From a landmark Meta settlement to a new Cary restaurant, here’s what’s making headlines across North Carolina.
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Here’s a look at top stories from The News & Observer on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2026.
NC’s share of Meta settlement: North Carolina could receive up to $645 million as part of a landmark federal settlement in which Meta resolved claims from 51 state attorneys general that Instagram and Facebook were addictive and harmful to kids. Attorney General Jeff Jackson called it the largest big-tech settlement in American history, with Meta potentially paying up to $17.1 billion through 2035.
Stein pushes back on election rules: Democratic Gov. Josh Stein urged officials to delay adoption of new state rules that would restrict mail-in ballots and make it easier to disqualify ballots from voters without photo ID. The proposed rules, passed by the Republican-majority State Board of Elections, head to the Rules Review Commission on Thursday.
Wake schools eye minimum religious education time: North Carolina’s new state budget requires public schools to allow students 1 to 4 hours per week for religious instruction, and Wake County’s school board policy committee backed the one-hour minimum. Board members cited concerns about disruption to public education, with a full board vote set for Sept. 1.
Pullen Park lake returning: Lake Howell at Raleigh’s Pullen Park, drained last winter so contractors could replace crumbling concrete retaining walls, will gradually refill this week with groundwater and water from Rocky Branch. The $2 million project should be finished by the end of September, in time for the Holiday Express event in December.
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UNC System’s top earners revealed: Coaches dominate the top of the list of UNC System salaries while the median salary across the system’s roughly 50,000 employees is $73,100. Michael Malone, UNC-Chapel Hill’s new men’s basketball head coach, tops the UNC System with a $7.5 million base annual salary, followed by NC State football coach Dave Doeren and NC State basketball coach Justin Gainey.
New Cary restaurant opens in old service station: Lloyd’s Full Service opened Wednesday at 107 E. Chatham St. in downtown Cary, reviving a former service station more than 70 years old. Chef Dennis Bernard, a veteran of Chicago’s Blackbird and The Publican, leads a kitchen serving updated American classics, with seating for about 75 indoors and 100 on the patio.
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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