https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315743027.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/7c2e1d15-9c29-4c5b-b550-9379d070d101/1_th.jpg How an impaired driver changed Stephanie Ronan’s life Stephanie Ronan was involved in a near fatal automobile crash with an impaired driver in 2018. Ronan came to the North Carolina General Assembly on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, to support HB 1199. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315743027.html/video-embed 130 2026-05-13T19:13:47Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315743627.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/dbcb63a7-e603-4cf4-b31e-1f1941d6bfa6/2_th.jpg Meet Renee Umsted, the N&O's new affordability reporter Renee Umsted is the News & Observer's new affordability reporter. Renee would love to hear from you on how you are stretching your dollars, what are you struggling to afford and tips on saving money. You can reach her at rumsted@newsobserver.com https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315743627.html/video-embed 41 2026-05-13T19:51:27Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315743080.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/8b7363f5-d53b-4f07-9fc5-ad6baf815068/2_th.jpg 'We trusted them to capture the most important day of our lives': Bride reacts to lawsuit against wedding photographer Caroline Roach, a customer of Holly Christina Photography, shared her frustration during a press conference where North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson provided an update on his lawsuit against the wedding photography business. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315743080.html/video-embed 42 2026-05-13T19:19:35Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315742117.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/49d05cdb-a2fd-4007-8004-e2d056fd6385/3_th.jpg Judge orders wedding company to deliver photos to customers by June 11 Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced Wednesday that a Wake County Superior Court judge ordered Holly Christina Photography to deliver all raw and edited photo and video to customers by June 11, while also freezing the wedding photography company’s assets and bars them from doing business until the conclusion of the state’s lawsuit against the company. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315742117.html/video-embed 187 2026-05-13T18:13:28Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315561880.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/7ef66106-da39-47c2-af5c-b526b43d82cd/1_th.jpg St. Augustine’s files for bankruptcy, abandons accreditation battle St. Augustine’s University in Raleigh filed for bankruptcy on Monday, and announced Tuesday it was abandoning its accreditation fight and will focus on teach-out programs while reorganizing debts and leadership. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315561880.html/video-embed 36 2026-04-28T17:07:22Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article281002998.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/65816e62-49b7-439e-9382-bf3daccc5e5a/1_th.jpg NC congresswoman Virginia Foxx tells reporter to shut up at House GOP news conference Rep. Virginia Foxx of NC told a reporter to shut up during a press conference on Oct. 25, 2023, after a question about GOP speaker nominee Mike Johnson’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article281002998.html/video-embed 18 2023-10-25T19:57:02Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/chatham-county/article315738887.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1e6d3b34-a1cb-48fe-a4c3-6bc6f631fd28/1_th.jpg Pittsboro votes to remove Flock license plate readers Town of Pittsboro commissioner Candace Hunziker explains why she was in favor for canceling the town's contract for a controversial system of license-plate readers, siding with privacy rights in a months-long debate over surveillance concerns https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/chatham-county/article315738887.html/video-embed 92 2026-05-13T14:50:33Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315729983.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b2c63c1c-b668-4505-b60c-3f12a69a69b9/3_th.jpg NC leaders announce framework of a budget agreement including raises North Carolina Sen. Phil Berger and Speaker of the House Destin Hall announce the framework of a budget, Tuesday, May 12, 2026 after many delays. The plan includes raises for teachers and state employees. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315729983.html/video-embed 159 2026-05-12T20:27:03Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article315722224.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/0b90db8f-17ef-4c3f-8d11-12eeab1475e3/1_th.jpg Wolfpack basketball coach Justin Gainey on 'finding the right fit' at NC State NC State men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey discusses finding the "right fit," and his return to Raleigh after lessons from mentors like Rick Barnes. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article315722224.html/video-embed 148 2026-05-12T12:34:05Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315731666.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/237afa5b-09ac-4ec7-abe0-de71be21ae1b/2_th.jpg Top NC Democrat responds to news of GOP budget deal Rep. Robert Reives, the House Democratic leader spoke with reporters after North Carolina’s top Republicans announced they'd reached a budget deal after a nearly year-long stalemate. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article315731666.html/video-embed 60 2026-05-12T22:24:14Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315729045.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/34ebd1a0-feec-4d45-a194-380fcb0b8b16/2_th.jpg 10-foot long alligator in a tug-of-war with 4 NC cops A dangerous tug-of-war played out Monday near the North Carolina coast, with a 400-pound alligator at one end of a rope and four Sunset Beach officers at the other end. The alligator was taken to a nearby lake and released, officials said. Read more at: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article315725207.html https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315729045.html/video-embed 74 2026-05-12T19:30:06Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article315714052.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/df362b09-06de-49b7-89dd-dcd51c587214/4_th.jpg Blue Angels and other aircraft wow the crowds in Havelock, NC Tens of thousands came to this weekend's air show at MCAS Cherry Point in Havelock, N.C.. The two day event featured flights by the Blue Angels, F-35 Lightning II, the F-16 Viper, the AV-8B Harrier along with many other performers. The air show is scheduled to return in 2028. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article315714052.html/video-embed 58 2026-05-11T19:00:51Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315719457.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a8db39e9-134d-4a3c-a176-a5bf63ea780e/1_th.jpg Solar panels generate all the power NC Siemens plant needs The solar panels over the parking lot of the Siemens plant in Wendell, North Carolina, generate 1.25 megawatts of power, while also providing shade for the cars and trucks underneath. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article315719457.html/video-embed 71 2026-05-12T10:30:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article267279202.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/69f87250-7e93-47f3-af53-b0bcb60ecf9e/1_th.jpg NC treasurer rejected new manager for troubled Spring Lake in 2022 In 2022, North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell said the state would not approve money to hire former Kenly town manager Justine Jones as new town manager for financially troubled Spring Lake, saying the town’s choice “does not generate confidence.” https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article267279202.html/video-embed 44 2022-10-13T21:38:27Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315709259.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b2723aa7-4e50-4153-af48-9e28b273d876/1_th.jpg Man critically injured after shooting on Mother's Day at Silver Spoon restaurant in Durham A man was critically injured while intervening in an employee dispute at Silver Spoon on North Roxboro Street in Durham late Sunday morning. Police said bystanders held the suspect until Durham officers arrived. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article315709259.html/video-embed 104 2026-05-11T13:12:05Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article315712251.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/4bab2ba1-0016-44f9-97e1-dbbc9358e24a/1_th.jpg Person found dead in house fire in Chapel Hill Firefighters found one person dead after a house fire Monday morning, May 11, 2026, at Red Bud Lane and Honeysuckle Road in Chapel Hill https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article315712251.html/video-embed 60 2026-05-11T17:06:04Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315712005.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/710ece46-f38b-4110-bab1-c64f8c18e47b/1_th.jpg Famed producer 9th Wonder graduates from NC Central After dropping out in the 90s, Patrick Douthit — known professionally as Grammy-winning producer 9th Wonder — returned to graduate from NC Central, celebrating a long-awaited Class of 2026 commencement in Durham. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article315712005.html/video-embed 32 2026-05-11T16:49:40Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315657166.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/8447de4e-6c5d-4a10-acfb-cff246259a56/1_th.jpg Can the 'Intelligent Speed Assistance' device combat super speeders in NC? N.C. Rep. Mike Schietzelt drives a car equipped with an "Intelligent Speed Assistance" device that prevents a driver from speeding, while Michael Travars of LifeSafer, the company that makes the system, explains from the backseat how it works. Schietzelt, a Wake County Republican, is cosponsor of a bill that would allow courts and law enforcement agencies to use ISA technology with repeat offenders in North Carolina. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article315657166.html/video-embed 72 2026-05-06T17:01:11Z no