Beth Wood Coverage

'Authentic and transparent:' New state auditor sworn in after Beth Wood's guilty plea, resignation

A day after outgoing State Auditor Beth Wood finalized a plea deal for misusing a state vehicle, the governor's choice to replace her has been sworn in.

Travis Fain and Eric Miller, WRAL reporters

State Auditor Beth Wood pleads guilty to misdemeanors

Charges against State Auditor Beth Wood are expected to be resolved on Friday in a 9:30 a.m. court appearance. Friday is also Wood's last day at work after she announced she would step down.

State Auditor Beth Wood pleads guilty to using a state car for personal errands

State Auditor Beth Wood on Friday pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges of using of public vehicle for private purposes.

By Jack Hagel and Chelsea Donovan, WRAL News

Holmes to replace Wood as state auditor

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper named Democratic up-and-comer Jessica Holmes Thursday to replace State Auditor Beth Wood, who is resigning following a recent indictment.

Travis Fain and Chris Lovingood, WRAL News

Wood: State auditor's staff 'doesn't need to suffer' from credibility hit following indictment

State Auditor Beth Wood, who was indicted last week, says 'negative attention that constantly is pounding at the state auditor's office' led to her resignation.

By Travis Fain and Jack Hagel, WRAL News

NC Auditor Beth Wood to resign following new charge over use of state-owned vehicles

Beth Wood, the four-term state auditor who was charged this week with using a publicly owned car for personal errands, plans to resign on Dec. 15.

By Chelsea Donovan and Jack Hagel, WRAL News

State Auditor Beth Wood charged in state vehicle case

Wood's driving habits and use of state vehicles came under scrutiny following a Dec. 8 incident in which Wood crashed a state-issued Toyota into a parked car. Wood said last week that she wouldn't seek reelection.

By Chelsea Donovan, WRAL News

NC's division of employment security had 5-year run of improper payments

After more than a million North Carolinians struggled with long delays in receiving their unemployment benefits, state legislators are seeking answers on what went wrong and how to fix the problems in the future.

NC Auditor Beth Wood won't seek reelection

North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood, who announced in June that she planned to seek a fifth term, told legislative leaders on Wednesday that she has changed her mind.

NC Auditor Beth Wood won't seek reelection after all

North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood, who announced in June that she planned to seek a fifth term, told legislative leaders Wednesday that she has changed her mind.

Paul Specht and Will Doran, WRAL state government reporters

Long waits, improper payments: NC lawmakers examine problems in COVID-era unemployment benefits

Years after more than 1 million North Carolinians struggled with long delays in receiving their unemployment benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic, state legislators are seeking answers on what went wrong and how to fix the problems in the future.

Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter

Cumberland sheriff sues state auditor, saying she exceeded her authority

The lawsuit stems from an effort by State Auditor Beth Wood to probe the sheriff's office.

Randall Kerr, WRAL News

State Auditor Beth Wood, who was convicted of hit-and-run, to seek reelection

State Auditor Beth Wood tells WRAL that she hopes voters will focus on her professional record, rather than her traffic record, when they vote for state auditor in 2024.

Paul Specht, WRAL state government reporter, and Chris Lovingood, WRAL anchor/reporter

2 men facing misdemeanor charges after State Auditor Beth Wood's crash appear in court

Jonah Mendys, one of two men facing misdemeanor charges in connection to North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood's December car crash, appeared in court Thursday with his attorney.

WRAL Staff

Records detail Wood's speed prior to hit-and-run

State Auditor Beth Wood accelerated to 32 miles per hour and slowed to about 15 mph shortly before crashing a state-owned Toyota Camry last month, according to records provided by the state Department of Administration.

WRAL News staff

Bill would force NC auditor to share more with law enforcement

Senate Bill 80 is meant to aid criminal prosecutions that start out as audits, and it removes some of the elected state auditor's ability to withhold information.

Travis Fain, WRAL state government reporter

Research shows 2 glasses of wine unlikely to have put auditor over the legal limit

State Auditor Beth Wood told a judge she was drinking before her crash in a state-owned car over the holidays. She also said had two glasses of wine, but was not impaired. WRAL Investigates wondered if science backs up her claim.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

The Wrap: Gun bill vetoed, Wood pleads guilty, Medicaid passes and gambling rolls

The week in North Carolina politics from WRAL's NC Capitol team

State Auditor Beth Wood pleads guilty in hit-and-run crash

On Thursday, State Auditor Beth Wood said she had consumed two glasses of wine at the Dec. 8 party but was not impaired at the time of the crash.

State Auditor Beth Wood pleads guilty to hit-and-run charge

Wood previously had been attending a holiday gathering before the Dec. 8 crash. On Thursday, she said she had consumed two glasses of wine at the party but was not impaired at the time of the crash.

Matt Talhelm, WRAL reporter

State Auditor Beth Wood appears in court for hit-and-run crash case

On Thursday, State Auditor Beth Wood appeared in court for a hit-and-run crash case.

State Auditor Beth Wood's hit-and-run crash case in court

State Auditor Beth Wood's hit-and-run case is heading back to court on Thursday afternoon.

Two men charged in connection with Beth Wood's December crash investigation

Two men are facing misdemeanor charges in connection to North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood's December car crash, according to court documents obtained Wednesday by WRAL News.

2 men face misdemeanor charges after State Auditor Beth Wood's December crash

One of the men was a passenger in Wood's vehicle when she hit a parked car on Dec. 8.

WRAL Staff

North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood paid $7,700 in damages for hit-and-run crash

North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood, facing a hit-and-run charge, paid about $7,700 in repairs and towing costs after crashing a state car in December.