Now the field has narrowed and only one U.S. journalist remains held overseas. Let’s keep the spirit alive for Polk Award winner Austin Tice. Served his country as a Marine before journalism in Syria. #FreeAustinTice

In the western NC town of Canton, mayor Zeb Smathers has never seen anything like it. “It is truly the worst storm we have faced. The word I keep coming back to... is apocalyptic.” Read more at: charlotteobserver.com/news/state/nor…

Here's the devastating report from Martha Quillin on what she found when she made it to Chimney Rock. newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

The scenes from Western North Carolina after Helene are hard to fathom. Many photos and videos from The News & Observer's Travis Long: follow @vizjourno on Bluesky and The Charlotte Observer's Khadejeh Nikouyeh. newsobserver.com/news/weather-n…

How you can help those affected by Helene. From The Charlotte Observer's Julia Coin. newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

THIS is why I'm out here.

I-40's path through the mountains of #NorthCarolina and #Tennessee has always been a bit precarious. #HurricaneHelene has closed it again. newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

Numbers one day will quantify Helene's damage in Western NC. But don't forget the individual toll. Just enormous. Searing story by Virginia Bridges The News & Observer McClatchy Media newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

"We’ve been through hurricanes before. I was in Vietnam. This is worse.” Reporting and visuals from the North Carolina mountains from Josh Shaffer and Kaitlin McKeown. Just devastating. newsobserver.com/news/weather-n…

How did Helene cause such catastrophic damage in Western North Carolina? Adam Wagner talked with four experts to find out. newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

So many in North Carolina are waiting anxiously for news about missing loved ones. And with each day, their worry grows. Story by Virginia Bridges. newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

Help arrives to Helene-ravaged areas in North Carolina thanks to these volunteer pilots. Story and visuals by Rebecca Noel and Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez of The Charlotte Observer. newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

Many know the work of the potters, sculptors and painters in Asheville’s River Arts District. They took a direct hit from Helene. Story by The N&O's Martha Quillin and visuals by The Charlotte Observer's Khadejeh Nikouyeh. newsobserver.com/news/state/nor…

On this third anniversary of my position as Executive Editor of The Charlotte Observer, I can't help but be grateful for the opportunity to lead this incredible room of journalists during such consequential, urgent coverage of Hurricane Helene.

I saw so much more than just the destruction in WNC. I saw how truly beautiful and resilient North Carolina is. At the end of the day, all we really have is community and we have no shortage of it. Even in the most remote hollers, you can count on someone coming to help rebuild.

ICYMI: Several North Carolina counties let you check the wait time at the polls before you vote. Wake, Durham, Orange, Buncombe and Guilford are among those with online wait time trackers. More: newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

As of Wednesday, Black voters had cast 207,000 fewer ballots in North Carolina compared with four years ago — a drop of almost 40 percent. What’s behind the numbers? | by ⁦Briah Lumpkins⁩ charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-…

.Technician and The Nubian Message partnered with @NewsObserver for a special issue containing 2024 Election content ranging from the mayoral to the presidential race and featuring N&O’s official voter guide. I am so proud of this project. Check it out! issuu.com/ncsutechnician…

NEW: A Miami Herald investigation into the death of a teenage girl who was the key witness in an underage sex trafficking case involving a prominent Miami Beach doctor. miamiherald.com/news/local/cri…

It’s time to finish the job and bring Austin home. #FreeAustinTice miamiherald.com/opinion/articl…