https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315862230.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/344d81ad-4aa2-4077-b640-87183320e6bc/6_th.jpg A tender scene in a tragic day Rebecca Stewart and Billy Khantawong were prepared to get married at the Wake County Justice Center before a double shooting closed the court house Friday, May 22, 2026. With the family gathered a deputy clerk came to the rescue and married them across the street at Nash Square. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315862230.html/video-embed 48 2026-05-22T21:35:50Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article315861706.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b99c486b-e209-4cc5-aebe-0644d66e9416/1_th.jpg Chapel Hill-Carrboro wrestles with closing school The district has “amazing” schools that are “working, and each one offers unique strengths that contribute to the district as a whole,” CHCCS board member Rani Dasi said. But the district is facing challenges, she and board member George Griffin emphasized. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article315861706.html/video-embed 79 2026-05-22T20:47:58Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315858868.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/7e22ff40-bcdf-4795-b33d-f13fbb7be543/1_th.jpg Woman taken into custody moments after two shot in downtown Raleigh Wake Sheriff's deputies escort a woman taken into custody just after two people were shot shortly after leaving the Wake County Courthouse in downtown Raleigh, N.C., Friday, May 22, 2026. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315858868.html/video-embed 21 2026-05-22T17:28:28Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315858865.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/4010a143-2adb-4a5f-b525-6aa5d54f0750/1_th.jpg RPD chief: Suspect, victims were in court together before downtown shooting Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce said two people were shot outside the Wake County Courthouse shortly after 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 22, 2026. Both victims were involved in a court case on the 10th floor with the suspected shooter, who became “belligerent” and left the courthouse, Boyce said. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315858865.html/video-embed 132 2026-05-22T17:28:29Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315847251.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/6e3f4aaf-dc00-46b9-b6d7-e44ebe32da00/1_th.jpg NC sues VinFast to acquire unfinished Chatham County manufacturing site In a lawsuit that signals the end of a once-celebrated collaboration, North Carolina has sued the Vietnamese electric vehicle company VinFast to acquire the company’s dormant site in southeast Chatham County. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315847251.html/video-embed 60 2026-05-21T21:29:27Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article315851957.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/c2528c9e-c04c-4a16-bc08-dd71ba8b4894/2_th.jpg Photos from Carolina's game against Montreal See 50 images from Game One of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Hurricanes and the Canadiens at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, May 21, 2026. Montreal defeated the Canes 6-2. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article315851957.html/video-embed 55 2026-05-22T05:10:06Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315857803.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/975e13aa-fd77-4670-98da-426eff00cfe5/5_th.jpg Suspect in custody in downtown Raleigh shooting near courthouse A shooting was reported near the Wake County courthouse on Fayetteville Street Friday morning, May 22, 2026. Both victims were involved in a Wake County court case on the 10th floor with the suspected shooter, according to police. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315857803.html/video-embed 44 2026-05-22T16:18:13Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315796356.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/862236b2-5b92-40ce-b5c6-bef4d40610b8/1_th.jpg Eric Church's 6-string wisdom to UNC-CH's class of 2026 Country music star, North Carolina native and lifelong Tar Heel fan Eric Church uses the six strings of his guitar to deliver a viral keynote address during UNC's Commencement ceremony at Kenan Stadium on May 9, 2026. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315796356.html/video-embed 1068 2026-05-18T13:42:13Z 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 student 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 year to students pursuing the minor. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315839821.html/video-embed 149 2026-05-21T13:49:24Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315846925.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/872fe069-4fca-443e-957e-4c492fd5ccc1/1_th.jpg Man facing felony charge in April death of Durham teen on e-bike Durham police have charged Joseph Savarino, 26, with felony death by motor vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and failure to reduce speed, they said in a release Thursday. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315846925.html/video-embed 49 2026-05-21T21:10:29Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315846188.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a62b9706-5b40-4314-8696-cbab26d7d12e/2_th.jpg High school graduation season begins in Wake County Our newsgathering partners at ABC11 report on the start of high school graduation season in Wake County, along with rules and pointers for those attending the ceremonies. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315846188.html/video-embed 93 2026-05-21T20:25:44Z 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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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/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