In post to his blog, Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht called my story about two ADA noncompliant trolleys he said were returned that were not, “misleading.” Weinbrecht didn’t respond to my calls/emails for comment but ends his post with this:

In 2023, Mayor Harold Weinbrecht said two trolleys Cary bought were returned due to ADA noncompliance. They weren’t. Instead, they were warehoused locally until this summer when they were sold to a California transit agency. my latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

Cary's mayor cites "over-the-top spending," "lack of transparency" and "an unhealthy work environment" in announcing that the town and its manager are parting ways. Great work from @annamroman.bsky.social, @dpkane.bsky.social, @nathanpcollins.bsky.social and @vizjourno.bsky.social.

A group of concerned Chapel Hill community members rescued a young disabled woman from harm. Now, her guardian is sounding the alarm and asking why local social services didn’t act on at least two formal reports about the issue. read my latest report: www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

Evidence shows DHS didn’t arrest only ‘worst of the worst’ in NC detention surge. CBS News reported that fewer than a third of the people picked up by the Border Patrol during Charlotte's Web had criminal histories. (Via @nathanpcollins.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol

DHS claimed immigration authorities arrested “the worst of the worst” during recent NC detention operations. Evidence shows that wasn’t always the case and federal officials arrested people with no criminal records. my latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...

The NC man charged with killing 4 of his kids cited declining mental health in a request for a court fee waiver last year. “I’m 100% PTSD and I’m afraid my mental state is not improving,” he wrote in court records obtained by @newsobserver.com. my latest: www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

“I don’t want my kids living with fear all the time." Powerful story from @nathanpcollins.bsky.social on a Raleigh husband and father of two teenage daughters who made the decision to self deport.

Facing possible detention or deportation, NC father leaves on his own terms. The Rivera family are among those living in the Triangle who say they're facing the hard decision of whether a loved one should self deport. (Via @nathanpcollins.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol

Fidel Rivera lived, worked and paid taxes in the U.S. for 30 years, despite his immigration status. He left his wife and kids in Raleigh to go back to Mexico — rather than taking his chances with immigration officials. my latest for @newsobserver.com: www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

Eastern NC lawmaker arrested and charged with driving while impaired in Raleigh. Sen. Norman Sanderson, a Pamlico County Republican, says he ‘made a regrettable mistake’ and takes responsibility for his actions. (Via @nathanpcollins.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a... #ncpol #ncga

i was at Elon U today for the Central Carolina J-Day and led a session on where to find good story ideas to a group of (very engaged) hs students. all i can say is: the future of the journalism world is in good hands, y’all.

before i was a reporter, i was a professional musician. d’angelo is one of like five artists that genuinely, truly impacted my musicianship in a way words can’t describe. i’m heartbroken. rip to THE GOAT.

hi bsky: i’m on insta (officially) for work now @ ireportnc give me a follow if you want

The seven patients who fled Holly Hill Hospital in East Raleigh this week aren’t the only ones. Advocates told the @newsobserver.com the psych unit has a “troubling history.” read my latest here (gift link): www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

For owner of NC private prison, Trump immigration push is good for business. GEO Group, which contributed millions to mostly conservative political organizations and candidates last year, has secured ICE contracts. (Via @nathanpcollins.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/politic... #ncpol

The company that owns a NC private prison bet big on the Trump admin. At least two former GEO Group contractors are now high-ranking admin officials. The company has secured multiple contracts since the beginning of the year. for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

Linked to political donations and active in lobbying, GEO Group has landed multiple federal detention-linked contracts this year. It’s part of an effort to resurrect shuttered prisons as immigration detention centers. my latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

watching the Cowboys hits different on the east coast… 🥴

A private prison company wants to potentially house ICE detainees in its Eastern N.C. facility. It’s been trying to reopen the prison for years. Phoebe Zerwick had it first w/ @theassemblync.bsky.social Read my latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

Eager to reopen private prisons, company is in talks to hold ICE detainees in NC (by @nathanpcollins.bsky.social, 🎁🔗) www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

got to experience some W. North Carolina beauty! Stone Mt. was a treat.

supporting for my first @durhambulls.bsky.social game today. go Bulls!

Hundreds of kids in Western North Carolina wait weeks — sometimes months — for suitable homes. Parent attorney and family court day shortages in W. NC make their wait longer, according to county officials. My latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

The state’s $65/hr rate for parent attorneys isn’t enough, according to officials and child welfare advocates. The result? Children wait weeks, sometimes months, for suitable homes while court is delayed. My latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

A year after a federal lawsuit accused officials of tolerating a crisis inside the N.C. child welfare system, problems persist. Parent attorney and family court date shortages in WNC mean children must wait longer for a home. For @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...

Children wait for weeks, sometimes months, in N.C. protective care for suitable homes. Low wages for parent attorneys and family court date shortages make the issue worse in WNC, officials say. My investigative report for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

Four journalists were killed by an Israeli strike on a Gaza hospital today, including Mariam Dagga, a freelancer with the @apnews.com. She has a 12-year-old son, who was evacuated from Gaza earlier in the war. She was a true hero, like all of our Palestinian colleagues in Gaza. tinyurl.com/3cn5c9vb

After tragic flooding in Texas swept Camp Mystic away, we asked ourselves which camps here are most at risk. @newsobserver.com Database Editor David Raynor and I found 18 youth summer camps across the NC that are on or very near federal flood zones. Read more: www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...

Camps across North Carolina are in or near flood zones. What families must know. At least 18 summer camps are in or near federally designated flood zones. Parents should ask about emergency plans. (Via @nathanpcollins.bsky.social & @crddraynor.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n... #nced

‘The Kite Runner’ will continue to be a reading assignment given to Wake County high school sophomores studying world literature.

Duke isn’t the only institution Do No Harm, an anti-DEI group that filed a complaint this year that mirrors the Trump Admin’s recent threats, has targeted. It has sued universities, medical trade orgs and a governor. my latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

A private group's allegations about diversity programs and minority recruitment policies at Duke University in March mirrors the new threats from the Trump Administration. The latest from @nathanpcollins.bsky.social.

The Trump Admin didn’t give specifics when it threatened to pull Duke Health’s federal funding over alleged racism. But a complaint filed against the university by an anti-DEI group earlier this year might have more details. my latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/local/a...

HB971 requires vacation lodging operators to report/train staff to recognize sex trafficking. It also makes buying sex a felony. But will the new law curb the shadowy industry in North Carolina? my latest for @newsobserver.com www.newsobserver.com/news/state/n...

realizing now keyword Google searches yield less and less useful info — but question prompts seem to bringing up relevant articles in larger quantities, faster

Durham firefighters navigate floodwaters on the Eno River on Monday morning after hours of heavy rain from Tropical Storm Chantal caused major flooding across parts of Orange, Durham and Chatham counties. Authorities reported evacuations and water rescues along the Eno and Haw rivers. #Chantal #ncwx

Children make up most NC pool drownings. Is enough done to save lives? From 2020 to 2024, children 17 and younger accounted for two-thirds of the state's swimming pool deaths & one-fifth of all accidental drownings. (Via @nathanpcollins.bsky.social) www.newsobserver.com/news/politic... #nced #ncpol

Children made up two-thirds of North Carolina swimming pool drownings over the last five years. Is enough done to save lives? My first byline for The News & Observer. www.newsobserver.com/news/politic...

in case anyone cares, i found one after going to three different shops…

yall where tf do i get a geek bar pulse x near N.C. State university?!

lots of gold in the North Carolina legislative building…and portraits of Ronald Reagan (??)

good morning, North Carolina — happy Monday. as always, my DMs/inbox are open for story tips, ideas or if you’d just like to chat about issues across the state. looking forward to hearing from you. talk soon.

@chilis.bsky.social don’t care if this is an official account or not. chili’s needs bluesky representation.

i got validation from oomf about my fruity vape. and im off tomorrow so basically im coolin’

love seeing people with the same nasty strawberry jam geek bar i have. makes me feel less shame

Breaking: The Trevor Project received a stop-work order last night on its contract with the national 988 suicide prevention hotline. The Trump administration is eliminating the option for LGBTQ callers to the hotline to press 3 and connect with someone who specializes in LGBTQ mental health.

wait…bow tie tuck engaging in (what seems to be) an aggressive line of questioning against a GOP leader? what in the….

huge group of high schoolers busted into the coffee shop before me. just give me my battery acid jet fuel and let me LEAVE!

First day on The News & Observer i-team done. And I’ve got stories coming. Stay tuned, North Carolina. talk soon.