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NC News Sept. 15, 2026

NC Enters Innovation Top 10

North Carolina ranked ninth in the nation for innovation capacity in the state Commerce Department’s 2026 Tracking Innovation report, its first appearance in the top 10.

The report measured the state against the rest of the country on 41 metrics and found its innovation economy has grown faster than the national average since the early 2000s. Academic research, a surge in tech startups, and college-educated newcomers arriving at three times the national rate drove the climb.

High-tech businesses have more than doubled since 2000 and pay wages roughly twice the state average. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said the report shows “where we are making progress and where we can do more.”

It also pointed to weak spots: lagging public school funding, uneven broadband access, and rural counties being left behind as the gains concentrate in the cities.

Article Icon 1NC Ranks Near Bottom for Teachers

North Carolina ranked 44th of 51 in a new study of state-friendliness toward teachers, placing it the eighth worst in the country.

The study weighed 24 metrics, from pay to working conditions. North Carolina came in 46th in public school spending per student and 49th in teachers’ income-growth potential, though it ranked a stronger 22nd in average starting salary. Washington state topped the rankings and New Hampshire finished last.

The result lines up with the state’s own Commerce Department, whose 2026 innovation report—featured in today’s top story—likewise flagged public school spending that trails most other states.

Teacher pay has long divided Raleigh, where Republican lawmakers point to raises they have passed while Democrats and educator groups say schools remain underfunded.

Article Icon 1NCDOT Awards $14.4M for EV Chargers

The North Carolina Department of Transportation awarded $14.4 million to build electric vehicle charging stations at 14 sites across the state, from Weaverville to Kinston.

Eight businesses will build and operate the chargers under the second round of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, joining five stations funded in 2024. Other sites include Asheboro, Columbus, High Point, Raleigh, and Wadesboro.

Charged EV Raleigh was awarded $671,749 for an eight-port station on U.S. 64 capable of 500 kilowatts. NCDOT has $109 million in federal money to spend on the network.

State Initiatives Manager Heather Hildebrandt said expanding the network makes it “easier for everyone to travel confidently across the state.” The agency expects to finish the full buildout within three years, with a later phase aimed at rural areas.