US House Judiciary to Hold Light Rail Hearing

The U.S. House Judiciary Committee will hold a field hearing in Charlotte on Sept. 29, following the Aug. 22 murder of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on the LYNX Blue Line, allegedly by Decarlos Brown Jr., 34.

Brown, charged with first-degree murder and facing federal charges, has prior convictions including armed robbery, felony larceny, breaking and entering, and shoplifting. He was released from state prison after serving a sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon.

The hearing—led by Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who described Brown as a “14-time repeat offender”—will examine Charlotte crime rates and policies, including pretrial release practices.

North Carolina officials have proposed an audit of the Charlotte Area Transit System’s safety measures. Starting next week, CATS will deploy fully staffed security on the Blue Line, including 20 off-duty police officers on bikes and utility vehicles.

NCDOT Immune in Snow-Covered I-40 Deaths

The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that the North Carolina Department of Transportation has immunity in a lawsuit over two deaths on a snow-covered Interstate 40 in 2014, reversing a 2024 decision by the North Carolina Industrial Commission.

The unanimous ruling found that the state Emergency Management Act (EMA) protected NCDOT from claims of negligence in snow removal during a declared winter storm emergency.

The lawsuit stemmed from a fatal accident involving Nathaniel Williams and Larry Kepley, who were standing outside near the scene of a wreck when they were struck and killed by a driver after a truck lost traction on icy roads.

The court held that NCDOT’s snowplow training and operations, conducted as part of emergency preparedness, were covered by EMA immunity, despite claims of inadequate hazard documentation.

UNC System Considers In-State Tuition Hike

The UNC System Board of Governors met on Wednesday to discuss a potential 3% tuition increase for new in-state undergraduate students at North Carolina’s 16 public universities starting next fall.

The tuition increase would not be a requirement for campuses and is intended to address inflation and state budget challenges following the legislature’s delay in passing a new budget. A final decision is expected in February 2026.

The proposal comes amid a UNC System enrollment report showing a record 256,438 students, up 3.4% from last year. Large campuses and Historically Black Colleges and Universities saw significant gains, while UNC-Asheville enrollment dropped 6% due to a 33-day campus closure caused by Hurricane Helene.

In an unrelated development, Wake Forest University announced Wednesday it will offer tuition-free education for North Carolina undergraduates with family incomes under $200,000 starting in 2026. Students with family incomes under $100,000 will also have living expenses covered.

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➤ Statewide: State Republican leaders will introduce a crime legislation package on Sept. 22 to curb executive task forces they say endanger public safety, citing the former Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice as an example. (More)

➤ Statewide: Plaintiffs in Kadel v. Folwell opposed the North Carolina State Health Plan’s request Tuesday to vacate an injunction requiring coverage for transgender medical treatments, arguing a recent Supreme Court ruling doesn’t justify overturning it. (More)

➤ Arden: Army veteran Jan Carey, who burned a flag near the White House to protest a Trump executive order, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal misdemeanor charges tied to igniting an unauthorized fire. His lawyers argue the case violates his First Amendment rights. (More)

➤ Lake Lure: Rep. Tim Moore announced $2.5 million in FEMA funding will be used to rebuild the Lake Lure Flowering Bridge, a pedestrian bridge destroyed by Hurricane Helene that connects Lake Lure to Chimney Rock. (More)

➤ Durham County: Early voting for the 2025 Municipal Primary Election is open through Oct. 4 at five locations. City residents can vote at any site, with same-day registration services and voter info updates available. (More)

➤ Iredell County: A doll hung near a Statesville election sign for Ward 3 City Council representative Doris Allison has prompted an FBI and local police investigation. No arrests have been made, and the materials were seized as evidence. (More)

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➤ Wake Forest leads the latest United Soccer Coaches Poll, closely followed by NC State at No. 2. High Point, Duke, and UNC-Greensboro also made the top 25. (See Rankings)

➤ North Carolinians placed $463 million in sports wagers in August 2025, 30% more than in August 2024. (More)

➤ App State volleyball fell to No. 25 North Carolina in four sets earlier this week. They’ll face Duke at home tonight, then host Davidson on Sunday, with Duke and Davidson squaring off Saturday. (More)

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

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➤ Wilmington’s apartment completions dropped 28.5% in 2025, from a record 2,509 units in 2024 to 1,795, with 1,156 in the city, according to a RentCafe report. North Carolina ranks fourth nationally in new apartment construction, with Charlotte leading the way. (More)

➤ Whataburger opened its first Charlotte location on Albemarle Road on Thursday and will host a “Whatabash” event Saturday with giveaways and performances. (More)

➤ Duke’s School of Medicine cited financial reasons for abruptly shuttering its BioCoRE program and IDEALS office—programs widely associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts—without consulting students or faculty. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Duke’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute secured a $69 million seven-year National Institutes of Health grant to advance translational science, focusing on community engagement, AI ethics, and health outcomes. (More)

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➤ A Capuchin monkey that escaped from Iredell County’s Zootastic on Wednesday was last seen climbing power lines before vanishing into the woods. Locals and zoo staff are searching, hoping it returns to its open cage. (See Photos)

➤ The Asheville Fire Department deployed drones to identify hot spots from above a fire at Mountain Metals Recycling scrap yard on Wednesday. A spokesperson said the department uses drones to keep crews safe and control blazes faster. (Watch Video)

➤ Asheville brewery DSSOLVR will host its annual Shrektoberfest Saturday, featuring Shrek-themed trivia at 4 p.m., an onion-eating contest at 5, a stein-holding competition at 5:30, and a costume contest at 6. (More)

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Will Duke or NC State win tomorrow’s football game?

1. Duke
2. NC State
3. Don’t know
4. Don’t care

Yesterday’s Results:

How were students disciplined during your school days?

1. Sent to the principal’s office: 40%
2. Put in detention: 23%
3. Other: 20%
4. Teacher sent a note home: 17%

Where did the Spanish flu originate?

Show me the answer