https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316366858.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/121df99b-c54e-4187-8911-30709cf8e977/3_th.jpg What will NC Gov. Stein do with the budget bill on his desk? North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein says he will review the year‑overdue budget which includes raises for state employees, teachers and law enforcement before deciding. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316366858.html/video-embed 49 2026-07-02T21:45:58Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/living/home-garden/article316360973.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/e072eb3b-9a68-440a-9bd3-4c52d0d78d1b/1_th.jpg David Anderson Is raising chickens worth it in 2026? The math says no, but the trend is only going to grow from here Backyard chickens paid for themselves at $6.23 an egg carton. Here’s what the 2026 math really looks like. https://www.newsobserver.com/living/home-garden/article316360973.html/video-embed 234 2026-07-02T16:26:49Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article316367775.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/9b60fd1c-d626-4781-8289-a6134c158785/2_th.jpg Scenes from the Great American State Fair in Washington When images of North Carolina’s booth at the Great American State Fair first surfaced last week, a Confederate battle flag displayed on multiple monitors became the latest controversy to hit the Washington, D.C., exhibit — raising questions about where the image came from and whether it bears any historical merit. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/nation-world/national/article316367775.html/video-embed 39 2026-07-02T22:42:48Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316367994.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/703677f1-5714-4b33-88d3-51289fd248e7/1_th.jpg Competitors gather in Raleigh for Rubik's WCA North American Championship Rubik's WCA North American Championship brings competitors from across the world to the Raleigh Convention Center July 2-5, 2026. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316367994.html/video-embed 52 2026-07-02T23:00:10Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article316365171.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/00e62b11-ff3b-4324-baae-58ea6d5b2680/2_th.jpg Questions remain after violent NC jail revolt and hostage situation More than 80 inmates overtook three guards at Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center; inspections show staffing, broken locks and camera deficiencies since 2022. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article316365171.html/video-embed 55 2026-07-02T20:05:12Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article316362746.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/93529a14-57ec-403a-96a9-a0b4342b3426/3_th.jpg Chapel Hill restaurant closes after 20 years The News & Observer's Autumn Coleman reports that Chapel Hill’s Red Lotus, opened by Kevin Zhu in 2006, has closed permanently. https://www.newsobserver.com/living/food-drink/article316362746.html/video-embed 26 2026-07-02T18:09:37Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316360744.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b98d6934-a2a5-4430-a563-5aa45ce4d24e/3_th.jpg Sparklers are dangerous; one woman shares her story Ginger Peters was severely burned in a sparkler accident last year that left her with third-degree burns that covered 40% of her body. She now shares her experience to warn of the risks of sparklers which can reach 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316360744.html/video-embed 64 2026-07-02T16:21:54Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article316358347.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/b5e83624-2515-41c4-ab88-c5e9783e8b88/1_th.jpg Who are the winners and losers in NHL free agency? Writers from The Hockey News discuss recent moves around the NHL during free agency. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article316358347.html/video-embed 138 2026-07-02T13:28:12Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article316353136.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/16e444d8-d12e-4b25-9ede-07c48787c1da/1_th.jpg Rainfall deficit takes a toll on Falls Lake Scenes from Falls Lake and Newcombs Lake in Durham show the dramatic impact of drought. Falls Lake measured 244.95 feet on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, more than 5 feet below its target level after a rainfall deficit of about 12 inches over the past year. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article316353136.html/video-embed 59 2026-07-01T23:56:17Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316351680.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/a8c0807d-5a03-4276-8b00-1382c0566bd7/6_th.jpg Nighttime frog calls draw visitors to Downtown Cary Park Listen to the green tree frogs who thriving at Downtown Cary Park, where their symphonies represent a mix of science and some serious courtship. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316351680.html/video-embed 49 2026-07-02T11:30:00Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316348019.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/c696daf3-5dbe-47af-ac3d-4706b2d67b8d/2_th.jpg RDU airport shut down briefly after accident on taxiway Raleigh-Durham International Airport was briefly shut down Wednesday afternoon after a box truck collided with a plane, according to airport officials. There were no injuries and the airport has reopened. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316348019.html/video-embed 15 2026-07-01T18:56:25Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316343095.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/f79f9413-e09c-48a5-95ee-ca7e804fb6fe/5_th.jpg Raleigh veteran accused of killing his baby makes first court appearance in April 2026 ABC11's Elaina Athans reports after Christopher Gonzales made his first appearance in April 2026. Gonzales was charged with the first-degree murder of his daughter and ordered held without bail. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article316343095.html/video-embed 53 2026-07-01T14:41:27Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316334586.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/5ccac247-4803-4a48-8b92-a24d3960f7b7/5_th.jpg North Carolina finally has a state budget bill. What's next and who gets a raise? The News & Observer's Capitol Bureau Chief Dawn Vaughan breaks down the different raises and bonuses proposed in the budget bill, which is a year overdue. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article316334586.html/video-embed 71 2026-06-30T21:37:10Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article316333357.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/6758fc83-470b-4776-a069-2fa06ceb3b71/3_th.jpg Chart topping temperatures expected for the Triangle ABC11 meteorologist Cruz Medina on the dangerous heat wave expected in the Triangle for the Fourth of July holiday weekend. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article316333357.html/video-embed 56 2026-06-30T20:32:45Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article316360202.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/f8a2ec45-ab3e-4048-8ece-ff6ac45e993c/3_th.jpg Dangerous heat hits the Triangle for the long holiday weekend ABC11 meteorologist Kweilyn Murphy breaks down the dangerous heat wave for the Triangle, starting today and running through the Fourth of July weekend. Murphy also gives a forecast for the evening of the Fourth for fireworks (it will still be very hot). https://www.newsobserver.com/news/weather/article316360202.html/video-embed 58 2026-07-02T15:42:26Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316329109.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/0af79be6-5edf-4869-90bb-8c70e28859d7/1_th.jpg Stacks and Tracks event promotes youth financial literacy Dom, a participant in the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wake and Johnston Counties’ Stacks and Tracks, talks about his experience on Monday in Raleigh. The event, in its third year, promotes financial literacy and career readiness among youth. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article316329109.html/video-embed 57 2026-06-30T17:59:52Z no