Tensions grow in Raleigh as lawmakers and state officials clash over the pace of Hurricane Helene recovery projects, with concerns raised about delays and accountability. On the federal front, former North Carolina Congressman Mark Walker was named to a Trump State Department role focused on global religious freedom. The Department of Public Instruction is also preparing updates to math standards aimed at better aligning classroom instruction with workforce demands. In the courts, a long-running lawsuit from bar owners over COVID shutdowns could shrink significantly, as nearly two dozen plaintiffs may be dismissed from the case.