State Rep. Carla Cunningham has left the Democratic Party and registered as unaffiliated, marking another high-profile party switch in North Carolina politics. Meanwhile, new FEMA funding is being directed toward closing recovery gaps in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. Governor Josh Stein’s proposed budget is drawing criticism after estimates show it could remove roughly 60,000 students from the Opportunity Scholarship program. In the Triad, disputes with United States Postal Service over mailbox placement are delaying major development projects. Separately, Alma Adams was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee.