Courthouse shooting updates, James Comey trial and UNC basketball: Tuesday’s top stories
From the Wake County courthouse shooting to retail closures and a major UNC basketball update, here’s what’s making headlines today.
Catch up on the top stories from The News & Observer for Tuesday, May 26, 2026.
- Shooting suspect denied bail: Gwendolyn White, 57, will remain in jail without bail as she faces two counts of attempted murder, each carrying a maximum sentence of nearly 33 years. The two lawyers she allegedly shot, Mary Katherine Harris and Jeffrey Whitley, are expected to survive.
Read more: Woman accused of shooting attorneys outside Wake courthouse to remain in jail
- Courthouse shooter’s ex-lawyer speaks out: Attorney Aviance Brown said the case involving White has been “falsely conflated” online with healthcare allegations involving White’s late mother. The case was instead about body camera footage from a 2021 Rolesville police incident.
Read more: Ex-lawyer for accused Wake courthouse shooter says internet has distorted the facts
- Suspect made extraordinary claims: Court records reveal White claimed her Rolesville neighbors hacked her phone and 91 other accounts, poisoned her toothbrush and sodas, and stole thousands from her bank accounts. White has filed at least 15 lawsuits in Wake County court over the past 30 years.
Read more: Suspect in Wake courthouse shooting made extraordinary claims against her neighbors
- Comey seashells trial delayed to fall: The federal case accusing former FBI Director James Comey of threatening President Trump with a seashells photo has been pushed from July 15 to October 21, 2026, after his attorneys requested more time to review evidence. The charges stem from a May 2025 Instagram post showing seashells arranged to read “86 47.”
Read more: Why the James Comey trial over NC seashells photo is now pushed to fall
- Triangle’s top employers reshuffled: Federal funding cuts triggered mass staff reductions at Durham research organizations, including Duke University, FHI 360 and RTI International, while Toyota’s new battery plant entered the state’s Top 300 employers at No. 177. The Durham-Chapel Hill metro area lost 3,800 jobs over a 12-month period beginning February 2025.
Read more: Disruptive year shuffles list of Triangle’s biggest employers
- Furniture store leaving Crabtree mall: Furniture World is closing its location at Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh to move to a bigger space, with closing discounts now being offered. The family-owned retailer also operates stores in Burlington, Greensboro and Norfolk, Virginia.
Read more: Store closing at Crabtree mall in Raleigh offers discounts
- Matt Able heading to UNC: Tar Heel commit Matt Able withdrew from the 2026 NBA Draft to enroll at UNC under new head coach Michael Malone, after rising into second-round consideration following a strong NBA Draft Combine performance. The 6-foot-6 wing averaged 8.8 points as a freshman at N.C. State last season.
Read more: Matt Able makes his NBA Draft decision
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.