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.

Republican super PAC pauses spending in North Carolina’s key US Senate race
North Carolina

Republican super PAC pauses spending in North Carolina’s key US Senate race

Oct 02, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Multiple media outlets reported Friday that the Senate Leadership Fund, a leading GOP super PAC, is diverting tens of millions of advertising dollars away from North Carolina’s closely watched U.S. Senate race between Republican Michael Whatley and former Democratic Gov...
North Carolina cannabis council considers public consumption policy for THC products
North Carolina

North Carolina cannabis council considers public consumption policy for THC products

Oct 01, 2026
Clayton Henkel
North Carolina’s Advisory Council on Cannabis faces a December 31st deadline to issue final recommendations for a comprehensive cannabis policy to Gov. Josh Stein. While the legislature would have to agree to enact any changes in existing law, the council...
As economic damage from climate change grows, NC experts urge ‘pre-recovery’ planning 
North Carolina

As economic damage from climate change grows, NC experts urge ‘pre-recovery’ planning 

Sep 30, 2026
Clayton Henkel
When a slow-moving nor’easter battered the Outer Banks last weekend, the North Carolina Department of Transportation worked around the clock to remove broken asphalt, rebuild the dunes and shore up the vulnerable stretch of NC 12 near Pea Island. It’s...
North Carolina high schoolers say schools feel safer, but experts want more school resource officers
North Carolina

North Carolina high schoolers say schools feel safer, but experts want more school resource officers

Sep 29, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Dr. Ellen Essick said there is a lot of good news about mental health in the 2025 North Carolina High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey. But there are areas that clearly need attention when it comes to the overall well-being...
UNC Health infectious disease expert David Wohl on the respiratory virus season
North Carolina

UNC Health infectious disease expert David Wohl on the respiratory virus season

Sep 28, 2026
Clayton Henkel
We’re now several years, thankfully, past the COVID-19 pandemic, but as even a casual glance at daily news headlines reminds us, the challenge posed by infectious diseases is not going anywhere anytime soon. And with the arrival of fall weather...
Matt Calabria, director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina
North Carolina

Matt Calabria, director of the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina

Sep 28, 2026
Clayton Henkel
It was two years ago this past week that Hurricane-turned-Tropical Storm Helene inundated and devastated large swaths of western North Carolina with unprecedented rainfall and flooding. All tolled the disaster took more than 100 lives, inflicted more than 60 billion...
 On ‘9 to 5’ day, North Carolinians celebrate Dolly Parton and her love of literacy 
North Carolina

On ‘9 to 5’ day, North Carolinians celebrate Dolly Parton and her love of literacy 

Sep 25, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Nick Blanchard tumbled out of bed and poured himself a cup of ambition Friday morning, then headed straight to a table in front of the Wake County Express Library in downtown Raleigh. Blanchard and his friend Kelly Forbes were presiding...
Mountain strong: North Carolina marks the 2-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene
North Carolina

Mountain strong: North Carolina marks the 2-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene

Sep 25, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Before there was Helene, there was Katrina. The destructive Category 5 hurricane that devastated New Orleans in 2005 convinced Alex Webber to move from Louisiana to the mountains of western North Carolina. Webber thought she’d found a climate-safe area in...
NC treasurer ‘profoundly concerned’ by county’s approval of hospital merger
North Carolina

NC treasurer ‘profoundly concerned’ by county’s approval of hospital merger

Sep 22, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Updated: September 23 @ 9:20am Less than 24 hours after the Wake County Board of Commissioners voted to advance plans to consolidate WakeMed and Atrium Health, North Carolina Treasurer Brad Briner says he is “profoundly concerned” that the deal is...
‘A lot less bad’: Wake commissioners approve updated deal to combine WakeMed and Atrium
North Carolina

‘A lot less bad’: Wake commissioners approve updated deal to combine WakeMed and Atrium

Sep 22, 2026
Clayton Henkel
The Wake County Board of Commissioners voted 5-2 late Monday to approve a controversial merger between WakeMed and Atrium Health. The vote came after a five-hour public hearing during which deputies cleared protesters from the chambers as commissioners were preparing...
NC Budget and Tax Center’s Alexandra Sirota on a trio of proposed constitutional amendments
North Carolina

NC Budget and Tax Center’s Alexandra Sirota on a trio of proposed constitutional amendments

Sep 21, 2026
Clayton Henkel
The latest public opinion survey shows generally strong support amongst voters for a trio of proposed constitutional amendments that will appear on the North Carolina ballot this fall that address incomes taxes, property taxes and voter photo ID. However, Alexandra...
Elon University’s Jason Husser shares the most recent survey of public opinion ahead of the midterms
North Carolina

Elon University’s Jason Husser shares the most recent survey of public opinion ahead of the midterms

Sep 21, 2026
Clayton Henkel
The fall midterm elections are just six weeks away and that means that North Carolinians will soon cast their ballots in an array of races that will both help determine the makeup of the next Congress and General Assembly, and...