https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather-news/article315844377.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1745aa72-c226-4a58-b74f-bb9264b1e52c/1_th.jpg NOAA releases official hurricane forecast for 2026 During a press conference on May 21, 2026, NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs says forecasters with NOAA’s National Weather Service are predicting a below-normal hurricane season for the Atlantic basin this year. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather-news/article315844377.html/video-embed 91 2026-05-21T18:25:30Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article315843371.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/847e0c56-b53c-42c6-beda-04eee7cc020f/4_th.jpg NC Senate Minority Leader Batch on the Legislature's vacation North Carolina Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch gives her opinion on the Legislature taking Memorial Day week off after only being in session for just one month. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article315843371.html/video-embed 48 2026-05-21T19:08:48Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article315842699.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/beffe151-8538-46d0-8f7d-ac0e6f32f2db/1_th.jpg Mayor Ben Clapsaddle proclaims Pride Month in Wake Forest At a Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, Wake Forest Mayor Ben Clapsaddle designated June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in a proclamation, reversing the previous mayor’s scrapping the town’s recognition of LGBTQ+ history. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article315842699.html/video-embed 79 2026-05-21T16:42:55Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315834214.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/47142957-7d24-4e2c-9896-ac02d45255dc/2_th.jpg Dog owner charged in attack that left Chatham County woman dead Dennis O’Keith Faulkner, 32, of Apex, was charged with six misdemeanors after his three dogs were found at the scene of an 85-year-old woman’s death on Alston Road on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315834214.html/video-embed 89 2026-05-20T22:31:51Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315839821.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/9da3f790-2dd5-4479-af98-b75389d0db99/2_th.jpg UNC freshman reveals what School of Civic Life is really like UNC-Chapel Hill freshman Mo Zheng is pursuing a major in neuroscience and a minor in the School of Civic Life and Leadership. Zheng received the school’s Libertas Scholarship, which awards $3,000 per semester to students pursuing the minor. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315839821.html/video-embed 150 2026-05-21T13:49:24Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315841497.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/3ceab941-5ff6-4c2a-847e-d97e85373110/4_th.jpg Agave plant in death bloom shoots up 25 feet in a single month News & Observer columnist Josh Shaffer visits a home in northeast Raleigh where their agave plant is in its "death bloom," shooting up 25 feet in a single month. Agave plants bloom only once in a multi-decade lifetime. They die after blooming. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315841497.html/video-embed 45 2026-05-21T15:46:09Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315844667.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/c39a2bb4-a655-4918-bef4-b3f86ad706c4/1_th.jpg Celebration honors Wake County Teacher of the Year Students and colleagues gather on Thursday to honor Matin Maani, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Apex Friendship Middle School, who was named the 2026 Wake County Teacher of the Year. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315844667.html/video-embed 38 2026-05-21T18:45:12Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315833298.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1954ca5b-abd5-4bae-aaf5-cbed70d208f3/1_th.jpg Contractors begin building walls for I-40 along the Pigeon River Engineer Blake Soblesky explains how contractors for the N.C. Department of Transportation are using stone from Pisgah National Forest to rebuild the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 that flooding from Hurricane Helene destroyed in 2024. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315833298.html/video-embed 109 2026-05-20T21:25:13Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315832507.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/d6c88c68-18a7-46a4-8b0f-bd106c0d881f/1_th.jpg NC House Speaker Destin Hall on idea of capping sales tax and pausing gas tax NC GOP lawmakers have pushed two constitutional amendments about capping income tax rates and property tax levy limits. But what about sales tax caps or a gas tax pause? House Speaker Destin Hall answers N&O questions. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315832507.html/video-embed 47 2026-05-20T20:47:17Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article315831260.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/09e19c9e-c4b9-44ac-8bad-681a8493f10c/1_th.jpg Five words, one bond: UNC coach Jenny Levy and her midfielder daughter Kate Levy Watch the exchange between mother and daughter, coach and player, during an interview with North Carolina lacrosse coach Jenny Levy and her daughter, midfielder Kate Levy, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at Dorrance Field in Chapel Hill, N.C. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article315831260.html/video-embed 104 2026-05-20T19:27:20Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315833175.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/bf529c75-a112-4c94-ba69-fd85b352c2d4/1_th.jpg What does it take to rebuild I-40 in the Pigeon River Gorge? Engineer Blake Soblesky explains how contractors for the N.C. Department of Transportation are rebuilding the eastbound lanes of Interstate 40 that Hurricane Helene destroyed in the Pigeon River Gorge in 2024. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315833175.html/video-embed 107 2026-05-20T21:22:12Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315827861.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/4617ee2d-ffe1-47a8-8eb8-9f5a86a68d18/1_th.jpg NC House overrides governor’s private school voucher veto The North Carolina House voted May 20, 2026, to override a veto from Democratic Gov. Josh Stein that allows private school tuition donors to opt in to a federal tax break. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315827861.html/video-embed 139 2026-05-20T16:08:37Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315811294.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/46dbc31e-6de2-478e-aed9-27e02740f99a/1_th.jpg Former employee says NC Insurance Commissioner sent suggestive texts April Taylor says N.C. insurance commissioner Mike Causey sent suggestive texts while she worked as a an employee; Causey says he has no recollection. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315811294.html/video-embed 72 2026-05-20T13:46:43Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article315831256.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/5a6486ec-5689-4d59-8c23-bb14aaf89c00/1_th.jpg Here's what CHCCS parents need to know ahead of hearing on school closings The Chapel Hill-Carrboro School Board is considering which of three elementary schools, Ephesus, Glenwood or Seawell, to close as it wrestles with declining enrollment and budget pressures. N&O reporter Tammy Grubb explains. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article315831256.html/video-embed 87 2026-05-20T19:28:12Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315811490.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/f298c54c-71b4-41af-80fc-373cb2bd7ac8/1_th.jpg Former state employee on why she came forward about texts April Taylor says N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey sent inappropriate texts while she worked as an employee. Causey says he has no recollection. She discusses why she came forward now. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315811490.html/video-embed 60 2026-05-20T13:46:26Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315811774.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a986e937-80a9-40f4-a919-e47035c194fd/1_th.jpg Former employee says insurance chief sought to kiss her. He denies. Former employee April Taylor says N.C. Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey often hugged her tightly in a way she found uncomfortable, and sought to kiss her “a couple times,” which he denies. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315811774.html/video-embed 51 2026-05-20T13:46:09Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315825517.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/8e86377d-f677-4691-b6d1-836e7b6052af/1_th.jpg WakeMed CEO defends Atrium merger plan in first community session Tuesday evening provided Triangle residents their first opportunity to ask WakeMed leaders about their desired merger with Charlotte-based Atrium Health. From the outset, WakeMed president and CEO Donald Gintzig disputed claims that the much larger Atrium was buying his health system. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315825517.html/video-embed 136 2026-05-20T13:31:47Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article315809384.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/01f16661-a041-4092-9244-0425eae55419/1_th.jpg Hear how NASA astronaut Christina Koch juggles Flyers, Canes loyalties NASA Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch, an NC State alum, talks about attending a Philadelphia Flyers-Carolina Hurricanes playoff game, juggling family ties, team loyalties and her desire to root for the underdog. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article315809384.html/video-embed 154 2026-05-19T13:41:12Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/article315811981.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b990bc42-a6b8-4328-96a1-988c0c7c0ac9/1_th.jpg Gov. Josh Stein announces executive order to tackle North Carolina’s housing shortage NC Governor John Stein appoints a new Senior Advisor for Housing Policy, calls on the General Assembly to address the housing shortage in an executive order during an announcement at the Executive Mansion on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 in Raleigh, N.C. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/article315811981.html/video-embed 74 2026-05-19T16:40:53Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article315813957.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/4daf11aa-6ee4-4e96-b29d-33a5288aafa0/2_th.jpg Senate leader Berger's thoughts on a gas tax suspension After the North Carolina Senate voted to approve constitutional amendment bill that would let voters choose whether to cap the state personal income tax rate at 3.5%, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger was asked about relief for high gas prices. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article315813957.html/video-embed 35 2026-05-19T18:55:12Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article315814355.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a02c3832-dc49-45ea-b462-a17298bdb4ed/4_th.jpg NC Sen. Leader Berger on tax rate constitutional amendment North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger on the constitutional amendment bill that would let voters choose whether to cap the state personal income tax rate at 3.5%. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article315814355.html/video-embed 38 2026-05-19T18:48:31Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article315792845.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/9223fbbe-16dd-4a8e-9703-77ab3a5bad21/1_th.jpg Who has the best sweet tea in the Triangle? We tried 20. News & Observer reporters Drew Jackson and Twumasi Duah-Mensah taste sweet teas to find out which fast food restaurant in the Triangle has the best. https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article315792845.html/video-embed 178 2026-05-19T11:00:00Z no