Election Law Showdown: Gov. Josh Stein vetoed HB 958, a sweeping election bill that would cut early voting in primaries/special elections, require post-election audits, and use federal databases to flag people who may have died but remain on voter rolls; House Republicans say they’ll pursue an override. Judicial Independence Fight: Stein also vetoed HB 377, rejecting a plan that would let the state Supreme Court chief justice suspend trial judges without pay, arguing it threatens judicial independence and politicizes oversight. Public Transit Accountability: A state auditor’s review of Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) found fare-enforcement gaps, security shortcomings, and failures to follow Federal Transit Administration safety guidance after a fatal 2025 light-rail stabbing. Local Government & Growth: Waxhaw approved a one-year moratorium on new data center proposals to avoid being “caught unprepared,” pausing acceptance and approval of related development applications. Housing Costs: Mecklenburg County leaders warned rising property values could price out longtime homeowners as new tax bills roll out after revaluation. National Security Politics: North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis joined bipartisan lawmakers pushing back on Trump’s move to scale back joint U.S.-South Korea drills, warning it could aid adversaries. Public Safety: Surf City signed a long-term partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to renourish its shoreline every six years for decades.