News

The N.C. Office of the State Auditor released its look into the Division of Motor Vehicles. It found that wait times have increased since 2019, staffing levels of driver license examiners remain low and DMV technology is perilously outdated.

The DMV struggles to keep up with the state's growing population, leading to customer frustrations. Republican Auditor Dave Boliekrecommends making the DMV an autonomous agency separate from the Department of Transportation for better control over budget and operations. Other suggestions include using outside instructors for driving tests and creating "pop-up" license offices.

This week, state lawmakers made it more difficult to establish regulations that potentially protect the environment and public health with the passage of House Bill 402. Critics say the measure creates significant roadblocks to addressing air and water pollution.

Researchers believe the autonomous robot makes things more efficient for scientists by completing tasks programmed through coding.

Political experts say North Carolina's Senate race next year could see around $500 million in campaign spending, and the contest between former Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley could set a new record for the most expensive Senate race in the country.

Eating excessive calories is 10 times more influential than sedentariness in driving the obesity epidemic, researchers say.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funnels federal money to public media stations, says it's winding down operations after President Trump signed a law rescinding all funding.

The online bookstore is run entirely by the volunteers at Friends of the Durham Library, a nonprofit that has worked with the library since at least the 1980s, Shayne Goodrum, FODL's former president, said.

Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground President Donald Trump held in carrying the state last year. In announcing his candidacy for Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited Trump with fulfilling campaign promises to working Americans. Cooper’s plainspoken appeal represents the latest effort by Democrats to find their way back to power.

WUNC music reporter Brian Burns gets to know Triangle-based visual artist and musician Ron Liberti.

Officials from the Governor's Recovery Office for Western North Carolina and N.C. Emergency Management were speaking in front of a legislative hurricane recovery committee.

A Republican-backed spending bill would allow the hiring of political appointees to state elections administrations staff.