quoting leadership expert John Maxwell. "But as soon as you get there, you're here, looking at the next 'there.' Celebrate now to get the energy for the next great leap."

Surround Yourself with Builders, Not Suckers: Evaluate your circle. "Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. Distance yourself from the energy suckers. Find girlfriends who encourage you to move forward instead of competing with you."

Organize Your Workspace: Avoid walking into structural chaos on a Monday morning, which instantly triggers an elevated stress response.

Cut Yourself a Break: Give yourself the exact same grace and mercy that you are expected to extend to others.

As a surprise concluding gift, Overton announced that every attendee in the room would receive an advance digital copy of three chapters from Focused and Fearless Leadership ahead of its physical print release on October 20. Following the keynote, attendees broke for a networking session, carrying forward real conversations about setting boundaries, cutting through the noise, and showing up for one another without emptying their own reservoirs.

Preservation North Carolina’s Franklin County Ramble

Jheri Hardaway — Sat, 23 May 2026 21:45:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Franklin County, NC - Preservation North Carolina, or PresNC, has been Saving Places That Matter to the Diverse People of North Carolina Since 1939. As part of a recent historic "Ramble" in Franklin County, PresNC hosted visitors at several properties, including the Historic Perry’s School, several churches, and historic residences.

The day began with a tour of the historic Perry’s School educational complex in rural Franklin County. Standing as a monument to African American resilience, faith, and community determination, this sprawling site is a profound piece of North Carolina history currently waiting for its next chapter. “There was just so much love from your teachers,” an alumnus recalled, looking around the weathered remains of a classroom. “They really cared about you... I just like thinking about it. The good old days.”

Perry’s School has lived multiple distinct lives. Following emancipation, formerly enslaved families in Franklin County recognized that true freedom required empowering both "the heart for God, and then the mind." Communities built local churches and quickly established modest, one-room schoolhouses nearby to educate their children. Local white landowner Joshua Perry donated the acreage to build the first school. In the 1920s, philanthropist Julius Rosenwald partnered with Booker T. Washington to build thousands of state-of-the-art schools for Black children across the South. A larger Rosenwald frame structure was erected to accommodate the growing student population.

In 1949, a modern white school building was constructed, followed by a concrete block addition in 1953 and a gymnasium in 1963. Buses traveled massive distances across the county to bring Black students to the high school. Following integration in 1968, the county stripped the historic "Perry’s" name from the high school, re-designating the facility as K-5 Gold Sand Elementary before it permanently closed its doors in 1990. Today, the vacant campus stands in a delicate state of limbo. Since its closure in 1990, the building has faced severe challenges. Vandals have shattered windows, and roof leaks have allowed water to warp the walls of the old library. "It's amazing what water does," a rambler observed, looking up at the peeling ceilings. Yet, the bones of the structure remain remarkably resilient, and the passion of the community has not faded. To save Perry's School from total deterioration, local leaders and PresNC are looking toward the future with a clear strategy. PresNC and local advocates are currently exploring avenues for grants, funding, and adaptive reuse to prevent this irreplaceable asset from being lost to time.

What began as a grassroots effort to educate Black children after slavery is now on its fourth life, transitioning from a beloved community beacon to an abandoned structure, and hopefully, now towards an empowered future of preserved legacy. During the tour, alumni shared vibrant memories of what it was like to be a student at Perry's during the 1950s and 60s. The school was a true community sanctuary. One former student pointed out the first-grade classroom and fondly remembered her teacher, Ms. Suit. "We were poor then and couldn't afford to buy dresses," she shared, pointing to an old sewing machine left in the room. "We would wash flour sacks and bring them, and she would make us a dress for the Mayday play."

The school principal, Mr. Wilson, was remembered as a loving but firm figure. "All he had to do was walk into a class," a former student laughed. "He didn't have to say one word. You were gonna be quiet." More than anything, the school reinforced a foundational network of character training shared between the home, the church, and the classroom. Every morning before class, students participated in devotionals featuring scripture readings and spiritual songs.

March of Dimes, March for Babies Walk Brings Together Families, Survivors, and Advocates Across the Triangle

Judaea Ingram — Sat, 23 May 2026 17:21:00 +0000

By Judaea Ingram

Special to the Carolinian

CARY, N.C. – Despite early rain and gray skies, families, healthcare workers, students, and community organizations gathered across the Triangle for the 2026 March for Babies walk, an annual event organized by March of Dimes to raise awareness and funding for maternal and infant health.

Participants arrived wearing purple and pink event shirts, while many children and families sported superhero capes bearing the words “March for Dimes.” As rain fell before the event began, volunteers distributed umbrellas while attendees gathered beneath tents and trees waiting for the walk to officially start. By the time opening remarks concluded, the sun had begun to break through the clouds.

The event, held during Mother’s Day weekend, focused on honoring families affected by premature birth, infant loss, NICU stays, and maternal health complications. Throughout the morning, walkers shared personal stories and reasons for participating, with shirts and signs memorializing loved ones and children who inspired their involvement.

One shirt worn by a participant read, “Still Walking with Rhea,” while another section of the event honored families participating in memory of children and relatives who had passed away. A butterfly release also paid tribute to loved ones remembered during the walk.

According to organizers, the event supports programs and advocacy efforts aimed at addressing maternal and infant health challenges in the United States, including NICU family support, prenatal care access, and maternal health research.

Members of several Divine Nine organizations participated throughout the event, joining fundraising teams and walking in support of maternal and infant health awareness. Among the participating groups, members of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. were recognized for raising the highest amount of funds during the event.

Children’s activities and entertainment remained active throughout the morning despite changing weather conditions. Families visited stations featuring face painting, finger painting, mini games, and dance activities as music played across the event grounds. Organizers also created hospitality areas for mothers that included mocktails, donuts, cookies, and more.

One of the event’s most emotional moments came during remarks from the 2026 ambassador family, the Oracle family, who shared their experience navigating life with a premature infant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kelly Oracle described giving birth to her daughter Emma at just 25 weeks, weighing only one pound. She recalled learning “a new language of oxygen levels, ventilators, and alarms,” while navigating the emotional isolation that often accompanies long-term NICU stays.

“What became so clear is that the NICU is more than caring for an infant,” Oracle said during her remarks. “Every baby comes with a full entourage, a story, a village.”

Oracle later explained that her experience ultimately inspired her professional path caring for babies and families facing similar circumstances. She described the emotional realities of supporting parents through trauma, uncertainty, and grief while celebrating moments of survival and progress.

“This work is not just my profession, but deeply personal,” she said.

Her daughter Emma, now six years old, was recognized during the event as a thriving NICU graduate. Oracle shared an emotional moment recalling Emma recently telling her, “Mom, want to know something crazy? I was born really early, but I’m now a totally normal kid.”

“If only she knew just how extraordinary she was,” Oracle said.

Throughout the event, organizers repeatedly emphasized the message that “every step counts,” reminding participants that the walk represented more than a fundraiser. Many attendees described the event as an opportunity to connect with families who understand the emotional weight of NICU experiences, infant loss, and maternal health challenges.

A NICU graduates parade became one of the day’s defining moments, as families and children walked together while the song “Fight Song” played through speakers. During the parade, children who had spent time in the NICU walked alongside their families holding signs that read “I Was a NICU Baby,” followed by the number of weeks at which they were born.

Some children were born as early as 25 or 26 weeks, drawing emotional reactions and applause from attendees gathered along the walking path. Organizers and participants celebrated the children as “tiny but brave warriors,” recognizing both their survival and the journeys their families endured during extended NICU stays.

For many parents in attendance, the parade served as a visible reminder of how far their children had come since those early days surrounded by hospital monitors, ventilators, and uncertainty.

Katie Casey, state director for March of Dimes, acknowledged the personal motivations that brought many people to the event.

“Many of you have a personal reason for joining this walk today,” Casey told the crowd. “Together as we march, we are all moms and babies.”

As the one-mile walk officially began, families continued moving through the event grounds together while sharing stories, taking photos, and celebrating children whose journeys began in the NICU. For many attendees, the event served as both a celebration of survival and a reminder of the continued need for maternal and infant health advocacy.

By the end of the morning, the rain had cleared completely, leaving walkers gathered beneath sunny skies that contrasted sharply with the stormy start to the day. Still, participants said the weather reflected the spirit of the event itself: resilience, hope, and community support through difficult moments.

Cooper’s “Make Stuff Cost Less” Tour

Jheri Hardaway — Fri, 22 May 2026 17:07:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Smithfield, NC - Former Governor Roy Cooper brought his U.S. Senate campaign to Johnston County, speaking to a packed room of supporters about affordability, healthcare, and corporate accountability. His focus is “making stuff cost less.” During the Smithfield event, Cooper heavily contrasted his record in North Carolina state government with that of his Republican opponent, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, whom he repeatedly labeled a "Washington, D.C. insider." Cooper, who served as the state's governor from 2017 to 2025, framed his run for the open Senate seat as a direct response to policies currently coming out of Washington.

"I had not planned on running; I thought about doing something else when I left the governor's office," Cooper told the crowd. "But then I saw what started happening to people in my state when this administration took hold, and my opponent was supporting these policies that were hurting people. I kept thinking about that verse from the book of Luke: 'To whom much is given, much is required.' I needed to step up right now.” Cooper pointed to major legislative and executive achievements during his tenure in Raleigh as the blueprint for what he hopes to accomplish federally. He noted that under his administration, North Carolina saw the creation of 640,000 new, better-paying jobs and implemented paid parental leave for state employees via executive order.

A central pillar of Cooper's speech was his successful, years-long push to expand Medicaid in North Carolina, a move that ultimately extended health insurance coverage to more than 750,000 residents. Cooper also highlighted a landmark medical debt relief initiative executed during his time in office. By leveraging federal funds and coordinating with 99 of the state's hospitals, the program effectively wiped away $6.5 billion in medical debt for more than 2.5 million North Carolinians. "We have removed medical debt that stifles people," Cooper said, sharing a story of a local woman named Mary who had a $54,000 judgment completely cleared. "When you have a civil judgment against you, you can't get a credit card, you can't buy a house. This makes a real difference in people's lives."

Turning his attention to the general election matchup, Cooper launched a fierce critique against Whatley's professional background as a corporate lobbyist. "My opponent, Michael Whatley, is a longtime lobbyist who lobbied for Big Oil and utility companies like Duke Energy," Cooper charged. "He is the kind of person who is looking out for himself and his billionaire buddies, supporting policies that are making stuff cost more and taking healthcare away from people. We need somebody who will put the people before power, party, and politics."

In a post-event press conference with reporters, Cooper addressed the immediate economic anxieties of voters in a county that voted heavily for Donald Trump. When pressed on surging fuel costs and grocery inflation, Cooper outlined a comprehensive policy platform aimed at lowering standard middle-class overhead. He advocated for rolling back "chaotic tariffs" that increase supply chain costs for small businesses, farmers, and restaurants. He also called for heightened antitrust enforcement to block major grocery store mergers and curb price-gouging algorithms. Cooper also addressed international factors affecting North Carolina utility and fuel costs, pointing to the ongoing conflict involving Iran. He argued that Congress must exert pressure to stabilize domestic energy markets. "Gas and diesel were okay until this war in Iran, and then it sent it through the roof," Cooper remarked. "Congress has got to say, 'Look, you've got to focus on what's happening at home.' We've got to make sure that we reduce gas prices and diesel prices for people, because transportation costs affect almost everything they buy." Cooper’s team also shared that Cooper for North Carolina has launched “Black Leaders for Roy” Coalition. The press release indicates that more than 125 Black leaders and supporters from across the state joined the launch of “Black Leaders for Roy.”

Despite Johnston County's conservative voting history, Cooper expressed confidence that his message of economic consensus would resonate across party lines. "First, I'm gonna be a senator for everybody, and I think it's critical to have someone who will work across the aisle to make government work," Cooper said. "I think people are tired of the partisanship where people are yelling at each other. You have to be willing to move in and gain consensus and compromise."

A State Employee Group Says Auditor’s Report Shows A ‘Pay Crisis’ In NC’s Government, Not Vacancy Issue

The Carolinian — Fri, 22 May 2026 13:32:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - The State Employees Association of North Carolina has a simple explanation for the raft of vacant positions in state government: poor pay.

A dashboard released by SEANC on Wednesday compiles findings from State Auditor Dave Boliek’s January report on long-term vacancies in state government, arguing that the auditor’s inquiry vindicates their assertion that inadequate salaries are the primary reason many of North Carolina’s government positions go unfilled.

“State Auditor Dave Boliek’s report shows what we have long argued: North Carolina’s vacancy problem is a pay problem,” said SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins. “The auditor himself recommends that the state bring salaries in line with neighboring states and appropriate additional funds where vacancy rates are high.”

As of last August, 8,845 positions had been vacant for more than six months, representing about 11% of the state workforce, according to the dashboard and Boliek’s report. More than a third of those long-term vacancies were attributed to low compensation, the number one cause identified in the auditor’s report.

The dashboard was released just after Republican lawmakers announced a budget framework that will include an average 3% pay raise for state government employees, with higher increases in some of the areas Boliek identified as especially underpaid.

The vacancies, SEANC argues, are not necessarily a chronic issue. According to the dashboard, roughly 3,000 positions are legally blocked from being filled because the state has been operating without an enacted budget. And in the eight weeks following the passage of the DAVE Act authorizing the auditor to probe government efficiency, 1,181 vacant positions were filled.

“The question now is whether the General Assembly will act on what the data shows,” Watkins said.

Boliek’s office did not respond to a request for comment. But while the auditor recommended increasing pay for some state employees — such as correctional officers and registered nurses — he also encouraged the General Assembly to consider eliminating at least a chunk of the longstanding vacancies.

“Long-term vacancies muddy the waters of government expenditures. In some agencies, you have tax dollars meant to go to a person serving a valuable state need, but instead that spot sits empty for years and the money goes elsewhere,” he said in a press release accompanying the report. “[The report] includes several different options to improve government efficiency, from cuts to job vacancies, to increases in areas where additional resources may be necessary.”

According to the SEANC dashboard and the auditor’s report, more than $1.04 billion in lapsed salary has been generated by those 8,845 vacancies. Lapsed salaries would represent more than 16% of the state payroll budget or around $482 million if the vacancy positions remained unfilled for a year.

Much of that money, funded through state appropriations and receipts, is available for use by the departments while the positions remain unfilled — going instead to things like overtime, temporary workers, and other operational costs.

Senate Democratic Leader Sydney Batch (D-Wake) told the press Wednesday that eliminating lapsed salaries would have serious consequences for state government programs. She said her caucus has concerns that Republican leaders plan to cover the cost of the pay raises by cutting vacant positions as outlined in the auditor’s report.

“What they aren’t telling you is, are they doing that by removing lapsed salaries, which a lot of our departments actually rely on in order to just do their programmatic work?” Batch asked. “Are they going to do it by cutting a whole bunch of positions and using the auditor’s report to say that you don’t actually need human capital to run this government and somehow, AI is going to do it for us?”

However, House Speaker Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) told reporters Wednesday that this week’s budget agreement slowing down the state’s planned tax cut timeline has lessened the need to eliminate vacant government positions in the final bill.

“The need isn’t as great to go in and look at all of those vacant positions. That doesn’t mean some of those won’t wind up being in there,” Hall said. “I think Dave Boliek’s done a good job as state auditor at getting us a bunch of information, new data that’s out there — so areas across state government where we can improve efficiency, you may see some cuts there.”

Asked about potential cuts to vacant positions Wednesday, state Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) declined to offer specifics, telling members of the media, “We’re going to let the subcommittees go through the process.”

Supreme Court Decision Forces End to NC Black Voters’ Redistricting Challenge

Jordan Meadows — Fri, 22 May 2026 11:20:00 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

North Carolina Democrats have abandoned a high-profile federal lawsuit challenging the state’s Republican-drawn Senate map.

State Rep. Rodney Pierce of Halifax County and co-plaintiff Moses Matthews, a voting rights advocate, filed a stipulation of dismissal last Monday with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, formally ending their appeal of a lower court ruling that upheld the contested districts.

The lawsuit, originally filed in 2023, alleged that North Carolina’s Senate map unlawfully diluted the voting power of Black residents in the northeastern part of the state by “cracking” the historically Black “Black Belt” region across multiple districts. According to the plaintiffs, the map split this contiguous community into Senate Districts 1 and 2, leaving each with only about 30% Black voting-age population and limiting the ability of Black voters to elect candidates of their choice.

However, Pierce said the recent Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais effectively foreclosed any path forward. The 6–3 ruling by the Court’s conservative majority placed new limits on how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act can be used in redistricting cases, emphasizing the need to prove intentional discrimination rather than disparate impact.

“The Supreme Court effectively made the Voting Rights Act a meaningless law with no teeth,” Pierce said in a statement announcing the dismissal. “Because of that decision, there is no longer a path open to us to protect the voting rights of Black citizens in my part of the state, so we have dismissed the suit. It’s a sad day for our democracy.”

In a dissent, Justice Elena Kagan warned that the racial provision is now “all but a dead letter,” raising concerns among voting rights advocates that minority representation could decline nationwide.

The dismissal in North Carolina comes “with prejudice,” meaning the case cannot be refiled. As part of the agreement, Pierce and Matthews will pay an agreed-upon portion of legal costs to Republican legislative leaders, though the State Board of Elections will not seek fees. The move leaves Senate Districts 1 and 2 intact with no remaining federal legal challenges; both districts were already used in the 2024 elections and will continue to be used in upcoming contests.

In September, U.S. District Judge James Dever rejected the plaintiffs’ claims after a five-day trial, concluding they had failed to prove a violation of Section 2. In a lengthy opinion, Dever wrote that courts should not require lawmakers to engage in “the odious practice of sorting voters based on race” to create majority-Black districts. He also found that Black voters in the region had demonstrated an ability to elect candidates of their choice without constituting a majority in a single district.

Republican legislative leaders defended the map throughout the case, arguing that courts have consistently rejected similar claims in northeastern North Carolina. In court filings, their attorneys said that creating majority-Black districts in the region would conflict with the state constitution’s county-grouping rules and trigger strict constitutional scrutiny.

They also challenged the plaintiffs’ evidence, asserting that racial bloc voting was not strong enough to justify race-based districting and that demographic data did not support an additional majority-Black district.

Plaintiffs, however, pointed to decades of precedent stemming from the Supreme Court’s 1986 decision in Thornburg v. Gingles, which established the framework for evaluating racial vote dilution claims. Their attorneys argued that for nearly 40 years, Black voters in the region had successfully elected preferred candidates under maps that respected those principles, and that the 2023 redistricting plan marked a sharp departure by dispersing those voters across multiple districts.

The 4th Circuit had already declined to block the districts before the 2024 election and denied an earlier request to have the full court hear the case, instead allowing a standard three-judge panel to handle the appeal. With the voluntary dismissal, that appeal will no longer proceed.

An analysis of federal court records shows at least 17 ongoing legal challenges to state and local voting maps that must now contend with the higher legal standard. Many of these cases are concentrated in the South, where voting patterns are often racially polarized, but similar disputes involving Latino and Native American voters have also emerged in states like Washington, Pennsylvania, and North Dakota.

What we know about proposed NC teacher raises

The Carolinian — Thu, 21 May 2026 23:16:00 +0000

WUNC - Leaders in the General Assembly are still hammering out a long-delayed state budget that they expect to release in June and then vote on shortly after. While much of that budget is unknown, state lawmakers released a one-page document this week outlining their proposed salary schedule for North Carolina teachers.

The information released this week was simply a preview of teacher pay, part of the General Assembly's "budget framework."

What we know

There are significant raises of 10-17% for teachers at the beginning of their careers. House speaker Destin Hall claims this would raise NC's beginning teacher pay to #1 in the Southeast, with a minimum salary of $48,000 before other salary supplements are added. (The locally-funded salary supplement ranges from $0 in Graham County Schools to more than $11,500 on average in Chapel Hill - Carrboro City Schools.)

Veteran teachers would see smaller raises than their early-career colleagues. Teachers with between 15 and 24 years of experience would see a 5.5% raise. These teachers have not had any raise since Fall 2024.

The General Assembly does not plan to offer backpay. The budget is meant to cover the 2025-26 school year that has nearly ended, as well as next school year, but the state does not plan to offer retroactive pay for the current school year, as it sometimes has when past budgets came in late.

Teachers also would receive bonuses. Those with more than 16 years of experience would receive a $1,000 bonus, and others would receive a $500 bonus. These bonuses will likely be taxed and likely would not count toward an employee's highest years of income for purposes of calculating retirement benefits.

The salary schedule is more compressed than before. The current year's salary schedule ranges from $41,000 to $55,950, for a total range of nearly $15,000. The new salary schedule ranges from $48,000 to $59,000, a range of $11,000.

Teacher raises are estimated to cost the state $528 million. That is less than the $587 million that the state spent on Opportunity Scholarship vouchers in the current school year.

What we don't know

How the General Assembly plans to pay for this and other raises across state government: The teacher raises alone add half a billion dollars to the state’s payroll, with all state employees receiving raises of at least 3% and state law enforcement receiving significantly higher raises. Asked this week how the General Assembly plans to pay for the raises, Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, said lawmakers are expecting “to receive good news” from an upcoming state revenue forecast and also exploring other ways to add revenue like rolling back a sales tax exemption on the electricity used by data centers.

The State Employees Association of North Carolina has expressed concerns lawmakers might pay for raises by making thousands of long-standing vacancies at state agencies permanent. In a statement, SEANC Executive Director Ardis Watkins wrote, “State employees are already doing the work of those empty positions. Eliminating the positions does not lighten the load. It makes it permanent.”

What other school employees will be paid: The graphic doesn't include salary schedules for other school employees, or for teachers who are on different pay scales because they have National Board Certification or have been grandfathered in on state-funded pay for holding a master's degree. Classified staff — including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers, and instructional assistants — would likely receive a 3% raise like all other state employees.

Raleigh’s Latest Violent Crime Report Shows Mixed Trends

Jordan Meadows — Thu, 21 May 2026 23:15:51 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle region are seeing a complex shift in violent crime trends, as recent incidents have tested public confidence and prompted a visible response from local law enforcement.

Newly released first-quarter data from 2025 show that homicides in Raleigh rose modestly year-over-year, from 9 incidents in Q1 2024 to 11 in Q1 2025. Nine of the eleven cases have already been closed, and one was ruled justifiable. A majority of those homicides—six—occurred in January, suggesting a concentrated spike rather than a sustained upward trend.

Aggravated assaults declined 12% overall, with firearm-related assaults dropping 17%. Robberies remained essentially flat, rising just 1% compared to the same period last year.

Non-fatal shootings ticked up slightly, from 18 to 19 incidents. Meanwhile, property crime showed more significant improvement, with motor vehicle thefts falling 19%, aided in part by the recovery of more than 400 stolen vehicles and ongoing efforts by the city’s Auto Theft Task Force.

Raleigh’s recent numbers align with broader trends across the Triangle and the nation. After a sharp rise in violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, homicides have declined significantly from their peak. Raleigh recorded 28 homicides in 2025, only slightly above 27 in 2024, but far below the 49 recorded in 2022—a nearly 45% drop.

Durham has followed a similar trajectory, with homicides falling from 40 to 38 over the past year, alongside double-digit declines in several other major crime categories.

A report from the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which tracks crime across dozens of large police departments, found that homicides dropped nearly 18% in early 2026 compared to the previous year, with declines across every major violent crime category. Raleigh, notably, was among the cities posting some of the largest early-year reductions.

Still, recent incidents have underscored the fragility of that progress.

In April, Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce addressed what he described as a “cluster of violence” that had unfolded over a matter of days, including multiple shootings, stabbings, and large public altercations—many in high-traffic areas such as downtown and the Glenwood South nightlife district.

“This recent cluster of violence threatens the perception of safety of our residents, our visitors, and our overall sense of security within our community,” Boyce said during a press conference. “Over the past 10 days, we’ve had multiple violent incidents that were publicized in the news.”

The incidents included two large fights involving weapons that spilled into public spaces. In response, Boyce outlined a series of targeted measures, including increasing patrols around bars, clubs, transportation hubs, and other nightlife areas. The department is also strengthening coordination with regional partners, including the Wake County ABC Board Law Enforcement Division, as part of a broader effort to manage alcohol-related and late-night disturbances.

In the first quarter of 2026 alone, officers confiscated 360 firearms and conducted more than 5,700 self-initiated security checks—a nearly 50% increase from the same period last year.

Programs like “Cops on the Block” and expanded community referrals are aimed at preventing violence before it occurs, particularly among younger populations. Juveniles, for instance, were charged in five firearm-related aggravated assault cases this year.

Despite recent flare-ups, the overall trajectory suggests Raleigh continues to stabilize after a period of disruption. Crime trends can shift quickly, especially heading into the summer months when violence historically rises.

College Graduates In The Triangle Enter A Shifting Job Market

Judaea Ingram — Wed, 20 May 2026 12:18:00 +0000

By Judaea Ingram

Special To The Carolinian

As graduation season peaks across North Carolina, thousands of college students in the Triangle are stepping into a job market that remains strong overall but increasingly competitive for entry-level positions.

The Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill region, often referred to as the Research Triangle, continues to rank as one of the fastest-growing hubs for college-educated residents in the country. Recent Census-based analysis shows the area has seen a significant increase in the share of adults with bachelor’s degrees, the highest gain among U.S. metropolitan areas in recent years.

That growth is fueled by the presence of major universities such as Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and North Carolina State University, which collectively produce tens of thousands of graduates each year and feed directly into the regional workforce.

While the region’s economy remains strong compared to national trends, recent data shows signs of cooling job growth across North Carolina. State employment growth has slowed to around 0.8% year-over-year as of early 2026, reflecting a broader national slowdown in hiring expansion.

For new graduates, the transition from campus to career is increasingly shaped by timing, networking, and industry demand rather than guaranteed immediate placement.

Data from NC State’s post-graduation outcomes reports show that a majority of graduates do find employment or continue their education within months of finishing their degrees, but outcomes vary widely depending on major and field. Some graduates enter graduate or professional school, while others secure jobs before graduation through internships or campus recruiting pipelines.

Across the UNC System, recent surveys show that about 60% of graduating seniors report having employment plans shortly after graduation, while others pursue graduate school, military service, or continue job searching.

Despite those outcomes, students say the job search process can feel overwhelming and uncertain, even for highly qualified candidates.

“You’ll apply to over a hundred jobs and you either don’t hear back or you get two to three rejection emails,” said Domini Rose, a recent graduate reflecting on her experience entering the job market.

Her comment reflects a broader sentiment among new graduates who say the transition from college to career often involves high volumes of applications, delayed responses, and repeated rejection before landing an opportunity.

At the same time, the Triangle continues to benefit from long-term growth trends. The region has become a major destination for recent graduates nationwide, ranking among the top U.S. metro areas attracting new degree holders, a factor that continues to support local industries and innovation-driven companies.

Economists say the region’s strength lies in its diversity of industries, including education, biotechnology, healthcare, and technology, which helps buffer against downturns in any single sector.

UNC System officials have also acknowledged the mismatch between workforce demand and degree production in some industries, noting that North Carolina may need thousands more graduates annually in high-demand fields such as healthcare, engineering, and education to meet employer needs.

Even so, students say the path after graduation is rarely straightforward. Many rely on internships, networking, and career development platforms to secure their first full-time role, while others take gap periods or pivot fields entirely.

As the class of 2026 enters the job market, the Triangle continues to represent both opportunity and competition — a region where degrees are abundant, but where landing the first role increasingly depends on timing, experience, and adaptability.

Raleigh Unveils A Few Options For The New Bern Ave Former DMV Site

Jordan Meadows — Tue, 19 May 2026 12:26:00 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

Raleigh’s long-vacant former Division of Motor Vehicles headquarters on New Bern Avenue is moving closer to redevelopment, with city leaders now weighing multiple proposals centered on affordable housing, retail space, and community-focused development along the future New Bern Bus Rapid Transit corridor.

Demolition of the former DMV campus is roughly halfway complete, although city officials say the project has been delayed due to the scale of asbestos removal required on the site. Crews are now expected to finish tearing down the property by November.

The city purchased the roughly six-acre site in 2023 for $20 million, aiming to maintain public control over a strategically located parcel in one of Raleigh’s fastest-changing corridors. City planners say the goal is to transform the property into a dense, transit-oriented development that also serves longtime residents and surrounding neighborhoods.

Over the last two years, officials have held dozens of community meetings and engagement sessions to gather feedback on what residents want to see built there, with affordable housing, neighborhood retail, public gathering spaces, and local business opportunities consistently ranking among the top priorities.

“This site is really an opportunity to shape growth in a way that benefits the community,” Raleigh Planning and Development Deputy Director Ken Bowers told city council during a recent presentation outlining possible redevelopment options.

The city is currently evaluating three primary development scenarios, all of which include affordable housing components alongside market-rate apartments, townhomes, parking, and retail or community space. Each proposal relies in part on low-income housing tax credits to make the projects financially viable.

Under the first option, the city would pursue a 9% low-income housing tax credit to build 269 apartments, including 60 affordable units, along with 36 townhomes, 20,000 square feet of retail space, and roughly 300 parking spaces. City staff said this option would likely avoid the need for additional public subsidies beyond the city’s initial land purchase.

The second proposal would also include 269 apartments but would expand the affordable housing component to 110 units. That version would include 22 townhomes, retail space, and parking, but staff estimate it would require between $6 million and $10 million in additional city subsidies.

A third scenario would build 368 apartments, including 111 affordable units, along with 20 townhomes and nearly 450 parking spaces housed in a city-subsidized parking deck. Officials estimate that option would require between $6.4 million and $7.4 million in additional public funding.

Despite the city’s housing goals, officials acknowledged that current market conditions are complicating redevelopment plans. A surge in apartment construction across Raleigh has slowed rent growth, while construction costs and interest rates remain elevated, making multifamily housing projects more difficult to finance.

“Unfortunately, where we are at in the market today is there is a glut of multifamily supply and still relatively high construction pricing and interest rates,” Bowers said.

City leaders say they are trying to avoid heavily subsidizing the project beyond the original $20 million land acquisition. The next step will involve issuing a request for interest to gauge how much demand exists from private developers before moving into a formal request-for-proposals process.

Councilman Corey Branch, who represents the district that includes the former DMV site, said the aim is to incorporate as many of the community’s top priorities as possible into the final plan before the request for proposals is issued.

"We're going to put as much as we can from the community group as far as what's going on at that site," Branch said.

Community advocates and nearby small business owners say they hope the redevelopment prioritizes accessibility and affordability beyond housing alone.

Raleigh continues to reshape the New Bern Avenue corridor ahead of the planned bus rapid transit line, which city leaders see as a major opportunity to expand housing density while connecting residents to jobs, services, and transit. Officials say the former DMV site could ultimately become one of the city’s most prominent examples of transit-oriented redevelopment focused on balancing growth with affordability.

The Great Gatsby Production Brings Jazz-Age Spectacle, Sold-Out Run To The Durham Performing Arts Center

Judaea Ingram — Tue, 19 May 2026 03:16:00 +0000

By Judaea Ingram

Special to the Carolinian

DURHAM, N.C. – Durham’s performing arts scene was transported to the roaring twenties over the weekend as the touring Broadway production of The Great Gatsby completed a week of sold-out performances at the Durham Performing Arts Center, drawing more than 21,000 guests to the venue.

The production, staged at the Durham Performing Arts Center, brought the world of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel to life through a blend of elaborate staging, period costumes, choreography, and live musical performance that captured the glamour and tension of Jazz Age America.

Audiences filled the theater throughout the run, with many performances reaching full capacity as the show continued to generate strong local interest. According to DPAC, the engagement welcomed over 21,000 guests across the week, underscoring the production’s popularity in the Triangle.

From the moment the show began, the production immersed audiences in a stylized depiction of 1920s opulence. Lavish party scenes, dramatic lighting transitions, and carefully choreographed ensemble numbers created a fast-paced theatrical experience that mirrored the excess and emotion central to the story.

Audience members responded enthusiastically throughout the performances, with applause following musical numbers and key dramatic moments. Many attendees embraced the theme of the production, arriving dressed in 1920s-inspired attire that matched the world unfolding on stage.

“I can’t believe I’m in North Carolina. I am not in New York. I am not kidding,” said one audience member dressed in full Great Gatsby-themed 1920s fashion, reflecting the immersive atmosphere inside the theater.

DPAC also highlighted the production’s reception, noting strong audience engagement throughout the run. The show was described by organizers as part of a “spectacular” week of performances that consistently drew full houses.

Critics and reviewers echoed the audience response. Susie Potter of Triangle Arts Review described the production as “a decadent and dazzling production,” while Cyndi Whisnant of Triangle Theatre Review noted, “The Great Gatsby gives audiences the champagne, the dancing, the costumes, the romance, and the spectacle.”

Audience reactions on social media were similarly positive, with one DPAC guest writing, “The Great Gatsby did not disappoint! Awesome show!!”

The production emphasized both spectacle and storytelling, balancing high-energy ensemble sequences with more intimate character-driven moments that explore ambition, identity, and disillusionment. The combination of music, choreography, and visual design created a continuous sense of movement that kept audiences engaged throughout the performance.

Beyond the stage, the show

In The Triangle, People Are Making Media Physical Again

The Carolinian — Mon, 18 May 2026 12:14:00 +0000

WUNC - Michael Wilkerson uses a flip phone.

That may not immediately strike anyone as strange until they find out that Wilkerson is a junior at UNC-Chapel Hill. He got his first phone in middle school, and it wasn't until his first year in college that he realized: "I hate my phone."

"My phone died one day, and I still went out and hung out with my friends," he said. "I realized that life went on, you know? I didn't need it."

Wilkerson isn't alone. A 2024 study by Pew Research Center found 95% of teens have access to a smartphone. About 4 in 10 teens said they spent too much time on their phones or social media. Roughly the same number reported having taken steps to reduce their screen time.

Social media is rife with content about teens and young adults embracing physical media. Take the Triangle's own Angeline Richard, who has amassed over 46,700 TikTok followers by posting content on nostalgia and physical media.

She said she's seen the prices for nostalgic physical media jump in recent months, as internet trends ironically encourage people to get off their phones and off of streaming services.

Then there's The Newsagent's in downtown Raleigh, a newly opened vintage media store whose co-owner, Neetzan Zimmerman, has a background as a digital journalist. He's hoping to curate a space where people will engage with media outside of algorithms and media companies.

There's certainly still an audience for the vintage market: Vinyl sales are on a 19-year growth streak, according to a 2025 report published by the Recording Industry Association of America. Physical media sales still account for 12% of total US revenue.

So, what's going on with physical media? We sat down with Wilkerson, Richard and Zimmerman to learn more about their stories and what attracts them to analog.

'I'm more connected out in the world.'

Wilkerson had tried a few different ways to get off his phone. One day, as a first-year student, he challenged himself to take the bus from Chapel Hill to Raleigh without using his phone. He also tried leaving his phone in his room to hang out with friends.

But no matter how he tried to get off of social media throughout college, he said, he was unsuccessful.

"It was just so easy, so easy to be like, 'Oh, I wonder what happened on Instagram tonight,' and then just re-download it and scroll, and five minutes, and then 30 minutes have gone by," Wilkerson said.

What changed for Wilkerson was the passing of his father the summer after his first year at UNC. His mother had died in eighth grade, and losing another parent changed who he was, Wilkerson said.

His father had always been a fan of physical maps, a quality he passed on to Wilkerson. In the wake of his passing, Wilkerson said he wanted to be more independent and more connected to the world around him.

"Whenever I get rid of my phone, I feel like I'm more connected out in the world," he said. "There's smaller things that you realize."

At the start of March, Wilkerson decided to purchase a Jitterbug flip. The phone has everything he needs, he said. It's got a clock, calculator, camera, and even an FM radio that he can listen to with wired headphones.

He gave his phone to his girlfriend, who goes to Meredith College, and went completely without a smartphone for a month. The biggest change he noticed during his time away was that he was able to focus more on school and friends, he said.

Smartphones don't always mean addiction, Wilkerson said. Some people can just control their screen time.

"But I then think that there are some people who have never lived without an iPhone, so you kind of don't know how much you're relying on it for," he said.

While he's not switching permanently, Wilkerson said he wants to figure out a way to integrate his flip phone into his life after the experiment. He's already done the same with lots of other physical media, including his film camera, his Walkman, and his MP3 player.

He even uses business cards to give his number out to new friends.

Wilkerson said his advice to people interested in switching to a physical media-based lifestyle is simple: Start by leaving your phone in your room.

'Is this why everybody's so mad? Because we just lack color?'

Though Angeline Richard had kept some of her most meaningful VHS tapes and DVDs from when she was younger, her progression towards physical media really began in the fall of 2023.

Richard said she grew frustrated with streaming services, tired of the non-stop ads, changes to her subscriptions, and on top of it all, her favorite media disappearing. Around that same time, she realized many of her favorite movies and TV shows were in thrift stores for only a few dollars.

"I was like, I'm paying $12 a month for one subscription, and then $10 for another one, and then, like, $5 for another one, and then a free trial for another," Richard said. "I'm looking for all these movies on different platforms when I could just go to the thrift store."

She began to collect media, and after graduating from North Carolina Central University in 2024, began to post about her physical media collection, specifically highlighting early 2000s tech and nostalgia.

Now, living in Princeton, N.C., Richard is a full-time content creator with almost 70,000 followers on Instagram and TikTok.

As of February, her physical media collection totaled 101 VHS tapes, 203 DVDs, 91 books and 24 CDs. She uses an iPod shuffle for music, a DVD player and VCR to watch content and consoles for gaming.

Richard said she saves $50 to $70 a month by owning her own media. She's only subscribed to Netflix to watch one of her favorite shows, "Bridgerton."

When she first started sharing her physical media collection, Richard said there weren't that many people creating similar content. She's noticed more online engagement around physical media, especially starting in the summer of 2025. People are connected to the sentimental stories behind physical media, she said.

Reconnecting with older content has reminded her how unique different art styles and illustrations can be, Richard said. She said she's noticed she has more color in her life, especially since modern media can look dull.

"It just made me think, 'Wow, is this why everybody's so mad?'" she said. "Because we just lack color?"

The biggest lesson people can take away from physical media is slowing down, Richard said, and taking the time to actually learn more about their interests and styles.

"Overconsumption has been so bad, especially when it comes to trends, people want to buy everything to be part of it," she said. "Everybody just wants to be part of something. That's just human nature."

'Who controls the access?'

Right off of Fayetteville Street sits one of Raleigh's newest stores: The Newsagent's. Tucked inside its bright orange door sits a world of vintage physical media, coffee and nostalgia.

Husband-and-wife duo Neetzan Zimmerman and Yulia Shamis opened the store this spring with a unique goal: Helping people rediscover, preserve, and restore physical culture outside of digital algorithms.

Zimmerman's relationship with physical media traces back to his childhood, growing up in a remote socialist commune in Israel with no personal possessions. The only way he could really "access culture" was through a VHS player purchased by his dad. His grandmother would send him VHS tapes of popular shows, like The Simpsons.

Zimmerman said his love for physical media comes from both having difficulty accessing it and from growing to love the labor it takes to preserve it.

In the age of streaming, access is not guaranteed, Zimmerman said, because streaming giants get to decide what content audiences can access through rights and deals.

Many media corporations have no incentive to create physical manifestations of their content, he said, meaning there are fewer and fewer distribution channels for film and music. Then there are the pieces of media that never transferred to the digital realm at all.

"It's all about who has access, who's allowed to have access, who controls the access," he said.

Previously, Zimmerman was an online, digital content creator and journalist. His website, The Daily What, was acquired by early internet humor giant Cheezburger in 2010, and he worked in senior positions for websites like Gawker, The Messenger, and The Hill.

After a few years working as a digital consultant, he tried to make his way back to media, but found the ship had sailed.

Zimmerman said he was looking for something that contributed more positively to the world. He was especially discouraged by the removal of media online, and the amount of "manipulation" occurring from bots and outside actors online.

"There's kind of a cycle of toxicity that just kind of naturally occurs where well-meaning people are sort of corralled in a space with many bad faith actors," he said. "And not even just like bad faith people, but more just like actors of an unknown agenda."

He's grown concerned about people's inability to retain information, especially about content they've spent hours scrolling and consuming. Though Zimmerman said it's not realistic to get off of your phone completely, it is important to set up an alternative to the digital world.

That's part of the inspiration behind The Newsagent's, which encourages customers to sit in the store outside of just shopping.

Zimmerman said he appreciates the intentionality that comes with physical media, and he wants people to spend time letting new ideas and genres marinate.

"Everyone's going to need a break from whatever it is, and we do live in interesting times, and maybe a break is more necessary than in the past," Zimmerman said. "This kind of place hopefully provides that break."

Step Up Ministries Launches $7.5M Campaign to Address Poverty at Scale

The Carolinian — Sun, 17 May 2026 12:28:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Raleigh, NC — In a region often ranked among the best for economic mobility, thousands of families in Wake County are still struggling to stay stable, not because they don’t want to work, but because the barriers around them are too complex to navigate alone. StepUp Ministry is responding with a different kind of solution. The Raleigh-based nonprofit has announced the launch of Rooted & Rising, a $7.5 million campaign to expand its whole-family model to help individuals and families move toward long-term economic mobility, reaching both parents and children with programming designed to break the cycle of poverty at its source.

The campaign has already earned public-sector support. In November, Wake County approved a $550,000 Community Capital Grant for StepUp Ministry to replace its existing facility and help individuals rise out of poverty. At the center of the campaign is a new 9,500-square-foot facility designed to scale that model, serve up to 1,000 individuals per week at full capacity, and help an estimated 1,000 Wake County residents move above the poverty line each year. “This work has never been just about employment,” said Colisha C. Stanford, CEO of StepUp Ministry. “It’s about helping people build a stable life. A job is one step. What people really need is a clear path forward and the support to stay on it.” StepUp’s approach is structured around that pathway. Participants begin with employment training through the organization’s Employment Academy, but that’s just the starting point. From there, they move into a 48-week Life Skills Academy focused on financial literacy, emotional health, goal-setting, and relationships. Long after initial progress, participants continue through the Next Steps Academy, where they receive ongoing coaching, leadership development, and community support.

What sets StepUp apart is how it provides programming for the entire family. While parents are learning how to build a budget, navigate employment, and create stability, their children, starting as young as six weeks old, are engaged in age-appropriate programming that reinforces those same concepts. Kids learn foundational skills such as needs versus wants, emotional regulation, and healthy routines, which create alignment at home and strengthen long-term outcomes. It’s a model built for real life, not just resumes. Through more than 30 community partners, StepUp also connects participants to wraparound support that can address barriers such as housing instability, transportation, childcare, justice system involvement, and recovery. Those factors often determine whether someone can keep a job, not just get one. The results are consistent. In FY2025, participants earned an average of $16.79 per hour, above the local poverty wage, while nearly 750 individuals and families engaged in StepUp programs. The organization has also seen a 55% increase in intakes, underscoring both the growing need for services and the strength of its approach. The new facility is designed to meet that growth with greater intention. Seventy-two percent of the space will be dedicated to programming, including a Skills Lab, digital literacy hub, and family-centered environments where parents and children can grow together. “This is about designing a space that reflects the journey people are actually on,” Stanford said. “When you support a parent, you support a child. When you support a family, you create stability that lasts.” The Rooted & Rising campaign also includes a $1 million Strength & Stability Fund to help ensure the expanded model remains sustainable as it grows.

To learn more about Rooted & Rising or make a gift to support StepUp Ministry’s next chapter of impact, visit https://www.stepupministry.org/rooted. StepUp Ministry StepUp Ministry is a Raleigh-based nonprofit that helps individuals and families move from instability to sustained economic mobility through employment training, life skills development, and ongoing support. Through a whole-family, wraparound model, StepUp equips participants with the tools, relationships, and confidence needed to build lasting stability. Since its founding nearly 40 years ago, the organization has served more than 10,000 individuals across Wake County.

Queen Latifah Delivers High-Energy Commencement Address at NC A&T’s Class of 2026 Ceremony

Judaea Ingram — Fri, 15 May 2026 19:19:17 +0000

By Judaea Ingram

Special to the Carolinian

GREENSBORO, N.C – The Class of 2026 at North Carolina A&T State University received an energetic and celebratory sendoff from Queen Latifah, who served as keynote speaker during commencement ceremonies held May 9 at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro.

Queen Latifah, whose career spans music, film, and television, is widely recognized as a pioneering figure in hip-hop and entertainment. She has earned multiple Grammy Awards, received an Academy Award nomination for her role in Chicago, and built an extensive career in film and television, including acclaimed work as an actress and executive producer. She also has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, reflecting her impact across decades in the industry.

From the moment she appeared, the atmosphere inside the coliseum shifted into celebration. Queen Latifah opened her address to the sound of her hit “U.N.I.T.Y.,” prompting immediate cheers from graduates who stood to their feet as the arena erupted in excitement. Chants of “Aggie Pride” echoed throughout the venue as families and students responded to the moment.

Smiling and feeding off the crowd’s energy, she acknowledged the atmosphere almost immediately. “Y’all got me hyped. The Queen is hyped,” she said, drawing laughter and applause from graduates across the arena.

Throughout her remarks, Queen Latifah repeatedly centered the graduates as the focus of the day, emphasizing that the moment belonged to them. “Today is about y’all,” she said, reinforcing the significance of their achievement and the transition they were stepping into.

Her speech focused heavily on self-belief, confidence, and the importance of defining success on one’s own terms. She encouraged graduates not to limit themselves based on external expectations or conventional paths.

“Be delusional enough to call yourself something the world hasn’t called you yet,” she said, urging students to imagine possibilities beyond what others may have defined for them.

She continued by encouraging bold decision-making and personal trust, stressing the importance of intuition when navigating life after graduation. “Be brave enough to walk down that road that no one else can see but you,” she said. “Say no, even when the world is telling you to say yes, or vice versa. Say yes if that is what your gut is telling you, even if the world is telling you no.”

Queen Latifah also emphasized the value of surrounding oneself with supportive and encouraging people. She urged graduates to be intentional about their community, saying, “Find the people who believe in you and rock with them.”

As she neared the end of her address, she shifted to a message of personal ownership and confidence, encouraging students to step fully into who they are meant to be. “Find a way to find your crow, put it on, and rock that thing,” she said.

She closed her remarks by directly addressing the graduating class, offering congratulations before ending on a final burst of school spirit: “Aggie Pride.”

The keynote address stood out as one of the most energetic moments of NC A&T’s commencement ceremonies, blending celebration, audience interaction, and motivational messaging as graduates marked the completion of their academic journey and the beginning of their next chapter.

Senator Murdock Takes On Rising Stillbirth Rates With Bump Act

Jordan Meadows — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:05:00 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

A bill moving through the North Carolina General Assembly aims to address what lawmakers and advocates describe as a growing stillbirth crisis across the state.

Senate Bill 909, known as the Building Understanding of Movement in Pregnancy Act, or BUMP Act, would require the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services to provide free, standardized education on stillbirth prevention to pregnant patients and training for prenatal care providers statewide. Introduced by Natalie Murdock alongside co-sponsors DeAndrea Salvador and Sophia Chitlik, the legislation focuses heavily on fetal movement tracking and early intervention during pregnancy.

Under the proposal, educational materials would be evidence-based and available in English, Spanish, and other languages as needed. The materials would include information on warning signs requiring urgent medical attention, stillbirth risk factors such as infections, hypertension, and diabetes, and guidance on how expectant mothers can access care, including after-hours services.

“This act requires DHHS to provide standardized and evidence-based educational materials to pregnant patients for stillbirth prevention,” Murdock said in a press conference on Thursday.

Murdock said the legislation would also require the state to develop or procure training for prenatal care providers focused on fetal movement education beginning at 28 weeks of pregnancy. The training would cover response protocols for decreased fetal movement, including same-day evaluation, infection-related risks such as syphilis, and placental and umbilical cord complications. The bill directs that training be offered both virtually and in person.

“This is a common-sense approach that strengthens care, supports parents, and saves lives,” Murdock said.

The legislation comes as North Carolina continues to report higher-than-average stillbirth rates. According to supporters of the bill, approximately 708 babies are stillborn in North Carolina each year and the state’s stillbirth rate has remained largely unchanged since 2009.

Murdock said counties including Anson, Edgecombe, Sampson, Lenoir, and Vance face some of the highest risks, with Black mothers in North Carolina experiencing stillbirth at roughly twice the rate of other groups.

A major component of the bill is the launch of a statewide “Count the Kicks” public awareness campaign, which would receive $200,000 in recurring funding beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year. The initiative is designed to teach expectant parents to monitor fetal movement during the third trimester using tools such as a mobile app, kick-count tracking bracelets, or paper charts.

“Parents track how long it takes to feel a set number of movements and learn what is normal for their baby so they can quickly recognize and report any changes that may signal distress,” Murdock said.

Supporters of the legislation say education and awareness can make a measurable difference. Emily Levin, a mother advocating for the bill, said improved awareness and provider training can help prevent tragedies.

“There are solutions to the stillbirth crisis in North Carolina,” Levin said. “Every provider also deserves to have the training and resources needed to improve outcomes for their patients.”

The BUMP Act would appropriate $400,000 in recurring state funding to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Public Health beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year. Half of the funding would support patient education materials, while the remaining funds would be used to train prenatal care providers on stillbirth prevention protocols.

Senate Bill 909 passed its first reading in the North Carolina Senate and was referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations/Base Budget for further review.

Teachers Loyal To Schools, But Warn Of ‘Unsustainable’ Workloads A In New Survey

The Carolinian — Fri, 15 May 2026 12:04:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - North Carolina teachers remain committed to their classrooms, but many feel hampered by heavy workloads and student behavior challenges, according to a preliminary state survey released Wednesday.

The survey, presented to the State Board of Education, is conducted every two years by the state Department of Public Instruction. It drew responses from 102,640 educators, a 90.5% response rate.

Teachers report strong pride in their schools and plans to stay. But they also describe dissatisfaction with low pay, limits on time, challenges in managing student conduct and gaps in support for students with higher needs.

They reported working an average of 9.3 hours a week outside the school day, often at night and on weekends.

“I think we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge that teachers are making the time. It is simply uncompensated,” said Kimberly Jones, former Teacher of the Year and a State Board of Education member.

Student behavior stood out as a daily challenge, especially in middle and high schools. In high schools, 64% of teachers reported drug or tobacco use as a problem, and 77% cited tardiness and skipping class.

Teachers also pointed to growing needs among students, including those with disabilities and multilingual learners, and said they need more support to meet those demands.

Even with those concerns, most teachers reported positive views of their schools. About 93% said their school is a great place to work and learn. Roughly 84% said they plan to stay at their current school, and about 91% said they plan to keep teaching next year.

Teachers who said they plan to leave — about 5% — reported far worse conditions across nearly every area, including time, leadership and student conduct.

School leadership drew generally positive marks, particularly for instructional support, with 91.8% of teachers saying they are encouraged to use new skills. But fewer said they trust school leaders or feel they have a voice in decisions, areas the report links to retention.

“The trust in your leadership makes a whole difference as an educator,” said Rachel Candaso, a former Teacher of the Year and member of the State Board of Education. She said teachers stay in schools where they build trust with peers, but that retention is closely tied to principals.

“That trust goes back to your principal and the conditions they create. That’s a big thing for teachers when they stay in a school or even in a district — the level of trust they have with the people on top,” Candaso said.

Teachers also said they often lose planning time during the school day because they are asked to cover other classes.

“As a high school teacher, I cannot fathom being with my students the majority of the day or having no intentional and protected instructional planning time. It is not best practice,” Jones said. “It’s not sustainable for the profession overall. Our teachers need that time to collaborate.”

The survey included about 36,000 written comments, many focused on pay, staffing, resources and workload. Teachers described supportive school environments but pointed to broader challenges, including funding and staffing shortages.

This year’s results also come alongside a pilot survey of principals in 11 districts.

More than three-quarters of principals said they work at least 51 hours a week, with most reporting additional work outside the school day. Nearly all said their district is a good place to work.

Principals cited student behavior, time demands and the challenge of supporting a wide range of student needs as top concerns. State officials plan to expand the survey statewide this fall so districts can compare teacher and school leader perspectives.

North Carolina Senate Moves Bill To Slash Requirements for Natural Hair Care Licensing

Jordan Meadows — Thu, 14 May 2026 18:58:00 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

North Carolina lawmakers advanced a bill that would dramatically reshape how the state regulates natural hair braiding and other textured-hair services, cutting hundreds of required training hours down to just 10 hours focused on infection control.

NC Senate Bill 808, which has cleared key Senate committees and passed the full Senate, would replace the state’s current 300-hour natural hair care license with a simplified certification process requiring a short training course and exam. The measure also creates a separate licensing track for hair design services and reduces overall cosmetology training requirements from 1,500 hours to 1,200.

Supporters say the changes are long overdue for an industry that has historically been tied to Black cultural practices and entrepreneurship, particularly among Black women who make up a large share of braiders and natural hair specialists across the state.

“This is about removing unnecessary barriers and expanding opportunity,” said Alamance Community College cosmetology instructor Hilary Cook. “You are removing barriers and expanding opportunity.”

Natural hair care under the bill includes services such as braiding, twisting, wrapping, locking, and extensions—techniques that are widely used in Black communities across North Carolina. Advocates argue that requiring hundreds of hours of cosmetology training—much of it focused on chemical treatments—has made it harder for many Black stylists to enter the profession legally or start small businesses.

Sen. Amy Galey, one of the bill’s primary sponsors, said she has heard from constituents who feel weighed down by the current system.

“I want to be sure that women get into the workforce and that we don’t put irrational barriers in their way,” Galey said.

Sen. Natalie Murdock highlighted that “more than 30 states do not regulate natural hair care services,” noting that North Carolina’s approach is stricter than much of the country. “So many stylists I know who leave their jobs so that they can go to school and get all of the requirements have feedback that they think it’s burdensome compared to other states,” Murdock said.

But the proposal has also sparked concern from regulators and cosmetology educators who argue that the reduced training could weaken public health protections.

Lynda Elliott, executive director of the North Carolina Board of Cosmetic Art Examiners, warned lawmakers that the proposed 10-hour requirement may not be sufficient.

Natural hair care applies to all textures and nationalities,” Elliott said. “People of every background seek these services, like braiding, twisting, locking and hair extension. So someone that does not have any knowledge… needs to understand how to do this safely.”

Some opponents say infection control training is especially important because braiding and scalp-based services involve close physical contact with clients, and inadequate training could increase the risk of sanitation issues. Elliott has recommended expanding the requirement to as much as 100 hours. Despite those concerns, Senate Republicans backing the bill say they are confident in the reduced requirements.

“We’ve looked into it, and we felt comfortable that the path we’re on is the appropriate one,” said Sen. Tim Moffitt, another sponsor of the legislation.

NC Lawmakers Weigh In On The Supreme Court Dismantling of the Voting Rights Act

Jheri Hardaway — Thu, 14 May 2026 15:54:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

North Carolina General Assembly - In a monumental 6-3 decision that has sent shockwaves through the American South, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively dismantled key protections of the landmark Voting Rights Act (VRA). The ruling, which centers on the case Louisiana v. Callais, upends decades of precedent and makes it significantly harder for minority voters to challenge racially discriminatory voting maps and laws. The court’s conservative majority ruled that race-neutral partisanship can be used as a valid defense for redistricting, even when it results in the dilution of minority voting power. The decision has left civil rights advocates and North Carolina legislators reeling, with many warning that the state is entering a new era of "Jim Crow-style" electoral barriers.

North Carolina State Representative Phil Rubin (D-Wake), a former federal prosecutor and constitutional law expert, did not mince words regarding the court’s intervention. "I'm really scared for our future when you have a Supreme Court that thinks it knows better than the Congress of the United States that enacted the Voting Rights Act," Rubin said. "Congress enacted the VRA because of its determination about unconstitutional and awful barriers to voting for minority communities. To have a Supreme Court come and chip away at it and basically say, 'We know better,' is dangerous."

Rubin took particular aim at Chief Justice John Roberts, suggesting that the "balls and strikes" judicial philosophy Roberts famously championed during his confirmation is a thing of the past." The opinion is obviously a travesty. It's not the law. It is power," Rubin stated. "And I hate to see that. But I also know that in the long run... we're going to win and we're going to see it through to fix it."

Representative Garland Pierce (D-Hoke/Scotland), one of the longest-serving members of the General Assembly and a lifelong minister, described the ruling as a "heartbreaking" reversal of progress. "It’s taken us back. And folks say way back to, you know, Jim Crow and all of that," Pierce said. "The Supreme Court is a gang of six that made a decision that's going to affect us going forward. It’s heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, because you have older people who remember when it was like that, and now they're like, 'What? We're there again?"

Pierce noted that the immediate fallout is expected to affect at least 20 minority members of state and federal bodies across the South as states move to redistrict under the new, more lenient guidelines. While the legal setback is severe, North Carolina lawmakers are urging their constituents not to succumb to "disenchantment." Pierce emphasized that the primary tool remaining for the public to fight back is the vote itself. "Elections have consequences. The reason why we're dealing with now is that people did not go vote," Pierce warned. “You have to continue to battle and fight."

Despite the "challenging and difficult" days ahead, both Representatives Rubin and Pierce expressed eternal optimism. As the state prepares for its next cycle of redistricting battles, the message from Raleigh is clear: the fight for the ballot is no longer just in the courts, it is in the hands of the voters.

NC House Bill 1144 – Dominique Moody Safety Act Filed After “Systemic Failure”

The Carolinian — Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Raleigh, NC - In an emotional press conference on Tuesday, May 5th, a bipartisan group of North Carolina lawmakers introduced House Bill 1144, also known as the “Dominique Moody Safety Act,” following a harrowing investigation addressing abuse and neglect, regarding the death of a six-year-old girl who was allegedly tortured and kept in a cage for extended periods of time. The bill, primarily sponsored by Representatives Carla D. Cunningham (Un-Mecklenburg),

Mike Colvin (D-Cumberland), Allen Chesser (R-Nash), and Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth) seek to overhaul how the Department of Social Services (DSS) handles high-risk abuse and neglect cases through the creation of a specialized "Statewide Escalation Team."

The legislation is named after Dominique Moody, a girl born in 2018 who lawmakers expressed had been failed by the very systems designed to protect her. According to testimony provided during the filing, Dominique was placed in the custody of a maternal aunt in Mecklenburg County in 2019. Between 2019 and December 2025, Social Services received five separate reports of abuse and neglect. All were deemed "unsubstantiated." Law enforcement visited the home 59 times over those four years, roughly 14 times a year. Yet no intervention occurred. On December 16, 2025, Dominique died. She weighed only 27 pounds. "Her sister participated in a forensic interview," Representatives shared. Investigations confirmed Dominique was kept in a cage, and that adults would whoop her with a belt, a stick, or a pole. It was revealed that adults would put a bag over her head and tape her eyes so she could not see them eat.

Lawmakers are calling the case a "systematic failure" and are proposing a $550,000 allocation to fund six specialist positions within the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). These specialists will act as an "Escalation Team," modeled after the RAMS program at UNC Chapel Hill (which currently only focuses on children ages 0-3). The new team would monitor abuse and neglect cases for children up to age 17 across the state, providing an extra layer of expertise and state-level oversight to local DSS offices. "This is not about condemning local case workers," said Rep. Colvin. "It’s about adding the support and policy enhancements needed to save one life. If we can save one life, it’ll be worth this call to service."

Beyond the new task force, the bill mandates increased training for social workers. Currently, lawmakers noted that some social workers receive as little as 4% of their training specifically on identifying the nuances of abuse and neglect. The bill aims to significantly increase that percentage to ensure signs of chronic abuse, like the scars and fractures found on Dominique, are caught before they turn fatal. Lawmakers admitted they are currently navigating "legal hurdles" as litigation surrounding Dominique’s death has made some records inaccessible to the Oversight Committee. Furthermore, a backlog in the Mecklenburg County court system could delay public discovery of the full facts for years.

Despite these hurdles, the sponsors are urging Senate colleagues to move quickly. "We can’t wait five or six years for prosecutions to tell us what went wrong," said Rep. Cunningham. "More children are exposed to these situations every day. We must let Dominique’s death be the catalyst for change now."

The bill is expected to move to committee later this month. Lawmakers urged the public and the press to "keep their calendars open" for potential oversight hearings as the session continues.

Why Black Immigration Looks So Much Different In The U.S. Than In Europe

Jordan Meadows — Wed, 13 May 2026 18:48:18 +0000

By Jordan Meadows

Staff Writer

The immigration systems of the United States and Europe have produced dramatically different outcomes for Black and Caribbean populations, shaped by law, geography, and fundamentally different ideas about race, citizenship, and national identity.

While major European cities such as Paris have highly visible Black populations tied to decades of colonial migration, the pathways that created those communities differ sharply from the modern immigration structure of the United States, which admits large numbers of African and Caribbean immigrants through permanent legal channels each year.

Much of Europe’s modern Black population grew out of the post-World War II period, when several European countries recruited workers from former colonies and overseas territories to help rebuild their economies. Those migration waves created multigenerational communities that remain concentrated in major urban centers today.

But current immigration policies across much of the European Union are far more restrictive toward non-European migration than many Americans realize. European immigration systems generally prioritize movement within the EU itself, making legal entry for low- and medium-skilled migrants from Africa and the Caribbean considerably more difficult.

In Europe, legal pathways for non-Europeans often rely on temporary student visas, asylum claims, seasonal labor programs, or highly specialized employment sponsorships. Critics argue that these systems make long-term residency and citizenship more difficult to obtain for many migrants compared to the United States’ more permanent immigration structure.

The U.S. system, by contrast, contains several mechanisms that have significantly expanded African and Caribbean immigration over the last several decades. One of the most distinctive is the Diversity Visa Lottery, which allocates 55,000 green cards annually to countries with historically low rates of immigration to the United States. African nations are among the largest beneficiaries of the program, accounting for a substantial share of lottery recipients each year.

Family reunification policies have also accelerated the growth of Black immigrant communities in the United States. Once immigrants become citizens or lawful permanent residents, they can sponsor close relatives including spouses, children, parents, and siblings. As African and Caribbean immigrant populations have grown, those sponsorship networks have expanded alongside them, creating a self-sustaining pattern of legal migration.

According to federal immigration data and research from the Pew Research Center, the United States grants hundreds of thousands of permanent visas annually to immigrants from Africa and the Caribbean combined. Caribbean nations account for a particularly large share of new lawful permanent residents, led by countries such as the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica. African immigration has also surged in recent decades, especially from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia, and Kenya.

The United States also attracts large numbers of highly educated African professionals and students through employment and university pathways. Skilled worker visas and student-to-work programs have allowed thousands of doctors, engineers, nurses, researchers, and technology professionals from African nations to settle permanently in the U.S.

Beyond immigration policy itself, analysts say one of the biggest differences between the United States and Europe lies in how race is understood socially and politically.

In the United States, race is treated as a recognized demographic and legal category that government agencies, employers, universities, and researchers routinely track and measure. Americans commonly identify through racial or ethnic subgroups such as African American or Afro-Caribbean, reflecting a national framework that openly acknowledges communal identity.

Across much of Europe, governments historically have emphasized a more universal model of citizenship centered on national identity rather than racial categorization. Many European countries place far less emphasis on collecting racial data or formally recognizing ethnic subgroups within public institutions. Supporters of that approach argue it promotes national unity and discourages racial division.ted advertising to minors.

Music & Vendors Fill Greesboro’s Elm Street For 1st Saturday Stroll

The Carolinian — Wed, 13 May 2026 16:57:00 +0000

GREENSBORO, N.C. — On the first Saturday of each month, the 300 block of Elm Street in downtown Greensboro transforms into a pedestrian hub filled with music, vendors, food, and family-friendly activities designed to bring the community together outdoors. What is typically a busy city corridor becomes a walkable stretch where residents slow down, explore, and engage with local businesses and entertainment.

The First Saturday Stroll features a rotating mix of local vendors and small businesses offering everything from clothing and jewelry to fresh food and handmade goods. Tables and tents line the street as visitors move between booths, stopping to browse items, talk with vendors, and sample food from participating businesses. The event also includes live music, dancing, and interactive activities for children, along with information guides that help visitors navigate participating vendors and attractions.

This month’s programming reflected that variety, with spaces dedicated to games for children, pop-up entertainment, and vendors showcasing both new and returning local products. Music played throughout the block as attendees gathered in clusters, creating a steady flow of foot traffic between storefronts and street vendors.

Whether visiting for the first time or returning as a regular downtown guest, organizers say the Stroll is designed to encourage residents to explore what downtown Greensboro has to offer in a relaxed, open-air environment. The recurring nature of the event helps maintain visibility for small businesses while also creating a consistent community gathering space in the heart of the city.

First Saturday Stroll on Elm continues to serve as a recurring activation of the city’s downtown corridor, bringing consistent foot traffic to small businesses while creating a community-centered space for entertainment and engagement. The event not only draws residents into the downtown area but also helps reinforce the connection between local commerce and public space.

Rob Overman, interim executive director of Downtown Greensboro Incorporated, said events like the Stroll also reflect the economic challenges facing small businesses.

“Anytime there’s economic uncertainty, the first people to suffer are small businesses,” Overman said.

“If you look at the sales receipts and the profit margins from the last couple of years, it really is getting tough for folks.”

The mix of entertainment and commerce throughout the event highlights both the vibrancy and the vulnerability of local business communities. While crowds bring energy and visibility to the downtown area, business owners continue to navigate rising costs, shifting consumer spending habits, and competition for attention in an increasingly digital marketplace.

Still, organizers and vendors alike say events like the First Saturday Stroll remain important for sustaining connection between residents and the local business ecosystem. By bringing people into shared public space, the event offers more than shopping or entertainment—it creates a recurring moment where community life, local culture, and economic activity intersect in real time.

‘Playing A Waiting Game:’ Triangle Small Business Owners Hope To Receive Refunds From Illegal Tariffs

The Carolinian — Wed, 13 May 2026 14:38:00 +0000

Courtesy of Karina Zimmerman Honeypress founder Karina Zimmerman, based in the Triangle, vending Asian stationary products at the Chicago Stationery Festival in March 2026. The broad tariffs that the Supreme court recently deemed illegal ate up roughly 30 to 40% of her profits over the last year. However, because Honeypress uses a brokerage firm, like DHL, FedEx and UPS, to ship its products, only those companies are authorized to apply for tariff refunds, so Zimmerman has to wait for them to pass the tariff refund to her.

WUNC - In 2021, Karina Zimmerman opened Honeypress as a pop-up stationery store, where one could purchase high quality pens, washi tape, Studio Ghibli and Moomin planners, and Lunar New Year red envelopes. Zimmerman has a boundless passion for Asian stationery, but running the business has not been easy. Honeypress briefly had a brick-and-mortar location at Boxyard RTP, which closed in 2024.

The last year was especially difficult for the shop after President Donald Trump imposed broad tariffs that hiked up the cost of imports from many countries. Zimmerman said that up to 70% of Honeypress' products are imported from Asian countries.

"My business can't run without imports because the basis of it is Asian stationary — its appeal, its novelty, the quality is what people flock to," she said.

On April 20, business owners flocked to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's new online portal to apply for tariff refunds. N.C. Attorney General Jeff Jackson last Friday urged businesses in the state to apply for them.

"These tariffs cost North Carolina families and businesses $3.5 billion," Jackson said in a press release. "That was money people needed for food, gas, and running their businesses. I hope eligible businesses act now to apply for refunds. The newly announced system is a good first step, but we need a faster process for refunds that doesn't burden businesses."

Confusion around the online portal

When Zimmerman tried to figure out how to use the portal, she found it confusing and learned that only "importers of record" were eligible to apply for refunds. Honeypress had worked through a brokerage firm, like DHL, FedEx, and UPS, to ship products to the U.S. Those companies are authorized as importers of record to apply for refunds.

"Now, I'm left to be at the mercy of these brokerage firms," Zimmerman said. "There's no guidance in terms of when we would be issued (the refund) or what they would consider as eligible. So for me, as a small business owner, I'm just playing a waiting game because I am powerless to do anything of my own."

Zimmerman said the cost of paying tariffs, plus the removal of the de minimus trade exemption, ate roughly 30% to 40% of her profits. She tried to minimize price increases to Honeypress' products — however, to keep her profit margins consistent after factoring in shipping, broker fees and tariffs, a notebook that would have cost, say, $8 to $10 before tariffs had to increase to $12 to $14.

Zimmerman said it's become increasingly difficult to sustain Honeypress as a business.

"It's like (I'm) running the business for free or even at a deficit," she said. "I've seriously had to consider whether or not I could keep going."

"Free money" for importers

Andrew Greenland, assistant professor of economics at North Carolina State University, is skeptical that businesses who worked through a third party will receive the refunds they're owed.

"Someone will get something back," he said. "The broker who imported everything and has the paperwork that shows the documentation that they paid for the tariffs and sold the (goods) onto the business owner. Any of the subsequent reimbursement — that's going to have to be a negotiation between them and the broker. It's not obvious to me that that third party has any legal obligation to pay that back. Maybe you get it back if that broker thinks that not giving it to you would mean they lose subsequent business."

Greenland further noted that it's not clear cut how much each person paid for the cost of the tariffs. The primary importer has to pay the tariff, he said, but they might pass all of it or sometimes a portion of it down to the business that wants to sell the products, and that business passes on some of the costs to the consumer. But he asserted that for primary importers, the refunds are "free money."

"Because if you're the primary importer and you pass all of the tariff costs on to people who are further down in your supply chain, well those people have already reimbursed you for the cost of your tariffs, right?" Greenland said. "So the rest of us end up paying for it. Meanwhile, you've lost businesses that have gone out because supply chains have gotten worse and costs have gone up for them."

Since the online refund portal opened last week, about 15% of tariff refund claims have been rejected, according to a legal filing by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Political climate forces business owners to be strategic

Sam Ratto, who founded and has operated Videri Chocolate Factory in Raleigh's Warehouse District since 2011, largely imports cocoa beans from the Dominican Republic and Columbia, as well as Ecuador, Peru, Tanzania, and Guatemala. Ratto said he had to stop importing cocoa beans from Vietnam, due to the high tariff rate imposed on Vietnamese goods.

Ratto said he tried to work with vendors who had a relationship with U.S. Customs or a tariff agency, and, in anticipation of a potential refund process, Videri shifted away from working with vendors who didn't offer to pay the tariff. He said that he has a good relationship with his cocoa bean broker.

"They started putting the tariff line item on all our invoices so they had a better shot of getting a refund if it ever came in," he said.

He didn't have an exact figure for how much he paid in tariffs last year, but said "if we spent a couple hundred thousand dollars on the cost of goods last year, I'd say you're looking at an additional 20% to 50% of tariffs we did not budget for."

"I think it's insane that somebody decided that they would pay for their tax cuts by taxing small businesses," Ratto said. "I think it's insane history is repeating itself in this way in the name of 'American security.' … It's really difficult to keep going through these cycles as a business owner, but I love what I do and I love the community that I'm in. I make bean-to-bar chocolate and I'm going to keep trying to do that as long as I possibly can."

Workers Memorial Day Observed In Raleigh With 196-Bell Tribute

The Carolinian — Wed, 13 May 2026 12:30:00 +0000

RALEIGH, N.C. — Workers, union leaders, faith leaders, and community advocates gathered Tuesday at Nash Square in downtown Raleigh to commemorate Workers Memorial Day and honor North Carolinians who lost their lives while working in 2024.

The ceremony, held beside the Fallen Firefighters Memorial, included the ringing of a memorial bell 196 times — once for each worker in North Carolina who died on the job last year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Organizers said the event served both as a memorial for lives lost and a renewed call for stronger workplace protections and safety enforcement.

North Carolina State AFL-CIO President Braxton Winston spoke during the press conference, raising concerns about the weakening of workplace safety agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Winston said reduced oversight and enforcement continue to place workers at greater risk across multiple industries.

An interfaith memorial service also featured prayers from Rev. Jennifer Copeland of the North Carolina Council of Churches, Imam Sami Kocak of the Cary Islamic Center, and Rabbi Noah Rubin-Blose of Makom Community. Family members of workers including Zachary Jones, Christopher Wood, and William Freeman attended the ceremony and reflected on the loved ones they lost.

Representatives from organizations including the North Carolina Justice Center, the A. Philip Randolph Institute, the Union of Southern Service Workers, and Student Action with Farmworkers also participated in the memorial.

Dozens of attendees dressed in black held photographs, posters, and signs displaying the names of workers who died on the job, creating a solemn tribute to the lives lost and the families forever impacted by workplace fatalities.

Motown Girl Group Martha And The Vandellas Recorded A Civil Rights Era Anthem And Fought For Fair, Equal Pay

The Carolinian — Tue, 12 May 2026 19:50:00 +0000

THE CONVERSATION - The CBS television show “It’s What’s Happening Baby” aired a music video featuring Martha and the Vandellas performing their hit song “Nowhere to Run” to kick off its national broadcast dedicated to Detroit on June 28, 1965.

In the video, the Detroit-based trio sang about how they could not escape missing an ex-lover after a breakup while sitting in a white Mustang moving slowly down the assembly line in the Ford Motor Co.’s River Rouge plant.

As a cultural and labor historian, I see the “Nowhere to Run” video as an iconic testament to Detroit’s reputation as the “Motor City” and the role of the autoworker in the American imagination.

Motown founder and CEO Berry Gordy, Jr. worked on the Ford assembly line and used it as inspiration for Hitsville U.S.A., the famed headquarters and music recording studio that served as a space to train performers and perfect the “Motown sound” for the masses.

Martha and the Vandellas were part of Motown’s illustrious roster of artists in the 1960s. Initially comprised of Martha Reeves, Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard, and with members changing over the next three decades, they helped establish the Black “girl group.” They presented themselves as working class in videos like “Nowhere to Run.”

Their classic anthem “Dancing in the Street” reflected the revolutionary mood of civil rights protesters, especially Black Americans in the 1960s. As lead singer, Reeves also emerged as a pioneering R&B “diva,” helping pave the way for Black female solo vocalists like Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé.

A patient path to stardom

Martha Reeves was born in Eufaula, Alabama, on July 18, 1941. Soon after, her family moved to Detroit’s east side. Music occupied a central place in her life from childhood.

Reeves writes in her 1994 memoir, “Dancing in the Street: Confessions of a Motown Diva,” about her father serenading her mother with his guitar while she was pregnant with Martha. Her mother, Ruby, also sang. Reeves’ parents passed their love for music to her, and she sang in her church choir and aspired to a life of performance.

“At that young age I was already hooked on pleasing the crowd with my singing,” Reeves wrote.

Reeves graduated from Northeastern High School. As a teenager, she used fake IDs to get into night clubs to watch singers perform, and she sang in open mics and talent shows. She scored her first break after earning a three-night performance at the 20 Grand, a popular Detroit night club located on 14th Street and Warren Avenue.

It was after one of those performances when she met William Stevenson, Motown Records’ executive for discovering new talent. Stevenson invited Reeves to the label’s headquarters.

Reeves came to the studio, but she didn’t audition for reasons that aren’t entirely clear today. Instead, Stevenson told her she could answer the phones. That’s how she got a job in the A&R Department and began working with other Motown artists.

In 1957, Reeves joined her first group, the Del-Phis. Formed by Edward “Pops” Larkins, the Del-Phis also included leader Gloria Jean Williamson, Rosalind Ashford and Annette Beard.

Reeves soon caught another break. In September 1962, Stevenson called for her to fill in for Mary Wells in a Marvin Gaye studio session. Reeves enlisted the other Del-Phis, and they performed so well that they became the supporting vocal group for Gaye.

After the Del-Phis toured with Gaye and recorded “I’ll Have to Let Him Go,” Gordy offered Reeves, Beard and Ashford a recording contract. The group also took on a new name, Martha and the Vandellas.

Martha and the Vandellas enjoyed commercial success soon after, with songs like “Come and Get These Memories,” “Quicksand” and “Heatwave.”

An anthem for revolution set to a groove

“Dancing in the Street,” written by Gaye, Stevenson and Ivy Jo Hunter, was released in the summer of 1964 and became a signature hit for Martha and the Vandellas.

Reeves wrote in her autobiography that she did not like “Dancing in the Street.”

However, she made it her own, and Reeves later acknowledged that the song embodied the spirit of civil rights protests.

“It became the anthem of the decade,” Reeves wrote.

She was right.

At the time of the song’s release, the Civil Rights Movement was in full swing. Black Americans in Harlem took to the streets to protest the killing of 15-year-old James Powell by an off-duty New York Police Department officer.

The 1960s set off a string of “long, hot summers” as racial tensions intensified. Black folks in the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles in 1965 protested in the streets in response to police violence.

More than 100 protests were organized in response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in 1968, from Chicago to Washington and Baltimore.

Detroit erupted a year earlier, in July 1967, after Detroit police officers raided a “blind pig,” or an unlicensed bar, on 12th Street.

The iconic opening lines of “Dancing in the Street” announced a new attitude among Black folks: “Calling out around the world/ Are you ready for a brand new beat?”

The high-octane, optimistic song is laced with slogans interpreted as invitations to take action. Martha and the Vandellas’ declaration that “Summer is here and the time is right for dancing in the street” reflected Black Americans’ willingness to not only march, but to take measures in their own hands and fight for equality and justice.

Battle for fair pay and recognition

The late 1960s and early 1970s were a time of transition for Reeves and the Vandellas. The Supremes were on the rise and threatened to displace them as the most prominent girl group on the Motown label. Reeves also experienced creative differences with Motown executives and struggled with drug addiction. Then, in 1972, Gordy moved Motown to Los Angeles so he could try his hand at filmmaking.

Martha and the Vandellas broke up later that year after the release of their album, “Black Magic.” However, Reeves continued as a solo artist, releasing five albums, including her self-titled debut “Martha Reeves” in 1974, “The Rest of My Life” in 1976 and “We Meet Again” in 1978, among others.

Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, along with many Motown artists, experienced a resurgence in popularity during the 1980s. Motown Records’ 25th anniversary show in Pasadena, California, in 1983 launched them back into the mainstream. The group reunited and started performing again in 1989.

Also, Reeves and the group sought to resolve their old conflicts with Motown Records. Reeves and various members of the Vandellas sued Gordy and Motown in 1989 for unpaid royalties. Motown Records settled the suit in 1991 for an undisclosed amount.

Four years later, the B-52s inducted Reeves and the Vandellas into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The diva archetype

Martha and the Vandellas played a vital role in laying the foundation for future all-Black female groups like En Vogue, TLC, SWV and Destiny’s Child.

They helped set the standard for turning songs about the trappings of love and heartbreak into anthems. Reeves embraced being an “R&B Diva” long before music critics applied the persona to singers like Mary J. Blige and Beyoncé. Reeves was not just a larger-than-life vocal presence; she showed future generations of Black female vocalists that, to be a diva, one must have control of one’s own career.

“We became the Vandellas and with me being the only lead singer, my name was put out there because I did all the work,” Reeves said in a 2020 interview. “I did all the singing … I managed to just come up with my own destiny, with my own future in show business.”

Jolly’s Catering Brings Comfort Food Onto The Streets Of Raleigh Communities

The Carolinian — Tue, 12 May 2026 12:24:00 +0000

RALEIGH, N.C. — Customers step up to the window at Jolly’s Catering as the smell of fried chicken, seasoned collard greens, and slow-cooked sides fills the air, turning an ordinary food stop into a familiar routine for many in Raleigh.

Jolly's Catering is a Raleigh-based soul food truck and catering business known for its hearty comfort dishes and steady local presence. Founded in 2014, the business was named after James A. Shufford Sr., honoring its roots and family connection.

The truck serves a menu rooted in Southern comfort cooking, including fried chicken, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, and candied yams. One of its most recognizable items, the Big Mama Wrap, combines several signature dishes into a single handheld meal that reflects the business’s home-style approach.

Operating under the motto “Chase the Taste,” Jolly’s emphasizes flavor and familiarity, drawing in customers who often already know what they plan to order before they arrive.

During visits to the food truck, the pace remained steady but relaxed, with customers moving through the line while exchanging brief conversations with staff. Many appeared to be repeat visitors, suggesting a loyal customer base built through consistency and word of mouth. One customer, Herman Jones, described long-term loyalty to the business, saying, “Been chasing

the taste for years now and Jolly’s is truly unmatched in delivering smiles wherever I’ve had the pleasure of following this food truck.”

Food trucks like Jolly’s have become an increasingly visible part of Raleigh’s small business landscape, offering accessible dining options while also serving as entry points for entrepreneurship. For many operators, mobile food service provides a way to build a customer base without the overhead of a traditional restaurant.

As Raleigh continues to grow, businesses such as Jolly’s Catering highlight how food can function as both service and connection point. Through familiar flavors and consistent presence, the business contributes to the city’s evolving food culture while maintaining a strong sense of accessibility and community.

North Carolina House Democrats Seek Bipartisan Support To Strengthen Food Security And Ban Dynamic Pricing

The Carolinian — Mon, 11 May 2026 19:44:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE -Buncombe Rep. Eric Ager says his new bill, titled “The Affordable Food Act,” was inspired by a problem that is being felt in every county of the state: rising food and grocery prices.

“Wages have just not kept up with the cost of basic necessities,” said Ager. “The same basket of groceries – cost goes up, same paycheck stretches less.”

Beyond the affordability crisis, Ager says far too many families are unable to purchase fresh food.

House Bill 1057 would direct the Department of Health and Human Services to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorizing the state to operate a nutrition incentive program that would help families buy more fresh fruits and vegetables.

Ager says the bill would also address the state’s food deserts, where residents live miles away from a full-service grocery store.

“Where transportation is limited, convenience stores become the default food system,” said Ager. “Families should have access to real food, not just whatever you can find on a convenience store shelf.”

USDA data finds 11 food deserts in Buncombe County. Ager said that’s about 23,000 residents in his own district who are unable to routinely access fresh, healthy foods.

H1057 supports mobile markets, food banks, nonprofits, local governments, and food co-ops willing to serve underserved areas.

“The grant program in this bill would help us bring food to the communities that need it most,” explained Ager.

Rep. Ray Jeffers, a Person County farmer, said the legislation will also create a farmer stabilization program within the North Carolina Department of Agriculture to purchase food products grown or processed in North Carolina for distribution to public and nonprofit food assistance programs.

Jeffers says historically underserved producers and those operating small and mid-sized farms are more likely to stay in agriculture if they have reliable buyers.

The bill also earmarks $47 million in recurring funds for farmland preservation. North Carolina is losing 100,000 acres of farmland and forest land a year.

“Preserving working farms is not just about rural nostalgia. It is about our food supply, our rural economies, our family farmers, and our state’s long-term resilience,” said Jeffers.

Rep. Garland Pierce (D-Scotland) signed onto the bill this week because a significant portion of his district covers Fort Bragg.

The proposed Targeted Military and Veteran Food Assistance Program in H1057 would provide $140 million in recurring funds to address food insecurity among members of the military, veterans, and military families.

“No one who served this country should struggle to feed their family,” said Pierce.

In 2023, one in five military and veteran family families indicated some level of food insecurity, according to a study conducted for the Military Family Advisory Network.

Pierce said this was not charity, but an obligation the state owes to its military men and women.

“We ask their families to endure deployments, uncertainties, and sacrifice,” said Pierce. “The least we can do is to make sure these same families are not left behind wondering how they will be able to feed their families.”

One notable final section of the bill that would benefit consumers would prohibit retail grocery stores from using dynamic pricing. Dynamic pricing allows electronic price tags in stores to change based on demand, the time of day, and other market conditions.

Ager said while electronic shelf labels may be more efficient for retailers, the real-time pricing makes it harder for consumers to plan, compare, and budget.

“Families should not have to wonder whether the price of milk, eggs, bread or baby formula will change while they are walking through the store,” said Ager. “Grocery shopping is not a stock exchange.”

Earlier this month, Maryland became the first state in the nation to ban the practice of dynamic pricing, which includes consumers’ personal data to set prices for goods or services.

Ager acknowledged the comprehensive legislation comes with a fairly large fiscal note, but he’s hopeful to work across the aisle as the state budget is crafted.

“We do spend lots of money down here in Raleigh,” Ager pointed out. “And to us, we ought to focus on the people, the farmers and the veterans who are the ones really needing help in this day and age.”

A Troubling Pattern of Racial Disparities In Wells Fargo’s Mortgage Lending

Jheri Hardaway — Mon, 11 May 2026 15:21:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

Charlotte, NC – Wells Fargo’s mortgage lending patterns demonstrate significant racial disparities in Charlotte and across North Carolina, according to a new report released by Americans for Financial Reform Education Fund, North Carolina United Power for Action/NC Industrial Areas Foundation, Organized Power in Numbers, and UNITE HERE North Carolina. The study analyzed nearly 25,000 North Carolina mortgage applications and over 16,000 mortgage loans at Wells Fargo between 2020 and 2024 and found racial disparities across several key metrics.

This is not Wells Fargo’s first time being in hot water for questionable banking practices. Wells Fargo denied Black, Latino, and Asian mortgage applicants about twice as frequently as white applicants. Wells Fargo rejected 22.5% of Black applicants, 25.6% of Latino applicants, and 20.3% of Asian applicants, compared with 10.3% of white applicants between 2020 and 2024. These racial disparities persisted even when controlling for income. People of color comprise the majority of the population in 27.3% of North Carolina census tracts, but Wells Fargo took only 15.4% of its mortgage applications and made only 14.3% of its loans in these areas. On a personal note, I was denied a mortgage loan from Wells Fargo in 2021, despite having excellent credit. As I moved forward in the lending process, I was later approved for $100,000 over what I was seeking from Wells Fargo with a different financial institution.

“The report underscores just how far away Wells Fargo is from cleaning up its long history of customer abuses. Regulators must immediately investigate this disturbing new evidence of racial disparities in Wells Fargo’s mortgage lending,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren

North Carolina is facing a significant housing affordability crisis. Roughly two-thirds of residents can’t afford to buy a home, and home prices have risen steeply across the state. Wells Fargo is the largest bank mortgage lender in the state, but its mortgage applications and loans have fallen by over 70% between 2020 and 2024. Some of the decline is undoubtedly tied to the rising interest rate environment.

“As a Latina woman who works at Wells Fargo, this report is personal. These are my people being denied the opportunity to own a home, to build generational wealth, to leave a legacy to their families— and at two to three times the rate of their white counterparts with the same income, that doesn’t feel like an accident. That feels like redlining,” said Danielle Olivas, a Wells Fargo teller from a unionized branch in Artesia, New Mexico, that is currently in bargaining for their first union contract. “Workers see what is going on. We sit with these families, we know their stories because we live it. We know what this bank is capable of, and we know when something isn’t right. But without a union, we have no protected way to speak up about it. That is why workers across the country are fighting to unionize, not just for ourselves, but for our communities. My people deserve better, and so do we.”

From East Hargett Street To Modern Raleigh, Black-Owned Businesses Continue Expanding Across The City

The Carolinian — Mon, 11 May 2026 11:18:00 +0000

East Hargett Street in downtown Raleigh was once known as “Black Main Street,” a thriving commercial corridor in the early 20th century where more than 50 Black-owned businesses operated at its peak. The area included medical and law offices, a hotel, restaurants, barbershops, and retail stores, serving as a central hub for Black economic life during segregation.

Today, remnants of that history remain visible through sidewalk murals along East Hargett Street that highlight the legacy of Black entrepreneurship and the businesses that once defined the area. While the landscape of downtown Raleigh has changed significantly, the influence of that era continues to shape conversations about ownership, opportunity, and economic access in the city.

As Raleigh has grown, Black-owned businesses have expanded across different neighborhoods, building new spaces for commerce, culture, and community engagement. From bookstores and boutiques to food, fashion, and creative services, these businesses continue to reflect both cultural heritage and modern entrepreneurship.

One example is Liberation Station Bookstore, North Carolina’s first Black-owned children’s bookstore. Recently reopened in Historic Oakwood, the store is owned by Victoria Scott-Miller and specializes in children’s literature centered on Black children and families, offering a curated space focused on representation in early reading.

In downtown Raleigh, Nashona operates as a boutique featuring vibrant African fabrics and handcrafted goods inspired by Tanzanian culture. Owned by Lillian K. Danieli, the shop reflects a blend of cultural heritage and contemporary design, offering clothing and textiles rooted in traditional craftsmanship.

Another downtown initiative, the Pop-Up Shops on Wilmington Street, was created through a partnership between Downtown Raleigh Alliance and Wake Tech Entrepreneurship & Small Business Center. The program provides short-term retail space and business training for minority and women-owned businesses, helping entrepreneurs test concepts in a high-visibility area with the goal of transitioning into permanent storefronts. One of the program’s success stories includes Unorthodox Vintage, which began as a pop-up vendor before expanding its presence.

Other Black-owned businesses across Raleigh also reflect the diversity of entrepreneurship in the city. Sir Castle Tees, located on South Street, specializes in custom and resale sneakers including Jordans and Yeezys, while also offering customization services that incorporate design effects such as heat- or UV-sensitive color changes. Owner Michael Phillips began customizing shoes as a hobby in high school and has since built a strong online following.

In tailoring and formalwear, Glenwood South Bespoke Suiting and Tailors has become alongstanding Raleigh fixture, offering alterations and custom tailoring services under ownerBrian, who has worked in the industry for decades.

In the floral industry, TG Floristry focuses on sustainability and equity by sourcing flowers from local farms and BIPOC growers. Owned by Tiera George, the business emphasizes intentional design and community-centered sourcing practices.

Food and agriculture also remain central to Black entrepreneurship in the region. The Black Farmers’ Market operates on a rotating schedule between Raleigh and Durham, connecting local farmers directly with consumers. With fewer than 2% of U.S. farmers identifying as Black, the market provides an avenue for supporting Black agricultural producers while increasing access to fresh food in the Triangle area.

In the culinary space, ORO Restaurant and Lounge, owned by chef Chris Hylton, has become a notable part of downtown Raleigh’s dining scene, offering shareable dishes designed for group dining experiences.

Meanwhile, in the broader regional food and baking scene, Bestow Baked Goods in Holly Springs, owned by Heather Sutton, has gained attention for custom desserts and event catering that emphasize personal detail and presentation.

Raleigh Nonprofit Uses Small Cash Grants To Help Lift People Out Of Homelessness

The Carolinian — Sat, 09 May 2026 12:04:00 +0000

NC NEWSLINE - Tristin Taylor grew emotional as she recalled slipping into homelessness after debilitating migraines caused her to lose her job.

Taylor, 63, had been a regional salesperson for a high-end skin care line, earned a good salary and considered herself solidly middle class. After burning through her savings, she landed in the shelter. She rode Raleigh city buses to pass the time because the shelter where she slept closed its doors at 7 a.m., and didn’t reopen them until 4 p.m.

“It was just traumatic,” Taylor said. “It really was the worst thing I’ve ever been through in my life.”

About 18 months ago, a week before Thanksgiving, Taylor was able to leave the shelter with help from the Cooper Charitable Foundation, a Raleigh-based nonprofit that provides housing stability grants to help people experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing.

The foundation was created in 2024 by John Cooper, president and CEO of Cooper Tacia, a Raleigh-based general contracting firm. Cooper founded the nonprofit to honor his grandmother, who he says set an example of “giving to others.”

The $2,500 Taylor received from the foundation was the answer to her prayers.

“It was just a miracle that day,” Taylor said. “I fell to my knees and was like, ‘There is a God.’”

With a deadline to move out of the shelter approaching, Taylor had worried that she would be pushed onto the streets. She didn’t have an income, so she couldn’t pay rent or the upfront costs to move into an apartment. Taylor had been approved for Social Security disability benefits, but the monthly checks had not yet begun to come.

The Cooper Foundation stepped in with a housing stability grant to help Taylor with first month’s rent, security deposit and last month’s rent. The typical grant averages about $2,500, according to the foundation.

The upfront cost to move into permanent housing is what often keeps people trapped in homelessness, said Mary-Ann Baldwin, the foundation’s executive director and a former Raleigh mayor.

Baldwin said the foundation has helped 311 people — including 163 children — secure or maintain housing since launching its first fundraiser in June 2024.

When Baldwin began working at the foundation, she wrongly believed that most grants would go to help families and individuals avoid evictions.

“That has been the opposite of what has happened,” Baldwin said. “Ninety percent of our grants have been awarded to people who are working. They can afford the monthly rent. What they can’t afford is the security deposit, first and last month’s rent, and a utility deposit.”

The remaining 10% of grants were awarded to keep people in housing by paying for car repairs or covering rent payments for people who experienced illness, a job loss or other trauma.

“People are quick to judge,” Baldwin said. “But many of these individuals are working, trying to take care of their families. They just need that initial help to get on stable ground.”

Still housed a year later

A recent examination of 60 grants administered by one of its nonprofit partners, Oak City Cares, found that 97% of the people who received help through the Cooper Foundation were still in stable housing one year later, Baldwin said.

“Everybody but two people,” Baldwin said. “One was a woman who unfortunately passed away, and another was a gentleman who was incarcerated,” Baldwin said.

Oak City Cares is a nonprofit, public-private partnership that serves individuals and families at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness. It’s partnering with the Cooper Foundation to vet applicants and provide support services, such as budgeting and referrals for food assistance. The housing stability grants are paid directly to landlords or utility service providers.

The success of such programs reinforces the importance of pairing financial assistance with supportive services, Baldwin said.

“It’s not just about the funding,” she said. “It’s also about the services.”

Baldwin said people living in hotels have an especially hard time saving up the $2,500 or more they would need to move into an apartment.

When she was mayor, Baldwin said the City of Raleigh budgeted $25,000, which was matched by the Carolina Hurricanes, to help people move out of hotels. The $50,000 Compassion Fund was kind of a precursor to the housing stability grants, she said.

“And then, COVID hit, and oh my goodness, we had to use that money to keep people in hotels so they weren’t homeless,” Baldwin said. “We never got to test out our theory [that such grants work to keep people housed].”

Small grants, big payoffs

Now, through the housing stability grants, the Cooper Foundation is demonstrating how relatively small financial interventions can keep people previously experiencing homelessness stably housed, she said.

Similar programs in Raleigh and elsewhere are showing comparable results, Baldwin said. She pointed to the city’s “Bringing Neighbors Home” initiative, which helps move people out of encampments and provides financial support during their first year in housing.

That program has maintained housing stability for more than 90% of participants after six months, Baldwin said.

According to Raleigh city officials, unsheltered homelessness in Wake County has doubled since 2020. They told the city council at a recent meeting that taxpayers spend up to $96,000 per unhoused person a year on shelter, encampment clean-ups, emergency room visits, law enforcement, jail time, and other crisis services. In contrast, housing with support services costs far less — approximately $27,000 per person a year.

Despite the success of such programs, Baldwin warned that broader economic pressures such as rising food, gas and housing costs could worsen housing instability.

She also cited a decline in charitable giving, noting that donations to nonprofits have decreased as more funds shift toward political causes.

Baldwin called for policy changes, including the creation of a standalone state housing department and expanded funding for housing stabilization programs.

“If the government would put more into getting people into housing, it would cost less than dealing with the consequences of homelessness,” Baldwin said.

Finding peace

Giving up a job she liked because of the migraines was tough, Taylor said. It required lots of driving which she could no longer do.

“It’s just the way the ball bounced,” Taylor said. “They cried when I left. I cried. It was really hard.”

Shelter life was tough too, she said. But 18 months after passing her days on a city bus, Taylor has found peace.

“I just sat in my apartment with my little dog Lil Laci that very first night and cried,” she said. “We don’t have to worry anymore. We have a home now.”

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis To Speak At Campbell University Law School Hooding Graduation

Jheri Hardaway — Sat, 09 May 2026 11:42:00 +0000

By Jheri Hardaway

Staff Writer

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) will offer the commencement address at Campbell University School of Law’s 48th annual hooding and graduation ceremony on Friday, May 8, 2026, Dean J. Rich Leonard has announced. “I am proud to announce that Senator Tillis will serve as our hooding and graduation speaker as we celebrate 50 years as a law school,” Leonard said. “He is an important voice in our national discourse.”

The celebration is scheduled for 10 a.m. at Memorial Auditorium in the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. “It will be a true honor to speak at Campbell Law’s commencement ceremony and to meet the next generation of North Carolina’s attorneys,” said Tillis, who was first elected to represent North Carolina in 2014 and is currently serving in his second term after being re-elected in 2020. “These graduates will provide remarkable leadership in our state and beyond.”

Tillis, who is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and Judiciary Committee, announced on June 29, 2025, that he would not seek re-election to a third term. He plans to finish his current term, which ends in January 2027. Before serving in the Senate, he was Speaker of the House in the North Carolina General Assembly, where he played an instrumental role in enacting job-creating policies and reforming North Carolina’s tax and regulatory codes.

Tillis was born into a working-class family with his father, mother, and five siblings. During his childhood, his family was frequently forced to relocate wherever his parents could find work. After graduating from high school, Tillis was unable to afford college, so he took a job as a warehouse records clerk, earning minimum wage. He knows firsthand how difficult it is to raise a family while attending school at night, struggling to make ends meet.

Through hard work and dedication, Tillis quickly moved up the corporate ladder, earning his degree at 36 and becoming a top-level executive at PricewaterhouseCoopers and IBM. His 29-year private sector career in technology and management consulting provided him with a deep understanding of policymaking and the management of complex organizations.

Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts nearly 5,000 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2026, Campbell Law is celebrating 50 years of graduating legal leaders and 17 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.