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[ ![Election 2026: Cooper poll lead tightened to 4 points](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-07/f3e3e4f609.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/election-2026-cooper-poll-lead-tightened-to-4-points)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Republican Michael Whatley’s latest ad campaign paints Democrat Roy Cooper in the same light as other national figures in his party just as a new poll Monday brings

 

 

 

 

[ ![Election 2026: Registrations climb back above 7.8M](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-07/e5003bb27b.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/election-2026-registrations-climb-back-above-7-8m)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Voter registration returned above 7.8 million for North Carolina in the latest weekly update from the State Board of Elections.

 

 

 

 

[ ![Appellate judge says shifting marijuana laws need to be considered](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-07/d721e2aa44.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/appellate-judge-says-shifting-marijuana-laws-need-to-be-considered)

 By Carolina Journal Staff

(Carolina Journal) – The newest member of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals used a North Carolina case Wednesday to discuss the potential legal impact of shifting attitudes about marijuana.

 

 

 

 

[ ![NCInnovation, its $500M endowment untouched – and still at risk](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-07/9f0f53710e.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/ncinnovation-its-500m-endowment-untouched---and-still-at-risk)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – For all that has been haggled and did get inclusion to North Carolina’s budget, one item not in keeps its $500 million endowment untouched.

 

 

 

 

 

[ ![Senate-backed hemp bill targets THC market](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-07/4f2e723c01.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/senate-backed-hemp-bill-targets-thc-market)

 By Andrew Pomeranz | Carolina Journal

(Carolina Journal) – A Senate-approved conference report that would largely ban intoxicating hemp products in North Carolina has stalled in the House, where Republican lawmakers have raised concerns about the scope of

 

 

 

 

[ ![Boliek: Jet fuel on computer technology, getting juice worth the squeeze](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-07/3617b31838.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/boliek-jet-fuel-on-computer-technology-getting-juice-worth-the-squeeze)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Embracing artificial intelligence wasn’t just a way to do business when Dave Boliek stepped into the auditor’s office for North Carolina.

 

 

 

 

[ ![State of Business: North Carolina top two for 6th consecutive year](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/images/joomgrabber/2026-07/4a739c6850.jpeg) ](https://thewilmingtonstandard.com/north-carolina-news/state-of-business-north-carolina-top-two-for-6th-consecutive-year)

 By Alan Wooten | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Denied remaining No. 1 just barely, North Carolina for the sixth consecutive year is ranked top two in the 2026 America’s Top States for Business, CNBC said Thursday