Just wrapped up my experience at POLITICO’s Journalism Institute! I learned SO much. From developing my beat, to expanding to sourcing, to learning how to manage a team of reporters, I know that I will come out of this experience as a better journalist!

NOW: Thousands of protesters line the street and fill the median of Capitol Boulevard in Raleigh, NC. The protest, one of the 1,800 No Kings protests happening across the nation, is just the first protest scheduled in Raleigh for today.

Raleigh’s No Kings protests continues into the afternoon. Sounds of shouts from the crowd and honking horns fill the air from drivers passing by.

Some of the protesters in downtown Raleigh today were met with two counter protesters, who held up a Nazi salute. I spoke with one of them who told me he is here today because “we’re tired of white genocide” and said it has been ongoing “since the Jews brought the slaves…”

NCGOP is calling for the resignation of state House Rep. Julie von Haefen after posting a video of a protester at Raleigh’s No Kings protest holding a poster that had a mask of what appeared to be a beheaded Donald Trump. TO READ MORE: amp.newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

North Carolina lawmakers took a fun break today for their biannual Legislative Milk Chugging Competition—the House vs. the Senate. The Senate team came out with a victory. #ncpol

Amidst NC's heat wave, thousands prisoners across the state continue to live without AC. "It's like you're being tortured," one former NC inmate told me. NC prisons continue to undergo renovations to install ACs in all state prisons. newsobserver.com/news/politics-… The News & Observer

New 2025-26 North Carolina state teacher salary schedule proposed by NC House. It has a 6.4% average raise with the biggest raises going to newer teachers. House also calling for reinstating master’s degree pay so add 10%. #nced #ncpol #ncga

Listen to the new episode of our The News & Observer Under the Dome, N&O podcast. I'm joined by Kyle Ingram, Ronni Butts - Politics Reporting Intern The N&O and Sophia Bailly as we talk about #ncpol news including US Sen. Thom Tillis and shrimpgate. newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

NC Gov. Josh Stein on the possibility of Roy Cooper running for US Senate: “I think the world of Roy Cooper. He has served the state so well in everything he’s ever done. I think he’d be an incredible U.S. Senator, but obviously it’s his choice to decide to run or not." #ncpol

North Carolina drivers will now get an extra 2 years to renew their licenses due to DMV delays. Gov. Josh Stein signed into law a 'temporary moratorium' that seeks to relieve the DMV from backlogs. (Via Ronni Butts - Co-Editor-in-Chief @ Campus Echo & Richard Stradling) newsobserver.com/news/politics-… #ncpol #ncga

Since the launch of Fayetteville State U (Fayetteville State University)'s free summer school program, graduation and retention rates have surged. Chancellor Darrell T. Allison said that the program has helped FSU get on student's radars as a first option for enrollment. newsobserver.com/news/local/edu…

Wide-ranging NC crime bill signed into law limits public access to autopsy records. New law raises concerns it could make it harder to report details about controversial deaths, especially involving law enforcement. (Via Ronni Butts - Politics Reporting Intern The N&O & Avi Bajpai) newsobserver.com/news/politics-… #ncpol

North Carolinians can now drive with an expired license. But can you vote with it? Short answer: no one knows yet. Senate Bill 391 has caused uncertainty with the State Board of Elections, who's seeking answers. READ MORE: newsobserver.com/news/politics-… #ncpol #nc The News & Observer

Robeson County's only hospital is "deeply concerned" by Medicaid cuts in the OBBB. It's one of NC's poorest counties, with 58% Medicaid enrollment. This is just one example of how cuts to Medicaid put rural hospitals and their residents at risk. newsobserver.com/news/politics-… #ncpol

Exclusive: NC's Roy Cooper launches 2026 campaign: "I’ve thought about it and prayed about it and decided I want to serve as your next United States senator because even now I still believe our best days our ahead of us." #ncpol newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

Scoop: NC budget bill with some teacher raises, DMV funding coming today #ncga #ncpol newsobserver.com/news/politics-…

As of last week, I officially completed my internship on the politics and metro desk at The N&O. Thank you to The News & Observer for providing me with a wonderful internship experience!