The News & Observer is tracking major developments across North Carolina on Monday, June 29, 2026, from a long-delayed state budget to a jail uprising in the east.
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Here’s a roundup of today’s top stories.
NC budget bill nears release after year of delays. North Carolina lawmakers are set to reveal a state budget bill as early as Monday night, with votes expected this week, a year after the original deadline. Tens of thousands of teachers and state employees have been waiting for across-the-board raises, and the agreement does not include funding for a potential Major League Baseball stadium.
SBI ends inmate takeover at Eastern NC jail. The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation regained control of the Bertie-Martin Regional Detention Center in Windsor around 1:45 p.m. Monday after inmates assaulted guards and seized the facility around 5 a.m. All inmates and staff are safe and accounted for, with those injured receiving treatment.
Triangle water restrictions tighten amid exceptional drought. Raleigh is 18.59 inches below its average rainfall since August 2025, and Falls Lake sits 5 feet below its target level, prompting restrictions across the region. Raleigh has logged 639 violations and 102 official warnings since Level 1 restrictions took effect in April.
Supreme Court clears trial in Highway Patrol intern’s death. The N.C. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal on June 17, allowing Lisa Higgins’ wrongful death lawsuit to proceed over the 2020 crash that killed her 22-year-old son, Michael Higgins. Trooper Omar Romero Mendoza was driving 113 mph on a dark Pitt County road with a 55 mph speed limit when he lost control, and he received a written warning.
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Martin Marietta announces $13.5 billion limestone deal. Raleigh-based Martin Marietta plans to buy Lhoist North America for $13.5 billion in cash and stock, a deal that would make it the top U.S. producer of mineral lime. The Berghmans family will gain 15% ownership in Martin Marietta as part of the merger agreement.
Hushpuppy taste test crowns top picks. A News & Observer taste test of four reader-recommended spots gave the highest marks to Jean’s By The Sea and Saltbox Seafood Joint, each earning 9/10. Bullock’s Bar-B-Cue served a savory, onion-forward version, while Cook Out’s denser hushpuppies landed at the bottom with a 5/10.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
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