Lilly Knoepp, NC Local
NC Local Regional ReporterLilly Knoepp is NC Local’s regional reporter for Western NC, where she helps residents understand how they are affected by statewide issues. She served as Blue Ridge Public Radio’s first full-time reporter covering Western North Carolina from 2018 to 2025. She is a native of Franklin, NC who returned to the area after serving as the assistant editor of Women@Forbes and digital producer of the Forbes podcast network. She holds a master’s degree in international journalism from the City University of New York and earned a double major from UNC-Chapel Hill in religious studies and political science.
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With primary elections complete, one might think that North Carolina’s 2026 midterm ballots for November are set. Unaffiliated candidates still need to be added to the ballot. So far, 51 unaffiliated candidates have qualified to appear on the general ballot. NC Local looks at how the process is different from majority party candidates — and why it matters. -
North Carolina sees more than 4,500 wildfires annually, with nearly 99% caused by people. NC Local looks at the short-term risk. -
Of the state’s 65,000 archeological sites, only 53 are Indigenous mounds, while most are privately owned. NC Local takes a closer look. -
Data centers are booming across the country with the use of AI, surveillance and cloud technology. At the same time, opposition is growing because of community concerns about impacts to the local power grids, the environment, the economy, and more.State and local governments have regulatory powers to manage where data centers are built and to protect consumers against rising utility costs. Here's an explainer from NC Local. -
A dozen counties, including Jackson and Madison countie,s brought non-unanimous early voting plans before the state Board of Elections on Tuesday. NC Local explains what happened. -
After years of work to conserve the elk, the population has reached a high enough number for lawmakers to consider lifting the hunting ban. NC Local explains.
