https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316993914.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/0dc70843-0d0a-4575-a4e1-5f2b89a04661/2_th.jpg Junior journalist to astronaut Christina Koch: 'How can I be brave like you?' Five-year-old junior journalist Berkeley Barker had a question for Christina Koch during a press conference after a ceremony honoring Koch at Centennial Campus. Koch is a three-time Wolfpack graduate who was one of four NASA astronauts on Artemis II, which set the record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316993914.html/video-embed 62 2026-08-24T20:40:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article317002915.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/47ec2f86-3128-400d-98dd-fe103ae3fe65/1_th.jpg East Garner Middle last-minute backpack ban sparks complaints A last-minute backpack ban at East Garner Middle sparked confusion and parent backlash. Sharon Fennell, East Garner’s principal, said in a video message Monday night to families the school will transition to binder bags and allow backpacks temporarily. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article317002915.html/video-embed 64 2026-08-25T16:26:20Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317000518.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b47a9366-3e2c-4745-acf2-f5daea2a4fb3/1_th.jpg Raleigh rescinds dozens of incorrect water violation notices The city of Raleigh rescinded at least 60 water-restriction violation notices during the drought this summer, and irrigation contractor Jon Garland says there could be hundreds more incorrect violations notices out there. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317000518.html/video-embed 64 2026-08-25T13:25:22Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/article301477554.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/fcd036e2-f3e6-4853-b5c6-462c4fafc07d/3_th.jpg How much do the state's college coaches get paid? Here's a look at some top salaries. Here are the some of the top state-paid salaries for coaches and athletic administrators in the UNC System. Numbers come from the UNC Systems Office as of June 30, 2026. Base pay does not include other monetary incentives. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/article301477554.html/video-embed 60 2025-03-05T16:16:11Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316993178.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/0b02432a-ee68-476c-ad47-531a346e3a59/2_th.jpg Man pleads guilty to boating accident that killed 10-year-old at Harris Lake Quinten Kight, 42, a former Special Forces sniper, pleaded guilty Monday to drunkenly driving a boat over a 10-year-old girl and a school social worker as they swam at Shearon Harris Reservoir last year. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316993178.html/video-embed 74 2026-08-24T19:44:49Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article316991099.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/133a9d08-6b01-445f-83b1-5acd61687fe7/1_th.jpg Billy Edwards Jr: How his growth since spring built the confidence to lead the Tar Heels North Carolina starting quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. talks about how he has adjusted to the new offense after transferring to North Carolina https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/article316991099.html/video-embed 62 2026-08-24T17:15:03Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article316993637.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/e9d25392-e26a-4674-be34-b9502dcdaca7/1_th.jpg North Carolina wide receiver Jordan Shipp on building team chemistry Wide receiver Jordan Shipp compares last season’s preparation and team chemistry to this season. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/unc/article316993637.html/video-embed 59 2026-08-24T20:15:03Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316969137.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1bd43e1a-5dbf-4dd8-933f-3d5a77a545f7/1_th.jpg NC State researchers find fuzzy, seaweed-inspired net can clean microplastics from water Researchers at NC State created a seaweed-like mesh that captures over 90% of microplastic fragments, offering a scalable way to clean North Carolina's rivers, lakes and coasts. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316969137.html/video-embed 79 2026-08-22T11:00:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316992079.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/faab78c8-d272-4ee2-86f4-413b3c88edaf/6_th.jpg NC State honors alum and NASA astronaut Christina Koch At a homecoming event on NC State University's campus Monday — dubbed To The Moon and Pack Again — Chancellor Kevin Howell announced that Engineering Building II on Centennial Campus will now be known as Koch Hall. Christina Koch, a three-time graduate of NC State, was one of four astronauts on Artemis II, which set the record for the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article316992079.html/video-embed 85 2026-08-24T18:40:11Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316984815.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/1d4cd8b9-8163-436b-b812-5f2fe9018ec5/2_th.jpg Four injured in shooting at downtown Raleigh nightclub The Raleigh Police Department is investigating a shooting after four people were injured at Alive Bar & Lounge on Fayetteville Street early Sunday morning. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316984815.html/video-embed 102 2026-08-23T22:13:03Z no