Alabama
Alabama death row inmate who stopped gas execution wants to stop other methods
N.C. advances plan to reopen Martin Co. hospital; Advocates, elected officials call for statewide siren system after 14 tornadoes touch down near New Orleans.
Federal Immigration Enforcement
Arrests of immigrant parents create mental health crisis for children
A Mom Called 911 For an Ambulance. NYPD Sent Handcuffs; 2 NC local governments are testing guaranteed income for people leaving incarceration.
North Carolina
North Carolina passed a budget
Louisiana Supreme Court frees death row prisoner; Martin County, NC residents keep pressing state officials for funding to reopen hospital; A Heat Wave is Hitting New York. Know Your Rights Ahead of Soaring Temps. Chemours must cut Ohio River ‘forever chemical’ pollution under new settlement.
North Carolina
Chemours looks to settle federal PFAS case for $450 million. NC wasn’t at the table.
by Rose Hoban and Will Atwater, North Carolina Health News June 25, 2026 By Rose Hoban and Will Atwater Key takeaways: * The U.S. Department of Justice seeks hundreds of millions from Chemours in a federal complaint over years of PFAS contamination in three states, including North Carolina. * Despite housing
World Cup
Haiti jersey ban echoes campaign to discredit its revolution
New Orleans nonprofit can help you pay for medication, food, rent and more; A growing community of recovering gamblers lifts each other up as formal resources lag; Stepping back from brink of financial disaster in Rocky Mount
Pilot Mountain
Embezzlement probe in small NC town continues as leaders seek to move forward
by Mackenzie Thomas, Carolina Public Press June 12, 2026 With the former town manager of Pilot Mountain facing felony charges for embezzlement following the release of a state audit last month, town leaders are working to move forward while the investigation continues. James Michael Boaz, the former town manager of
Western North Carolina
Top NC Democrats want more information about GOP threats over a campus voting site
By Lynn Bonner (North Carolina Newsline) Published: June 3, 2026 North Carolina Democratic Party Chairwoman Anderson Clayton and N.C. House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said Wednesday the public needs to know who pressured the Republicans on the Jackson County Board of Elections to oppose a campus early voting site.
North Carolina
‘If it ain’t broke.’ Bladen halts change that could have diluted Black votes.
by Sarah Michels, Carolina Public Press June 3, 2026 Bladen County’s Black residents aren’t having it. They showed up in droves to a Monday board of commissioners meeting in Elizabethtown to object to a proposed election change that some feared would have reduced minority representation. The commissioners never
Environment
Recycling batteries is as simple as stopping in for a latte
As Seas Rise, Louisiana Faces a Choice: Plan for Movement or Let Crisis Decide; Young survivors of gun violence find therapy helps. But will California do more? Bay State's slow adoption of EV chargers through federal program is ‘mystifying’ to transit advocates
Newspapers
Kentucky company purchases 9 weeklies in Western NC and North Georgia
Down Ballot Staff Reports Kentucky-based Paxton Media Group purchased nine newspapers from Georgia-based Community Newspapers, Inc. The weekly publications included in the sale are The Franklin Press (NC), The Highlander (NC), Mitchell News-Journal (NC), Smoky Mountain Times (NC), Clay County Progress (NC), Cherokee Scout (NC), The Graham
Helene
NCDEQ awards $25 million in community recycling infrastructure grants for Hurricane Helene recovery
Funding supports projects to build resilient waste reduction, recycling, and composting programs in storm-damaged communities
data centers
More cities are pressing pause on data centers as local backlash grows
By Robbie Sequeira (Stateline) Published: May 28, 2026 Hearing backlash from residents, cities and counties across the country in recent weeks have blocked planned data centers amid concerns over rising electricity prices and environmental harms. The local actions come as state lawmakers also are looking to limit or repeal the