ICE detained more than 70 Minnesota children, data reveals Immigration officials detained more than 70 Minnesota children between Dec. 1 and March 10, a Sahan analysis of court records and federal deportation data shows.

"Nearly two dozen were held in custody for more than 20 days...Teens who were detained alone were sent to Christian youth shelters in Michigan, which made it hard for their families to find them. And nearly half of the children detained have since left the country." sahanjournal.com/immigration/...

Leandro is Dead. Long Live Leandro? After landmark litigation collapsed this month, education advocates are mulling how to bring the state’s constitutional promise to reality.

After the long-running Leandro litigation ended earlier this month, Anne Blythe and I looked into what might come next in the fight to secure a "sound, basic education" for all NC children. www.theassemblync.com/news/educati... #ncpol

WASHINGTON (AP) — Southern Poverty Law Center says it faces criminal investigation by Justice Department over past use of paid informants.

"true newsman" of the 1900s vs "shadow governor" of the 2000s

It Could Lead to Tens of Thousands of Deaths. In the Meantime, It’s Wreaking Havoc on Americans’ Sanity. Imagine not being able to feed your kid because of a mistake on a piece of paperwork.

For @slate.com & @economichardship.bsky.social, I reported on how chaos and changes surrounding SNAP benefits are taking a toll.

People described endless fear and worry over feeding their kids, where their next meal will come from, and whether SNAP could become even more difficult to access.

and we updated our arrest map here, which gives an idea where in NC these arrests are occurring

ICE arrested more than 50 children, according to data. Based on matching apprehension dates, locations and citizenship countries, at least 34 appear to have been arrested alongside women. More than 30 of these arrests occurred in the Charlotte area, data showed.

took a look wider look new ICE arrest data from Deportation Data Project in NC. More than 6,300 arrests since Trump took office, nearly twice the total arrests during the last two years of the Biden admin

nclocal.org/2026/04/17/i...

Protester Banned From U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ McDonald’s Properties Candler resident Leslie Boyd got the notice after she and other activists played a protest song inside a Hendersonville McDonald's.

Protester Banned From U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ McDonald’s Properties

Candler resident Leslie Boyd got the notice after she and other activists played a protest song inside a Hendersonville McDonald’s.

The stifler comparison. Woof

FERC orders American Efficient to pay $1.1B for ‘brazen fraud’ “American Efficient’s years-long fraud profoundly disrupted the organized capacity markets and ultimately increased costs for ordinary Americans,” FERC Chairman Laura Swett said.

FERC fines Durham company $1.1 billion for "a scam for the history books." The company is led by Ben Abram, husband of NC state Senator Sophia Chitlik #ncpol
www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-am...

The Shocking Secrets of Madison Square Garden's Surveillance Machine Famously vengeful Knicks owner Jim Dolan has long spied on people at his iconic arenas. WIRED goes deep inside the operation that allegedly tracked a trans woman, lawyers, protesters, and more.

Using facial recognition tech, the Knicks surveilled a trans woman, tracking her every move out of fear she'd show up on MSG's tv broadcast

And they can do it to any "enemy" of Jim Dolan, who's built his own deep state. From @noahshachtman.bsky.social & me @wired.com www.wired.com/story/madiso...

Black transgender women report uniquely inescapable abuse across North Carolina prisons Three Black transgender women chronicle alleged abuses they faced while serving time in men's prisons in North Carolina.

My student Max Tendler has produced a tremendous series of articles for WUNC about the abuse suffered by Black trans women in the North Carolina prison system. I am so proud of her. Here's Part 1. #ncpol

Franklin Graham weighs on AI doctor/jesus trump
"I do not believe President Trump would knowingly depict himself as Jesus Christ—that would certainly be inappropriate."

Utah passes new law to combat overcharges at dollar stores after Guardian investigation Investigation of Family Dollar and Dollar General prompts lawmakers to double penalties for retailers that repeatedly charge more at checkout than prices listed on shelves

My stories rarely spark immediate tangible reforms. So it was gratifying when our investigation of the dollar-store industry, published by @theguardian.com, led the Utah legislature to pass a new law cracking down on chronic overchargers. With @jocelynzuck.bsky.social, @michaelwhudson.bsky.social.

Last month in The Onion:

Tillis vows to keep blocking Fed nominee and says Trump should apologize for pope attacks The North Carolina senator tries not to criticize the president directly, but has a lot of thoughts about those who are giving Donald Trump "bad advice."

Tillis said he will campaign for Whatley if he “wants my help” but will focus on downballot races. Will be interesting to see how/if that plays out for Stevens in the Supreme Court race

www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...

incredible (also great reporting)

Carnival crackdown: What 100 gun arrest reports say about policing during Mardi Gras - Verite News New Orleans Every year, the NOPD touts the dozens of arrests they make for gun possession during Carnival season. But is policing for possession a sound strategy for violence reduction?

New: A @veritenews.org analysis of 100 police reports of NOPD gun arrests during the 2023-2025 Carnival seasons found stark racial disparities (94/100 arrestees are Black men)+ repetitive language (an officer observing a “bulge” in a pocket often led to arrest). 1/6 veritenews.org/2026/04/14/m...

Cook Political tends to be cautious: seeing them move North Carolina to "lean Dem" (when Democrats haven't won a federal election in this state since 2008, despite getting so close many times) really stands out.

oh hell yeah now this is how you kick off monday discourse

Part one of a new series on WUNC News.

Ocho de cada diez personas transferidas al ICE en Buncombe fueron detenidas por delitos menores Noticias en español sobre política, inmigración y asuntos comunitarios para los latinos en Carolina del Norte.

Análisis de #EnlaceLatinoNC: 75 personas detenidas en el condado de Buncombe fueron transferidas a ICE tras la ley HB 318. El sistema de deportación se activa desde arrestos por delitos menores, aumentando la vulnerabilidad de la comunidad.

🔗 enlacelatinonc.org/ocho-de-...

Parole Has Almost Vanished From South Carolina Prisons In 2024, South Carolina granted parole at a rate of 4%.

Prison Journalism Project reports on the vanishingly low rate at which South Carolina grants people parole.

A tanker exploded this week in Mooresville, NC. The company that owned it has a history of leaks, inappropriately storing toxic chemicals and inadequate emergency planning. @lisasorg.bsky.social published an investigation in March on Brenntag's Durham plant, too, linked in my story.

Amy Goodman and the Art of the Follow-up Question "Steal This Story, Please!", a new documentary about the intrepid Democracy Now! host, streams at this year's Full Frame Documentary Festival.

I spoke with filmmakers Carl Deal and Tia Lessin about their new doc, @stealthisstory.bsky.social, which compels us to ask more out of mainstream media & has lots of great archival reels of Amy Goodman chasing powerful people with a microphone.

(cc: @fullframefest.bsky.social)

Immigrant rights advocates say two DPS elementary students deported to Honduras Genesis and Denis Espinoza-Pacheco were detained and deported after attending a regular check-in with U.S. immigration officials in Charlotte as part of their family's asylum case.

"This week ICE crossed a new and alarming line in North Carolina: children are being targeted.”

www.wunc.org/race-class-c...