Main Street NC: Coharie Tribe's river revitalization in Sampson County

Main Street NC: Coharie Tribe's river revitalization in Sampson County

Author: WUNC News February 6, 2026 Duration: 28:54
This is the fourth episode in a new season of our Main Street NC series. We're visiting communities across the state to hear from local leaders about the issues and challenges they're facing. A few years ago, the Coharie Indian Tribe launched an effort to clean out debris from the Great Coharie River near their headquarters in Sampson County. That led to a unique recreation and tourism initiative where members of the Coharie Tribe lead visitors on guided kayaking trips down the river. WUNC News' Colin Campbell recently hopped in a kayak to learn more about how the program brings tourists to Sampson County, while creating revenue, jobs and a heightened public profile for the 3,000-member American Indian group. Tribal Administrator Greg Jacobs and Coharie River director Philip Bell also discussed the tribe's history, programs and its hopes to eventually join the Lumbee Indians in obtaining federal recognition.

Tune in for the conversations happening behind the headlines across the state. WUNC Politics, from the journalists at WUNC News, moves beyond the official statements and press conferences to bring you the context and candid insights shaping North Carolina. Each episode feels like catching up with a well-informed friend who just left the floor of the General Assembly or a key campaign stop, translating the day’s political maneuvers into something relatable and clear. You’ll hear directly from reporters about the whispers in the legislative hallways, the shifting dynamics on the trail, and the real-world impacts of policy debates. This isn't about partisan scoring; it's about understanding the how and why of Tar Heel politics. The podcast delivers a grounded, weekly perspective that helps make sense of the rapid changes in our state's government and elections. For anyone curious about the forces driving decisions in Raleigh and beyond, this is an essential listen. The analysis is sharp, the reporting is trustworthy, and the discussion always points toward what it all means for the people who live here. Dive into the nuanced and often surprising stories that define political life in North Carolina.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

WUNC Politics
Podcast Episodes
State auditor candidates face off in rare statewide runoff election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:03
Polls will once again open all across North Carolina on Tuesday, May 14. But with mostly down-ballot races on the ballot, will Republican primaries be decided by a tiny number of voters? Political scientist Chris Cooper…
Previewing the 2024 legislative session with Sen. Gale Adcock [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:39
State lawmakers are back in Raleigh to begin what’s known as the short session – several months in which they’ll make adjustments to the state budget for the upcoming year and consider a variety of other legislation that…
Meet the ECU student who defeated a 10-term NC lawmaker [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:17
Wyatt Gable, a 21-year-old student at East Carolina University, unseated 10-term Republican Rep. George Cleveland of Jacksonville, who’s in his 80s and is one of the oldest members of the state House. Gable will face Dem…
Making sense of NC's primary results [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:11
The results are in for the 2024 North Carolina primary -- and while some of the top-tier races ended up where everyone expected, there were some big surprises further down the ballot, as well as some races that won't get…
Big changes for 2024 voters under new election laws [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:15
Voters in this year's primary will have a few new things to get used to. After years of legal wrangling, photo IDs are required to vote, but there's a process in place for voters who show up without one. And voters looki…
NC 2024 primary: Races to watch on the Republican Party ballot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:21
Voters in this year's Republican primary will decide whether they want Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson or one of his opponents as their nominee for governor. And elsewhere on the ballot, races for lieutenant governor, Council of…
NC 2024 primary: Races to watch on the Democratic Party ballot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:05
As North Carolina’s March 5 primary looms, there’s not much competition at the presidential level on the Democratic side. President Joe Biden will be the only name on the ballot here, but there are plenty of races worth…
Main Street NC: Murphy's struggle to quiet a cryptocurrency mine [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:28
This episode is the sixth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. One of the state’s only cryptocurrency mining operations is located a few miles outside Murphy at North Carolina’s far-we…
Main Street NC: Star's quest to replace 100-year-old infrastructure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:25
This episode is the fifth installment in our Main Street NC series from the WUNC Politics Podcast. Dozens of small towns across North Carolina are struggling to replace aging, often failing water and sewer infrastructure…