Our Stories
At Beacon Media, we focus on telling the stories that truly matter to our communities. Beacon Media is built around the people who are preserving and strengthening democracy in North Carolina communities. From healthcare and education to housing and justice, our stories are crafted to inform, inspire, and spark meaningful change. It is these community leaders and trusted messengers who will shift our collective narrative and show us what is possible — and then they are the ones who will make it a reality. We share their words and voices far and wide. That’s why all of our commentary is free to republish. We encourage you to use and share our work to help amplify the voices and issues that need attention across our state.
Read The Latest Stories
Martin Henson: After Cornell, men are the problem — and the solution
The writer describes an experience trying to confront another group of men on how to address the sexual violence that is too prevalent in the U.S. By Martin Henson Beacon Media It feels like we all have heard this story before. As the world confronts yet another group...
Helene Recovery, Labor Talks, and National Forests
This week, the guys sit down for another news episode to discuss the first new school in Watauga County in over 30 years, springboarding into a larger discussion on ongoing efforts to recover from Hurricane Helene. They also discuss ongoing labor disputes within the...
Episode 10 – Budget Season Special!
On this week's episode, Dalton and Preston dive deep on local government in their Budget Season Special! Join them as they discuss the process for deciding the budgets in Boone and Fletcher, the realities of running local governments, and how a proposed amendment on...
Episode 9 – DeBorah Ogiste and the Healthy Opportunites Pilot
In this week’s episode, Preston and Dalton learn about the Healthy Opportunities Pilot, a revolutionary public health program pioneered in North Carolina that was recently defunded by state legislators. They sit down with DeBorah Ogiste, a former beneficiary of the...
Opinion: A Letter to the N.C. 10-Year Old who Was Dismissed by His Member of Congress
A Greensboro 4th grader wrote to his member of Congress, U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx. She responded by saying he must have been “indoctrinated.” Jacob Brooks, who lives in the district, has a few words for the boy — and for Rep. Foxx. By Jacob Brooks, Beacon Media Hey,...
Iliana Santillán: No one will make the Latino community invisible
As the Trump administration targets people under the guise of immigration enforcement, many Latinos in N.C. are celebrating our communities and culture — despite the fear. By Iliana Santillán Beacon Media Photo of La Grande Latin American Festival in...
DYELH Podcast: Episode 8 – Parkway Controversy, Recent Travels, and the Voting Rights Act
For this week's episode, Preston and Dalton talk about a recent post they made in response to an ongoing project on the Blue Ridge Parkway and their own concerns, discuss their recent travels to Arizona and D.C., and wrap up by sharing Preston's column on the Supreme...
Preston Blakely: My grandmother, still fighting for the right to vote
A Black mayor in Western North Carolina reflects on a conversation with his grandmother, who fought for civil rights and the Voting Rights Act 50 years ago. In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court decision last week, that fight continues. By Preston Blakely Beacon Media...
DYELH Podcast: Episode 7 – Graig and Kym Meyer: The Legislature, Democrats and Leadership in Trying Times
For this week's episode, Preston and Dalton had their first in-person studio session, and there was no better way to mark it than by having two incredible guests. Graig and Kym Meyer are a power couple in NC. Together, we talk about navigating the transition from the...