Catch up on Tuesday’s top Triangle headlines with these 6 stories
The News & Observer covered major developments across North Carolina on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, ranging from courtroom sanctions to public health milestones.
Here’s a look at the day’s top stories.
• AI and lawyers: A federal judge publicly reprimanded former assistant U.S. attorney Rudy Renfer for filing an AI-generated court brief riddled with errors and fabricated citations. Renfer resigned from the U.S. Attorney’s Office after 17 years during a March sanctions hearing.
Read more: Federal judge punishes ex-US attorney over AI use, error-riddled court brief
• Medicaid deal moves forward: North Carolina lawmakers approved a $319 million Medicaid funding bill that also imposes work requirements, tightens eligibility reviews and limits coverage for lawfully residing immigrant children and pregnant women. The bill now heads to Gov. Josh Stein’s desk.
Read more: NC lawmakers approve $319 million Medicaid deal packed with policy changes
• HBCU’s bankruptcy filing: St. Augustine’s University, a historically Black university in Raleigh, filed for bankruptcy Monday and announced it is abandoning its fight to remain accredited. The school owes between $50 million and $100 million and will now focus on teach-out agreements for current students.
Read more: St. Augustine’s, Raleigh HBCU, files for bankruptcy & loses accreditation fight
• School closings Friday: At least 14 North Carolina school districts have canceled classes Friday, May 1, as teachers plan to attend a mass protest at the Legislative Building in Raleigh. The North Carolina Association of Educators is rallying educators to demand more public education funding.
Read more: NC schools announce last-minute decision to close Friday due to teacher protest
Deep dive
• North Carolina’s infant mortality rate hit an all-time low in 2024, dropping 8.7%, while drug overdose deaths plunged 34% — the first decline in fatal overdoses since 2019. State officials credit Medicaid expansion and expanded distribution of overdose-reversal medications.
Read more: NC infant mortality rate hits all-time low, overdose deaths plunge. Here’s why.
Opinion
• An opinion column reveals that NC Republicans are considering legislation to ban books discussing gender identity or sexuality from elementary school libraries. A list sent to Chapel Hill-Carrboro school leaders included picture books and children’s novels featuring LGBTQ+ characters or families.
Read more: These are some of the books NC Republicans want to ban from school libraries
This story was originally published April 28, 2026 at 6:04 PM.