Raleigh officials open to public funding for MLB stadium
Triangle Business Journal | 06.17.2026 The possibility that sports magnate Marc Lasry’s recent investment in the Carolina Courage could be just the start has invigorated the longshot push for Major League Baseball in Raleigh. Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has long voiced his support for an MLB franchise in Raleigh, and the addition of yet another potential backer in Lasry could bolster…
Alcoholic whipped cream, private tastings and more: NC lawmakers advance bill to loosen liquor laws
WRAL | 06.16.2026 North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a bill that would loosen the state’s liquor laws in a number of ways: from allowing more tastings to authorizing the sale of alcoholic whipped cream. The Senate Finance Committee gave a favorable report to House Bill 198, a 39-page bill that would change North Carolina laws…
Immigrant labor shortages stand to harm NC’s urban economies, Kenan Institute report says
WUNC | 06.12.2026 A shortage of immigrant labor is challenging the economies of North Carolina’s urban metros. A new report by the Kenan Institute for Private Enterprise at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill explores how a drop in international net migration is cutting into the labor supply for essential labor-intensive industries, and what could be done…
Americans’ summer 2026 travel hot spots
Axios | 06.05.2026 The Dominican Republic and Morocco are trending summer destinations for U.S. travelers this year, per Kayak search data — though higher airfares and economic uncertainty amid the Iran war may dissuade some would-be jet-setters. Driving the news: Interest in the D.R. could reflect new routes and affordability, Kayak’s Kayla DeLoache tells Axios. Kayak’s list…
Dozens of NC school boards approved calendars starting earlier than law permits
WRAL | 06.03.2026 State education leaders reviewed a new state report Wednesday that showed 30 North Carolina public school systems have reported a calendar that starts earlier next year than state law allows. Those school districts are largely concentrated in central and western portions of the state, as business and tourism groups in the eastern part of…
Reacting to Supreme Court, NC House wants to limit tourism occupancy tax spending
WFDD | 06.02.2026 Legislation introduced and approved in the state House Tuesday would block counties from using occupancy taxes to fund public safety and other core services. The bill comes in response to a legal dispute between Currituck County and the hotel industry. The state Supreme Court ruled last month in favor of Currituck in a lawsuit…
NC Supreme Court rules Currituck County can use occupancy tax funds for public safety
Outer Banks Voice | 05.22.2026 On Friday, May 22, Currituck County announced that the North Carolina Supreme Court has unanimously ruled against the plaintiffs challenging how the county spent occupancy tax funds, overturning a 2024 NC Court of Appeals ruling. The decision allows Currituck County to use occupancy tax revenue to fund public safety services.…
Lawmakers give preliminary approval to updated ABC regulations
WRAL | 05.19.2026 A group of North Carolina lawmakers on Tuesday advanced a proposal to allow grocery stores to sell premixed cocktails, which are currently only sold in state-run liquor stores. The House Committee on Alcoholic Beverage Control gave preliminary approval to House Bill 921, which would enact several revisions to the state’s liquor laws. Among…
NC Tourism Hits Record $37.2 Billion in 2025
05.07.2026 | Office of Governor Josh Stein Raleigh Today Governor Josh Stein announced that North Carolina set a record for tourist spending in 2025, with travelers spending more than $37.2 billion on trips to and within the state, surpassing the previous record of $36.7 billion set in 2024. “North Carolina remains a great place to…