February 2026 Archives

Carolina Connection – Feb. 7, 2026

February 7, 2026 Editor

College students and Democratic groups are suing state election officials for blocking early voting sites on three North Carolina college campuses. UNC mourns the death of James Spurling, who managed UNC’s iconic football stadium and became a local icon himself. Unless Congress acts, most hemp products will become illegal later this year. As UNC and Duke tip off this season’s men’s basketball rivalry, UNC leaders are deciding whether the Dean Dome will remain the Tar Heels’ home court. Raleigh is piloting a program to better respond to mental health emergencies. Local children receive free care at the UNC Dental School’s “Give Kids A Smile” day.

Students sue election officials for blocking early voting sites on three N.C. campuses

February 6, 2026 Henry Nicholls

Citing logistic and financial concerns, the state Board of Elections removed an early voting site at Western Carolina University and stopped efforts to add sites at two other campuses. Democrats say it’s an effort to suppress the youth vote.

Unless Congress reverses a new federal law, hemp products will be almost entirely banned this fall

February 6, 2026 Andrew Sellers

The hemp industry is facing “a near total ban,” after Congress amended the definition of hemp in last year’s continuing resolution that ended the government shutdown. An effort to reverse the ban is underway.

Carolina remembers ‘one of its treasures,’ Kenan Stadium director James Spurling

February 6, 2026 Anthony Guerra-Flores

Spurling, who managed the day-to-day operation of UNC’s iconic football stadium, became a local icon himself. He died this week at the age of 68.

In a pilot program, Raleigh will dispatch mental health clinicians to some 911 calls, instead of police

February 6, 2026 Alice Scott

Raleigh is piloting a crisis diversion program embedded within the city’s 911 call center. The initiative connects callers who may be experiencing a mental health crisis with licensed clinicians trained to de-escalate such situations, rather than a police dispatch.

Month: February 2026

Carolina Connection – Feb. 7, 2026

Students sue election officials for blocking early voting sites on three N.C. campuses

Unless Congress reverses a new federal law, hemp products will be almost entirely banned this fall

Carolina remembers ‘one of its treasures,’ Kenan Stadium director James Spurling

In a pilot program, Raleigh will dispatch mental health clinicians to some 911 calls, instead of police

More than 26,000 have signed a petition against moving UNC’s basketball arena off campus

Hundreds of kids and teens receive free care at the UNC dental school’s annual event

Two big games in one weekend stress local party food restaurants