---
title: North Carolina News
description: Dominion, NextEra plan merger By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square (The Center Square) – Dominion Energy announced Monday it plans to combine with Florida-bas...
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[ ![Dominion, NextEra plan merger](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/bb04061681.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/dominion-nextera-plan-merger)

 By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Dominion Energy announced Monday it plans to combine with Florida-based NextEra Energy in a deal the companies say would create the world’s largest regulated electric utility business.

 

 

 

 

[ ![Elias-linked groups oppose deal in noncitizen voter removal lawsuit](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/d721e2aa44.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/elias-linked-groups-oppose-deal-in-noncitizen-voter-removal-lawsuit)

 By Carolina Journal Staff

(Carolina Journal) – Two activist groups working with Democratic operative Marc Elias’ law firm oppose a deal between Republican Party groups and the North Carolina State Board of Elections.

 

 

 

 

[ ![Appellate court will not block pipeline](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/d721e2aa44.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/appellate-court-will-not-block-pipeline)

 By Carolina Journal Staff

(Carolina Journal) – The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond will not block a 55-mile natural gas pipeline project from moving forward in North Carolina and Virginia amid environmental groups

 

 

 

 

[ ![Housing policy advisor appointed](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/875fa08e1c.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/housing-policy-advisor-appointed)

 By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor

(The Center Square) – With housing affordability likely to be a big issue with voters in the upcoming midterm elections, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein on Tuesday announced the appointment of a

 

 

 

 

 

[ ![Tillis to Hegseth: Choose meritocracy over your mediocre yes-men](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/264a0e83a6.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/tillis-to-hegseth-choose-meritocracy-over-your-mediocre-yes-men)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Gen. Chris Donahue, former key leader aboard Fort Bragg and in the 2021 Afghanistan withdrawal, got a strong backing from an outgoing North Carolina senator amid speculation War

 

 

 

 

[ ![Holiday travel pain at the pump still 36 cents below national average](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/01716b09bb.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/holiday-travel-pain-at-the-pump-still-36-cents-below-national-average)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Arrival of Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, comes with North Carolinians paying $4.17 for a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline and $5.39 for a gallon

 

 

 

 

[ ![Senate Democrats oppose giving voters choice on lower tax cap](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-05/37d1c861a4.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/senate-democrats-oppose-giving-voters-choice-on-lower-tax-cap)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Democrats in the upper chamber unanimously voted against allowing voters a chance to lower North Carolina’s tax cap on Tuesday in a measure central to negotiations on the