North Carolina
Mark Robinson attempts to quash GOP dissent as neighboring states' governors abandon his campaign • NC Newsline
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is attempting to rally Republican support in the final stretch of the North Carolina governor’s race — but it won’t include the GOP governors in all four neighboring states.
In the days since CNN published an investigation connecting Robinson to a series of explicit racial and sexual posts online, the governors of South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia — all Republicans — have distanced themselves from Robinson’s candidacy.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, head of the group for GOP governors, has withdrawn his endorsement. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said he “will not be offering further support,” while Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office similarly said he had “no plans” for future support. And South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster plans to direct his attention elsewhere.
“I don’t think I’ll be going back to North Carolina,” McMaster told South Carolina reporters. “They haven’t asked me to come. I have been there before. I campaign for a lot of Republicans, and I will continue to do that. But I think there are others that may need help as well.”
The comments come as the Republican Governors Association, the campaign group dedicating to electing GOP governors, halted spending in the state despite it being one of the only competitive races this cycle. RGA’s most recent spending expired on Tuesday; they have not made any new investments.
Robinson, meanwhile, has sought to rally what remaining support he has left among Republicans, while stamping out criticism within the party. In a short video posted to social media Wednesday, he appears to be speaking on a video call on a computer.
“This morning I spoke with Republican leaders across the state and made it clear: This is an election about policies, not personalities,” Robinson wrote. “Now is not the time for intra-party squabbling and nonsense.”
“A surefire way to destroy this country is to start attacking each other rather than enemies at hand,” Robinson wrote in another post. “As Republicans, we should have one mission, and that is VICTORY in November.”
His campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the four governors distancing themselves from Robinson.
NC GOP candidates want answers — but those in top races stop short of calls to step aside
The reception from North Carolina Republicans down the ticket have been slightly less chilly.
GOP candidates for statewide office have urged Robinson to get to the bottom of the online comments. He has hired an attorney to investigate CNN’s reporting, and today pledged “complete cooperation.”
Hal Weatherman, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, said if Robinson can prove the allegations are false, “he will win in a landslide.” If not, “he will lose, because the comments being attributed to him are highly disturbing.”
Weatherman said Republicans in the state “need to stay focused on winning our own races.” He did not call for Robinson to step aside as nominee if he cannot find evidence that proves he did not make the online comments.
U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop said he was “focused on winning the attorney general’s race.”
“As a matter of law, any decisions about how to proceed in the governor’s race rest solely with Mark and are between him and the people of North Carolina,” Bishop wrote on social media.
One Republican candidate has explicitly called for Robinson to step aside if he’s unable to refute the allegations made in the CNN story — Brad Briner, the nominee for state treasurer.
“If Mark Robinson cannot put these allegations to rest in the coming days, he should step aside for a candidate that can turn the focus of the campaign back to issues like inflation, healthcare costs and taxes that voters tell me they are concerned about,” Briner wrote.
U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis did not explicitly call for Robinson to step aside, but did write on social media that if the reporting is true, Robinson should “take accountability for his actions and put the future of NC & our party before himself.” He gave Robinson a deadline of Friday. U.S. Sen. Ted Budd called the allegations “disturbing,” and said Robinson should prove they’re not true.
Robinson has not listed any public events on his campaign website since Monday.
Several media outlets reported Wednesday that top staffers in the lieutenant governor’s state office have issued resignations this week. Robinson announced Thursday afternoon that Krishana Polite would serve as his new chief of staff. She previously served as the deputy chief of staff.
It was an eventful offseason in Chapel Hill, but the North Carolina Tar Heels recovered quite nicely, incorporating a formidable coaching staff and roster in just a few months.
Upon his arrival, head coach Michael Malone was faced with an uphill battle to revamp a roster, but he passed that test with flying colors. North Carolina’s style of play will look vastly different from last season, based on the players it acquired this offseason.
With that in mind, here are predictions for the five most efficient scorers on the Tar Heels’ 2026-27 roster. It is important to note that efficient scoring doesn’t necessarily mean each and every player on this list will also lead the team in scoring.
1. Matt Able
The 6-foot-6, 211-pound forward shot 41.6 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from three-point range last season at North Carolina State. That efficiency is a high baseline, as Able will be surrounded by more talent and placed in more advantageous spots in Malone’s system.
At North Carolina, Able could eclipse 40 percent from three-point range and near 50 percent from the field. Able doesn’t require a high volume of shot attempts to produce, which is why he is one of the most exciting players for me to watch next season.
2. Sayon Keita
Again, this doesn’t mean I expect Keita to emerge as one of the leading scorers on the roster. That being said, the former Barcelona center should be operating exclusively near the basket, and the majority of his shot attempts should come from close proximity.
Keita’s offensive production, for the most part, will generate from lobs, put-back dunks, and layups. There will be times Keita will be asked to create his own points in the post, but he will predominantly operate in the paint.
3. Jarin Stevenson
Malone prioritized retaining Stevenson, and the Alabama transfer’s role will expand in 2026. The 6-foot-9, 216-pound forward was an afterthought at the beginning of last season, but in ACC play, Stevenson’s production and efficiency took a major leap.
In the final nine games of the season, with Caleb Wilson out of the lineup, Stevenson averaged 10.4 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 50 percent from the field. When Stevenson officially re-signed with North Carolina, Malone stated that he envisions the senior forward fulfilling a role similar to Aaron Gordon when Malone coached in Denver. With a potentially elite backcourt, Stevenson will have ample space to drift into, providing manageable looks at the basket.
4. Terrence Brown
Last season at Utah, the 6-foot-3, 174-pound guard shot 45.3 percent from the field, which is very impressive considering that he was a ball-dominant guard in the Big 12. However, Brown struggled from three-point range, shooting 32.7 percent from beyond the arc.
While I expect that to improve under Malone, Brown still expects to be shooting a handful of low-percentage shots along the perimeter. This is not to say that Brown will struggle; rather, it reflects where his shots will come from on the floor.
5. Neoklis Avdalas
The Virginia Tech transfer possesses a versatile skill set and can play both backcourt positions and on the wing. The 6-foot-9, 216-pound guard is a legitimate point guard option, according to his former coaches, and Malone is obviously aware of that.
Last season, Avdalas shot 38.6 percent from the field and 31.4 percent from three-point range, which was a disappointing output. However, those percentages should improve at North Carolina.
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RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Waste Management is providing up to $18 million in grants to help clean up additional debris from Hurricane Helene in the western region, state officials said Friday.
According to NCDEQ, applications are being accepted for the Debris Recovery & Disposal grant program, which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the American Relief Act of 2025.
The program provides up to $18 million in grants to local governments, councils of government, and nongovernment organizations, according to NCDEQ.
State officials said applications are being accepted through Sept. 14. The maximum award is $3 million. The grants may be used for up to three years.
Counties, municipalities, councils of government, and nongovernmental organizations in FEMA-declared disaster areas due to Helene are eligible for the grants, according to NCDEQ.
According to NCDEQ, eligible projects include collecting and disposing of non-hazardous debris from private or public properties, clearing and managing debris at streambanks, floodplains, farmland, and local park lands, and removing debris to improve solid waste and recycling infrastructure.
Applications may be emailed to Chris Hollinger with the Division of Waste Management at chris.hollinger@deq.nc.gov.
State officials advise applicants to email or call Hollinger at 919-707-8284 or contact Jason Watkins at jason.watkins@deq.nc.gov or 336-776-9674 to discuss the eligibility of their project before applying.
More information about applying can be found on the NCDEQ website.
North Carolina
‘Infuriating, heartbreaking’: Raccoon recovering after getting caught in leg trap at Mecklenburg County park
The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A raccoon is fighting for its life after it got caught in a leg trap at a Mecklenburg County park this week.
North Carolina Wildlife Rehab said a group of children found the raccoon stuck in a leg trap at a Mecklenburg County park on Thursday, June 18, but did not specify which park.
“This is absurd, infuriating, and heartbreaking,” a spokesperson said. “Just think about how many animals may have already been harmed—and how many babies may have been orphaned because of this.”
Raccoon had heat stroke, front legs trapped
Wildlife Rehab said it’s unclear how long the raccoon was trapped, but both of his front legs were caught.
Thankfully, his legs were not broken; however, he suffered heat stroke and had a body temperature of 105.4 degrees.
“Please keep this sweet boy in your thoughts and prayers as he fights to recover,” a spokesperson said.
Multiple traps found on property
The children reportedly found the trap attached to a fence on an adjoining property, and investigators said officers found several more during their search.
“Thankfully, the kids did not attempt to free the raccoon themselves, though that easily could have happened,” a spokesperson said. “Instead, they immediately got their parents, who then contacted Animal Control.”
Officials said the raccoon was the second animal caught in a leg trap, and both incidents occurred at parks in Mecklenburg County.
Wildlife Rehab said the traps are illegal and cited animal cruelty. In North Carolina, however, foothold traps aren’t entirely illegal, but they’re strictly regulated by state law. They can be used in Mecklenburg County if they comply with state guidelines for trap size, jaw type, and proper tagging.
–> Also read: Trio stole donated blankets, beds from Cabarrus County animal shelter, director says
As of this writing, no arrests have been made, and no charges have been filed.
Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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