Politics

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NEWS 6/13/26 11:10am

Dem. nominee Richard Ojeda addresses rising costs at town hall

By Alice Morrissey

Mayco Bigelow Community Center in Burlington opened its doors Friday, June 12, for a speech given by U.S. House of Representatives candidate Richard Ojeda. He and his team are making a series of visits throughout the district this summer called the Congressional Town Hall Tour.

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NEWS 5/17/26 5:19pm

NC bill seeks protections for immigrant students amid ICE fears

By Lily Mosbacher

More than 20,000 students were absent from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools during immigration enforcement operations last fall, according to district reporting, a wave of fear that helped spark a new bill in the North Carolina General Assembly aimed at protecting immigrant students in public schools.House Bill 1061, titled the “Plyler Educational Protections,” would reinforce students’ right to public education and establish clearer guidance for how schools respond to federal immigration enforcement requests. 

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NEWS 5/10/26 5:14pm

North Carolina teacher pay decreases since 2024-25 school year

By Evan Cooper

As North Carolina remains the only state without a budget, it is also the only state where teacher salaries have decreased since last year. According to a report by the National Education Association, North Carolina’s average teacher salaries decreased by 0.58% in the last year. The national average salary increased by almost 3%. 

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NEWS 5/8/26 11:51am

NC treasurer’s office announces Implementation of AI

By Alice Morrissey

The North Carolina Treasurer’s Department announced it will integrate artificial intelligence into its daily operations. The department wrote that the decision comes after an AI pilot program from spring 2025. The team held weekly calls with engineers at its partner, OpenAI, to troubleshoot and develop the program. The pilot program ran for 12 weeks and the team saw a 10% increase in productivity, according to analysis conducted at North Carolina Central University.

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NEWS 5/5/26 9:34am

County commissioners shape Alamance beyond meeting rooms

By Lily Mosbacher

With landfill debates and local boards, the Alamance County board of commissioners makes decisions that shape policies affecting residents across the county. The board is made up of five elected officials: Chair Kelly Allen, Vice Chair Steve Carter, Ed Priola, Sam Powell and Pamela Thompson. Commissioners are elected to four-year terms, with seats appearing on the ballot during general election cycles.

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NEWS 5/4/26 11:00am

NC Advisory Council on Cannabis shows need for regulated market

By Abigail Hines

A report from The North Carolina Advisory Council on Cannabis’s recommends to lawmakers the legalization of marijuana, allowing adults to legally purchase, possess and use cannabis through state-licensed retail outlets. 

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NEWS 5/2/26 1:01pm

Concerns rise over Haw River bacterial contamination

By Kathan Gandhi

Along a stretch of the Haw River known for tubing, swimming and quiet afternoons on the water, a different kind of presence has drawn concern in recent months. It’s one that residents say they can smell before they see.

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NEWS 5/1/26 10:19pm

Educators march through downtown Raleigh to demand action

By Emma Perman and Elissa Leka

The front lawn of the North Carolina Legislative Building in downtown Raleigh on May 1 was filled with the voices of frustrated educators and their supporters. The North Carolina Association of Educators held a rally at Halifax Mall, bringing together representatives from 18 school districts across the state, including Alamance County. Attendees said they came to advocate for increased funding for public schools and to push lawmakers to pass a long-delayed state budget. 

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NEWS 4/29/26 5:14pm

Fire code violations strain university, town relations

By Elissa Leka

The town of Elon and Elon university are mending relationships and working on more effective communication following a dispute that prompted Elon University to halt all payments to the town. The rollout of a new fire inspection process revealed code violations, which the university had not addressed.

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NEWS 4/28/26 1:02pm

Elon Town Council approves charging station, discusses budgeting

By Alannah Klingsporn

The Elon Town Council gathered to discuss the upcoming budget workshop April 27, in preparation for the annual budgeting meeting on May 12. In addition to hearing about a potential new charging station in Beth Schmidt Park. 

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NEWS 4/27/26 11:42am

House Bill 171 continues to shape DEI efforts

By Mia Torres

Although North Carolina’s House Bill 171 was vetoed in July 2025, ongoing discussions around the legislation continue to shape how private and nonprofit institutions approach diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

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NEWS 4/26/26 7:41pm

Fire code violations strain Elon University and town relations

By Elissa Leka

The town of Elon and university are mending relationships and working on more effective communication following a dispute that prompted Elon University to halt payments to the town.

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NEWS 4/23/26 10:20am

Dismissal of Leandro case concerns public school advocates

By Kate Gray

The Leandro Comprehensive Remedial Plan, a 2021 proposed public school funding plan to ensure North Carolina meets its educational standards as outlined in the state constitution, called for $5.5 billion over eight years. In Alamance County, the plan would have allocated $56.7 million to the Alamance-Burlington School System — a 38% budget increase as of 2022 — and $15.7 million to early education programs by 2028.

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NEWS 4/20/26 8:49am

NC state legislature yet to set state budget

By Trista Panagakos

North Carolina is still the only state without a budget. The current state funding is using budget numbers from 2023, the last time a budget was passed. The state passes a biennial budget which appropriates funds for two years.

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NEWS 4/19/26 8:49pm

NC Republican senators contend for top job after senate leader’s primary loss

By Miles Hayford

With North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger conceding his primary against Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, the political structure of North Carolina has been flipped on its head and several Republican senators are putting their names up for consideration to be the next Senate leader. The Senate leader is often seen as the most powerful position in North Carolina state government and Berger has exerted great influence over his 26 years in the senate and his 15 years as the leader of the Republican senate caucus.

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NEWS 4/17/26 12:20pm

Elon University’s Student Government Association appoints new senators, finance board members

By Evan Cooper

Elon University’s Student Government Association appointed six senators and two finance board members, as well as elected two current senators as the new speaker pro tempore and parliamentarian at the April 16 business meeting. Sophomore Chris Guider was elected speaker pro tempore and junior Murphy Davis was elected parliamentarian.

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NEWS 4/15/26 5:26pm

Elon Town Council approves plan for new downtown expansion

By Alice Morrissey

The Elon Town Council has approved a plan to expand the downtown area, adding new seating, upgrading sidewalks, storm drainage and waterlines. The project will also remove around seven parking spaces along North Williamson Avenue.

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NEWS 4/15/26 12:32pm

Elon Town Council discusses tax increase, paid parking at April 14 meeting

By Alexander Siegel

The Elon Town Council met on Tuesday, April 14, for the first of two town council meetings for the month. The council heard from Sebastian Ortiz and Joe Weiler of T2 Systems, along with Town of Elon Police Chief Kelly Blackwelder, who spoke on parking regulation and enforcement possibilities.

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NEWS 4/14/26 8:58pm

Elon University’s SGA executive president details goals for upcoming term

By Trista Panagakos

When Elon junior Michael Swartz first ran for a position in the Student Government Association in the fall of his freshman year, he filmed a campaign video while walking around campus. During his campaign for executive president, Swartz filmed a similar video outlining three main goals he had if elected: awareness, connection and experience. 

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NEWS 4/14/26 2:44pm

Town of Elon holds community meeting over proposed changes to RV policy

By Kate Gray

Around 20 people attended the Town of Elon’s community meeting April 13 to hear from residents and recreational vehicle owners on potential changes to the town’s RV regulations. An identical meeting is planned for April 23 at Beth Schmidt Park Community Center, and any policy changes are scheduled to be presented at the May 26 Elon Town Council meeting. 

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