Community celebrations, education milestones, youth advocacy and HBCU football were among the notable stories published by The Carolinian and The Triangle Tribune during September 7–13, 2026.

This DoRaleigh.com weekly news roundup highlights eight stories with connections to Raleigh, Durham and surrounding communities. Each summary links to the original coverage for additional reporting and context.

The Carolinian Headlines

Raleigh’s African American Cultural Festival Draws an Estimated 40,000

Published September 12 | By Jordan Meadows

The Carolinian recapped the 17th Annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh & Wake County, reporting that an estimated 40,000 people attended over Labor Day weekend.

The coverage highlighted performances, Black-owned businesses, family activities and a Legacy Wall where visitors shared community and family histories. The festival brought art, music and cultural traditions to Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. Read The Carolinian’s festival coverage.⁠

North Carolina Graduation Rate Reaches a Record 88.8%

Published September 11

North Carolina’s four-year public school graduation rate reached 88.8% for the 2025–26 academic year, according to coverage published by The Carolinian.

The article also reported improvements across many state assessments and a reduction in schools designated as low-performing. Although the results showed progress, the coverage noted areas requiring continued attention, including some measures of career readiness. Read the education report in The Carolinian.⁠

Project Sweetpotato Proposes Connecting Harnett Farms and School Cafeterias

Published September 11 | By Jheri Hardaway

The Carolinian introduced Project Sweetpotato, a farm-to-school proposal presented to Harnett County commissioners and school board members by the article’s author, Jheri Hardaway.

The proposal aims to connect local sweetpotato growers with school meal programs while incorporating farm visits and agricultural education. Its stated goals include supporting student nutrition and keeping more food purchasing dollars in the local economy. Read about Project Sweetpotato.⁠

Worker Ranking Raises Questions About North Carolina’s Economic Success

Published September 10 | NC Newsline coverage republished by The Carolinian

An NC Newsline article published by The Carolinian examined North Carolina’s last-place position in Oxfam’s 2026 Best States to Work Index, alongside its strong reputation for business.

The coverage explored wages, worker protections and affordability pressures, including the experiences of a Durham nursing assistant struggling with household costs. It brought attention to how economic growth and workers’ financial security can produce different pictures of the state’s economy. Read the worker-affordability coverage.⁠

The Triangle Tribune Headlines

Durham Teens Push for a Voice in Gun Violence Prevention

Published September 9 | By Kylie Marsh

The Triangle Tribune reported on a youth-led conversation involving Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, attorney Jonathan Wilson and participants in the GRACEDfully Unmuted Podcast.

Young people discussed the effects of neighborhood violence, called for greater youth involvement in prevention efforts and raised concerns about access to grief support. The discussion emphasized how safety affects students’ daily lives and their ability to participate in the community. Read The Triangle Tribune’s youth advocacy report.⁠

NCCU Enrollment Passes 10,000 Ahead of Schedule

Published September 8 | By Quiana Shepard, NCCU News

North Carolina Central University enrolled 10,124 students for the 2026–27 academic year, reaching its 10,000-student goal three years ahead of its 2029 target.

The report published by The Triangle Tribune described a 9.1% increase over fall 2025 and a fourth consecutive year of enrollment growth. University leaders pointed to retention, recruitment and expanded academic and online offerings as contributing factors. Read the NCCU enrollment story.⁠

Plez Lawrence Powers NCCU to an Aggie-Eagle Victory

Published September 12 | By Bonitta Best

NCCU running back Plez Lawrence rushed for 210 yards and three touchdowns as the Eagles defeated North Carolina A&T 30–22, The Triangle Tribune reported.

The rivalry matchup included a lengthy weather delay and a late defensive stand. An interception by Jakarri Martin II secured the victory for NCCU. Read the Aggie-Eagle game recap.⁠

Shaw Defeats Ferrum in Overtime

Published September 12 | By Shaw Sports Information

Shaw University earned a 34–28 overtime victory over Ferrum College at Durham County Memorial Stadium, according to a recap published by The Triangle Tribune.

A field goal as regulation expired forced overtime, and quarterback Alexander Marsh finished the game with a three-yard touchdown run. Shaw improved to 2–1 after producing 559 yards of total offense. Read the Shaw football recap.⁠

Keep Up With Raleigh and Triangle News

Explore the linked articles for complete reporting, interviews and context, and support the publications covering these communities.

Editor’s note: This roundup features selected stories published September 7–13, 2026. Publication dates determine inclusion; some articles cover events that occurred earlier.

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