DNC Challenges Election Dispute Settlement

The Democratic National Committee is fighting a federal court deal requiring North Carolina to share voter data with U.S. officials, calling it a threat to privacy. The group filed a motion to intervene on Tuesday.

The Justice Department sued the North Carolina State Board of Elections in May, alleging officials failed to collect voter identification information required under the Help America Vote Act. The two sides settled earlier this month, and Chief U.S. District Judge Richard Myers approved the agreement Sept. 8.

DNC lawyers argue the consent decree improperly grants access to driver’s license numbers and partial Social Security numbers.

The North Carolina Alliance for Retired Americans, which is working with Marc Elias’ law firm and first filed to intervene in the case in June, is also seeking to reassert its motion to intervene.

Elon and Queens to Merge by Summer 2026

Elon University in Alamance County and Queens University of Charlotte have announced plans to merge by summer 2026, with Elon set to assume operational oversight of Queens. Both schools’ Boards of Trustees unanimously approved the proposal.

Leaders say the merger will strengthen higher education in the growing Charlotte region by expanding academic offerings, increasing workforce-ready opportunities, and leveraging Elon’s broader alumni network, while also preserving Queens’ legacy and campus identity.

Queens has about 1,850 students, while Elon has over 7,000. Elon recently opened a regional law school in Charlotte and plans to add a physician assistant program in 2027.

Plans for athletics are still in progress, but Elon is expected to bring football, while Queens will contribute lacrosse, swimming, track, volleyball, field hockey, rugby, and triathlon. Currently, Elon has 16 Division 1 NCAA athletics teams and Queens has 23.

Wake County Student Restraints, Seclusion Rise

The Wake County Public School System said Tuesday that more accurate reporting revealed a 38% increase in student restraints and seclusions during the 2024 school year, totaling 1,802 incidents compared to 1,304 the previous year.

Of the 1,802 incidents, 544 involved unique students, indicating that some were restrained or secluded multiple times. Additionally, 46 instances involved the use of physical restraints such as handcuffs or zip ties.

Elementary schools accounted for 324 of the restraint cases, the highest among all grade levels.

In response, the school board plans to expand training and partner with behavioral specialists. Officials are also considering formal policies around the creation of seclusion rooms and emphasizing de-escalation, relationship-building, and clearer oversight.

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➤ Statewide: Miss North Carolina 2024, Carrie Everett, was diagnosed with metastatic signet ring cell carcinoma, a rare and aggressive gastric cancer, shortly after relinquishing her title this past June. She is undergoing treatment in Seattle. (More)

➤ Asheville: Search crews in Colorado are using air, foot, and dog teams to locate Andrew Porter, 25, of Asheville, and a Utah companion, missing since Sept. 11 during an elk hunt. A $10,000 reward is offered for information on their location. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Rapper DaBaby released a song and video titled Save Me honoring Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian woman fatally stabbed on the Charlotte light rail Aug. 22. The video reenacts the attack and ends with the suspect’s arrest. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools cut 43 assistant principal positions amid a budget crisis and reassigned 42 of the remaining 102 to new schools. Thirteen will split time between elementary, middle, and high schools. (More)

➤ UNC-Wilmington: Members of Turning Point USA and the College Republicans painted a spirit rock to honor Charlie Kirk, leading to a confrontation when a student dumped paint on the memorial, escalating campus political tensions. (More)

➤ Buxton: An unoccupied house at 46227 Tower Circle Road collapsed Tuesday, marking the 12th to fall in five years at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Visitors are urged to avoid the beach and water due to debris. (See Photo)

➤ Dare County: A public meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. tonight to discuss collapsing oceanfront homes, with experts addressing risks, agency actions, and financial options for owners. (More)

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➤ UNC-Charlotte football plays Rice tonight at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN in its conference opener. The network will also broadcast a live edition of SportsCenter from the campus quad earlier in the day. (More)

➤ UNC wide receiver Aziah Johnson has left the Tar Heels’ football team after just three games. He departs Chapel Hill having caught only one pass for 6 yards. (More)

➤ High Point University is now ranked No. 11 in the country in men’s soccer—higher than UNC, Duke, NC State, and Wake Forest. (More)

➤ Wake Forest dismissed Bridget Sullivan, an assistant athletic trainer for women’s soccer, after she made an Instagram post with song lyrics suggesting Charlie Kirk’s assassination was deserved. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ New York law firm Proskauer hired four lawyers from Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft to open a Charlotte office. Both firms specialize in leveraged finance with a focus on fundraising, mergers, and acquisitions. (More)

➤ The North Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments Tuesday to determine if Empire Contractors’ lawsuit against the Town of Apex’s $64,000 recreation fee can proceed as a class action. (More)

➤ A new map reveals that North Carolina has 42,100 farms and ranks 18th nationally, with agriculture accounting for 26% of the state’s land area. (More)

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➤ Raleigh Police are targeting noisy mufflers in areas like Glenwood South. Three recent patrols have issued 44 charges over the past month, citing state laws against improper exhaust systems. (More)

➤ Raleigh Police are also saying goodbye to 19-year-old police horse Willow, who is retiring after 14 years of patrolling the city’s parks and streets. Ownership will transfer to Willow’s rider, pending city approval. (More)

➤ The Asheville Butterfly Trail will dedicate its fourth station at Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary on Sept. 28, celebrating the Summer Azure butterfly and promoting native vegetation to support local butterfly and bird populations. (More)

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How were students disciplined during your school days?

1. Sent to the principal’s office
2. Put in detention
3. Teacher sent a note home
4. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever been on live TV?

1. Yes: 45%
2. No: 33%
3. Not that I’m aware of: 22%

What British monarch is Queens University’s founding associated with?

Show me the answer