Articles

Raleigh News & Observer • 1st July 2025

With Tillis out, NC Senate race projected as a ‘toss-up.’ What experts anticipate.

With Republican Sen. Thom Tillis announcing Sunday that he won’t run for reelection, many experts are considering how the political landscape in North Carolina may change — including possibly making way for a Democratic Senate win for the first time since 2008.

According to The Cook Political Report, a politics analysis organization that predicts congressional and gubernatorial races nationwide, the upcoming Senate race is now a “toss-up.”

North Carolina is now the top opportunity for Democrat...

Raleigh News & Observer • 24th June 2025

Do parents need more say over library books? NC bill focuses on schools, gender

The state Senate has approved a bill that expands the rights of parents to object to school library books and assignments that clash with their beliefs.

House Bill 805, which has gone through substantial changes since its inception, also bans the use of state funding to pay for health care for transgender prison inmates, among other changes aimed at LGBTQ+ people. And the measure sparked heated debate on the Senate floor Tuesday afternoon.

The Republican-backed bill amassed opposition from Dem...

Raleigh News & Observer • 24th June 2025

Thousands of inmates in NC prisons withstand heat waves with no air conditioning

During this week’s heat wave, inmates in prisons across North Carolina face sweltering heat with no air conditioning.

More than one in five of the state’s prison beds, 21%, still do not have air conditioning, according to the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections website.

That’s a double-digit drop from a year ago, when 34% of beds were in spaces without air conditioning. And almost all prisons either have air conditioning systems or have installation projects in progress. Johnston an...

Raleigh News & Observer • 17th June 2025

NC Democrat apologizes for post of protest sign appearing to show beheaded Trump

Rep. Julie von Haefen apologized Tuesday evening on the floor of the state House of Representatives after her controversial social media post following Saturday’s No Kings protest.

The Face book post by the Apex Democrat contained a video with an image of a protester holding a sign with a guillotine and a mask appearing to be a beheaded President Donald Trump.

The post sparked criticism, including from a committee of the state chapter of Moms for Liberty, a socially conservative education advo...

Raleigh News & Observer • 16th June 2025

NC House Democrat deletes X account after post with ‘inappropriate’ protest image

State Rep. Julie von Haefen is under fire after posting a video on social media including a protester holding a sign with an image of a guillotine and a mask of what appears to be a beheaded Donald Trump.

The sign reads, “In these difficult times, some cuts may be necessary.”

The picture was taken during Raleigh’s downtown No Kings protest Saturday.

Von Haefen deleted her account on X, formerly known as Twitter, after criticism of the post.

A press release late Monday morning from the state...

Raleigh News & Observer • 14th June 2025

Raleigh protesters declare there are ‘no kings,’ part of demonstrations across US

A few thousand people lined both sides of Capital Boulevard in North Raleigh Saturday, holding signs and American flags to protest the policies and tactics of President Donald Trump.

Rather than gather in a park or march through downtown, “No Kings” protesters chose the busy seven-lane road near Triangle Town Center mall to spread their message. The crowd frequently erupted in cheers as passing cars honked their horns.

Camille Schiele said she came to the protest because she wants “to live in...

Raleigh News & Observer • 9th June 2025

Activist groups gather in Raleigh in solidarity with Los Angeles ICE protests

Protesters in Raleigh gathered in Moore Square on Monday afternoon to display solidarity with ongoing protests in Los Angeles and in response to the arrest of labor union leader David Huerta.

The Raleigh protest, which was organized by the Union of Southern Service Workers and Service Employees International Union, amassed a crowd of over 100. Members of North Carolina’s state chapter of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the North Carolina Asso...

Raleigh News & Observer • 24th May 2025

UNC-Chapel Hill announces site for first new dorm in almost 20 years

UNC-Chapel Hill plans to open a new residence hall in 2028, its first new dorm since 2006.

The UNC-Chapel Hill Board of Trustees announced the site for what it’s calling New Residence Hall 1 in a meeting on Wednesday.

It will be located between Stacy Residence Hall and Cobb Residence Hall on the north end of the campus, on the current site of Jackson Hall. In order to begin the project, the 83-year-old Jackson Hall, which houses the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, will be demolished.

The...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 30th April 2025

Mister Freshman claims backlash after vocal attendance at housing protest - Campus Echo Online

Zyarre Prince said that he knew he was taking a “big risk” when he attended N.C. Central University’s housing protest while wearing his Mister Freshman sash on April 16.
But he went anyway.
And now, he said he’s faced backlash from some Student Government Association and Royal Court members.
Prince said that he wanted to protest with students because he too struggles with the conditions of his dorm. Prince, who lives in the Eagleson Residence Hall, said that he has experienced a leaking AC unit,...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 25th April 2025

Durham’s historic farmers market reaches its 55th season - Campus Echo Online

Even though it’s marked by handmade signage, a beloved piece of Durham’s local produce history is easy to miss if you drive on Barbee Road without Perkins Orchard already in mind.
Those “in the know” about what lies at the bottom of that sloping gravel driveway in South Durham have been shopping at Durham’s only permanent farmer’s market since 1970.
The three-acre lot behind owner Donovan Watson’s house is home to an open-air market and the Orchard Club, an enclosed building that sells locally s...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 23rd April 2025

Durham Public School teachers are leaving their careers. Why? - Campus Echo Online

Teachers play a crucial role in the lives of children. Oftentimes, students spend more time at school than they do at home.
Perhaps you may recall accidentally calling one of your teachers “mom” or “dad” during grade school.
North Carolina’s teachers often spend hours in and out of the classroom preparing lesson plans and grading assignments. Less than 55% of teachers agree that their non-instructional time is sufficient, according to the North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey.
Despite...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 21st April 2025

NCCU announces plans to improve housing - Campus Echo Online

NCCU announced plans Monday afternoon to improve on-campus housing following last week’s protest.
In an emailed statement to the student body from the Division of Student Affairs, NCCU plans to implement six short and long-term action steps.
Residential Life will conduct room-by-room inspections to address maintenance issues and pest control, according to the statement. These inspections are expected to continue indefinitely and will be conducted twice a semester.
The statement also said that ad...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 11th April 2025

Karrie Dixon installed as 13th chancellor at NCCU - Campus Echo Online

In front of a roaring crowd of family, alumni, James E. Shepard descendants, Delta Sigma Theta members, board of trustees, elected officials, students, faculty and staff, Karrie Dixon took her place as the 13th chancellor of N.C. Central University during her installation on Friday in the McDougald-McLendon arena.
The event’s speakers gave warm regards, praise and words of encouragement for Chancellor Dixon. They boasted about the accomplishments she’s already achieved in her first nine months a...

Triangle Tribune • 24th March 2025

Jada's Men's Accessories continues growth in its fifth year

Jada's Men's Accessories in Durham.
While small businesses struggled to stay afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic, James Abram and Wendy McManus-Abram decided to open a business. Now, what started as a side hustle selling ties out of the trunk of their car for nearly two decades has turned into a flourishing business.
The brick and mortar off Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard painted in a bright blue is the business’ fourth home in the last five years. They quickly outgrew their previous spaces. “We...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 17th March 2025

Student led project seeks to improve housing conditions - Campus Echo Online

Alena Dockery has grown frustrated with the conditions in her residence hall. After hearing frequent complaints about subpar housing conditions from her peers, Dockery decided to act towards improvements.
In February, Dockery created “The NCCU Quality of Life Project,” a project seeking to improve housing conditions by presenting documented issues to N.C. Central University’s administration.
“I want to make sure that we can document the issues that we’re having and then also create a clear path...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 26th February 2025

NC State Representative and Senator talk civic engagement at NCCU - Campus Echo Online

N.C. Central University’s Political Science Club hosted N.C. State Rep. Zack Hawkins and N.C. State Sen. Natalie Murdock on campus to engage with students on Monday evening.
The event, “How to Stay Civically Engaged After the Election,” offered a Socratic seminar for students to speak openly about their concerns with the current political climate.
Hawkins, Murdock and about 15 students discussed the removal of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies in the federal government and private busines...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 5th February 2025

Chancellor Dixon reflects on first semester, looks ahead - Campus Echo Online

Chancellor Karrie Dixon didn’t wake up one day and decide to become a chancellor. But once she made the decision to pursue the role, she made sure that she would become “the best chancellor [she] could be.”
Dixon, former chancellor at Elizabeth City State University, started at N.C. Central University in July following Chancellor Johnson O. Akinleye’s retirement after his 7-year tenure. That makes Dixon the second permanent female chancellor of NCCU after Debra Saunders-White, who died from canc...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 23rd January 2025

TikTok ban up in the air - Campus Echo Online

TikTok, the popular social media app, made a less than 24 hour return after being banned in the United States late on the night of Jan. 18.
The app has been up and running for several days despite legislation banning the app. The bill, which required that the Chinese parent company of TikTok, ByteDance, be sold to a company in the United States, passed in the House with a 352-65 vote and the Senate with a 79-18 vote. It was then signed by President Joe Biden. The Supreme Court unanimously upheld...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 21st January 2025

New presidential term begins - Campus Echo Online

President Donald Trump was officially sworn into office as the 47th president of the United States at 12:02 p.m. on Monday, making him only the second president to serve in two non-consecutive terms. His inauguration also historically fell on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, happening only on President Bill Clinton’s Inauguration Day.
“Today is Martin Luther King Day and his honor—this will be a great honor—but in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make this dream...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 15th November 2024

When students faced voting barrier, one pushed for change - Campus Echo Online

When senior political science student Alexis Staten realized that her faded student ID photo was unrecognizable, she feared that she wouldn’t be able to vote in the 2024 presidential election. So, she sparked an initiative to replace students’ Eagle Cards for free, saving students from voting provisionally at the polls.
As an out-of-state student, Staten would not have been able to use her New Jersey driver’s license to vote unless she registered to vote in Durham County 90 days before Election...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 6th November 2024

NCCU students anxiously awaited election results at watch party - Campus Echo Online

Hundreds of N.C. Central University students waited in anticipation for the presidential election results in the New Student Center lobby Tuesday night.
“I just wanted to come out and watch history unfold in real life,” said sophomore sports medicine major Gabrielle Beale.
The lobby overflowed with students, leading students to bring in outdoor seating and pushing students to watch and socialize in the game room, on the stairs, in the upstairs lobby, and down nearby hallways.
Cheering erupted up...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 5th November 2024

Students don't seem intimidated by incidents of voting interference

Leading up to Election Day, some N.C. Central University students said that they intended to vote, despite recent incidents of voter interference around the country.
There appears to be no cases of interference or intimidation in North Carolina. However, several states across the country have each faced incidents since early voting began.
Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State, has been outspoken in her efforts to assure voters that this election will be secure.
“There’s no upside to disrup...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 29th October 2024

Poll: Nearly 85% of NCCU students plan to vote - Campus Echo Online

In a swing state like North Carolina, students could cast the deciding vote to determine the results of the presidential election. But, some N.C. Central University students have no plans to vote.
According to an anonymous poll conducted by the Campus Echo in September and October, 93.4% of students are registered to vote, yet only 84.8% plan on voting.
“No matter who we vote for, the economy is still going to decline. I don’t feel like any real change has occurred,” said one student anonymously...

Campus Echo Online - N.C. Central University's Stu • 23rd October 2024

VP Harris’ husband and sister campaign in the Research Triangle - Campus Echo Online

Doug Emhoff, Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris’ husband, and sister, Maya Harris, rallied voters in the Research Triangle just days after vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz’s visit on Thursday.
Emhoff and Harris made their first stop at the Raleigh home of Senah Andrews, who ran for the N.C. House in 2018, to speak at a canvass launch. The two were introduced by several speakers, including Andrews, N.C. Rep. Allison Dahle, and U.S. Rep. Wylie Nickel.
“The path to...