https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article316521862.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a8ed49b8-3882-4742-bace-6d3763502320/1_th.jpg What did Whatley and Cooper really ask for as COVID hit prisons? What did U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley and former Gov. Roy Cooper really ask for as COVID-19 tore through prisons? With a new video resurfacing of Whatley's comments then, both candidates are now addressing the subject in their Senate race. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article316521862.html/video-embed 132 2026-07-15T17:18:27Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316526317.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/584e49ef-ee60-4de0-b058-0acce1cd9d7f/1_th.jpg NC’s Tillis at Blanche hearing: Democrats should 'look in the mirror' before they criticize Trump Sen. Thom Tillis criticized Democrats on Wednesday for “situational ethics” before asking attorney general nominee Todd Blanche about his views on President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons and the “1776 fund.” https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316526317.html/video-embed 150 2026-07-15T21:11:35Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article316525547.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/5c63a104-a29b-4dcc-8f8b-86041c9f64bc/1_th.jpg For years NC lawmakers got undisclosed free Charlotte speedway passes. That's about to change After a News & Observer inquiry, the Charlotte Motor Speedway plans to report special access passes given to North Carolina lawmakers and others that were previously unreported. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article316525547.html/video-embed 76 2026-07-15T20:29:39Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article316509307.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b9f5a85b-b48c-4f70-997f-65ddfbe5a310/1_th.jpg Can this Raleigh cafe’s matcha convert skeptics? Our interns try it out. Matcha mania has taken over, and we found a good but cheap cup in the Triangle. This Raleigh cafe’s matcha can convert even the pickiest drinkers, so we had to try it. https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article316509307.html/video-embed 118 2026-07-15T14:00:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article316526638.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/fd099d2d-35de-4303-8b0e-f3ced1e27ee1/1_th.jpg NC State's CJ Bailey is out to prove he's the best college quarterback in the country N.C. State quarterback talks with reporters about his confidence level this season and his drive to prove he's the best. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article316526638.html/video-embed 46 2026-07-15T21:20:43Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article316520133.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/4f578a13-a87f-4c8d-b42f-b57807216a60/1_th.jpg Protein Coffee Explained: How This Trending Drink Became the Smoothie Replacement You Need Protein coffee is replacing smoothies as a quick, satisfying breakfast. Learn how it works, how much protein you need each day, and easy ways to make it. https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article316520133.html/video-embed 387 2026-07-15T15:44:42Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article316269876.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/6b4f3dff-1266-4ffa-8dea-6432d0a86437/1_th.jpg Raleigh Midtown redevelopment quietly erases affordable housing Residents at The Pointe at Midtown in Raleigh, built in the 1960s, face phased nonrenewals as Kane Realty clears Los Navaho for a 28‑acre North Hills expansion, intensifying a local affordability crisis. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article316269876.html/video-embed 91 2026-07-15T09:15:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/article316525939.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/9588cbc3-a349-40b2-ab41-3470c621de3f/1_th.jpg QB Darian Mensah describes his last-minute move from Duke to Miami Darian Mensah, coming off Duke’s 2025 ACC title, transferred to Miami after a legal dispute and late portal entry. Now he's ready for 2026 season with the Hurricanes and has his sights on a national championship. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/article316525939.html/video-embed 63 2026-07-15T20:46:08Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316508640.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/2d82d3b3-1531-4a54-b9f1-5be1075415df/1_th.jpg Why has Raleigh launched Oak City Sparkle sparkling water? Raleigh created Oak City Sparkle, a canned sparkling tap water made with Trophy Brewing, distributed at events around the city. Here's why the city is canning this exclusive beverage. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316508640.html/video-embed 60 2026-07-15T12:30:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316510862.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/17f96a6a-74b3-4313-b896-5f1abe53a9d0/1_th.jpg Donors pull scholarship fund over UNC System DEI policy Jane Winik Sartwell, higher education reporter at The News & Observer, explains how a family is pulling a $1 million scholarship fund from UNC Wilmington after the school said it could no longer gear their money toward African American students. The change stems from the UNC System's Equality Policy, which bans diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at public universities. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316510862.html/video-embed 57 2026-07-14T21:13:24Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/johnston-county/article316519457.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/c4ad460c-4543-49ff-a52d-4426a4341c02/1_th.jpg Johnston County school board members spar over removal of LGBTQ+ wording from school policies Johnston County school board members Kay Carroll and Michelle Antoine argue over a decision to remove language about sexual orientation and gender identity from the anti-bullying policy at the July 14, 2026 board meeting. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/johnston-county/article316519457.html/video-embed 98 2026-07-15T15:07:38Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article316490736.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/787b5c20-d555-4473-8619-e8c1463d404b/1_th.jpg Jordon Hudson asked UNC for records in June. Here’s what they revealed. UNC-Chapel Hill fulfilled Jordon Hudson’s public records requests, returning mainly contracts and audits; few documents revealed outside communications about boyfriend Coach Bill Belichick. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article316490736.html/video-embed 116 2026-07-14T14:00:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316494885.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/2bb032db-a21a-4dbc-909a-3cf9cde72b7e/1_th.jpg Funding approved after 3 Wake County elementary schools deemed unsafe due to structural issues Emergency repairs will be made at three Wake County elementary schools that have been deemed unsafe for students due to settling and wall cracking issues on the campus. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316494885.html/video-embed 97 2026-07-13T20:06:16Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article314323282.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/d13c25c8-52e5-4e48-b1a2-02dfdcd71afe/2_th.jpg 'Fund public schools. It is not money wasted, it is money invested.' Public school advocates rallied in front of the General Assembly on Wednesday Jan. 14, 2026, to lobby for more school funding and for restrictions on charter schools and private school vouchers. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article314323282.html/video-embed 31 2026-01-14T20:07:13Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316496397.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/35013346-45c9-4158-874b-7085adcad3e0/3_th.jpg Three wounded after ‘retaliation’ shooting outside Wilson courthouse Wilson County Sheriff C.L. Woodard, Jr. tells reporters that a man is in custody after police say he shot a woman outside the Wilson County Courthouse and then traded gunfire with police — an incident officials believe was in retaliation for a fatal shooting last month. Abdul Karim Mustafa, 21, of Wilson, faces four charges, including attempted first-degree murder and going armed to terror of the public after police said he approached a 19-year-old woman who was entering the courthouse and shot her several times before fleeing. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316496397.html/video-embed 84 2026-07-13T21:56:39Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316488118.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1966cf24-46cb-4604-aaff-7696a28f8826/1_th.jpg Wake County Animal Center is overcapacity and needs your help The Wake County Animal Center is at overcapacity for a variety of reasons and needs help from volunteers, adopters, and those able to foster an animal. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316488118.html/video-embed 54 2026-07-13T13:28:19Z no