Canvas hack, alligator sighting and an NC State graduation gift: Friday’s top stories
The News & Observer covered a range of major stories across North Carolina on Friday, May 8, 2026, from a sweeping ransomware attack disrupting schools to a surprise gift at a university graduation.
Here is a quick digest of the day’s top headlines.
Canvas ransomware attack: The state Department of Public Instruction shut off Canvas access for all K-12 public schools after hackers from ShinyHunters made a public ransomware demand threatening to expose data on more than 275 million students, teachers and staff worldwide.
Read more: NC public schools, some universities cut Canvas access after ransomware attack
Comey trial date set: U.S. District Court Judge Louise Flanagan set a July 15 trial date for former FBI Director James Comey on federal charges of threatening President Donald Trump and transmitting the threat across state lines. The charges stem from a May 2025 Instagram post showing seashells arranged as “86 47,” which Comey later deleted. Comey had been originally scheduled to appear in court in Greenville on Monday.
Read more: Judge sets NC trial date in case accusing James Comey of threatening Trump
Hillsborough vulture lawsuit: The Town of Hillsborough filed a lawsuit against Kenneth and Linda Ostrand seeking a court injunction to stop their alleged feeding of wild vultures, which officials say has created a public health hazard on West Queen Street. The Ostrands deny current feeding allegations and argue they are being unfairly targeted.
Read more: Neighbors claim couple has been feeding wild vultures. Now, this NC town is suing.
Alligator found in the Triangle: A 4-foot, 2-inch alligator was captured in a Johnston County pond, roughly 70 miles from its natural range in Eastern North Carolina. State wildlife officials believe it was illegally released as a pet and relocated it to Broadway Zoological Park.
Read more: Alligator found in Johnston County, far from its natural range, NC officials say
Graduation gift surprise: Commencement speaker Anil Kochhar announced he and his wife Marilyn will pay off all senior-year student debt for NC State Wilson College of Textiles graduates from the 2025-26 academic year. Kochhar made the gift in honor of his father, Prakash Chand Kochhar, who attended the college beginning in 1946.
Read more: NC State students get stunning, big-ticket surprise at graduation ceremony
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
This story was originally published May 8, 2026 at 7:20 PM with the headline "Canvas hack, alligator sighting and an NC State graduation gift: Friday’s top stories."