Local

Aftermath of a punch, Canes chasing the Cup, UNC Pride post: Thursday's top stories

Tyrell Moore, right, stands with attorney Seth Blum during a sentencing hearing on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the Wake County Justice Center in Raleigh. Moore pleaded guilty earlier this year to voluntary manslaughter in the death of David Millette Jr., who died after Moore struck him during a confrontation in Raleigh's Glenwood South district in August 2023.
Tyrell Moore, right, stands with attorney Seth Blum during a sentencing hearing on Monday, June 1, 2026, at the Wake County Justice Center in Raleigh. Moore pleaded guilty earlier this year to voluntary manslaughter in the death of David Millette Jr., who died after Moore struck him during a confrontation in Raleigh's Glenwood South district in August 2023. tlong@newsobserver.com

The News & Observer is tracking developments across crime, politics, sports and infrastructure today.

Here are the top stories from June 4, 2026.

Glenwood South sentencing: A Wake County judge sentenced Tyrell Moore, 26, to three to five years in prison for fatally punching Midwood Smokehouse managing partner David Millette Jr. in August 2023. Moore pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter after initially being charged with first-degree murder.

Millette, 27, died six days after being punched on a Glenwood South sidewalk, leaving behind a girlfriend who was pregnant with their son, Sonny. His family filled the courtroom for the sentencing, saying the punishment is grossly inadequate for a lost life.

A screenshot of the graphic used in @goheels’ now-deleted Pride post.
A screenshot of the graphic used in @goheels’ now-deleted Pride post. Jane Winik Sartwell jane.sartwell@newsobserver.com

UNC deletes Pride posts: UNC-Chapel Hill and UNC Greensboro removed Pride month social media posts after officials said they violated the UNC System’s Equality Policy, which requires institutional neutrality on political and social issues. The 2024 policy replaced earlier diversity, equity and inclusion mandates.

Abortion bill stalls: House Speaker Destin Hall dismissed House Bill 1232 — a proposal from Rep. Keith Kidwell to ask voters to enshrine stricter abortion laws in the state Constitution — as “not a serious bill” without caucus support. Kidwell, who lost his March primary, has filed similar measures in previous sessions.

Nicole Holliday, photographed at her home in Wake Forest on Friday, April 17, 2026, holds a photograph of her as a young child with her mother, Victoria Benhoff. Benhoff died in March 2025 after ingesting fentanyl.
Nicole Holliday, photographed at her home in Wake Forest on Friday, April 17, 2026, holds a photograph of her as a young child with her mother, Victoria Benhoff. Benhoff died in March 2025 after ingesting fentanyl. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

Special reports

Fentanyl victim compensation gap: Nicole Holliday is pushing for “Victoria’s Law” after her mother, Victoria Benhoff, died of a fentanyl overdose in March 2025 but was not recognized as a victim under the state’s compensation program. The proposed legislation would recognize fentanyl poisoning deaths as crimes and establish a fund for victims’ families.

Experimental stormwater system at RDU: Raleigh-Durham International Airport is finishing one of the state’s largest parking lots — nearly 11,000 spaces over 110 acres — and will use seven submerged gravel wetlands to filter runoff. N.C. State University researchers will monitor the experimental system through summer 2027.

Carolina chases the Cup

Hurricanes face must-win Game 2: The Carolina Hurricanes hosted the Vegas Golden Knights at Lenovo Center on Thursday after losing Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final 5-4. Only five teams in playoff history have won the Cup after losing the first two games on home ice.

Read more: Hurricanes-Golden Knights Game 2 updates: Game on in Raleigh

The voice of Roy Williams

Roy Williams calls the pitches: Hall of Fame basketball coach Roy Williams has spent two seasons as the voice of UNC baseball’s PitchCom system, recording 27 words and phrases that direct pitchers and fielders during games. UNC pitching coach Bryant Gaines recruited Williams after growing tired of hearing his own pre-taped voice.

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.

Jessica Banov
The News & Observer
Jessica Banov is a news editor and audience growth specialist at The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. She was part of the team from The N&O and The Charlotte Observer that was named a 2025 Pulitzer Prize finalist for Breaking News for coverage of Hurricane Helene. She also serves as The N&O’s intern program coordinator. 
Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER