• The Race to Flip a Wake County House District
  • New Calls for Duke to Avoid Cutting Costs
  • New Revelations in Cary Town Manager Ordeal
  • A Chapel Hill Couple Stars in Macbeth
  • Eno River Climate Resilience After Chantal
Credit: Illustration by Nicole Pajor Moore

Good morning, readers.

Southern Wake County used to be a Republican stronghold. But in November, the suburban towns of Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina eschewed their Republican incumbent mayors and elected Democrats by wide margins. 

Could Erin Paré, the Republican representative for North Carolina’s 37th House district (which contains Fuquay-Varina and part of Holly Springs), be next on the chopping block? It’s an open question whether her right-wing politics will still resonate with voters in her fast-growing, increasingly diverse, and educated district in 2026. 

“Paré is a well-funded candidate and someone that Republicans really want to stay in the legislature,” says David McLennan, a political science professor at Meredith College. 

“On a personal level, they perceive [her] as an up-and-comer.”

On the other hand, conditions seem to be aligning for a Democrat to mount a serious challenge against the three-term representative. There are three candidates running in the primary: an education policy wonk, a constitutional law wonk, and an IT consultant. All are newcomers to local politics, but in interviews over the last month, each told the INDY they have what it takes to beat Paré.

Read more about Winn Decker, Marcus Gadson, and Ralph Clements below, and have a good weekend. 

—Chloe

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Credit: Photo by Matt Hartman

Balancing Act

Following a professor’s critical audit, groups are renewing their calls for the university to stand up to the Trump administration, Matt Hartman reports for the INDY.

Credit: Matt Ramey

On the Record

Former Cary town manager Sean Stegall was named in police records related to a drug surveillance operation, INDY’s Jane Porter reports.

Vivienne Benesch and Ron Menzel as Lady Macbeth and Macbeth. Photo by TJ Carr, courtesy of PlayMakers Repertory Company.

Dynamic Duo

A Chapel Hill couple starring in Macbeth on chemistry and what Shakespeare still has to tell us about love—by INDY’s Sarah Edwards.

Sponsored Content

EDUCATION: The Assembly breaks down exactly how much Trump’s federal funding cuts are costing colleges across the state.

STATE: Conservative activists are lobbying the state Board of Elections to try controversial software to check the state’s voter rolls, NC Newsline reports.

EDUCATION: Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools leadership is considering closing two schools, Chapelboro reports.

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  • Major renovations are ongoing at the NC Museum of History. The museum shared photos of the gutted interior.
  • The Eno River Association is hosting a webinar about the effects of Tropical Storm Chantal, recovery efforts since, and strengthening climate resilience along the river.
  • A record-breaking, 1,700-pound great white shark has been spotted off the North Carolina coast.
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