Politics

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NEWS 9/24/26 5:26pm

NC coastal fish stocks not viable for long term, judge says

By Evan Cooper

North Carolina failed to protect the state’s coastal fisheries, according to a state superior court ruling. None of the 13 state-managed coastal fish stocks are viable for long-term use. Judge Brian Collins ruled in favor of the Coastal Conservation Association of North Carolina following a six-year lawsuit. According to the court’s ruling, the state mishandled the coastal fish stocks and caused depleted populations of southern flounder, shrimp, speckled trout and more.

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NEWS 9/19/26 9:04am

New North Carolina laws extend immigration enforcement to public servants

By Abby Gravely

Two new laws are going into full effect Oct. 1 that add a new element to some public servants’ job descriptions: immigration enforcement. The North Carolina General Assembly passed House Bill 496 and Senate Bill 153 in April and June, respectively. Elements of each increase interactions between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and some government agencies — specifically, Medicare providers and law enforcement. But their full provisions aren’t enforced just yet. 

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NEWS 9/17/26 5:09pm

How to vote while abroad

By Alice Morrissey

With the upcoming midterm elections on Nov. 3 right around the corner, figuring out how to vote from outside the United States can be one of the biggest obstacles for students who want to exercise their right while still enjoying time away from campus on their semester abroad trips. Elon University is known for its students’ participation in study abroad programs, with over 94% of students participating in study abroad programs at some point in their time at Elon,  according to a 2025 survey. While studying abroad offers students new experiences and adventures, it also comes with the challenge of navigating the election year from overseas. 

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NEWS 9/8/26 11:38pm

Elon Town Council appoints Elon alum to sustainability committee

By Alannah Klingsporn

During its Sept. 8 meeting, the town council appointed a new member to the sustainability committee and heard a proposal to change the town's animal and nuisance ordinances. The next town council meeting will be held Sep. 28th.

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NEWS 9/6/26 1:33pm

Alamance County keeps Sunday voting amid statewide changes

By Lily Mosbacher

With fewer than 50 days until early voting sites open their doors, several North Carolina counties are dropping Sunday voting from their schedules. The statewide shift comes as North Carolina prepares for the 2026 midterm election, with in-person early voting scheduled from Oct. 15 through Oct. 31.

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NEWS 8/29/26 4:22pm

Gov. Stein vetoes controversial elections reform bill

By Evan Cooper

Gov. Josh Stein vetoed a sweeping elections reform bill that would reduce early voting days and expand the state auditor’s authority in elections. The legislation now heads back to the state House of Representatives. House Bill 958 includes measures to reduce early voting periods for primaries and special elections from 17 days to 10 days, allow precinct officials to be removed by county boards on the day of an election and require the state auditor to conduct post-election audits of county election systems. Stein vetoed the bill Aug. 17.

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NEWS 8/26/26 11:16am

Elon University’s SGA prepares for school year, aims to increase presence on campus

By Evan Cooper

As the class of 2030 arrives at Elon, the Elon University Student Government Association is preparing for another year of representing students on campus.

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NEWS 8/4/26 9:11pm

Alamance County community members gather to protest N.C. HB 958

By Marissa Fluno

The Poor People’s Campaign North Carolina Division hosted a protest against N.C. House Bill 958, a bill focused on new voting regulations, in front of Elon’s Town Hall. Approximately 40 community members attended the protest, which lasted around an hour Monday evening. 

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NEWS 7/20/26 3:41pm

Teacher pay raises with new N.C. budget, concerns remain for staffing shortage

By Mia Torres

North Carolina teachers will receive an average salary increase under the state’s newly approved budget, a move education leaders say is a step toward strengthening the profession but not a complete solution to the state’s ongoing teacher shortage. 

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NEWS 7/18/26 11:25am

Town of Elon encourages voluntary water conservation in response to drought conditions

By Alice Morrissey

The Town of Elon has announced it will implement a Stage 1 water conservation declaration as officials respond to rising temperatures and worsening drought conditions across Alamance County.During its July 8 meeting, the Elon Town Council approved a voluntary water conservation effort after the City of Burlington issued a Stage 1 water conservation declaration earlier that day.

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NEWS 7/4/26 10:16pm

New poll reveals Americans’ mixed feelings before America 250

By Mia Torres

As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, a new Elon University poll found Americans are entering the milestone with both pride and uncertainty about the country’s future. The national survey found that 68% of Americans are proud to be American, but 52% believe the country is not successfully living up to its founding ideals. Nearly three-quarters of respondents also rated the overall health of American democracy as only "fair" or “poor.”

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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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