Teacher raises, ACC football and major Murdaugh news: Today’s top Triangle stories
The News & Observer reported on a North Carolina state budget breakthrough, fraud investigations and a major South Carolina court ruling on May 14, 2026.
Here’s a quick digest of the top stories.
Teacher and state worker raises: House Speaker Destin Hall and Senate leader Phil Berger announced a budget deal that would raise the starting teacher salary to $48,000 and give law enforcement officers a minimum 13% raise. We break down how much state workers and teachers could make.
Read more: Police, teachers, state workers set to get raises in NC budget deal. When and how much
$208 million for children’s hospital: Republican legislative leaders agreed to dedicate $208 million in the state budget to NC Children’s, the planned pediatric hospital network led by Duke Health and UNC Health. The Apex-based facility is estimated to cost about $3 billion, with construction expected to begin in late 2027.
Read more: NC budget breakthrough has over $200 million for Duke-UNC children’s hospital
$1 million in wedding photographer complaints: Attorney General Jeff Jackson said complaints against Holly Christina Photography total around $1 million, with more than 200 customers affected. A Wake County judge issued a preliminary injunction freezing the company’s assets and ordering all photos and videos be delivered to customers by June 11.
Read more: Complaints against Wake wedding photographer reach $1M, NC AG Jeff Jackson says
Fraud probe of homeless shelter operator: Raleigh police are investigating The Bryant Center, a nonprofit that operated Wake County’s Second Street Place shelter, for possible fraud. Wake County ended its contract with the nonprofit three months early in March, citing “concerning operational practices.”
Read more: Police investigating former Wake County homeless shelter operator for possible fraud
College football
ACC pushes for 24-team playoff: ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips said the league’s coaches and athletic directors support expanding the College Football Playoff to 24 teams to give more national championship contenders a path to the postseason. Coaches also raised concerns about calendar conflicts with recruiting and the transfer portal.
Read more: ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips touts ‘access’ to football playoffs at league meeting
Mark your calendars
Raleigh Wide Open lineup unveiled: More than 40 bands spanning bluegrass, folk, gospel, Latin and blues will perform at the free Raleigh Wide Open festival from Oct. 1-3. Last year’s festival drew 155,000 people downtown and generated millions in economic impact.
Read more: Full lineup of 40+ artists announced for music festival in downtown Raleigh
Major court decision
Murdaugh murder convictions overturned: The South Carolina Supreme Court unanimously overturned Alex Murdaugh’s 2023 double murder convictions, ruling that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca Hill’s jury tampering denied him a fair trial. Attorney General Alan Wilson said he will aggressively seek to retry Murdaugh for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son Paul.
Read more: Murdaugh murder convictions overturned by South Carolina Supreme Court
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 13, 2026 at 6:48 PM with the headline "Teacher raises, ACC football and major Murdaugh news: Today’s top Triangle stories."