North Carolina
The Best Things To Do In High Point, North Carolina
We all know that what truly makes a house a home are the people inside it. However, we’d venture to say that a close second are the things inside it. The thread-bare quilt that you can’t bear to part with, the bedroom set you picked with your spouse right after getting married, and the ancient end tables that have been in your family for generations. If you get sentimental about heirloom pieces and have a penchant for interior design, then it’s high time you took a trip to High Point, North Carolina.
The Home Furnishing Capital of World is best known for being home to more than 100 furniture stores and outlets, but in recent years the small city has been making waves for much more than just dining tables and armoires. From new art galleries to hip dining halls, breweries, and a soon-to-come Home Furnishings Hall of Fame, there’s plenty to see and do on a weekend trip to this Piedmont Triad town. Here are the best things to do on a visit to High Point, North Carolina.
Courtesy of Visit High Point
Browse Furniture Stores in High Point
High Point’s reputation as a furniture and home furnishings destination dates to the 17th century when an abundance of timber from forests in the area and easy transport along the Southern Railway made the town an ideal spot. The Southern Furniture Market made its debut in 1909. Today the massive trade show, now known as High Point Market, is the largest furniture trade fair in the world. While the market brings in more than 75,000 people each year, it’s exclusive to retail buyers and licensed interior designers, so unless you work in the industry, you won’t be able to snag a ticket.
For the casual furniture enthusiast or at-home designer, High Point still has plenty of places to get your shop on. There are more than 100 furnishings stores that specialize in everything from lighting to fabrics to antiques. A few shops not to miss are Ashley Interiors by Braxton Culler for an expansive selection of wicker and rattan pieces; Capa Imports, known for its gorgeous rugs and pillows; and High Point Furniture Sales (plus their separate Clearance Center) for a huge high-quality selection of furniture from more than 150 manufacturers, all at bargain prices. And of course you can’t leave High Point without paying a visit to Furnitureland South, the world’s largest furniture store. There are more than 1 million square feet inside the store (not counting its separate outlet building), so you may want to set aside more than just an entire afternoon to peruse.
Courtesy of Visit High Point
Best Attractions and Activities in High Point
Enjoy Arts & Outdoor Activities
Outside of its obvious furniture-related attractions, there’s plenty more to explore in High Point. If you’re traveling with a family, head to the Nido & Mariana Qubein Children’s Museum or High Point City Lake Park, where you can rent kayaks and paddleboards, ride a miniature train, play mini golf, and even take a scenic lake tour on a pontoon boat.
Head Downtown
While High Point has plenty of history to its name, it’s also become an incubator for new growth and energy. Congdon Yards, a mixed-used development in the heart of downtown High Point, is the best place to see it all. When you go, be sure to stop into its new art gallery and grab a cup of java at Lil’s Coffee Bar. Be sure to check the events calendar at fellow multifunctional space COHAB Space for live music performances and pop-up dinners. Don’t leave without visiting its gallery space and retailers like Design Build Found, too.
Courtesy of Visit High Point
Take a Tour
Other must-do activities include a walk around High Point University’s gorgeous campus and stop on Hamilton Street to get your picture in front of the world’s largest chest of drawers. The popular roadside attraction and town landmark was built in 1926 and remodeled in 1996. Standing 38 feet tall and featuring two giant neon socks hanging out of one of the drawers, it’s truly a sight to behold. And if you want a little more background on High Point’s homey history, stop into the High Point Museum.
Courtesy of Visit High Point
Best Restaurants in High Point
Grab Breakfast, Lunch, and Bites
Dining is no afterthought in High Point. Breakfast is best at local favorite The Biscuit Factory. The biscuit sandwiches are giant, providing enough fuel for a full day of activity. For lunch, grab no-frills barbecue and burgers at Sweet Old Bill’s. If you’re in the mood for something lighter, try the homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches at Alexandria’s Bistro 1605. If you and your travel companions can’t settle on one cuisine, Stock & Grain is your spot. The food hall features a number of local merchants selling everything from sushi to pizza to hot dogs to classic soul food to mini doughnuts.
Make Dinner Reservations
Early evening is the ideal time to snag a table on Magnolia Blue’s rooftop patio. On the menu you’ll find classic American and Southern dishes like Prime Rib, Pot Roast, and Bourbon Chicken. Other worthy dinner spots include Lulu & Blue, specializing in Italian dishes and homemade pasta, and Southern Roots, a farm-to-table restaurant focused on local and regional produce.
Enjoy Drinks With Friends
For a happy hour drink or post-dinner nightcap, head to Brown Truck Brewery for craft beer in a relaxed environment, or check out newcomer Nomad Wine Works. Founded by industry veterans David Armstrong and Aaron Sizemore, Nomad features fermented beverages including still and sparkling wines, meads, and ciders in a modern tasting room.
Courtesy of Visit High Point
Best Places to Stay in High Point
Since High Point is such a hotspot for design, it only makes sense to enjoy your stay in a beautifully designed room. The best place to get that is at Pandora’s Manor, an expertly curated boutique hotel, where each of the six rooms is designed in a different style by a prominent interior designer. We’re utterly in love with the Madcap Cottage room. Another great option is the J.H. Adams Inn, a Trademark Collection by Wyndham property that’s housed in a 1918 mansion on the National Registry of Historic Places. The hotel features a mix of modernly designed guest rooms, as well as two historic guest rooms that are original to the historic inn.
Read the original article on Southern Living
North Carolina
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
The 2026 North Carolina high school softball state playoff brackets are out, and High School On SI has all eight brackets with matchups and schedules for every team.
The first round begins on May 5, and the playoffs will culminate with the NCHSAA state championships being played May 27-30 at Duke University in Durham.
2026 North Carolina High School Baseball State Tournament Schedule
May 5: First Round
May 8: Second Round
May 12: Third Round
May 15: Fourth Round
May 19-23: Regionals
May 27-30: State Championships
North Carolina (NCHSAA) High School Softball 2026 State Playoff Brackets, Matchups, Schedule – May 11
CLASS 1A BRACKET (select to view full bracket details)
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Bear Grass Charter vs. No. 5 Vance Charter
No. 3 East Columbus vs. No. 2 Northside – Pinetown
No. 1 Robbinsville vs. No. 5 Falls Lake Academy
No. 6 Bethany Community vs. No. 2 Oxford Preperatory
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 North Duplin vs. No. 8 Camden County
No. 5 Rosewood vs. No. 4 East Carteret
No. 3 Perquimans vs. No. 11 Pamlico County
No. 10 Franklin Academy vs. No. 2 Manteo
No. 1 South Stanly vs. No. 9 East Wilkes
No. 5 South Stokes vs. No. 4 Starmount
No. 3 Swain County vs. No. 6 Murphy
No. 7 Highland Tech vs. No. 2 Roxboro Community
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Midway vs. No. 9 Providence
No. 12 Wallace-Rose Hill vs. No. 4 Heide Trask
No. 3 Farmville Central vs. No. 11 Ayden – Grifton
No. 10 Northwood vs. No. 2 McMichael
No. 1 West Lincoln vs. No. 8 Union Academy
No. 5 Draughn vs No. 4 Pine Lake Preperatory
No. 3 West Davidson vs. No. 11 East Surry
No. 7 Walkertown vs. No. 2 West Wilkes
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Randleman vs. No. 9 Nash Central
No. 5 Bunn vs. No. 4 East Duplin
No. 3 Southwest Onslow vs. No. 6 Roanoke Rapids
No. 7 Ledford Senior vs. No. 2 Central Davidson
No. 1 West Stokes vs. No. 8 Forbush
No. 5 Pisgah vs. No. 4 West Stanly
No. 19 North Surry vs. No. 11 Foard
No. 10 Mount Pleasant vs. No, 2 Bunker Hill
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Southeast Alamance vs. No. 8 C.B. Aycock
No. 5 Seaforth vs. No. 4 Rockingham County
No. 3 Eastern Alamance vs. No. 6 West Carteret
No. 7 South Brunswick vs. No. 2 Southern Nash
No. 1 Enka vs. No. 9 Oak Grove
No. 5 Crest vs. No. 13 West Rowan
No. 3 North Davidson vs. No. 6 Franklin
No. 10 East Rowan vs. No. 2 North Lincoln
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Union Pines vs. No. 9 South Johnston
No. 5 South View vs. No. 4 Gray’s Creek
No. 3 J.H. Rose vs. No. 6 Harnett Central
No. 7 Triton vs. No. 2 West Brunswick
No. 1 Kings Mountain vs. No. 8 Charlotte Catholic
No. 5 Alexander vs. No. 13 T.C. Roberson
No. 3 Piedmont vs. No. 6 Central Cabarrus
No. 10 A.C. Reynolds vs. No. 2 South Caldwell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 D.H. Conley vs. No. 8 Wake Forest
No. 5 Purnell Sweet vs. No. 4 Cleveland
No. 3 Heritage vs. No. 6 Topsail
No. 7 South Central vs. No. 2 New Bern
No. 1 Weddington vs. No. 8 Mooresville
No. 5 A.L. Brown vs. No. 4 Hickory Ridge
No. 3 East Forsyth vs. No. 11 Porter Ridge
No. 7 Ronald Reagan vs. No. 2 South Iredell
Third Round – May 12
No. 1 Willow Spring vs. No. 4 Hoggard
No. 3 E.A. Laney vs. No. 2 Cornith Holders
No. 1 Providence vs. No. 4 Hough
No. 3 West Forsyth vs. No. 2 Apex Friendship
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North Carolina
Perspective | What North Carolina gets right about workforce: Progress beyond politics
Across the country, workforce development is often framed as a policy challenge. In North Carolina, we’ve come to understand it as something more fundamental: a shared responsibility between educators and employers that works best when it rises above politics. It is a nonpartisan priority with bipartisan support — and a clear focus on outcomes.
North Carolina’s approach to workforce and talent development offers a different model — one grounded in collaboration, consistency, data, and a relentless focus on student and employer needs.
Over the past several years, our state has aligned around an ambitious goal: ensuring that 2 million North Carolinians ages 25-44 hold a high-quality credential or postsecondary degree by 2030. myFutureNC is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization, led by a bipartisan Board of Directors, that was created to champion this work.
This goal is not owned by a single administration or political party. It is the state’s attainment goal — codified in law with bipartisan support and signed by the governor — to ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future. The work is guided by leaders across business, education, policymakers, and philanthropy.
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This kind of alignment doesn’t happen by accident. It requires trust, discipline, and a willingness to prioritize long-term impact over short-term wins — placing the needs of students and employers above the silos that often define education and workforce systems.
North Carolina’s leaders don’t agree on everything, and unanimity is not what makes this work. There is broad agreement on a set of essential truths: Talent is the top driver of economic development. Education fuels economic prosperity, public safety, and healthier communities. Having a robust educational system and an educated population is one of our state’s greatest assets. Economic mobility matters. And preparing people for meaningful work benefits everyone.
This alignment is delivering results. North Carolina has been named the No. 1 state for business three out of the past four years and ranks No. 1 for workforce — reinforcing what’s possible when leaders stay focused on shared priorities.
This strong foundation has enabled progress in areas that often stall in partisan debate. Through strategic policy and philanthropic investments, the state has expanded pathways into high-demand careers, strengthened connections between education and industry, and increased access to work-based learning opportunities, including apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships.
That same foundation is shaping how policy is developed in real time. The proposed Workforce Act of 2026 reflects North Carolina’s cross-sector approach — bringing together business and education leaders, policymakers, and philanthropists to strengthen pathways into high-demand careers and expand access to work-based learning. Rather than introducing a new direction, this Act builds on what is already working, demonstrating how alignment can translate into coordinated action.
The bipartisan-led Governor’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships puts this approach into practice. Building on the state’s existing foundation, the council brings together leaders from industry, education, and government to strengthen coordination across the workforce system. Its value lies not in setting a new direction, but in reinforcing and accelerating a shared one.
This is what it looks like to build systems designed to last. Workforce development is not a one-year initiative or a single funding cycle — it is a long-term investment in people, communities, employers, and the educational infrastructure that supports them. North Carolina’s progress is rooted in structures that bring partners together consistently, align efforts across sectors, and create continuity beyond political cycles.
By embedding collaboration into how the work gets done — not just what gets prioritized — the state has created a model that can evolve over time while staying focused on its goals.
Work remains to be done. Gaps in attainment persist, and ensuring opportunity reaches every corner of the state will require continued focus and innovation. But North Carolina’s significant progress and continued success being No. 1 nationally in many related categories demonstrates what is possible when leaders choose partnership over partisanship.
At a time when it’s easy to focus on what divides us, North Carolina offers a reminder: Some of the most important work we do — preparing people for the future of work and ensuring employers have access to skilled talent — is our north star and unifying force.
And in our shared goal of 2 million by 2030, we are not just building a stronger workforce. We are building a stronger state — for today and for generations to come.
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — (AP/WNCN) — The remains of a U.S. Army soldier with ties to North Carolina who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago have been recovered in the Atlantic Ocean, the U.S. military said Sunday. Military teams are still searching for a second missing soldier.
The remains found are those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer, who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty.
Key, 27, from Richmond, Virginia, was a graduate of Methodist University in Fayetteville.
The two were reported missing on May 2 after participating in African Lion, annual multinational military exercises held in Morocco.
Key earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Methodist University in Fayetteville, with minors in international business, entrepreneurship, and business administration.
“A Moroccan military search team found the Soldier in the water along the shoreline at approximately 8:55 a.m. local time May 9, within roughly one mile of where both Soldiers reportedly entered the ocean,” U.S Army Europe and Africa said in a statement.
The two went missing around 9 p.m. near the Cap Draa Training Area outside Tan-Tan, a terrain characterized by mountains, desert and semidesert plains, according to the Moroccan military.
Their disappearance triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving more than 600 personnel from the United States, Morocco and other military partners. The operation deployed frigates, vessels, helicopters and drones.
Search efforts will continue for the missing second soldier, a U.S. defense official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not allowed to speak publicly on the issue.
The official said a U.S. contingent remained in Morocco after the multinational war games ended Friday to provide command and control and to continue search and rescue operations.
Key was assigned to Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, U.S Army Europe and Africa said.
He entered military service in 2023 as an officer candidate and earned his commission through Officer Candidate School in 2024 as an Air Defense Artillery officer. He later completed the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, according to the statement.
Key is survived by his father, Kendrick Key Sr.; his mother, Jihan Key; his sister, Dakota Debose-Hill; and his brother-in-law, U.S. Army Spc. James Brown.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY NEWS
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The search-and-rescue operation, now in its ninth day, has covered more than 12,000 square kilometers of sea and littoral zone, currently adding around 3,000 square kilometers per day.
The soldiers had been taking part in African Lion 26, a U.S.-led exercise launched in April across four countries – Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana and Senegal – with more than 7,000 personnel from over 30 nations. Since 2004, it has been the largest U.S. joint military exercise in Africa.
In 2012, two U.S. Marines were killed and two others injured during a helicopter crash in Morocco’s southern city of Agadir while taking part in the exercises.
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