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.

NC officials express confidence in election integrity as early voting begins
North Carolina

NC officials express confidence in election integrity as early voting begins

Oct 15, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Early voting is off to a strong start for the 2026 midterms with more than 27,000 ballots cast before noon Thursday, the first day of early in-person voting, according to North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes...
Calls mount for NC attorney general to review ‘rushed’ WakeMed-Atrium merger
North Carolina

Calls mount for NC attorney general to review ‘rushed’ WakeMed-Atrium merger

Oct 14, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Three weeks after a divided Wake County Board of Commissioners gave its approval for Atrium Health to merge with WakeMed, a coalition of health advocates, state employees and nonprofit groups says there are far too many unanswered questions. Wednesday’s news...
Unearthing North Carolina’s past while planning for its newest monument
North Carolina

Unearthing North Carolina’s past while planning for its newest monument

Oct 14, 2026
Clayton Henkel
At first glance, you might mistake the freshly dug hole on the State Capitol grounds in Raleigh for a shallow grave, especially so close to Halloween. But David Cranford, an assistant state archaeologist with the Department of Natural and Cultural...
NC Attorney General creates new complaint tool for gas tax cheats
North Carolina

NC attorney general creates new complaint tool for gas tax cheats

Oct 13, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Days after Gov. Josh Stein signed legislation to suspend the state’s 41-cent per gallon gas tax, North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson put gas stations on notice to pass the savings along to consumers and not try to pad their...
Lee Rainie, director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center, on AI and the future of work
North Carolina

Lee Rainie, director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center, on AI and the future of work

Oct 12, 2026
Clayton Henkel
President Donald Trump created a new task force last week focused on artificial intelligence, which he has renamed “super intelligence.” Tech leaders have called repeatedly called on Washington to create guardrails for the industry, with Anthropic warning its own investors...
Will AI make work easier or workers obsolete? A new NC survey looks at what workers think
North Carolina

Will AI make work easier or workers obsolete? A new NC survey looks at what workers think

Oct 12, 2026
Clayton Henkel
There have been many predictions about how artificial intelligence will impact the way in which people work, and a new report by Elon University’s Imagining the Digital Future Center takes a deeper dive into how workers are adapting. The national...
NC’s State Health Plan moves to block Atrium program it calls an ‘unlawful pricing scheme’
North Carolina

NC’s State Health Plan moves to block Atrium program it calls an ‘unlawful pricing scheme’

Oct 11, 2026
Clayton Henkel
North Carolina’s State Health Plan announced Friday it had requested a temporary restraining order in Wake County Superior Court to halt Atrium Health’s new “affordability program.” State Treasurer Brad Briner, whose office oversees the State Health Plan, said while Atrium’s...
North Carolina records first reported flu-related death of the season
North Carolina

North Carolina records first reported flu-related death of the season

Oct 09, 2026
Clayton Henkel
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday its first reported flu-related death of the 2026-2027 flu season. The case involved an adult in the central part of the state who died due to complications of...
As early in-person voting approaches, North Carolina election officials seek to ease fears
North Carolina

As early in-person voting approaches, North Carolina election officials seek to ease fears

Oct 08, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Beaufort County Board of Elections Director Kellie Hopkins has been involved in North Carolina elections for 28 years. She’s learned firsthand that you can’t procrastinate. “Election preparation started months ago,” Hopkins said in a Wednesday briefing on election procedures hosted...
‘Election Day gimmick’? As NC lawmakers eye gas tax cut, Stein questions timing
North Carolina

‘Election Day gimmick’? As NC lawmakers eye gas tax cut, Stein questions timing

Oct 06, 2026
Clayton Henkel
State lawmakers return to Raleigh Wednesday for a special session to address high gas and diesel prices. It’s unusual for legislators to summon themselves back to Raleigh so close to an upcoming election. So it was surprising to many when...
North Carolina’s governor celebrates affordable housing project that could be model for state
North Carolina

North Carolina’s governor celebrates affordable housing project that could be model for state

Oct 06, 2026
Clayton Henkel Greg Childress
For longtime residents of Southeast Raleigh, a lack of affordable housing and the threat of gentrification are growing concerns. But on Tuesday morning, residents were all smiles as Gov. Josh Stein visited a newly constructed home built in partnership with...
North Carolina’s Latino leaders celebrate heritage, focus on voter engagement ahead of midterms
North Carolina

North Carolina’s Latino leaders celebrate heritage, focus on voter engagement ahead of midterms

Oct 05, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Latino leaders gathered outside North Carolina’s legislative building Thursday to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and look ahead to the future. America Juarez-Maldonado with Carolina Migrant Network said it would be easy to feel anger and despair, especially at a time...