The Assembly

Owner of St. Andrews University Campus Files for Bankruptcy The move stopped a pending foreclosure and land auction filed by one of the creditors of the now-shuttered school in Scotland County.

The nonprofit organization that owns most of the land once belonging to St. Andrews University, which closed last year, filed a notice for bankruptcy in federal court Tuesday.

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Court of Appeals Hears Junior Chandler Case Prosecutors argued his conviction on child sexual abuse charges should be upheld, despite a judge finding favorable evidence was withheld.

Last week, prosecutors argued that a Madison County man’s conviction on child sexual abuse charges should be upheld, despite a judge finding that favorable evidence that could have helped his defense nearly 40 years ago was withheld.

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The Morrow You Know Michele Morrow is betting the name recognition she earned in 2024 will help her win a U.S. Senate seat. But is all publicity good publicity?

Michele Morrow is betting that the name recognition she earned running for superintendent of public instruction will help her win a seat in the U.S. Senate. But is all publicity good publicity?

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Wrestling With the Future Stephanie Diaz Mendoza is a reigning state champion in the growing sport of girls’ wrestling. Her future depends on that momentum continuing.

Durham’s Stephanie Diaz Mendoza is a reigning state high school champion in the growing sport of girls’ wrestling. Her prospects on the mat depend on that momentum continuing.

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Keeping the Fire Alive Black-owned barbecue restaurants have continued the whole-hog tradition and anchored their communities. There aren’t many left.

Black-owned barbecue restaurants have continued the whole-hog tradition and anchored their communities across North Carolina. But there aren’t many left. www.theassemblync.com/news/culture...

How Much Could Trump’s Cuts Cost Your College? We crunched the numbers on five significant higher ed cuts from the Trump administration’s first year to find out how they affect every college in North Carolina.

And, search for your college to find out how different funding cuts may effect it here: www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...

5 Takeaways From Our Analysis of Trump’s Higher Ed Cuts The potential changes are substantial, and they go beyond the most prestigious schools. But the enduring uncertainty may be the biggest impact.

Read more about our takeaways here: www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...

5. The uncertainty alone is a challenge.

The fact that some threats have ebbed doesn’t mean things are easy at the state’s colleges these days. The massive spread between low-end and high-end potential outcomes lends its own type of damage.

4. Some colleges escaped relatively unscathed.

On the other hand, small colleges that haven’t leaned on expensive graduate programs and international students to balance the budget may be breathing comparatively easier these days.

3. The hardest-hit colleges may not be the ones you expect.

Massive threatened cuts to research funding have led many to focus on the risks to major research universities like UNC-CH and Duke. But Campbell University stands out when it comes to potential losses due to changes to loan programs.

2. What didn’t happen may be as important as what did.

Some threats have ebbed over time. The North Carolina Community College System fares particularly well in our models, with basically no potential losses.

1. A lot is still up in the air.
Our total estimated potential annual losses for the 168 schools we analyzed range from $1.4 billion to $2.2 billion.

The lion’s share of those losses have not actually come to fruition.

How Much Could Trump’s Cuts Cost Your College? We crunched the numbers on five significant higher ed cuts from the Trump administration’s first year to find out how they affect every college in North Carolina.

To get our heads around it, we embarked on a data analysis project, modeling how the most substantial changes might affect the bottom line of colleges and universities across North Carolina. You can explore the data yourself, but here’s what stood out to us. ⬇️

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Administrators, faculty, staff, and students at the nation’s colleges and universities spent the first year of Donald Trump’s second term careening from one headline-making announcement to another. The sheer quantity of changes, updates, and reversals was hard to follow. 🧵

As Helene Survivors Wait for State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their Homes North Carolina created a new housing recovery program to avoid the delays and cost overruns that plagued rebuilding efforts after hurricanes Florence and Matthew. The Assembly and ProPublica have foun...

Really important piece by partner @renlarson.bsky.social @theassemblync.bsky.social: As Helene Survivors Wait for State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their Homes

As Helene Survivors Await State Help, Some Victims of Earlier Hurricanes Are Still Out of Their Homes N.C. created a hurricane recovery program to avoid delays and cost overruns that plagued past efforts. Similar problems to ReBuild NC are surfacing.

With @propublica.org | NC created a new housing recovery program to avoid the delays and cost overruns that plagued rebuilding efforts after hurricanes Florence and Matthew. The Assembly and ProPublica have found that similar problems are starting to surface.
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Top Primaries to Watch in 2026 Your guide to the top races in North Carolina in the 2026 primaries, from Sam Page facing Phil Berger to the battle to be Don Davis' general election opponent.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE ⬇️ www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...

10. Since joining the House in 2019, Rep. Jake Johnson of Polk County has risen through party ranks to deputy majority whip, working to keep the caucus together on key votes. Johnson faces a challenge in House District 113 from former House Majority Leader Mike Hager, who abruptly resigned in 2016.

9. When state Senate Majority Leader Paul Newton left office last year, Cabarrus County Commissioner Chris Measmer filled the vacant seat. Now, Measmer faces a formidable challenge from former state Rep. Kevin Crutchfield in the Senate District 34 Republican Primary.

8. There’s perhaps no lawmaker who frustrates the Republican establishment more than Rep. Keith Kidwell of Beaufort County. Farmer and business owner Darren Armstrong is challenging him in the House District 79 Republican Primary this year.

7. In the House District 60 Democratic Primary, four Democrats are vying for the seat previously held by Cecil Brockman, who resigned last year after being arrested and charged with a number of sexual offenses against minors.

6. The Senate District 1 Republican Primary for the open coastal seat that State Sen. Bobby Hanig currently holds has attracted four GOP candidates. Former Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett has garnered the most attention in the race.

5. In 2024, political newcomer Rodney Pierce defeated state Rep. Michael Wray of Northampton County by the narrowest margin of any legislative primary in the state. Now, Wray is looking for a rematch in the House District 27 Democratic Primary.

4. The Durham-area U.S. House primary will be a heavyweight bout between incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee and progressive challenger Nida Allam. The outcome will show the direction one of the state’s most liberal districts is heading.

3. The outcome of this five-person race in the 1st Congressional District Republican Primary will decide who gets a chance to run against U.S. Rep. Don Davis in what’s poised to be the most competitive congressional race this fall, so it’s fitting that the candidates are already butting heads.

2. Rep. Carla Cunningham of Mecklenburg County was the most conservative-voting Democrat in Raleigh last year, so it’s not surprising that many in her party want her out. But the race between Cunningham, Rev. Rodney Sadler, and Vermanno Bowman may be the toughest Democratic primary to get a read on.

1. The state Senate showdown between GOP leader Phil Berger and Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page is undoubtedly the most important North Carolina primary to watch.

A primary victory for Berger would reaffirm his influence, while a defeat could signal frustration with the status quo in Raleigh.

A graphic depicting North Carolina politicians entitled "Ten 2026 Primaries We're Watching in North Carolina"

Among the dozens of races across the state, here's our list of ten to watch in 2026.

These are the primaries in North Carolina that are expected to be the most competitive, consequential, or interesting—or all three. 🧵

UNC-Chapel Hill Preps Policy on Recording Professors The school aims to clarify guidelines after a secret recording controversy and growing fear of surveillance.

unc is finalizing a classroom recording policy that would allow administrators to secretly record faculty in some cases

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UNC-Chapel Hill Preps Policy on Recording Professors The school aims to clarify guidelines after a secret recording controversy and growing fear of surveillance.

Chavis, an outspoken critic of the school’s leaders, was let go afterward. He sued UNC-CH for retaliation; the case is still working its way through the court system.

Since that controversy, concerns over surveillance have grown across higher education. www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...