Lynn Bonner

North Carolina Prison Officials Raise Prices for Those Who Can Least Afford It - Bolts It’s 4:30 pm on a Monday as Colell Steele stands in front of the closed canteen window at Neuse Correctional, a medium-custody prison in North Carolina. He’s lined up to... Read More

NEW: North Carolina prison officials, this summer, raised the price of items that incarcerated people can buy.

The prices are already way marked-up; & incarcerated people make a tiny fraction of minimum wage if they work.

An incarcerated reporter explains what's happening, & why it matters:

Push to Recognize Lumbee Tribe Stalls Trump Judges, Prosecutors in Mississippi Four of President Trump’s Mississippi nominees are stalled as part of an effort to compel federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe.

Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina is using Trump’s Mississippi nominees as leverage in a gambit to compel Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi to help the Lumbee Tribe finally achieve federal recognition—and all the rights and benefits it entails.

buff.ly/J0pjl4f

The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.

SCOOP: Paul Ingrassia, a lawyer who previously represented the Tate brothers before joining the White House, chided authorities for seizing the brothers’ devices, saying it was not a good use of time or resources. He told DHS officials to give them back.

U.S. Border Patrol coming to Raleigh, mayor says • NC Newsline Cowell said city leaders "don't have a lot of information" about the scale of the operation or how long the agency plans to be in Raleigh.

U.S. Border Patrol coming to Raleigh on Tuesday, mayor says, as NC crackdown continues ncnewsline.com/2025/11/17/u...

NEW: DHS launched a $200mln+ ad campaign, featuring, Kristi Noem, aimed at stemming illegal immigration.

We found the firm secretly hired for the work has ties to Noem.

@justinelliott.bsky.social, @josh-kaplan.bsky.social & @amierjeski.bsky.social:

www.propublica.org/article/kris...

North Carolina’s U.S. Rep. Don Davis among them. #ncpol

Marion County agrees to pay out $3M for newspaper raid, expresses regret TOPEKA — A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor.In two of the…

A handful of county-level officials who were involved in a small-town Kansas newspaper raid in 2023 will pay a cumulative $3 million to three journalists and a city councilor.

via @kansasreflector.com

“Biblical Justice, Equal Justice, for All”: How North Carolina’s Chief Justice Transformed His State and America Paul Newby, a born-again Christian, has turned his perch atop North Carolina’s Supreme Court into an instrument of political power. Over two decades, he’s driven changes that have reverberated well be...

“I’m sure you’re aware of our connections with the Trump Administration,” the North Carolina Republican Party's communications director wrote in an email response to us. “I would strongly suggest dropping this story.”

We didn't. Read the story that he wanted dropped:

NC pension trustees hear pleas for cost-of-living increases • NC Newsline NC state government retirees haven't had regular cost of living adjustments to their pensions since 2008. Pressure for COLAs is rising.

The state pension trustees could be in a position to recommend that the legislature grant state retiree cost-of-living increases in the next budget. It all depends on how pension fund returns perform through December. ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-pe... By @lbonner.bsky.social #ncpol

Trump administration limits number of refugees to 7,500 and they're mostly white South Africans The Trump administration is restricting the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. to 7,500 and they will be mostly white South Africans.

BREAKING: The Trump administration is restricting the number of refugees admitted to the U.S. to 7,500 and they will be mostly white South Africans.

Rural NC legal aid offices close after General Assembly freezes public assistance fund over politics • NC Newsline For 40 years, IOLTA has funded legal aid to low-income North Carolinians. That money is now halted over GOP accusations of progressive bias.

Rural NC legal aid offices close after General Assembly freezes public assistance fund over politics ncnewsline.com/2025/10/30/r...

NC AG Jackson sues Trump administration over SNAP pause • NC Newsline The suit argues that the administration should dip into reserve funds to continue funding SNAP benefits, rather than pausing them.

NC attorney general joins states suing Trump administration to continue SNAP food aid ncnewsline.com/2025/10/28/n... by @galenb.bsky.social

Racial health disparities could widen as states grapple with Trump cuts, experts warn • NC Newsline Racial health disparities may widen as states, universities and nonprofits grapple with federal funding cuts to programs that were aimed at filling gaps in care, public health experts say.

Racial health disparities could widen as states grapple with Trump cuts, experts warn ncnewsline.com/2025/10/28/r...

NC officials warn federal food aid programs will be suspended within days • NC Newsline Food stamps and the federal program that helps parents pay for baby formula will be suspended in November due to the government shutdown

From @lbonner.bsky.social: NC officials warn federal food aid programs will be suspended within days
ncnewsline.com/2025/10/27/n...

Arizona figures with extremist connections join the new Pentagon media pool | Arizona Mirror Pentagon press corps far-right Arizona journalists replace mainstream reporters after government restrictions imposed

Arizona figures with white nationalist ties gain Pentagon credentials as 60 journalists from extremist outlets replace traditional reporters

story via @jerodmacevoy.com

NC lawmakers, still at impasse, leave town with new voting map but no budget or Medicaid fix • NC Newsline On their way out of Raleigh, NC House lawmakers passed three proposals addressing long-standing budget and funding issues. They'll likely sit untouched for weeks as a four-month stalemate between Repu...

Big ups to @lbonner.bsky.social and @galenb.bsky.social today for all the work at #ncga this week, including this wrap-up. #ncpol ncnewsline.com/2025/10/22/n...

NC redistricting plan advances as Black leaders condemn new map • NC Newsline Republicans push new map granting additional GOP seat closer to finish line. Previous occupant of that seat cries foul.

Day 2 of NC redistricting. Final vote in the Senate, progress in the House. Black legislative leaders, including former U.S. Rep. Eva Clayton, gather at the legislature to blast the new map. #ncpol w/ @lbonner.bsky.social
ncnewsline.com/2025/10/21/g...

NC redistricting plan advances as Black leaders condemn new map • NC Newsline Republicans push new map granting additional GOP seat closer to finish line. Previous occupant of that seat cries foul.

GOP-led NC redistricting plan moving through House as Black leaders blast new lines ncnewsline.com/2025/10/21/g...

The State of Local News 2025 The latest insights and trends on the local news landscape across the country. Through data and graphics, explore the state of local news outlets and learn about news deserts, network sites and pathwa...

You call them news deserts, but they quickly become disinformation zones.

localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...

States jostle over $50B rural health fund as Trump's Medicaid cuts trigger scramble • Minnesota Reformer Helping rural hospitals, as originally envisioned, is quickly becoming a quaint idea.

States are racing to apply for a slice of a $50B rural health fund. One quarter of the fund will be disbursed based on how well states score on MAHA objectives. minnesotareformer.com/2025/10/21/s...

Supreme Court once again eyes overturning key part of Voting Rights Act The Supreme Court is considering a Louisiana redistricting case that could determine whether states are required to draw majority Black and Latino districts.

The Supreme Court is considering a case that could eliminate a key provision in the Voting Rights Act and reduce minority representation in Congress, reshaping the House in a way that hasn’t been seen in decades.

NC Republicans move on new congressional plan to add another GOP district • NC Newsline NC Republicans move on their plan for a new congressional map that will add another GOP seat, as President Trump requested.

NC Republicans move on new congressional plan to add another GOP district ncnewsline.com/2025/10/20/n...

Woman holding a sign reading: First they came for the immigrants and I spoke up because I know the rest of the god damn poem

Here is the alt text version. Sorry I didn't post it the first time

Lots of great info packed into this very short interview.

The scene at No Kings in Raleigh, where protesters have been met with a near-constant stream of supportive honks for the last two hours.

Swannanoa’s wishlist: FEMA buyouts, groceries and new homes • NC Newsline The unincorporated community was hit hard by Helene. Finding groceries and cost-friendly homes remains a struggle more than a year later.

Swannanoa’s post-Helene wishlist: FEMA buyouts, accessible food and affordable new homes
ncnewsline.com/2025/10/16/s...

‘It’s terrifying’: East Durham residents plead for safety amid gun violence “How long will the city allow the sounds of gunfire to dominate our streets as if we are in a war zone?” asked one resident.

“How long will the city allow the sounds of gunfire to dominate our streets as if we are in a war zone?” asked one resident.

These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department. Under Trump, the Department of Education has been bringing in activists hostile to public schools. It could mean a new era of private and religious schools boosted by tax dollars — and the end of publ...

To understand the Trump administration’s vision for American education, @megomatz.bsky.social and I studied dozens of hours of political appointees’ speeches and podcasts and essays. What emerged is a desire to dismantle the nation’s system of public schools.

How nonprofits created a North Carolina safety net after Helene • NC Newsline Western North Carolina, devastated by Helene, has been slow to receive federal aid. Survivors have leaned on nonprofits and volunteers.

Standing in the gap: How nonprofits and volunteers created a community safety net after Helene ncnewsline.com/2025/10/02/s...

Zoe Kazan, Carey Mulligan, and Andre Braugher in She Said.