Legislation introduced and approved in the state House Tuesday would block counties from using occupancy taxes to fund public safety and other core services. The bill comes in response to a legal dispute between Currituck County and the hotel industry.

Northlake Mall opened just 21 years ago. But after years of rising vacancies, the city of Charlotte is proposing to designate the mall and surrounding area as a federally approved opportunity zone. The zones are meant to encourage development in economically distressed areas.

Charlotte City Council’s safety committee on Monday heard a proposal to explore using enforcement tools such as noise-sensing cameras to ticket excessively loud vehicles.

City staff said Monday that the World Military Games has asked for $23 million to help offset its costs.The competition has already committed to coming to Charlotte next summer. This is the first time the competition has come to the United States, and promoters say it will bring 10,000 athletes to the area. But $23 million would be one of the largest subsidies the city has ever provided for a one-time event.The 2012 Democratic National Convention, for instance, cost more to stage. But most of the costs were covered by private donors. And the city received a $50 million federal security grant.

The North Carolina Supreme Court recently ruled that Currituck County, on the coast, can use tourism tax dollars to keep tourists safe.

Jaleeyah Tune, 13, was killed the week before Christmas in Goldsboro. Her family has worked with lawmakers to craft the new legislation.

NC Local examined the patchwork of how hundreds of cities and towns handle property taxes in North Carolina – from low taxes on beach homes to high tax rates in small towns.

On Due South, Leoneda Inge spoke with North Carolina State Senator Natalie Murdock, about the history of voting rights, Black representation, and the future of activism.

North Carolina's prisons are woefully understaffed. Part of the problem is how long it takes the state to hire correctional officers.

Democrat Anita Earls is running for reelection against Republican Sarah Stevens in November.