VOLUME 10 ISSUE 39 | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
NSJONLINE.COM
COURTESY OFFICE OF SEN. THOM TILLIS
Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery — flanked by fellow tribe members and some of North Carolina’s congressional delegation — speaks at a press conference following a U.S. Senate committee hearing regarding the Lumbee Fairness Act on Nov. 5.
Cherokees, Shawnee oppose Lumbee Fairness Act
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BRIEF this week
Raleigh mayor says ICE headed to capital city Raleigh Federal immigration authorities were set to expand their enforcement action in North Carolina to Raleigh this week, the mayor of the state’s capital city said, while Customs and Border Protection agents continue operating in Charlotte following a weekend that saw arrests of more than 130 people in that city. Mayor Janet Cowell said Monday that she didn’t know how large the operation would be or how long agents would be present.
Bolas named acting CEO of NCInnovation Raleigh University research accelerator nonprofit NCInnovation has named Michelle Bolas, executive vice president and chief innovation officer, its acting CEO effective Dec. 1. The decision was made during the group’s regularly scheduled board meeting on Nov. 12. Bolas takes over for current J. Bennet Waters, who has led the organization since April 2022 and will step down on Nov. 30. “Converting innovation to impact drives thriving economies, and it’s the key to a prosperous future for all of North Carolina. Our public universities make that vision possible,” Bolas said in a press release. “I’m honored to step into this role and help NCI carry that mission forward—turning ideas discovered here into opportunities grown here.” The announcement comes as the future remains uncertain for NCInnovation’s $500 million endowment from the General Assembly. Though the state budget impasse continues, both the House and Senate budgets would reclaim that funding.
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Sen. Thom Tillis is the sponsor of the act
Border Patrol: Scores arrested in Charlotte The immigration enforcement surge was titled “Operation Charlotte’s Web” By Sophia Tareen, Brian Witte and Maryclaire Dale The Associated Press A TOP Border Patrol commander touted dozens of arrests in Charlotte on Sunday while a Department
Homeland Security official stated more than 130 people have been detained in an immigration enforcement surge. The Trump administration has made the Democratic city of about 950,000 people its latest target in an effort to combat crime, despite fierce objections from local leaders and downtrending crime rates. Gregory Bovino, who led hundreds of U.S. Customs and See ICE, page A3
By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — Differing opinions on full recognition of North Carolina’s Lumbee Indian Tribe were the subject of a U.S. Senate hearing earlier this month. The 55,000-member Lumbee Tribe spans Robeson, Hoke, Cumberland and Scotland counties. Full recognition of the Lumbee Tribe was a campaign promise made by President Donald Trump. Upon taking office, Trump issued a presidential memorandum supporting full federal recognition of the tribe and directing the secretary of the Interior to create a plan to that end. The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs heard testimony Nov. 5 from witnesses
UNC Chapel Hill approves in-state tuition hike A 3% increase for new undergraduate in-state students was approved by a 6-5 vote By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — The UNC Chapel Hill Board of Trustees approved a 3% tuition rate hike for in-state undergraduate students and 10% increase for out-of-state undergraduate students during day two of its monthly meeting last Thursday. The UNC System has kept tuition rates frozen for the past eight years. The 3% increase translates to an added $211 per in-state student. The 10% hike means
an additional $4,320 per out-of-state student. Other increases included bumping up out-of-state graduate student tuition by 1%. Additionally, certain campus life services were also raised, such as a 3.9% increase for dining services, a 7% bump for housing, and a $53 student fee to support a proposed campus recreation and wellness center, currently estimated to cost $120 million. Additional items included $1,000 increases for both in-state and out-of-state students for the School of Government, as well as School of Law increases of $1,500 for in-state students and $3,000 for out-of-state students. See TUITION, page A2
“We have not exhausted every other lever unless we do those nonresident increases or look for other sources of revenue through there.” Mary Kotis, UNC Board of Trustees member
on both sides of the case being made for passage of the Lumbee Fairness Act, which would give the tribe full federal benefits recognition, including funding support. Committee Chair Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) noted that Department of Interior officials declined to testify at the hearing due to the government shutdown but would be submitting written testimony for the record. North Carolina Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said there is strong bipartisan support for the Lumbee Fairness Act he is sponsoring. “This issue has come before Congress many times over the decades, but never with this level of unity and support,” Tillis said. “These days, it’s rare to see Republicans and Democrats come together on anything. But when it comes to Lumbee recognition, the See LUMBEE, page A3