The razor-thin State Senate District 26 primary continues as challenger Sam Page expanded his lead over Senate leader Phil Berger to 23 votes after provisional ballots were counted, keeping the race under intense scrutiny. Meanwhile, FEMA has released $3.59 million in recovery funding for Burke County to support ongoing rebuilding efforts. In education news, a follow-up audit uncovered additional issues in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, even as a new statewide report highlights strong principal retention and relatively stable teacher attrition rates. In the courts, NC State University is seeking dismissal of the lawsuit tied to toxic chemical exposure claims at Poe Hall.