Republicans are renewing their immigration attack on former Gov. Roy Cooper, using the case of a Nicaraguan national arrested in Winston-Salem to argue that Cooper’s vetoes made the state less safe.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) said Humberto Narvaez Sandoval was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after earlier arrests. Its July 22 release linked him to a Winston-Salem burglary case and court entries involving trespass, a concealed gun, firing a weapon inside city limits, impaired driving, resisting an officer, probation violations and reckless driving.

NRSC Press Secretary Nick Puglia said Cooper’s “soft-on-crime, sanctuary policies” allowed Sandoval to remain free. The committee pointed to Cooper’s 2019 veto of House Bill 370. Cooper called the measure unconstitutional and argued that it would force sheriffs to act as federal agents.

Cooper vetoed a similar measure in 2024, but Republican lawmakers overrode him and enacted House Bill 10. The law requires jail officials to check the immigration status of people charged with specified crimes and can keep someone subject to an immigration detainer and judicial order in custody for up to 48 hours.

The NRSC called North Carolina under Cooper a “sanctuary state,” but state law has prohibited cities from adopting policies that restrict federal immigration enforcement since 2015. The phrase is a political characterization, not an official state designation.

The attack lands in the Senate race between Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis. Immigration and public safety are becoming central Republican lines of attack in a contest that could help determine Senate control.

Cary residents packed Town Hall Thursday night and confronted elected leaders after a state investigation described excessive spending, weak controls and poor oversight of taxpayer money.

At the council’s first regular meeting since the report’s release, speakers accused members of ignoring warning signs and leaning too heavily on former Town Manager Sean Stegall. Some demanded resignations or a recall process, while one resident called the council’s claim that Stegall alone dominated town government “pathetic,” FOX8 reported. 

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor found Cary had issued 828 procurement cards to about 62% of employees, compared with a 16% average among nine other large municipalities. Employees made more than 60,000 card transactions totaling $24.2 million from January 2024 through December 2025. Auditors did not label that entire sum improper, but flagged purchases lacking a clear government purpose or appearing excessive. 

Examples included $121,314 for videos tied to a Wilmington retreat, $65,653 for a ghostwriter to produce a book about Stegall’s management style, $1,600 for 10 pairs of Ray-Ban sunglasses and more than $100,000 in purchases without complete receipts. 

Resident Marie Inserra urged lawmakers to authorize a local recall election. Michael Anderson asked everyone appearing in the retreat’s “Dancing Queen” documentary to resign, WRAL reported. 

An independent review commissioned by Cary echoed the oversight concerns and recommended restoring an internal auditor and notifying the council before land purchases above $300,000. The council adopted an anti-retaliation policy for employees reporting misconduct and launched a public dashboard tracking nearly 40 recommended changes. 

Stegall resigned in December 2025 after being placed on leave. Cary officials say he restricted information reaching council members, but State Auditor Dave Boliek said elected leaders failed to ask tough questions. Thursday’s backlash showed promised reforms have not ended demands for accountability.

North Carolina lawmakers are weighing a hemp and kratom crackdown that could reshape a fast-growing market for gummies, seltzers, vapes and other intoxicating products sold at convenience stores, smoke shops and breweries.

House Bill 328 would prohibit any person from selling or delivering hemp-derived consumable products to anyone under 21, and would make underage possession illegal. The bill text says violations would be a Class 2 misdemeanor and could trigger civil penalties against retailers.

The measure targets the products themselves. The proposed conference bill defines prohibited finished hemp products as items with more than 0.4 milligrams of total tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per retail container, or products containing synthetic or chemically converted cannabinoids. It would regulate kratom, ban synthetic kratom products and block kratom sales or possession for people under 21.

The Senate adopted the conference report 37-6 July 2, according to the North Carolina General Assembly. The bill has not yet reached Gov. Josh Stein because the House declined to take a final vote before lawmakers left Raleigh for a break. House Speaker Destin Hall said members needed more time to study technical language, WUNC reported, and the House is expected to return the week of July 27.

Supporters say North Carolina cannot leave intoxicating hemp products loosely regulated, especially when some are packaged and marketed in ways that appeal to minors. WRAL reported the state currently has no age restriction for buying intoxicating hemp-based products.

Hemp businesses warn the bill could wipe out much of the legal market. Axios reported Trophy Brewing may stop making THC seltzers, while WLOS reported Asheville retailers say the 0.4 milligram cap would effectively eliminate many products on shelves.

The fight now is whether lawmakers can protect minors without turning regulation into a de facto prohibition on North Carolina’s legal hemp industry.