Local

This week’s best photos from News & Observer photojournalists

By Scott Sharpe

May 22, 2026 3:01 PM

Matin Maani, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Apex Friendship Middle School, takes a bow during a celebration recognizing him as the 2026 Wake County Teacher of the Year on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Apex, N.C. — Matin Maani, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Apex Friendship Middle School, takes a bow during a celebration recognizing him as the 2026 Wake County Teacher of the Year on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Apex, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

Here’s a curated selection of photos from the Triangle and beyond as captured through the lenses of News & Observer photojournalists. This feature can be seen in Sunday’s newspaper, as well as in our online Edition. See it at eedition.newsobserver.com.

Sting brings his 3.0 tour to Raleigh, N.C.’s Red Hat Amphitheater, Tuesday night, May 19, 2026.

North Carolina attacker Chloe Humphrey (2) gets off a pass as he hits the turf under defensive pressure from Stanford midfielder Amanda Lawson (14) and defenseman Olivia Rose (5), during their NCAA quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels defeated Stanford 14-11. — North Carolina attacker Chloe Humphrey (2) gets off a pass as he hits the turf under defensive pressure from Stanford midfielder Amanda Lawson (14) and defenseman Olivia Rose (5), during their NCAA quarterfinal matchup on Thursday, May 14, 2026 at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. The Tar Heels defeated Stanford 14-11. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

T. I. M. wrestles Piero Tenorio during Spring into the Ring presented by G.O.U.G.E. wrestling at Rebus Works in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 16, 2026. — T. I. M. wrestles Piero Tenorio during Spring into the Ring presented by G.O.U.G.E. wrestling at Rebus Works in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, May 16, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com

North Carolina Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, right, talks with fellow senators including from left Val Applewhite, Lisa Grafstein, Jay Chaudhuri and Kandie Smith during a break in the N.C. Senate session at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 19, 2026. — North Carolina Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, right, talks with fellow senators including from left Val Applewhite, Lisa Grafstein, Jay Chaudhuri and Kandie Smith during a break in the N.C. Senate session at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, N.C., Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com