North Carolina
We Asked, You Answered: The 6 Best Bakeries in North Carolina
Whether we’re going for cookies or cupcakes, bread or brownies, we can’t resist a great bakery. And with so many tempting choices across the state, we decided to ask our readers for their favorites.
MORE: NC cafes and coffee shops that are just a little bit weird
Thankfully, they had a few suggestions – even if they couldn’t all agree. We’ve narrowed their selections to half a dozen of the most popular options for you, sorted by what they’re best at: breads, cakes, cookies, pies, muffins, and pastries.
Photo courtesy of Strong Arm Baking Co
Where: 117 Main St, Oxford, NC 27565
What to order: Focaccia
Yelp review: “Wonderful bakery. Delicious bread, muffins, cookies. Everything I’ve had is delicious. Fun atmosphere. I stop here every time I come through town.” –Kerry M.
Where: 117 Cornelius St, Hillsborough, NC 27278
What to order: Coconut Cake
Yelp review: “I made two trips in the last two weeks to this place because the food is amazing. Of course the pupusas are fantastic but also the quesadilla, guacamole, salsa and omg the desserts. Amazing cookies and cakes. I’ll be ordering a whole cake for my next bday..” –Cobey C.
Where: 219 E Franklin St, Raleigh, NC 27604
What to order: Chai Cookie
Yelp review: “This is a great place to grab a coffee and cookie and watch the locals.” –Tresa W.
Photo courtesy of Groovy Duck Bakery
Where: 3434 Edwards Mill Rd #110, Raleigh, NC 27612
What to order: Cherry Berry Pie
Yelp review: “The pie did not disappoint. I will be going back.” –Robin C.
Best Muffins in North Carolina: Cup-A-Joe
Where: 112 W King St, Hillsborough, NC 27278
What to order: Chocolate Muffin
Yelp review: “I go to Cup-A-Joe for the baked goods … It’s all homemade. Additionally, the service is friendly and with a smile. Such a neighborhood gem!” –Arisa S.
Best Pastries in North Carolina: Dom Bakeries
Photo courtesy of Dom Bakeries
Where: 908 D St, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659
What to order: Apple Fritter
Yelp review: “Sub sandwiches on homemade bread were delicious (and huge!). The pizza and salads were delicious too. The donuts and pastries were the superstars though! The smell alone must have calories!” –Sherri Z.
VIDEO: Leah’s Favorite North Carolina Foodie Stops of 2023
North Carolina
2026 primary turnout report released for eastern NC counties; see your county’s numbers
Here are the voter turnout numbers for the 2026 primary election, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Hyde County had the highest voter turnout, while Onslow County had the lowest turnout. Check out what the voter turnout in your county was below:
BERTIE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
31.85% (3,911 out of 12,280)
CARTERET COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
29.06% (16,543 out of 56,931)
CRAVEN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
18.63% (14,119 out of 75,778)
DUPLIN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
21.93% (6,981 out of 31,832)
EDGECOMBE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
18.16% (6,428 out of 35,396)
GREENE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
19.70% (2,147 out of 10,900)
HYDE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
37.27% (1,123 out of 3,013)
JONES COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
25.91% (1,805 out of 6,966)
LENOIR COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
16.73% (6,251 out of 37,371)
MARTIN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
17.61% (2,858 out of 16,228)
ONSLOW COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
11.44% (14,816 out of 129,537)
PAMLICO COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
24.03% (2,446 out of 10,180)
PITT COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
15.71% (19,429 out of 123,705)
TYRRELL COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
30.49% (723 out of 2,371)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
28.66% (2,312 out of 8,067)
WAYNE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
21.49% (16,408 out of 76,358)
North Carolina
Statewide tornado drill has NC schools and workplaces practicing safety
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 6:41PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina schools and businesses took part in a statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
The National Weather Service led the drill at 9:30 a.m., broadcasting it on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System. Schools, workplaces and households across the state were encouraged to join in.
The National Weather Service didn’t issue a follow up alert to mark the end of the drill. Instead, each school or business wrapped up once they felt they had practiced the procedures thoroughly.
Wednesday’s drill also replaced the regular weekly NOAA Weather Radio test.
SEE | New warning for parents amid new ‘fire-breathing’ social media trend
Make sure to download the ABC 11 Mobile App ABC11 North Carolina Apps for Connected TV, Mobile News, Echo
Copyright © 2026 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
North Carolina
North Carolina Rep. Valerie Foushee holds narrow lead over challenger Nida Allam
Nida Allam in 2022; Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-NC) in 2025.
Jonathan Drake/Reuters; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
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Jonathan Drake/Reuters; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Incumbent Rep. Valerie Foushee holds a narrow lead over challenger Nida Allam in the Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional district as ballots continue to be counted.
In a race seen as an early test of whether Democratic voters desire generational change within the party, Foushee holds a lead of just over 1,000 votes with 99% of results in so far, according to the Associated Press.
Under state law, provisional votes will be counted in the coming days in a district that includes Durham and Chapel Hill. If the election results end up within a 1% margin, Allam could request a recount.
Successfully ousting an incumbent lawmaker is often extremely difficult and rare. However, there have been recent upsets in races as some voters are calling for new leaders and several sitting members of Congress face primary challengers this cycle.
Allam, a 32-year-old Durham County Commissioner, is running to the left of Foushee, 69, framing her candidacy as part of a broader rejection of longtime Democratic norms.
On the campaign trail, Allam ran on an anti-establishment message, pledging to be a stronger fighter than Foushee in Congress, both in standing up against President Trump’s agenda and when pushing for more ambitious policy.
“North Carolina is a purple state that often gets labeled red, but we’re not a red state,” she told NPR in an interview last month, emphasizing the need to address affordability concerns. “We are a state of working-class folks who just want their elected officials to champion the issues that are impacting them.”
She drew a contrast with the congresswoman on immigration, voicing support for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Foushee has declined to go that far, advocating instead for ICE to be defunded and for broader reforms to the federal immigration system.
Allam also clashed with Foushee over U.S. policy towards Israel. As a vocal opponent of Israel’s war in Gaza, Allam swore off campaign donations from pro-Israel lobbying groups, such as AIPAC, and repeatedly criticized Foushee for previously accepting such funds.
Though Foushee announced last year that she would not accept AIPAC donations this cycle, she and Allam continued to spar over the broader role of outside spending in the race.
Their matchup comes four years after the candidates first squared off in 2022, when Allam lost to Foushee in what became the most expensive primary in the state’s history, with outside groups spending more than $3.8 million.
However, this year is poised to break that record. Outside groups have reported spending more than $4.4 million on the primary matchup, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
WUNC’s Colin Campbell contributed to this report.
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