Michael Hewlett
@blackmuse.bsky.social
Reporter for The Assembly NC, covering criminal justice issues, movie enthusiast, music obsessor, pop culture consumer and poetry lover.
Pinned
Was This High-Ranking Black Marine Wrongfully Convicted?
Ruben Wright was a high-ranking Black Marine before a 2006 murder conviction. His lawyers say a main theory presented at trial has collapsed.
www.theassemblync.com
Prosecutors Made a Rare Concession in a Murder Case. But Will It Matter? www.theassemblync.com/politics/cri...
State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation
A Dare County resident posted a recording that he said captures former Judge Jerry Tillett using the N-word, which Tillett denies.
www.theassemblync.com
January 25, 2026 at 10:14 PM
State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation
A Dare County resident posted a recording that he said captures former Judge Jerry Tillett using the N-word, which Tillett denies.
www.theassemblync.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:15 PM
State Senate Candidate Accused of Using Racial Slur in Recorded Conversation www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
ICE arrested more than 3,300 people across NC during Trump’s first 9 months in office ncnewsline.com/2026/01/20/i...
ICE arrested more than 3,300 people across NC during Trump’s first 9 months in office • NC Newsline
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested more than 3,300 people in North Carolina during President Donald Trump’s first nine months in office, about double the number of people arrested in ...
ncnewsline.com
January 22, 2026 at 3:41 PM
ICE arrested more than 3,300 people across NC during Trump’s first 9 months in office ncnewsline.com/2026/01/20/i...
Lawsuit Accuses Former U.S. Senator of Stealing North Carolina Woman’s Husband www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Lawsuit Accuses Former U.S. Senator of Stealing North Carolina Woman’s Husband
The complaint says the former Arizona lawmaker wooed a married member of her security detail with Taylor Swift and U2 tickets.
www.theassemblync.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Lawsuit Accuses Former U.S. Senator of Stealing North Carolina Woman’s Husband www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
A High-Court Press www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
A High-Court Press
A judge vacated the convictions of four men accused of killing Nathaniel Jones. Now, prosecutors want the state Supreme Court to step in.
www.theassemblync.com
January 10, 2026 at 3:56 PM
A High-Court Press www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
The Nice List 2025 www.theassemblync.com/internal/the...
The Nice List: The Assembly's Favorite Stories of 2025
Here are our staff's favorite stories published throughout the year, which we are putting outside our paywall as a special gift to you.
www.theassemblync.com
December 28, 2025 at 6:15 PM
The Nice List 2025 www.theassemblync.com/internal/the...
The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur www.theassemblync.com/news/culture...
The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur
How did the rapper, still omnipresent three decades after his death, come to rest in a Lumberton grave? Writer Jeff Pearlman finds out.
www.theassemblync.com
December 19, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur www.theassemblync.com/news/culture...
Lawmakers Raise More eCourts Questions www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Lawmakers Raise More eCourts Questions
State lawmakers said court officials in their home districts have not seen the conveniences and cost-savings eCourts was supposed to bring.
www.theassemblync.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Lawmakers Raise More eCourts Questions www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Breaking: Michele Morrow Launches Bid for U.S. Senate www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Michele Morrow Launches Bid for U.S. Senate
The former candidate for state superintendent of public instruction will face Michael Whatley in the GOP Senate primary.
www.theassemblync.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Breaking: Michele Morrow Launches Bid for U.S. Senate www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free
A judge said two men incarcerated for 23 years didn’t kill the grandfather of NBA star Chris Paul. So why are they still in prison?
www.theassemblync.com
December 16, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Must-read from Tori Newby:
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free
A judge said two men incarcerated for 23 years didn’t kill the grandfather of NBA star Chris Paul. So why are they still in prison?
www.theassemblync.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Must-read from Tori Newby:
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Their Charges Were Dismissed, But These Two Men Are Not Free www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor
Two attorneys filed State Bar complaints against a Wake County prosecutor who has been accused multiple times of violating discovery rules.
www.theassemblync.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Attorneys File State Bar Complaints Against Wake County Prosecutor www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Two Democrats Accuse 2026 Primary Candidate of Racist Remarks www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Two Democrats Accuse 2026 Primary Candidate of Racist Remarks
State Sen. Graig Meyer says former state Rep. Michael Wray in 2014 told him to “watch out for the blacks.” Wray says it didn’t happen.
www.theassemblync.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Two Democrats Accuse 2026 Primary Candidate of Racist Remarks www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Another Shot at Freedom www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Another Shot at Freedom
Two men exonerated in the murder of Chris Paul’s grandfather are still in prison. Their lawyer asked the N.C. Supreme Court to release them.
www.theassemblync.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Another Shot at Freedom www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
The Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
The Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up
A section of the N.C. DOJ repeatedly erred and antagonized federal judges–even in cases they seemed guaranteed to win.
www.theassemblync.com
December 3, 2025 at 7:04 PM
The Lawyers Who Kept Screwing Up www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deaths—But Will Struggle to Keep Pace www.theassemblync.com/news/health/...
How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deaths—But Will Struggle to Keep Pace
Rural North Carolina communities are finally reversing opioid overdose deaths. But funding cuts could undo progress.
www.theassemblync.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:04 AM
How Rural N.C. Lowered Overdose Deaths—But Will Struggle to Keep Pace www.theassemblync.com/news/health/...
‘Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...
‘Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students
Some parents and teachers say they expected better communication and more understanding from Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools amid CBP presence.
www.theassemblync.com
November 24, 2025 at 2:35 PM
‘Where Are My Friends?’ Teachers Say Operation Charlotte’s Web Rattled Students www.theassemblync.com/news/educati...
The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing Quagmire www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing Quagmire
Leslie Cooley Dismukes wants to prioritize reentry and reduce recidivism. But she has to solve a staffing crisis in the prison system first.
www.theassemblync.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The New Head of N.C.’s Prisons Tries to Unwind a Staffing Quagmire www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
‘They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary ncnewsline.com/2025/11/20/t...
‘They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary • NC Newsline
As Border Patrol agents swept the Triangle area, a construction worker born in the U.S. was among those detained.
ncnewsline.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:38 PM
‘They basically just kidnapped me’: US citizen taken by Border Patrol in Cary ncnewsline.com/2025/11/20/t...
N.C. Republicans Defend Gerrymandering Their Way to Victory www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
N.C. Republicans Defend Gerrymandering Their Way to Victory
North Carolina’s new congressional map had its first legal test Wednesday. The outcome will likely have ripple effects nationally as each party attempts to gerrymander its way to a U.S. House majority...
www.theassemblync.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:23 PM
N.C. Republicans Defend Gerrymandering Their Way to Victory www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Law and Orders www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Law and Orders
Even for immigration lawyers, figuring out the Border Patrol’s opaque operation in North Carolina is nearly impossible.
www.theassemblync.com
November 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Law and Orders www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Immigration Agents Coming to Raleigh Tuesday, Sources Say www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Immigration Agents Coming to Raleigh Tuesday, Sources Say
Mayor: 'It is the city of Raleigh’s understanding that the Border Patrol and ICE are already in Raleigh and that they will be active tomorrow.'
www.theassemblync.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Immigration Agents Coming to Raleigh Tuesday, Sources Say www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Fear, Protest, and Preparation As 80+ Are Reportedly Detained in Charlotte www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Fear, Protest, and Preparation As 80+ Are Reportedly Detained in Charlotte
As federal immigration officers descended on the Queen City, the city’s immigrant and activist communities braced for what’s to come.
www.theassemblync.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Fear, Protest, and Preparation As 80+ Are Reportedly Detained in Charlotte www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Inside Durham's Dependency Court www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
Inside Durham's Dependency Court
A civil rights group’s lawsuit against Durham’s secretive child welfare court intends to shed light on proceedings which terminate parental rights.
www.theassemblync.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Inside Durham's Dependency Court www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
The Politics of an Arrest www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...
The Politics of an Arrest
Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page’s oversight of his jail has become a key issue in his primary campaign against GOP Senate leader Phil Berger.
www.theassemblync.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:30 PM
The Politics of an Arrest www.theassemblync.com/news/politic...