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Queens University

Federal Funding Cuts Hit Queens University Programs, Forcing Hard Choices as Merger Looms

Sawyer Davis (Queens University News Service) December 20, 2025 Queens University of Charlotte is entering a year of major transition as federal funding cuts, enrollment struggles and the looming merger with Elon University converge to reshape the future of the century-old institution. While the university maintains that its core mission

Minnesota

Hmong refugee stranded in Texas after release from ICE detention

NC prisons face ‘dire’ staffing crisis, Elon University working to bring legal education back to Charlotte, In Iowa, many rivers and lakes improve briefly, then fall back into impairment, NOLA residents work to make Mardi Gras more sustainable

NC A&T

N.C. A&T students take lead on early voting

State election officials project confidence after FBI search of Georgia elections office

South Carolina

BRIEFS: Spartanburg County could get another data center

Proposed project needs to pass two more votes before approval by county council

Mental Health

Feds restore mental health funds

Rural communities stand with vulnerable neighbors in Minnesota; Mothers, daughters, Girl Scouts traveled to Richmond to watch the first woman become governor of Virginia; Measles cases climb in NC; Duke Energy Plans to Build a Massive Natural Gas Power Plant in Davidson County, NC

North Carolina

DEQ Division of Water Resources awards more than $1.5M for stream restoration, water management, recreation projects

Down Ballot Staff Reports RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to support stream restoration, water-based recreation and water management projects across North Carolina. The grants were awarded to nine local governments through the Water

North Carolina

Brunswick County Commissioners approve purchase of 380 acres for future raw water reservoir

Land is in the Leland area near the Northwest Water Treatment Plant

Minnesota

Unrest continues in Minnesota; Former inmate buys N.C. prison; UNC Charlotte faces racial discrimination claim

Helena Moreno sworn in as the Crescent City's second woman mayor

ICE Minneapolis shooting

Feds bar Minnesota from investigating Minneapolis ICE shooting

Many L.A. fire survivors face insurance delays and can’t return home a year later

Dry conditions widespread across North Carolina

Down Ballot Staff Reports RALEIGH – Dry conditions are widespread in North Carolina, according to the latest update from the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council released on Thursday. All or parts of 32 counties in central and western North Carolina are considered in severe drought, or D2 conditions. Another 53

Newspaper closure

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says it will cease operations in May

The news coincides with the closure of the Pittsburgh City Paper last week.

Public Health

Measles reported in Buncombe as public health officials worry about spread in the face of declining vaccination rates

The 3 cases are part of a surge in illnesses – chickenpox, whooping cough and flu – that can be prevented or contained by immunizations

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