NC State University

A rare blue-glowing firefly discovered in Mecklenburg County park may be a new species. Educators Meghan Knight and Skye Young Odum found the insect, which differs from common yellow or green fireflies, and sent samples to N.C. State University for analysis. Researchers are determining if it is a known species in a new area or an entirely new discovery.

North Carolina's new budget retains funding for Khan Academy's AI platform Khanmigo but reduces the appropriation from $10 million to $500,000 over two years. The budget also includes broader AI initiatives for schools, such as policy development and educator training, while lawmakers previously faced criticism over the lack of competitive bidding and unproven educational value of Khanmigo.

The article discusses North Carolina Republicans implementing voter suppression tactics, including moving early voting sites away from universities and advancing laws to restrict voting access, targeting young people, poor individuals, and people of color. These actions are part of broader GOP strategies to maintain political control despite declining public support.

Republicans on the Wake County Board of Elections rejected the NC State University Talley Student Center as an early voting site in a 3-2 vote, citing parking challenges for off-campus voters. Democrats and public speakers argued the site's accessibility and importance for student voter engagement, but the board approved a replacement location.