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 children’s advocates push for more funding to improve student mental health
North Carolina

NC children’s advocates push for more funding to improve student mental health

Nov 11, 2026
Clayton Henkel
North Carolina’s Child Fatality Task Force is hopeful 2027 brings new attention and more financial resources to issues they have been urging the General Assembly to address for years. With Democrats taking control of the N.C. House and Republicans holding...
Do North Carolinians have an appetite for impeachment? Here’s what a new poll finds.
North Carolina

Do North Carolinians have an appetite for impeachment? Here’s what a new poll finds.

Nov 10, 2026
Clayton Henkel
A week after the 2026 midterm that saw Democrats winning control of both the U.S. House and Senate, a new Elon University poll finds support for the idea of impeachment. The survey of 800 North Carolina adults was conducted before...
North Carolina’s governor celebrates huge milestone for Meals on Wheels
North Carolina

North Carolina’s governor celebrates huge milestone for Meals on Wheels

Nov 09, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Gov. Josh Stein was on hand Monday as Meals on Wheels delivered its eight millionth meal in Forsyth County. The recipient was Ben Briggs, a 105-year-old retired science teacher who relies on the nonprofit to deliver meals to his home...
NC’s new constitutional amendments pose financial dilemmas for state, local lawmakers 
North Carolina

NC’s new constitutional amendments pose financial dilemmas for state, local lawmakers 

Nov 06, 2026
Clayton Henkel
North Carolina voters who delivered a blue wave for Democrats Tuesday also overwhelmingly approved two constitutional amendments that will impact taxes for years to come. The first amendment, approved by 62% of voters, caps state income tax rates for individuals...
US Reps. Hudson and McDowell concede races in 2 of NC’s most stunning election upsets
North Carolina

US Reps. Hudson and McDowell concede races in 2 of NC’s most stunning election upsets

Nov 04, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Two Republican members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation acknowledged Wednesday there was no path to victory in their respective districts after Tuesday’s midterm elections. Both were in districts widely considered to be safe Republican seats and were not expected to...
Democrats sweep Triangle area legislative races
North Carolina

Democrats sweep Triangle area legislative races

Nov 04, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Strong Democratic turnout turned the Triangle’s legislative delegation solid blue Tuesday night, unseating two Republican House members and a Republican senator in a neighboring county. N.C. HOUSE 37 Voters in southern Wake County opted to flip House District 37, electing...
Election workers, volunteers work to protect and promote the right to vote in NC on Election Day
North Carolina

Election workers, volunteers work to protect and promote the right to vote in NC on Election Day

Nov 03, 2026
Clayton Henkel
For Ren Pridgeon, 72, working on Election Day is a five-decade tradition. “I have never missed an election,” said Pridgeon with a broad smile. “I worked my first election when I was 22 years old.” Pridgeon was serving as a...
National pollster says ‘message discipline’ to benefit NC Democrats in 2026 midterms
North Carolina

National pollster says ‘message discipline’ to benefit NC Democrats in 2026 midterms

Nov 03, 2026
Clayton Henkel
Months of campaigning and endless political commercials draw to a close Tuesday as voters cast their final ballots in the 2026 midterm elections. Thirty-six percent of North Carolina’s registered voters cast ballots before Election Day. New records were also set...
Mack Paul discusses “Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park”
North Carolina

Mack Paul discusses “Miracle Road: The Story of Research Triangle Park”

Oct 26, 2026
Clayton Henkel
One of the most successful public economic development projects in modern American history is North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park. Nearly 70 years ago, when a collection of public officials, academics and business leaders unveiled their vision for RTP, the undeveloped...
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...