Emergency crews responding to forest fire in Brunswick County

Down Ballot Staff Reports Emergency crews are responding to an active forest fire in the area of Funston Road and Old Mill Creek in Winnabow, according to a news release from Brunswick County. This is an evolving event and conditions are subject to change. Brunswick County is in southeastern North

Durham tenants form unions to fight for repairs, respect from NC landlords

By Greg Childress (North Carolina Newsline) Published: March 27, 2026 Residents of Willard Street Apartments and nearby Ashton Place in downtown Durham formed tenant unions Thursday to fight against what they contend are poor management and shoddy building maintenance practices. The newly formed Willard Street United and Ashton Seniors in

Georgia’s New Public Service Commissioner Says She Will Put Affordability and Transparency First

Alicia Johnson, the first Black woman ever elected to statewide office in Georgia, discusses rate hikes, transparency and her priorities for the Georgia Public Service Commission. By Ryan Krugman April 2, 2026 This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and

Federal Rural Health Funding Could Trigger Service Cuts

Mardi Gras clean-up workers paid late once again; Housing program in Massachusetts helps break generational poverty by promoting self-sufficiency; Clean water was a top issue for McDowell County, WV voters in 2024. They’re still waiting for help.

Medicaid cuts could add pressure to already-stressed psychiatric units

by Nada Hassanein, Stateline March 23, 2026 Federal Medicaid cuts could exact a heavy toll on psychiatric units at hospitals across the country, many of which are already struggling to keep their doors open but provide essential mental health care to people who need it. Psychiatric units are costly and,

Rocky Mount seeks to recover after scathing NC audit finds serious financial mistakes

by Mackenzie Thomas, Carolina Public Press March 19, 2026 A recent state audit this month found that millions of dollars in the Rocky Mount city budget were mismanaged in recent years, which the auditor blamed on a lack of oversight and due diligence by the City Council. Dave Boliek, the

New census estimates show movers swelling population in small Southeast counties

By Tim Henderson (Stateline) Small counties in the coastal Southeast had some of the largest population gains between mid-2024 and mid-2025 in estimates being released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau, mostly because of people moving from larger areas. Jasper County, South Carolina, where there’s a building boom

N.C. Senate to have new majority leader

California leaders lionized César Chávez. Now, they face a reckoning with his past; El Paso jail scheduled unauthorized mental health tests for Walmart gunman, records show

Virtual Crisis Care Helps Rural Communities Access Mental Health Resources in Emergencies

by Madeline de Figueiredo, The Daily Yonder March 2, 2026 In rural counties where access to emergency mental health resources is limited, Virtual Crisis Care programs are giving law enforcement on-demand access to behavioral health professionals, reducing unnecessary hospitalizations or confinement in jail.  Supported by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, Virtual

In N.C., Stokes County Approves a Data Center Rezoning, Triggering a Citizens’ Lawsuit

The data center would be on 1,844 acres that abut or include farms, homes and the burial grounds of Native American and enslaved people.

Mississippi school district is addressing its educator shortage

After a Decade of Missteps, a Texas City Careens Toward a Water-Shortage Catastrophe; Only 13 of the nearly 100 known lynching sites in Virginia have historic markers. A new state program seeks to change that

Asheville employs more municipal workers than similar-sized cities. Is it necessary for a busy tourist town or a sign of bloat?

Staffing under consideration as Asheville faces $26 million budget gap. The long-term challenge: building the tax base