Federal Court Overturns NC Felon Voting Law

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected a North Carolina law Friday criminalizing felon voting, affirming a 2024 trial ruling. The decision highlights the law’s 1877 origins in racial discrimination against black voters and its ongoing disproportionate impact.

The challenged law made it a felony for felons to vote without having their voting rights restored. In 2023, Senate Bill 747 added a scienter requirement—a legal term referring to a condition in a law that requires a person to have knowledge of or intent to commit a wrongful act for it to be considered a crime.

This meant only felons who knowingly voted without restored rights could be charged. The court found that SB 747 did not eliminate the law’s discriminatory effects and had a chilling effect on voter registration.

The federal appeals court ruling does not alter a separate law requiring felons to complete full sentences before voting.

UNC Controversy Sparks NCAA Change

The NCAA men’s basketball committee revised its selection process for the 2026 NCAA Tournament with a new rule informally dubbed “The Bubba Cunningham Rule,” following controversy over UNC’s inclusion in the 2025 tournament, despite a weak Quad 1 record during the 2024–25 season.

The rule, announced Friday according to an X post by Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, mandates that the committee chair recuse themselves if their school is considered for final at-large selections.

The change addresses speculation about UNC Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham influencing the selection process while serving as committee chair. While no wrongdoing has been confirmed, the rule aims to ensure impartiality and fairness in selecting the best 68 teams for the tournament.

It also bars the chair from commenting publicly if their school is selected, with the vice chair handling related questions.

More Park Roads Open in Western NC

Two sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway and a Great Smoky Mountains National Park road previously damaged by Hurricane Helene and other storms have reopened in time for fall travelers.

Milepost 280 to milepost 496 of the Blue Ridge Parkway leading to Mt. Mitchell State Park reopened today. Visitors can’t pass the park and must return via the parkway.

A 7-mile stretch of the parkway from milepost 241.1 to milepost 248.1 reopened Sept. 9 as part of a multiyear project funded by the Great American Outdoors Act to address a maintenance backlog estimated at $450 million before Helene hit.

Lastly, Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park reopened Friday, 18 days early, after landslide repairs were made between mile markers 12 and 13 on the Tennessee side of the park.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Josh Stein is appointing Navy veteran Daniel Johnson as North Carolina Department of Transportation secretary, replacing retiring Joey Hopkins, who served more than 30 years and led post-Hurricane Helene recovery. (More)

➤ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Board Member Melissa Easley is facing backlash over a Facebook post about Charlie Kirk’s death, defending it as free speech while critics call for her resignation. (More)

➤ Charlotte: State Auditor Dave Boliek criticized the city council’s secretive $305,000 settlement with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings and recommended improved transparency, timely release of closed-session minutes, and reevaluation of public fund usage for settlements. (More)

➤ Asheville: Workout Anytime hosted a Memorial Stair Climb Sept. 11-13 in honor of 9/11 first responders, with firefighters leading participants in climbing 2,071 steps while wearing full gear to recreate the stair climbing portion of the 9/11 response. (See Photos)

➤ Outer Banks: The newly formed Ocracoke Access Alliance, led by Executive Director Justin LeBlanc, is advocating for increased investment in North Carolina’s ferry system and is seeking funding and long-term planning to ensure reliable access. (More)

➤ Ocracoke: The Ocracoke Light Station rehabilitation has been paused so the National Park Service can revise the Double Keepers’ Quarters’ foundation design to protect live oaks and cisterns. Updates are expected in October. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers recovered an onside kick with under two minutes left against Arizona on Sunday and earned a fresh set of downs after back-to-back penalties on the Cardinals’ defense. But their final drive stalled, and they came up short in a 27–22 loss. (See Stats)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes prospects fell 3-2 to the Nashville Predators on Saturday in a showcase matchup. (More)

➤ No. 5 NC State men’s soccer earned its sixth consecutive shutout on Saturday, defeating Florida Atlantic University to move to 6-0-1. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | WNBA | Soccer | Golf

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➤ Dairi-O, a Piedmont Triad fast-food chain that started as a Stokes County hot dog stand, will open its 13th location in Harrisburg. The company plans to open one new restaurant a year in North Carolina and eventually expand to South Carolina. (More)

➤ American Airlines announced Friday it will launch a year-round, nonstop daily flight from Charlotte to Vero Beach, Florida, starting Feb. 12 using a CRJ-900 aircraft. (More)

➤ DJ deadmau5, also known as Joel Zimmerman, was in Wilmington on Friday for a partnership he formed with 45Drives, a company launching a data storage server for creatives in the entertainment industry. (More)

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Love shopping at Costco?

Then you already know how satisfying it feels to save. But even savvy shoppers miss out on some lesser-known tricks.

We’ve rounded up clever money hacks to help you save even more—without clipping a single coupon.

➤ Biogents’ pesticide-free mosquito traps, installed at North Raleigh’s Cokesbury Park, reduced bites by capturing over a million mosquitoes this summer. The traps mimic human scent, offering an eco-friendly solution. (More)

➤ Beekeeper Michael Entrekin of the WNC Bee Relief Program delivered six nucleus colonies to Fairview beekeepers who lost hives to Hurricane Helene, which washed out an estimated 1,000 colonies across Western North Carolina. (More)

➤ A roundup of films with scenes shot in Western North Carolina features Dirty Dancing in Lake Lure, Summer Camp in Hendersonville, and Biltmore-set titles such as Forrest Gump and Hannibal. (See List)

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Which of these movies, featuring scenes filmed in North Carolina, is your favorite?

1. Forrest Gump
2. Dirty Dancing
3. Bull Durham
4. The Last of the Mohicans
5. The Hunger Games
6. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you have a Costco membership?

1. Yes: 37%
2. No: 36%
3. I used to: 16%
4. I plan to get one: 11%

How did the USS North Carolina earn the nickname “Showboat”?

Show me the answer