Private sponsors are stepping in after North Carolina officially declined to participate in the America 250 Fair, ensuring some commemorative events tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary will still move forward. Meanwhile, Governor Josh Stein has signed legislation delaying new property tax valuations in certain counties, providing temporary relief from scheduled reappraisals. Senate leader Phil Berger is also floating the possibility of a state role in efforts to bring Major League Baseball to the Triangle. Plus, the U.S. Department of Education is investigating restroom policies in Buncombe and Cabarrus county schools, adding North Carolina to a growing national debate over student privacy and federal civil rights enforcement.