The Assembly
banner
theassemblync.bsky.social
The Assembly
@theassemblync.bsky.social
North Carolina's new digital statewide magazine. In-depth reporting and writing about the state. Reach out info@theassemblync.com.
U.S. Border Patrol agents are slated to arrive in Charlotte as soon as Saturday, November 15, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Federal Agents Are Coming to Charlotte. Here's What to Know.
The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department said U.S. Border Patrol agents will be deployed to Charlotte as early as November 15.
www.theassemblync.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Sen. Thom Tillis is holding up Mississippi’s nominations for federal judgeships and U.S. attorneys because he wants Sen. Roger Wicker to help an indigenous group in North Carolina gain federal recognition as a tribe.

www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Tillis Blocks Judicial Nominees in Push for Lumbee Recognition
Thom Tillis is holding up nominations in the senate because he wants Roger Wicker to help the Lumbee tribe gain federal recognition.
www.theassemblync.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees on Thursday narrowly voted to raise in-state undergraduate tuition by 3 percent, or $211, for next academic year—a complete about-face from the day before, when it appeared a board committee had killed the plan.

www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...
UNC-Chapel Hill Trustees Vote to Raise In-State Tuition After All
It appeared administrators’ preferred plan to raise in-state undergraduate tuition by 3 percent was dead. Then it rose again.
www.theassemblync.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by The Assembly
New @theassemblync.bsky.social:

It appeared UNC-Chapel Hill administrators’ preferred plan to raise in-state undergraduate tuition by 3 percent was dead. Then it rose again. www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...
UNC-Chapel Hill Trustees Vote to Raise In-State Tuition After All
It appeared administrators’ preferred plan to raise in-state undergraduate tuition by 3 percent was dead. Then it rose again.
www.theassemblync.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Without a state budget deal to fund increasing Medicaid costs, N.C. DHHS cut reimbursement rates—the amount paid to providers who care for low-income patients enrolled in the government health program—between 3 percent and 10 percent depending on the service.

www.theassemblync.com/news/health/...
A Crisis for Rural Hospitals
North Carolina already reduced Medicaid reimbursement rates. Now hard-hit rural hospitals are now bracing for federal cuts.
www.theassemblync.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:52 PM
North Carolina’s largest utility promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts and promised progress on environmental issues. But in recent years, those efforts have become harder to find.
www.theassemblync.com/news/busines...
Duke Energy, Once Outspoken on Diversity and the Environment, Now Whispers
North Carolina’s largest utility once promoted DEI efforts and environmental progress. Now evidence of the effort is harder to find.
www.theassemblync.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:48 PM
A Spruce Pine man convicted of disrupting an Avery County board of commissioners meeting by unfurling a banner with offensive language on it got a reprieve last week from the state Court of Appeals.

www.theassemblync.com/politics/cou...
Court Sides with Spruce Pine Man Who Held Up Offensive Banner
A three-judge panel unanimously found that the man's free speech rights had been violated and overturned the conviction.
www.theassemblync.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
North Carolina has 90,000 active-duty service members and 640,000 veterans, many wrestling with traumatic brain injury from blast exposure.

www.theassemblync.com/health/nc-veterans-soldiers-mental-health-brain-injury-suicide-blast-exposure-tbi/
www.theassemblync.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Elon University will launch a private primary school specializing in educating children with dyslexia next fall, joining Vanderbilt and two other universities in the South that offer similar programs funded by the same donors.

www.theassemblync.com/education/el...
Elon University to Start Private School For Children With Dyslexia
The plans for the school, which the university says will be the first of its kind in the state, come as Elon is taking big swings to raise its profile.
www.theassemblync.com
November 10, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Unequivocally, last Tuesday was a good day for Democrats. But the environment in North Carolina next year probably won’t be as favorable to Democrats in the state. www.theassemblync.com/politics/nc-...
N.C. Dems Ride a Blue Wave
N.C. Democrats did well in some areas that are key to their long-shot hopes of reclaiming the General Assembly in next year’s midterms.
www.theassemblync.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Jared Smith is perhaps the only atheist YouTuber who unironically “loves religion.” Two or three times each month, Smith attends services of various faiths, talks to adherents, partakes in the customs, and offers his take for his online audience to digest. www.theassemblync.com/culture/jare...
The Atheist Who Wants You to Go to Church
Raleigh-based YouTuber Jared Smith has made a name critiquing religion. But he’s not trying to sway people away from faith.
www.theassemblync.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:27 PM
🗳️ With this week's election behind us, we're looking toward next year's midterms. For a limited time, you can get an Assembly subscription for just $26 through the 2026 election.
www.theassemblync.com/subscription...
November 6, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Reposted by The Assembly
New: UNC Charlotte is the first UNC System school to publicly say it’s pursuing accreditation with the Commission for Public Higher Education.

In a letter obtained by @theassemblync.bsky.social, Chancellor Sharon Gaber outlined possible benefits & “unknowns.” www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
UNC Charlotte Pursues New Accreditor
UNC Charlotte is the first UNC System school to publicly get on board with the effort to start a new accrediting agency.
www.theassemblync.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:57 PM
UNC Charlotte is applying to join the Commission for Public Higher Education, making it the first UNC System school to publicly get on board with the effort by several states to start a new accrediting agency.

www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
UNC Charlotte Pursues New Accreditor
UNC Charlotte is the first UNC System school to publicly get on board with the effort to start a new accrediting agency.
www.theassemblync.com
November 6, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Via @notus.com | North Carolina, Wisconsin, Maine, Arizona, and Michigan are among a coalition of states suing the federal government over new restrictions on disaster-relief grants, increasing pressure on the Trump administration from battleground states.

www.theassemblync.com/politics/cou...
N.C. and Other States Bring Lawsuit Against FEMA and DHS
The coalition is suing over new restrictions on disaster-relief grants, alleging that the Trump administration did not follow procedure.
www.theassemblync.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:36 PM
The Assembly Network is looking for an ambitious and visionary newsroom leader in Fayetteville to oversee CityView’s current editorial team and plans for future growth.
Work With Us
See what roles are currently available at The Assembly Network, your go-to source for journalism on power and place in North Carolina.
www.theassemblync.com
November 6, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Via @notus.com | Three North Carolina Republicans are asking the governor to send the National Guard to Charlotte, embracing President Donald Trump’s use of the military for local law enforcement.

www.theassemblync.com/politics/hou...
House Republicans from N.C. Want the National Guard Sent to Charlotte
Reps. Pat Harrigan, Mark Harris, and Chuck Edwards signed a letter asking Gov. Josh Stein to deploy the state’s guard.
www.theassemblync.com
November 5, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Via The Charlotte Ledger | On Tuesday, Mecklenburg County voters gave a thumbs-up to a sweeping transportation plan that aims to spend $25 billion over 30 years in perhaps the biggest public works initiative in state history.

www.theassemblync.com/politics/mec...
Mecklenburg County Voters Green-Light Sales Tax Increase
Charlotte area residents approved a plan to add rail, improve bus service, and expand roads, sidewalks, and bike lanes.
www.theassemblync.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Via @insideclimatenews.org | A company with connections to the cryptocurrency industry is considering drilling for natural gas near the Deep River north of Sanford in Lee County.

www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
Company Eyes a First Commercial Natural Gas Well in N.C.
Deep River Data, which has ties to cryptocurrency, says it would use the gas to power a data center for 'AI workloads.'
www.theassemblync.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:44 PM
The partisan shift has divided candidates, as some worry it will drive a wedge between local officials while others argue it’s unavoidable in today’s caustic political atmosphere.
www.theassemblync.com/politics/gre...
Are Non-Partisan Races a Thing of the Past?
Partisan politics has taken hold in North Carolina’s municipal elections–even in the races that are supposed to be non-partisan.
www.theassemblync.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The guy who made ‘Did Duke Win?’ didn't mean to dunk on Duke: The untold story of how a Duke student accidentally made UNC-Chapel Hill basketball fans’ favorite website.
www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
The 'Did Duke Win?' Guy Didn't Mean to Dunk on Duke
The untold story behind "Did Duke Win?"—and how a Duke student accidentally made UNC-Chapel Hill basketball fans’ favorite website.
www.theassemblync.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:10 AM
North Carolina organizations that provide free legal assistance to help low-income people with concerns like housing, employment, and domestic violence have been dealing with budget uncertainty for months. In 2026, things might get a whole lot worse.
State Lawmakers Put Funding for Nonprofit Legal Help on Ice
Republicans in the General Assembly paused a 40-year-old trust and accused it of “awarding grants to leftist groups.”
www.theassemblync.com
November 4, 2025 at 11:12 PM
A dispute between an elite Charlotte private school and parents who objected to its responses to the murder of George Floyd and the pandemic has put questions about private schools’ autonomy before the state Supreme Court.
Justices Take Up Questions About Private School Contracts
A dispute between a well-connected family and Charlotte Latin, a prestigious private school, could have broader ramifications.
www.theassemblync.com
November 4, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Records released by UNC-Chapel Hill on Monday appear to poke holes in some—but not all—of the claims the university’s former provost made in a lawsuit against the Board of Trustees.

www.theassemblync.com/education/hi...
UNC-CH Tries to Poke Holes in Former Provost’s Lawsuit
The documents UNC-CH released don't address Chris Clemens' claim that trustees inappropriately met in private.
www.theassemblync.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:34 PM
At least five houses collapsed on Hatteras Island this week. As more homes are lost to the sea, government and homeowners reach a crossroads.
www.theassemblync.com/environment/...
An Outer Banks Village Loses More Homes to the Sea
At least five houses collapsed on Hatteras Island this week. As more homes are lost to the sea, government and homeowners reach a crossroads.
www.theassemblync.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:42 PM