UNC Asheville Fires Dean for Secret DEI Push

UNC Asheville fired Dean of Students Megan Pugh after an undercover video showed her admitting to secretly pushing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, despite system-wide policies prohibiting them.

While discussing ongoing DEI efforts at the university, Pugh told an undercover journalist in a video released by Accuracy in Media, “I mean we probably still do anyway…but you gotta keep it quiet.” She later added, “I love breaking rules.”

When the reporter asked if UNC Asheville was supportive of continuing to implement DEI policies, Pugh answered “M’hm” in the affirmative. Pugh also acknowledged receiving guidance against implicit bias training, but said she intended to incorporate it anyway.

Pugh’s comments come roughly one year after the UNC System Board of Governors voted to ban DEI across North Carolina’s public universities and focus on “institutional neutrality.”

Voucher Use Increases as Access Expands

A new report reveals that North Carolina’s 2024 expansion of private school vouchers resulted in 80,325 students receiving Opportunity Scholarships during the 2024-25 school year, up from 32,549 during the previous school year.

Under the expanded program, all families are eligible for vouchers on a sliding scale, with awards ranging from roughly $3,000 to nearly $7,500 based on household income.

The report, presented by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to the State Board of Education, found that 6,710 of the 80,325 recipients attended a North Carolina public school last year. The state doesn’t track if other recipients attended private schools, were homeschooled, or are newcomers.

About two-thirds of private schools accept the vouchers, with some requiring families to apply for the scholarship before seeking other forms of financial aid.

NC One of 15 States Offering Seniors Tax Relief

A new analysis by Bankrate reveals that North Carolina is one of 15 states offering property tax exemptions for senior homeowners.

Under North Carolina’s Elderly or Disabled Property Tax Homestead Exclusion, qualifying residents aged 65 or older receive an exemption of $25,000 or 50% of their home’s assessed value, whichever is greater.

Meanwhile, a separate report ranks North Carolina among the less affordable states for housing based on a 2024 median home price of $425,024 along with rising home prices and housing demand.

Other states’ exemptions vary. Alabama waives state-level property taxes for seniors but may still charge county taxes. Texas, which doesn’t have a state property tax, offers senior exemptions from school district and local government taxes.

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Take the First Step Back to Balance

➤ Catawba County: Five suspects are now connected to the June 1 mass shooting at a house party that left one man dead and 11 injured. Garon Killian is already in jail, while police are searching for Ke’andre Mack and Toland Huff, Jr. Patrick Tolbert and Raekwon Craig were arrested on underage alcohol-related charges. (More)

➤ Statewide: North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein launched a cannabis task force to focus on regulating THC products, protecting minors, and studying marijuana legalization. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fraternal Order of Police’s no-confidence vote against Chief Johnny Jennings over a $305,000 settlement dispute failed due to insufficient votes. Jennings retires in January. (More)

➤ Winston-Salem: State Superintendent Mo Green met privately with Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School leaders to address a $42 million budget shortfall. The district has already cut $25.8 million and is working to find another $10.2 million to close the gap. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Clyde Cooper’s Barbecue, a community staple since 1938, will relocate from 327 S. Wilmington St. by year’s end because the building that houses it has been sold. Relocation plans will be announced at a later date. (More)

➤ Chapel Hill: U.S. Right to Know, a public health research nonprofit, is suing UNC for withholding Professor Ralph Baric’s coronavirus research records, which are potentially linked to COVID-19 origins. UNC identified over 336,000 pages of records but released only a small portion, citing research exemptions under state law. (More)

➤ Fort Bragg: President Donald Trump will visit Fort Bragg on June 10 with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the week of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary. (More)

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➤ Three international soccer teams will train in North Carolina for the Club World Cup: Mexico’s CF Pachuca and South Korea’s Ulsan HD will both practice in Charlotte, while Brazil’s Palmeiras will train in Greensboro. (More)

➤ UNC basketball’s player payroll will likely exceed $14 million next season, placing the Tar Heels among the top five in the country. (More)

➤ Charlotte FC goalkeeper George Marks helped lead a long-running team partnership with a local nonprofit that’s provided free laundry to over 600 families in the city. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | WNBA | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | Tennis

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➤ Amazon announced a $10 billion investment in a data center campus in Rockingham to expand its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in North Carolina—a move expected to create around 500 high-skilled jobs. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Bit Digital’s WhiteFiber division acquired a 96-acre site in Madison to build a $1 billion AI data center campus, expected to create 60 jobs. (More)

➤ In preparation for the 2025 hurricane season, Duke Energy improved power lines, upgraded poles, and enhanced its self-healing technology—changes that are expected to reduce the number of customers affected by power outages by up to 75%. (More)

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➤ Hatley Pointe Mountain Resort near Asheville, which launched its ski operations last year, will begin offering a lift-served mountain biking park in spring 2026 featuring trails by Elevated Trail Design. (More)

➤ More than 100 dogs and puppies were rescued from a suspected puppy mill in Raleigh. The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Wake County is working with Wake County Animal Services and Raleigh Animal Control to place the animals with rescue partners for care and recovery. (More)

➤ Currituck Banks residents who are frustrated with wild horse tour disruptions due to noise, traffic, and road damage have proposed limiting tour hours and routes in a request to county commissioners. (More)

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What month do you typically take a summer vacation?

1. June
2. July
3. August
4. September
5. I don’t vacation in summer

Yesterday’s Results:

How many major hurricanes will hit North Carolina this year?

1. No more than two: 32%
2. One at most: 26%
3. At least three: 23%
4. None: 19%

What North Carolina governor was the first in the U.S. to be impeached, convicted, and removed from office?

Show me the answer