The Assembly

01/17/2025

Critics say ShotSpotter is both ineffective and racially biased, and has led to wrongful arrests and overpolicing in Black and Latino communities. But some politicians say it has significantly contributed to decreasing violent crime in their communities.

With CityView:

Several NC cities have ended ties with ShotSpotter, a software that tracks gun violence, but others have extended contracts despite backlash.

01/16/2025

Most North Carolina state legislators in both parties attended in-state schools. Three-quarters of General Assembly members—78 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Republicans—attended at least one North Carolina college, though they didn’t necessarily complete degrees there.

Nearly 96 percent of Democrats have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 61 percent have some kind of graduate degree. Among Republicans, those numbers fall to 67 and 29 percent, respectively.

Read the full story at the link in our comments.

01/15/2025

US House Speaker Mike Johnson has appointed Virginia Foxx to chair the House Rules Committee. During her tenure, Foxx has gained a reputation as a tenacious and unbending lawmaker.

The two most-senior House Republicans from North Carolina have embraced different styles as they climb the ranks.

01/15/2025

Hall is also the state’s first Republican speaker never to have served in the minority. He inherits a chamber where his party lost its supermajority by a single seat, which could make it harder to override vetoes by new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.

https://www.theassemblync.com/politics/destin-hall-house-speaker-north-carolina/

01/14/2025

Before Yvonne Johnson died last month, she had already decided she wouldn’t run again for her at-large seat on the Greensboro City Council.

She hoped to see her son Vernon Johnson, 55, run for the seat.

The son of Yvonne Johnson, who died on December 4, is planning to put his name in for her vacant at-large seat on Greensboro City Council.

01/13/2025

Unlocking the potential of okra oil will take a combination of crop science, culinary creativity, and farmers willing to try something new.

Okra seeds yield a greenish-golden liquid comparable to extra-virgin olive oil, but the crop isn't ready for big-time commercial production.

01/10/2025

In a town of slightly more than 500 residents, the 103-acre resort drew an average of 70,000 visitors annually, including hundreds of Appalachian Trail hikers. Then Hurricane Helene blasted through in late September 2024.

Damage from Hurricane Helene has put the upcoming hiking season in question for the first town on the Appalachian Trail.

01/09/2025

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01/09/2025

As the issues mount, housing advocates and city officials say the problems at the apartment complex highlight deeper housing problems in Greensboro: a pronounced lack of teeth for enforcing housing ordinances.

Renters at a Greensboro apartment complex say they have been living in substandard conditions, and that the city isn't doing enough to protect them.

01/08/2025

It’s the first day of North Carolina’s 2025 legislative session. The Assembly has you covered.

With a Premium Subscription, you can unlock access to all of our reporting and get exclusive insights via premium-only newsletters and events.

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01/08/2025

Crisis pregnancy centers are unlicensed facilities not subject to the same privacy regulations or governmental oversight as medical clinics.

Over the last decade, taxpayer money to support these centers went from $300K a year to more than $12 million.

Over the past three years, the state legislature has given $30 million to crisis pregnancy centers, with little oversight or outcomes.

01/07/2025

At least 15 candidates in the 2024 election cycle made political donations while campaigning or serving as a judge, The Assembly found.

At least 15 candidates in the 2024 election cycle made political donations while campaigning or serving as a judge, The Assembly found.

01/07/2025

Roy Cooper and Josh Stein have filed suit against Republican legislative leaders over a hurricane relief package which strips a number of executive authorities. Here’s a look at what's in Senate Bill 382.

The Republican-led legislature’s third round of disaster relief, SB 382, chipped away at the governor’s powers before Josh Stein took office.

01/06/2025

As Josh Stein prepares to give his inauguration address, The Assembly talked to four former North Carolina governors—two Democrats and two Republicans—about the headwinds he is facing and their advice for the newest member of their small fraternity.

Four former governors say Josh Stein should focus on rebuilding Western North Carolina—and expect battles with the legislature.

01/02/2025

SURVEY: As we plan our journalism for 2025, we need your input. What stories matter most to you? What new features would you love to see? Your voice helps guide our coverage of North Carolina.

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01/02/2025

The belief persists that hunger relief organizations are operating under outdated models which deride dignity and limit choice, and it’s a driving force in the pay-what-you-can restaurant movement.

Since the nonprofit dining model took shape about 20 years ago, it’s gained a sturdy foothold in the South.

Industry experts estimate there are dozens more independent venues nationwide relying on a combination of charitable donations and customer payments to underwrite luncheonettes where patrons can choose to forgo all or part of the tab, although about the same number have come and gone since the concept got buzzy.

Advocates say pay-what-you-can cafes give participants an emotional boost, but it's not clear if they reduce hunger or enhance community.

12/31/2024

Today, we work with more than 150 freelance reporters and photographers across the state, as well as 39 full-time staff including teams in Wilmington, Greensboro, Fayetteville, and the Triangle.

Our monthly readership has nearly tripled this year, and we're seeing record growth in new subscribers. When we hosted our post-election virtual event, 400 of you registered to join the conversation — a testament to the engaged community we're building together. In 2025, we will host more virtual and in-person events.

This growth isn't just about numbers; it's about impact. Each new reader represents another North Carolinian engaging more deeply with the forces shaping our state.

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12/31/2024

Donald Trump’s win in the presidential election has prompted a new question to swirl around Columbus County: Is the federal investigation effectively dead?

Federal investigators have demanded extensive information about finances and use of force at the Columbus County Sheriff's Office.