Rural Economy
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North Carolina is the nation’s top producer of these two things
North Carolina produces two crops at greater volume than any other US state—learn what they are and their history in NC.
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‘In a very bad place’: A western NC county’s wait for federal Helene reimbursement
Henderson County in western NC has spent millions on storm damage, but local leaders say they’re still waiting for federal Helene reimbursement from the Trump administration.
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Why are gas prices so high? NC, US hit $4 as Iran war continues
Trump’s war in Iran continues to impact gas prices in NC and across the nation. So where are the highest and lowest gas prices in NC?
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NC invests $26M to expand high-speed internet into additional rural areas by 2026
Thousands more rural North Carolinians will receive access to high-speed internet by the end of 2026, following a nearly $26 million state investment announced Monday.
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NC farmers are facing a severe financial squeeze in 2026. Here’s why
NC farmers are facing rising costs, extreme weather, and global trade pressures—making 2026 one of the toughest years in recent memory.
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New polls show rising economic anxiety in North Carolina
One sign of the economic anxiety? A majority of people in North Carolina say that costs are higher in President Donald Trump’s second term and that they are cutting back on spending as a result.
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Black workers disproportionately displaced by AI as tech grows
Experts say AI will disproportionately impact Black and brown workers through displacement and the environmental burden of data centers, which are more likely to be located in marginalized communities.
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NC fights back after Trump team cuts $50M in rural education funding
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson says the decision to end the funding mid-stream violates federal law and threatens critical rural education services for more than 23,000 students statewide.
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OPINION: We need to rethink disaster recovery in North Carolina
This Saturday—Sept. 27, 2025—marks one year since Hurricane Helene flooded Western North Carolina with five months of rain in just three days.
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A year after Helene devastated their towns, western NC leaders discuss the road to recovery
Local leaders face significant challenges and argue Washington and Raleigh could do more to help them recover from the $60 billion storm.
