Bynum
RALEIGH – State and local officials gathered last week in Raleigh to celebrate the renaming of a local post office after a civil rights leader, and a member of the only all-Black female World War II unit. Millie Dunn Veasey was a staff sergeant with the 6888th Central Postal...
North Carolina is getting a taste of the Lone Star State. Texas-based Buc-ee’s, already building one store in the state, is now eyeing a second location along Interstate 95. The travel center could join Texas-inspired restaurants setting up shop in the Raleigh area. From a barbecue joint to a beloved burger chain, here are openings The News & Observer has covered this year: Buc-ee’s could build a second North Carolina travel center near I-95 and Halifax Road in Rocky Mount. Its first NC location is already under construction off I-85/40 in Alamance County, and there’s no official opening date. East of Texas , a Texas-style barbecue restaurant from owner Claire Calvin, opened at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus . The restaurant serves brisket, burnt ends, pork belly and housemade sausage. It’s an expansion of a Winston-Salem spot that opened in 2023. Shipley Donuts , founded in Houston in 1936, plans to open two Raleigh shops over the next two years, with the first expected in 2027. The chain is known for handcrafted doughnuts and savory kolaches stuffed with fillings like sausage and jalapeños. Whataburger opened its first Triangle locations : in Wake Forest at 489 Calvin Jones Highway and in Raleigh
Drivers who travel Old Stage Road in southern Wake County, near Garner, should be prepared for a traffic shift Friday evening and overnight. Beginning at 7 p.m., crews with the North Carolina Department of Transportation will move traffic onto two newly constructed lanes so they can build new northbound lanes for the Old Stage Road widening project.
In the unofficial Granville County Sheriff election results, incumbent Sheriff Robert Fountain scraped ahead of challenger Ed Newman, with a margin of 176 votes.
A new playground area, community event space and updated Sky Lounge are among the new and renovated spaces coming to Nomaco Park Stadium in Zebulon.
Voters in N.C. House District 24 chose experience and continuity at the ballot box, returning Democratic incumbent N.C. Rep. Dante Pittman to Raleigh for another two-year term in the legislature. Pittman secured his reelection with 18,017 votes, earning 58.26% of the vote. His Republican opponent, Blake Boykin, received 12,910 votes, or 41.74%, according to unofficial election results. District 24 encompasses all of Wilson and the southeastern corner of Nash County. In Nash County, Boykin fared much better, taking 61.14% of the total votes cast in the Sharpsburg precinct, which accounted for 1,158 votes. Pittman garnered 736 votes in the Sharpsburg precinct (38.86% of the total votes cast in Nash County). Tuesday’s outcome means Pittman will continue representing District 24 in the N.C. House, with the Democrats poised to take the majority control of that chamber if unofficial vote tallies hold after canvassing. News outlets reported that Republicans will still hold a majority in the N.C. Senate. Tuesday’s race drew nearly 30,927 votes, reflecting strong voter participation in the district for a midterm contest. In 2022, the last time Nash and Wilson counties’ voters went to the polls in a midterm election, the N.C. House District 24 race garnered 27,889 votes.
Rena Spellman unseated District Attorney Jeff Marsigli, and Congressional candidate Raymond Smith is not ready to concede in a tight race. Other races were also decided here
Changes in the North Carolina General Assembly could affect education funding at the state level.
CLAYTON – Nearly 70 acres of undeveloped land along the Neuse River near the Johnston-Wake county line have been permanently protected from development as part of an effort to preserve water quality and expand a nearby nature preserve. Triangle Land Conservancy announced it protected the 69-acre tract, known as...
Democrat Lorenza M. Wilkins won the N.C. House District 25 race with 52.67% of the vote, defeating two-term Republican incumbent Allen Chesser.
Republican State Rep. Howard Penny Jr. won a fourth term in the North Carolina House of Representatives Tuesday, defeating two challengers in District 53, which includes portions of Johnston and Harnett counties. Penny received 17,570 votes, or 51.56 percent, compared to 15,787 votes, or 46.32 percent, for Democrat Kevin Thurman....
Election night was a triumph for Granville County Republicans in county commissioner contests.
After a closely watched race for one of the county's more important judicial administrative positions, Nancy Blount has been elected Nash County Clerk of Superior Court. Blount defeated incumbent Linda Thorne with 21,573 votes, or 53.24 percent of the vote, compared with Thorne's 18,950 votes, or 46.76 percent, according to unofficial vote tallies. The result marks a transition in leadership for an office that serves as the public's primary point of contact with the court system. The Clerk of Superior Court's office oversees a wide range of responsibilities, including court records, estate proceedings, guardianships, special proceedings, jury administration and numerous other functions that support both District and Superior Court operations. For many residents, the clerk's office becomes part of their lives during significant moments, whether settling the affairs of a loved one, serving on a jury or navigating a legal matter. With the election behind her, Blount now turns her attention to preparing for the transition into office and the responsibilities that come with it. Supporters say Blount's campaign resonated with voters who were looking for both experience and a commitment to responsive public service. Throughout the campaign, she emphasized the importance of accountability, accessibility and maintaining public confidence in
Even with polls and analysts predicting a blue wave, the State Senate District 7 race outcome was a bit of a surprise. Democratic challenger Jessica Bichler, a political newcomer, defeated Republican incumbent Michael Lee by a strong margin — despite Lee’s broad base of support and multi-million-dollar war chest.
Wake County school board members are creating a process to punish members for misconduct while saying they’re not going to stifle dissent. The Wake County school board gave initial approval Wednesday to a revised Code of Ethics policy that creates a process for publicly censuring board members. School board chair Tyler Swanson said the policy changes will provide clear guardrails on what board members can and can’t do. “Our job is the governing body,” Swanson said in an interview after the vote. “This policy does not yield that power away to staff. It allows us to have some checks and balances, so the board can stay above the fray, and staff can deal with the day-to-day operations through the superintendent’s guidance.” He said they’re emulating school districts such as Johnston County, which has censured members over their conduct. In 2022, Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson was censured for actions such as trying to transfer the children of an adversary and for inappropriately texting sexual comments about a female school employee during board meetings. In 2025, Johnson was removed from the school board by a judge after being convicted of extortion and obstruction of justice. Caution urged on enforcing
SMITHFIELD – Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell won an eighth four-year term Tuesday, extending his tenure as the longest-serving sheriff in county history. Bizzell, a Republican, received 54,865 votes in Tuesday’s general election. He was unopposed on the ballot after defeating challenger Randy Ackley in the March Republican primary.
Massive wins across North Carolina for Democrats and losses for Republicans in 2026 election have multiple causes, complex implications.
The Animal Protection Society of Durham has responded to pictures posted on social media showing the shelter in deplorable condition and alleging poor care. The shelter confirmed with WRAL News that the pictures do not reflect what it looks like now following months of changes. WRAL News is not sharing those photos due to their graphic nature.
Downtown Wake Forest is gearing up for an afternoon of chainsaw-wielding ice carvers, snowball tosses, and local dance troupes as the town's annual holiday kick-off returns Saturday, Nov. 21, from noon to 4 p.m. The event doubles as the launch of the Wake Forest Cares Holiday Donation Drive, which collects community support for several town assistance programs through the winter season.
With more than percent of precincts reporting, Democrat and Lee County native Paul Barringer declared victory Tuesday night over Republican Congressional Representative Bradd Knott. If the lead holds, Barringer would become the next representative from North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District – and likely the first member of Congress from Lee...
