MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1723, North Carolina merchant and Sons of Liberty leader Cornelius Harnett was born. He served in colonial legislatures, as president of the Provincial Congress, and as a delegate to the Continental Congress from 1777 to 1779. Harnett died on April 28, 1781, after being captured by the British.

Three rare documents are coming to Durham in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Learn more in Top Stories.

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NC Job Growth Outpaces Workers

North Carolina faces a widening workforce gap as job growth outpaces the supply of qualified workers, according to the 2026 Workforce Alignment Report from the UNC System, which awards 71% of the state’s bachelor’s degrees or higher.

The state is projected to add approximately 260,000 new jobs by 2034, with stronger high-wage job growth concentrated in metro areas like Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham. Yet openings in key fields are expected to exceed available skilled applicants due to retirements, rapid economic expansion, population growth, and migration, straining the labor market.

The report highlights shortages in nursing, engineering, and education, estimating a need for 5,000 to 10,000 additional college graduates annually to meet employer demand.

The UNC System is addressing the gaps through targeted investments in nursing and engineering, realigning academic offerings, exploring shorter degree pathways, and expanding incentives like the NC Teaching Fellows program.

Lawmakers Return for Short Session

North Carolina lawmakers return to Raleigh on Tuesday for a short legislative session, focusing on fiscal issues such as a Medicaid shortfall that threatens access for more than 3.1 million residents.

Both chambers previously advanced Medicaid funding bills. House Speaker Destin Hall anticipates quick approval and says the House will also address Medicaid fraud prevention.

Teacher pay also remains high on the agenda, with North Carolina salaries averaging $58,292—nearly $14,000 below the national average. The House proposes an average 8.7% raise over two years, while the Senate suggests 3.3% plus bonuses, and Gov. Josh Stein supports nearly 6%.

Lawmakers also face debates over state employee raises, continued tax cuts versus maintaining revenue for education, and property tax reform.

Rare Historical Documents Coming to Durham

Three rare copies of the Declaration of Independence will go on public display in Durham this fall as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding document.

Organized through a partnership between Duke University and local Durham organizations, the exhibition will feature an official 1823 facsimile engraved by William J. Stone, an 1818 Benjamin Owen Tyler broadside, and an illustrated 1819 John Binns edition.

The displays will first appear at the Durham County Main Library from Sept. 8-20, then move to Duke’s Nasher Museum of Art from Sept. 24 through Jan. 4. Both venues are free and open to the public.

All three documents are on loan from the David M. Rubenstein Americana Collection. Organizers say they illustrate how Americans first encountered the Declaration before its modern printing.

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➤ Western NC: Applications open today for the USDA’s $221 million Timber Loss Relief Program, offering aid to private landowners with significant timber damage from Hurricane Helene. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: NC State researchers are seeking input from Hatteras and Ocracoke residents on strategies to reduce future storm-related coastal flooding. (More and Take Survey)

➤ Raleigh: A shooting at Triangle Town Center on Friday injured three people after a 20-year-old employee fired a handgun during an altercation with three 17-year-olds. No arrests have been made. (More)

➤ Moore County: Heather Ammel filed a motion urging a federal judge not to dismiss her lawsuit accusing Kyrsten Sinema of alienation of affection, arguing the relationship impacted her marriage in-state. (More)

➤ Lake Norman: Authorities recovered the body of an unidentified swimmer on Friday after a multi-agency search from about 2:30 to 4 p.m. (More)

➤ Wilmington: The Federal Railroad Administration approved an $810 million rail corridor linking Wilmington and Raleigh, launching a development process NCDOT expects to take seven to 12 years. (More)

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➤ Duke football has agreed to a contract extension with head football coach Manny Diaz through the 2031 season. Last season, Diaz led the Blue Devils to their first outright ACC championship since 1962. (More)

➤ No. 3 UNC baseball clinched a series win against ACC-leading No. 2 Georgia Tech with a 14-4 run-rule victory on Saturday. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes continue their playoff series against the Ottawa Senators tonight at 7:30 p.m., looking to extend their series lead. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets’ season came to an end on Friday night after the team got blown out 121-90 by the Orlando Magic in the final game of the NBA’s play-in tournament, marking Charlotte’s lowest scoring game since Dec. 23, 2025. (More)

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➤ N.C. Global TransPark and the U.S. Navy reached a 10-year agreement to bring 400-plus jobs to Kinston, expanding aircraft maintenance operations at Fleet Readiness Center East. (More)

➤ The Great Smoky Mountains Railroad generated a $191 million economic impact in 2024, supporting 1,435 jobs and drawing more than 250,000 visitors across its 52-mile route from Dillsboro to Andrews. (More)

➤ The 28th annual RiverRun International Film Festival continues this week, featuring 178 films, including 18 world premieres, across Winston-Salem and Greensboro, and is expected to draw about 10,000 visitors. (More)

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➤ Three Allegheny woodrat pups were born on March 26 at the Greensboro Science Center, boosting conservation efforts for a rare species listed as a species of special concern. (See Woodrat)

➤ The 14th annual North Carolina Statewide Star Party returns April 24-25 with 43 free locations, offering telescope viewing, hands-on activities, and a “Mission to the Moon” theme honoring NASA’s Artemis program. (See Locations)

➤ Meanwhile, Artemis II astronaut and NC State alumna Christina Koch shared a video showing her struggling with a tandem walk one week after splashdown as her body readjusts to gravity. (See Christina)

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