Headshot of NC Newsline Deputy Editor, Clayton Henkel

Clayton Henkel

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Clayton Henkel, Deputy Editor at NC Newsline, is one of North Carolina’s most experienced and accomplished multimedia journalists. She is responsible for NC Newsline's daily and weekly newsletter management as well as production of the weekly News and Views radio program/podcast. Prior to joining NC Newsline, she worked as a special projects reporter, assignment editor and managing editor for Raleigh-based Capitol Broadcasting.

Stocks are up, unemployment is down – so why is a leading NC economist raising a red flag?
North Carolina

Stocks are up, unemployment is down – so why is a leading NC economist raising a red flag?

4:58pm ET
Clayton Henkel
The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 53,000 for the first time this week, a milestone celebrated by Wall Street investors. But a leading Kenan-Flagler Business School economist says a closer look at the latest economic data shows a clear disconnect...
Catawba College Dr. Michael Bitzer on shifting political attitudes and America’s 250th anniversary
North Carolina

Catawba College Dr. Michael Bitzer on shifting political attitudes and America’s 250th anniversary

Jul 06, 2026
Clayton Henkel
There’s a longstanding pattern in American politics that in most off-year elections, the party of the president tends to lose support and right now, that’s looking more and more like what we’ll see this fall in North Carolina. According to...
NC Black Alliance executive director Marcus Bass on recent partisan election changes
North Carolina

NC Black Alliance executive director Marcus Bass on recent partisan election changes

Jul 06, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Republican leaders at the North Carolina General Assembly have pursued few objectives with more zeal than their crusade to overhaul state elections. Repeatedly, GOP leaders have advanced new laws that make voting more difficult and the oversight of elections more...
North Carolina celebrates America 250 (Photo Gallery)
North Carolina

North Carolina celebrates America 250 (Photo Gallery)

Jul 04, 2026
Clayton Henkel
North Carolinians braved triple-digit temperatures in downtown Raleigh on Saturday as America celebrates 250 years of independence. Enjoy the photo gallery below.
After decades of denials, North Carolina’s Tuscarora Indians take a step closer to recognition
North Carolina

After decades of denials, North Carolina’s Tuscarora Indians take a step closer to recognition

Jul 02, 2026
Clayton Henkel
“I’m a firm believer. When somebody has been wrong, it has to be righted.” Rep. Ed Goodwin (R-Chowan) choked back emotion Wednesday morning as he tried one last time to gain recognition for the Tuscarora Indians. The 73-year-old Republican recounted...
Powerful NC House lawmaker advances bill to end property tax break for future solar projects
North Carolina

Powerful NC House lawmaker advances bill to end property tax break for future solar projects

Jul 01, 2026
Clayton Henkel
A proposal to repeal tax breaks for data centers has been turned into a bill that would end tax breaks for solar energy instead. Rep. Jimmy Dixon (R-Wayne), presenting his rewrite of House Bill 1213, told members of the House...
The fine print: NC’s $34M budget includes DEI cuts, ferry tolls, AI, prison funds and more
North Carolina

The fine print: NC’s $34B budget includes DEI cuts, ferry tolls, AI, prison funds and more

Jun 30, 2026
Christine Zhu Brandon Kingdollar Clayton Henkel Lynn Bonner Ahmed Jallow
Republican budget writers in the North Carolina General Assembly rolled out a 634-page spending plan Tuesday chock-full of special provisions and policy changes with limited time for review before the first planned vote on the $34 billion package. The measure...
WRAL-TV Documentary Producer Cristin Severance on news deserts and the future of local journalism
North Carolina

WRAL-TV Documentary Producer Cristin Severance on news deserts and the future of local journalism

Jun 29, 2026
Clayton Henkel
News deserts. At first blush, it seems like strange term in an era in which most people are regularly inundated on their devices with boatloads of emails and other messages about developments in the world around them. Unfortunately, as even...
Rep. Deb Butler on budget negotiations, voting rights, and a possible repeal of NC’s seawall ban
North Carolina

Rep. Deb Butler on budget negotiations, voting rights, and a possible repeal of NC’s seawall ban

Jun 29, 2026
Clayton Henkel
After more than a year of waiting, it appears the North Carolina General Assembly will vote later this week on a comprehensive budget for the new fiscal year that begins July 1. Newline recently sat down for an extended conversation...
North Carolina’s Education Lottery sets new records but faces headwinds
North Carolina

North Carolina’s Education Lottery sets new records but faces headwinds

Jun 29, 2026
Clayton Henkel
The North Carolina Education Lottery, now 20 years old, continues to set new records, but officials say future success may depend on increasing visibility, national jackpot games, and retaining lottery employees. Year-to-date sales through the month of May were just...
Sweating that next electric bill? NC Senate Democrats say these bills could help.
North Carolina

Sweating that next electric bill? NC Senate Democrats say these bills could help.

Jun 25, 2026
Clayton Henkel
In May, over 353,000 North Carolina households received notices from their electricity provider that they were at risk of disconnection. Sen. DeAndrea Salvador (D-Mecklenburg) said that figure underscores how many families are struggling this summer to cover rising energy costs...
EDF policy director Will Scott discusses Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan and NC’s future energy needs
North Carolina

EDF policy director Will Scott discusses Duke Energy’s Carbon Plan and NC’s future energy needs

Jun 22, 2026
Clayton Henkel
When a utility company like Duke Energy plans for the future, it tries to predict how much electricity its customers will need a decade from now. Unfortunately, and not surprisingly, much of that process amounts to a guessing game in...