House Probes UNC Coronavirus Researcher

North Carolina House Speaker Destin Hall has launched an investigation into UNC-Chapel Hill’s infectious disease researcher, Dr. Ralph Baric, a leading coronavirus researcher known for his work on bat-borne viruses and past collaborations with scientists at the Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The probe seeks records related to Baric’s research, particularly “gain of function” studies that examine how viruses might evolve to infect humans—an area of growing political interest amid ongoing debate over COVID-19’s origins.

In a June 13 letter to UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Lee Roberts, Hall requested the documents by June 18, mirroring congressional inquiries and an original request by the nonprofit newsroom and public health group US Right to Know.

The investigation’s details are confidential, and neither UNC nor Baric has commented. The case reflects ongoing political contention over COVID-19’s origins, with figures like President Trump suggesting a lab-related incident.

Lawsuits Challenge NC Election Maps

A federal trial in Winston-Salem begins today, consolidating two lawsuits from the NAACP, Common Cause, and individual voters who claim North Carolina’s 2023 congressional and legislative maps violate the U.S. Constitution through racial gerrymandering.

If the court agrees, the Republican-led General Assembly may have to redraw the maps for 2026.

Former Republican State Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr helped draw maps in 2022 that evenly split 14 U.S. House seats between seven Democrats and seven Republicans, but they were only used in one election. In 2024, using the 2023 maps being challenged in the federal trial, Republicans won 10 of 14 U.S. House seats.

Now Orr, who advocates for fair elections, represents voters in a separate state lawsuit challenging some of the same districts. The federal trial will be overseen by three judges appointed by Republican presidents.

Hortman’s Husband was a Raleigh Native

Mark Hortman, a Raleigh native and UNC graduate, was killed alongside his wife, Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman, in what police say was a politically motivated shooting at their home in Champlin, Minnesota, early Saturday.

The suspect, Vance Luther Boelter, also shot State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife in a separate attack. Boelter remains at large.

Mark Hortman’s LinkedIn profile indicates he graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in physics and a minor in computer science and attended NC State for two years. After working as a programmer for IBM, he moved to the Twin Cities and built a career in technology, apps, and e-commerce. 

Authorities recovered a manifesto from a fake police vehicle Boelter was using, which included a list targeting lawmakers and abortion providers. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who previously appointed Boelter to a four-year term on the state’s Workforce Development Board, called the attack a “political assassination.”

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➤ Fort Bragg: More than 1,000 Fort Bragg soldiers attended the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday celebration in Washington, D.C., on Saturday. Sgt. Brian Lieberman participated in the cake-cutting. (Watch Video)

➤ Charlotte: After the “No Kings” rally in Uptown, a group of around 200 unaffiliated individuals continued marching. Police arrested two adults for assaulting officers and used pepper spray to control the crowd. (More)

➤ Nags Head: While driving impaired, a 26-year-old woman struck and killed a 5-year-old wild stallion. The woman was later arrested for DWI. (More)

➤ Wake County: Inspired by personal loss, a group of teens is developing an AI device to combat distracted driving by using facial recognition to detect phone use and alert drivers. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill revoked Alpha Tau Omega fraternity’s student organization status after its national board shut it down for alcohol violations and financial dishonesty. ATO is the university’s longest active fraternity. (More)

➤ Durham: A man was banned from Duke Health facilities after placing a hidden camera, disguised as a key fob, in an employee-only bathroom at Duke Hospital. He also recorded his female physical therapist during a previous visit to her office. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers are taking things slowly with star defensive tackle Derrick Brown, who is working his way back from a serious knee injury suffered in Week 1 of last NFL season. (More)

➤ UNC catcher Luke Stevenson is among a strong group of North Carolina baseball players invited to the 2025 MLB Draft Combine. (See Participants)

➤ Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges hosted a free sports camp for local North Carolina kids on Saturday. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NASCAR | INDY | F1 | WNBA | NCAAB | PGA | LPGA | Soccer

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➤ Live Nation is investing $1 billion to build 18 new U.S. music venues, including a 4,500-seat ballroom in Raleigh near the Lenovo Center as part of a 20-year entertainment district development. (More)

➤ UNC-Asheville is proposing a multipurpose stadium and mixed-use housing on 45 wooded acres of South Campus, prompting a petition from residents to preserve the urban forest and hiking trails. (More)

➤ A 2025 study estimates that a single adult in North Carolina needs a salary of $93,766 to live comfortably, based on the 50/30/20 budgeting rule. (More)

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➤ The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island is celebrating the release of over 600 cold-stunned sea turtles since December during World Sea Turtle Day today. The public event features educational programs and activities. (More)

➤ North Carolina’s best places to live in 2025, according to local real estate experts, are Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Cary, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Greensboro, Fayetteville, and Mooresville—in that order. (See List)

➤ Primal Brewery in Belmont earned a bronze at the North American Brewers Association’s 30th Annual Mountain Brewers Beer Fest for its hard seltzer, Primosa Mimosa. (More and See Winners)

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Does Raleigh need another live music venue?

1. Build it and we will come
2. Just improve existing venues
3. Don’t care either way

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you seen “The Wizard of Oz”?

1. Yes: 54%
2. No: 17%
3. I can’t remember: 15%
4. Not yet: 14%

What American singer and actor did Columbia Records sign Billy “Crash” Craddock to compete with?

Show me the answer