Candidates across North Carolina have made their final ad purchases and donors have given their last contributions in races covering Mecklenburg County and the surrounding area — some of which are expected to be close.

The N.C. Democratic and Republican parties are reporting similar overall fundraising totals for state-level races this year, but there are big differences in how the money is being allocated for individual races.

Libertarian Tom Bailey is running in North Carolina's 1st Congressional District for the second consecutive election.

This fall, Beth Helfrich is fighting to retain a seat she flipped blue in 2024 from a former legislator who wants it back.John Rhodes held the seat Helfrich currently holds in the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 98 — covering Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville — in the early 2000s. Now he’s running on a platform of ultra-conservative values to try to win it back.

More than 16,000 Hispanic voters cast ballots in Mecklenburg County during the early voting period, surpassing the total number of Hispanic voters who participated in the 2022 midterm elections.

The college basketball season is underway, and some teams wasted no time getting started.High Point opened its season with a 72-57 win over Liberty in a men's game early Monday morning at the Rock Hill Sports & Event Center.Appalachian State followed with a 63-49 victory over Merrimack at the same venue.The games are part of the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon, an event featuring college basketball matchups beginning as soon as the new season officially opened.

Charlotte’s new youth curfew takes effect Sunday as part of a 10-month pilot program.

After clinching a playoff spot Wednesday, Charlotte FC kept its momentum going with a second consecutive 4-0 victory, defeating Orlando City at home Saturday night.