https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article316800704.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/6f113c4f-41aa-4c7b-8875-8f5d8fa045aa/1_th.jpg Rare leatherback sea turtle visits NC beach for second time this season A leatherback sea turtle, the world's largest living turtle species, emerged on a beach in Southern Shores before sunrise on Saturday, Aug. 1, drawing conservation volunteers to secure the area after the animal made its second coastal appearance of the season. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article316800704.html/video-embed 54 2026-08-07T14:04:51Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316805114.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/cc78480b-cd58-4f83-8f46-3b4e70ffe256/1_th.jpg Recapping some of the big shake-ups at UNC-Chapel Hill this summer From budget cuts to expansion, DOD decisions to administrative leave, programs cut to Carolina North, there has been a lot of news this summer at UNC-Chapel Hill. News & Observer higher education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell catches us up. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316805114.html/video-embed 71 2026-08-07T18:54:03Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article316800395.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/ee7c70b8-2dde-459c-b4a5-93a77cb5d438/1_th.jpg NC black bear climbs onto balcony to eat from bird feeder A young black bear climbs a balcony like a gymnast in order to get to the bird feeder on a house in Highlands, NC, July 25, 2026 . The bear did not fall or get injured in any way. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article316800395.html/video-embed 60 2026-08-07T13:32:55Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316792521.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/c93a401d-efc4-49a7-af01-ac5ca9f9000b/1_th.jpg Hundreds left in limbo as state cuts NC environmental education office North Carolina's $34 billion 2026-27 state budget cut the $275,000 needed to keep the NC Office of Environmental Education running. When the office closes its doors, more than 200 partner organizations, from county nature centers to public libraries, will lose the main channel they use to reach teachers and the public. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316792521.html/video-embed 65 2026-08-07T13:21:06Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article316788859.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/01ff00f0-8651-413c-8e8e-9da785137ad5/1_th.jpg Wiccan candidate’s religious name could appear on NC ballot The North Carolina elections board will consider whether Wiccan candidate High Priestex Mortellus can use a religious mononym on Rutherford County ballots ahead of November midterms. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article316788859.html/video-embed 75 2026-08-06T16:19:36Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316800247.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a4073441-fce3-4e58-89de-20392df14e02/1_th.jpg Wake parents demand answers after substitute bus driver misses stops Holly Springs police are investigating an incident in which Wake County parents responded to a school bus driver missing some bus stops by allegedly blocking the bus with a car, prompting some of the children to open an emergency exit and jump out. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316800247.html/video-embed 92 2026-08-07T13:18:18Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316769204.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/7bd153b9-0bc2-42f6-955f-0c937606dfb9/1_th.jpg NC House Speaker explains why hemp bill did not move forward for vote Speaker Destin Hall explains why the Republican-led North Carolina House declined Tuesday to take up a bill that would tighten regulations on hemp products, in a week that could be the last for lawmakers before they return in November, after the election. Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article316762493.html https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316769204.html/video-embed 59 2026-08-05T00:29:55Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316778950.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/38883f16-80b4-480c-a64d-59d6b5c9b62d/2_th.jpg Young couple arrested after teen allegedly took abortion pills in 3rd trimester. Two Durham teens were arrested Tuesday after the female teen allegedly took abortion-inducing medication while 31 weeks pregnant. Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry told reporters that she will need to see the evidence presented before deciding on prosecution. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316778950.html/video-embed 124 2026-08-05T19:46:09Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316776289.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/e54dd17a-11e3-4a57-847a-3dbd80e81fab/1_th.jpg Wake schools may cut local teacher raises after state boost Wake County teachers may lose locally funded pay raises in order to help balance the school district’s budget. School administrators said Tuesday that the district will need to make $17.6 million in budget reductions, mostly to balance how the state raised pay for employees higher than expected. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316776289.html/video-embed 126 2026-08-05T17:45:21Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316793514.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/493808b7-54e3-4e7a-9572-6b3e7afef3ae/1_th.jpg Miss North Carolina USA stripped of title Brittany Alondra Boltinhouse, of Duplin County, was Miss Wilmington and won the title of Miss North Carolina USA at the June competition. But she will not compete for the Miss USA title, Miss North Carolina USA CEO Thom Brodeur wrote in a Wednesday night statement. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316793514.html/video-embed 59 2026-08-06T21:24:16Z no