North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission staff collect and sort dead fish at White Lake, N.C., in May 2018.
North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

How Did 115,000 Fish Die In White Lake?

“Look at that boat right yonder. They’re going around picking up dead fish,” says a man who identifies himself on YouTube as Kyle McGee.

Read More
An hour or so before sixth grade student Tucker composed a metaphor poem in his language arts class, he started his school day off with soccer. Much of the learning at The Catamount School happens through creating and experiences.
Lisa Philip / WUNC

New NC Lab Schools Aim To Meet Kids Where They Are

North Carolina legislative building
Wikimedia Commons

This Week In NC Politics: Photo ID, A Cap On Personal Income Tax, And Fishing And Hunting

Trump's Migrant Family Policy Now Moves To The Courts

The controversy over President Trump's executive order to end the policy of separating migrant families who cross into the U.S. illegally is shifting to the courts. On Thursday, the Department of Justice asked a federal judge in California to relax certain limitations on how long and under what conditions the government can detain migrant children. In another courtroom in California, a different federal judge will hear arguments on Friday in a case about family separations and the status of...

Read More

More Than 100,000 Fish Die Off In Massive White Lake Fish Kill

By & • 7 hours ago
Gerry Dincher / Flickr Creative Commons

There is plenty of debate over whether an algae bloom, or chemicals, or a combination of the two led to the devastating fish kill on White Lake in Bladen County, NC. What is clear, is more than 100,000 fish of various species, including hearty largemouth bass, floated up to the surface and washed ashore starting in May.

The Bottom To The Top: The Story Of Ernie Barnes

By & • 7 hours ago
Courtesy of the estate of Ernie Barnes

He was raised in “the bottoms” section of Durham, but Ernie Barnes would leave the Triangle to become one of the most recognizable black artists of the time. Anyone who has ever seen the opening credits of the sitcom “Good Times,” has seen the art of Ernie Barnes.

A Tribute To The Father Of The Blues

By & • 8 hours ago
Dan Brainerd

 Last year, the Craven Arts Council and Gallery asked Jon Shain to do a tribute show featuring the music of W.C. Handy. He decided to take on the musical challenge of turning music for cornet and big band into music that a solo guitar and singer could perform. He transcribed hours of old piano music and listened to hours of full band recordings of Handy’s music. He re-arranged the music to work for solo guitar and voice.

Thwarted Before, Republicans Seek Photo ID Through Amendment

By • Jun 21, 2018
A vote here sign in Chapel Hill
Amy Townsend / WUNC

North Carolina Republicans have been thwarted by veto and federal judges this decade to require photo identification to vote. Now they're hoping state residents will cement the mandate by amending the state constitution.

NC Zoo To Chip Away At Maintenance Projects Backlog

By • Jun 21, 2018
The glass panes in the Forest Aviary at the North Carolina zoo need replacement, according to Zoo officials.
Courtesy of the North Carolina Zoo

The North Carolina Zoo has a $20 million backlog of maintenance projects. But the zoo can't touch the funding from the Connect N.C. bond initiative for things like a new aviary dome or HVAC system, according to Director Pat Simmons. That’s because the $25 million in bond money has been set aside for an Australia and Asia exhibit, which Simmons said is also necessary.

Movies On The Radio: The Cult Classics That Never Die

By & • Jun 21, 2018
Julie Scott / Wikimedia Commons

Tommy Wiseau’s film “The Room” is a textbook example of a cult movie. It made less than $2000 when it first opened in Los Angeles in 2003, got terrible reviews, and is dubbed by some the “Citizen Kane of bad movies.” Yet years later it became a huge hit.

Two More Employees Attacked At NC Central Prison

By • Jun 21, 2018
Prison Bars
Michael Coghlan / Flickr Creative Commons

Two more employees have been attacked by an inmate at North Carolina's Central Prison.

The Department of Public Safety said in a news release that the latest attack happened Wednesday morning in a dining area at the prison in Raleigh.

Who Will Be The Next WUNC Music Trivia Champ?

By WUNC Updates • Jun 21, 2018
WUNC Music Trivia Night

Assemble your music trivia savvy friends and bone up on local music facts. It's time for the second in our series of WUNC Music Trivia Nights. And, it's happening Wed., June 27 at Local 506 in Chapel Hill.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the quiz starts at 7 p.m. Prizes will be awarded from Schoolkids, Yep Roc, Local 506 and Festival for the Eno. Keep reading for a couple of hints that will give you a leg up on the competition.

"Families Belong Together" Rally Draws Raleigh Crowd Despite Executive Order

By • Jun 21, 2018
Uriel Rodriguez, 12, watches on as other speakers prepare to take the podium at the "Families Belong Together" rally to protest a recent Trump administration policy of separating families detained after illegally crossing the Mexico border.
Liz Schlemmer / WUNC

Protesters gathered in Raleigh last night for a rally against the policy of separating families who cross the southern border illegally.

NC Lawmakers Override Gov. Vetoes, Advance Cap On Income Tax

By • Jun 20, 2018
The sponsors of the proposed constitutional amendment to cap North Carolina's personal income tax at 5.5 percent present the measure to the House Rules committee. Pictured are Rep. Jason Saine (R-Lincoln), at the podium, and Sen. Tommy Tucker (R-Union),
Rusty Jacobs / WUNC

Lawmakers put in a busy day in Raleigh Wednesday, completing the override of two gubernatorial vetoes and advancing proposed constitutional amendments.

Pages

WUNC on Instagram

On The State of Things
Courtesy of the estate of Ernie Barnes

The Bottom To The Top: The Story Of Ernie Barnes

He was raised in “the bottoms” section of Durham, but Ernie Barnes would leave the Triangle to become one of the most recognizable black artists of the time. Anyone who has ever seen the opening credits of the sitcom “ Good Times ,” has seen the art of Ernie Barnes.

Read More

WUNC Music Now Playing

Ft. Bragg Stories

Share Your Ft. Bragg Story

WUNC presents a year-long series of stories about life in and around Ft. Bragg. We'd like to share your story, too.

Share, Listen & Subscribe To The Podcast

Sustainer?

Update your Credit Card now!

Update Your Card

Education Stories

NC Needs School Psychologists, But Legislation To Help Hire More Is Stalled

By • Jun 19, 2018
A North Carolina Public Schools bus in Orange County.
Brian Batista / For WUNC

Lawmakers focused on improving school safety for months have planned to address a significant shortage of school psychologists, but none of the related bills filed by legislators look like they are going anywhere during this legislative session. 

New Raleigh School Would Only Serve Students Recovering From Addiction

By • Jun 15, 2018
classroom
Malate269 / Wikimedia Commons

A Raleigh mother is raising money to open a high school in Wake County designed specifically for students overcoming addiction.

Broad Education Bill Tackles Cursive, Mental Health And Too Much Testing

By • Jun 13, 2018
Teacher in classroom with students.
woodleywonderworks / Flickr - Creative Commons - https://flic.kr/p/auPuAq

An omnibus education bill titled "Various Changes to Education Laws" emerged from a legislative committee Wednesday. Senators added a number of provisions to an existing bill that was originally only about cursive writing, multiplication tables and advanced math classes.

Despite Parent Pleas, Hurricane-Damaged School To Close For Good

By • Jun 13, 2018
A sign in front of West Lumberton Elementary, the only Robeson County school that remains closed a year after Hurricane Matthew. The storm dumped about three feet of standing water into the building, and destroyed many of its students' homes.
Lisa Philip / WUNC

A Robeson County elementary school damaged by Hurricane Matthew will close for good. The decision came after a group of parents pleaded to keep it open.

More Education News

Like & Follow WUNC

Reporting on the lives of American military personnel and veterans.

More American Homefront Stories