NC Erases $6.5B in Medical Debt

Gov. Josh Stein announced that North Carolina’s Medical Debt Relief Program, launched in July 2024, has erased more than $6.5 billion in medical debt for 2.5 million residents, surpassing initial projections.

Stein called medical debt a “tremendous weight” and said the elimination allows people to “focus on getting healthy.” He also urged the General Assembly to fully fund Medicaid.

The program, tied to the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP), requires hospitals to relieve debt for low- and middle-income individuals, enhance charity care policies, and stop reporting medical debt to credit agencies.

No state funds were used, with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approving enhanced hospital payments to support the initiative.

Nor’easter Continues Battering OBX

Coastal flooding persisted Monday and continues today on the Outer Banks, with N.C. 12 closed from Oregon Inlet to Rodanthe, including segments on Pea and Cedar Islands.

A pickup truck driver was nearly caught in overwash on N.C. 12 Sunday but safely escaped just as waves breached the dunes.

In Buxton, where multiple homes recently collapsed due to heavy surf from recent coastal storms, another home surrounded by water was on the verge of collapsing Sunday, with large waves threatening more structures.

The storm also shifted schools in Dare County to remote learning Monday and prompted schedule changes in Columbus County. Whiteville City Schools and Columbus Career and College Academy moved to remote learning, while other public schools were already closed for a scheduled teacher conference day.

State Fair Kicks Off Thursday

The 2025 North Carolina State Fair opens Thursday at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh for 11 days of fun, food, and entertainment.

Visitors can try 88 new food options, experience new rides like the Colossus and Kamikaze, and attend a Wild West roping performance.

Creative food fusions include a maple bacon and Fruity Pebbles Korean corn dog, barbecue doughnut, fried frozen watermelon, and deep-fried bacon turtle cheesecake.

This year’s fair, which runs from Oct. 16-26, features the theme “There’s No Time Like Fair Time.” Special days include Wolfpack Day on Oct. 16, Sensory Day on Oct. 19, Senior Citizens’ Day on Oct. 21, and Military Day on Oct. 22.

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➤ Charlotte: Authorities identified José Joaquín De León Santiz, 25, of Guatemala, as the person found dead in an American Airlines plane’s landing gear at Charlotte Douglas International Airport on Sept. 28. The FBI is investigating. (More)

➤ Chapel Hill: Martha Jenkins was elected president of the National Federation of Republican Women Sept. 27 at the organization’s 43rd biennial convention in Orlando. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill: The university announced Thursday that the Schools of Data Science and Society and Information and Library Science will consolidate into a new school focused on artificial intelligence. A formal timeline has not yet been determined. (More)

➤ Carrboro: Police continue searching for a man accused of attempted rape on the Frances Lloyd Shetley Bikeway last week. The incident has led to calls for immediate streetlight repairs and increased police presence along the trail. (More)

➤ Durham: The 1.8-mile Durham Rail Trail, to be located along an inactive railroad corridor, is in its final stages of design, with construction set to begin in January 2027 and an expected opening in June 2028. (More)

➤ Asheville: Community members protested the state’s death penalty Saturday, advocating for enhanced mental health services, prison re-entry support, and other alternatives. North Carolina currently has the country’s fifth-largest death row but hasn’t carried out an execution since 2006. (More)

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➤ NC State landed a commitment from Emily Wolf, the No. 7-ranked swimmer in the class of 2027. She joins fellow top-10 recruit Carly Afanasewicz, who committed to the Wolfpack in September. (More)

➤ The UNC football program reportedly suspects the New England Patriots are behind recent negative press about Bill Belichick. (More)

➤ Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young played perfectly on Sunday when trailing the Dallas Cowboys on the scoreboard: 10/10 on pass attempts, 125 passing yards, and three touchdowns while playing from behind. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NFL | NHL | NBA | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ Charlotte-based LendingTree CEO Doug Lebda died Sunday in an ATV accident. The company’s board appointed Scott Peyree as CEO and Steve Ozonian as chairman, effective immediately. LendingTree shares dropped 9% following the news. (More)

➤ Cary-based Smithfield’s Chicken ‘N Bar-B-Q, which currently operates 39 locations in North Carolina, announced plans to expand into Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee. (More)

➤ A North Carolina mom and former children’s hospital administrator founded Raleigh-based Deebo to provide parents with at-home otoscopes, enabling them to monitor their children’s ear health and facilitate more informed medical consultations. (More)

➤ The 13th annual All Things Open conference, the East Coast’s largest open-source and tech event, wraps up today at the Raleigh Convention Center. (More)

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➤ Researchers in North Carolina are tracking shark migration by tagging sharks, studying their immune systems, and investigating mislabeled shark meat, aiming to boost conservation and protect consumers. (More)

➤ A list of 11 wallet-friendly small towns for retirement in North Carolina includes Elizabeth City, New Bern, and Salisbury, based on cost of living, health care access, and overall quality of life. (See List)

➤ A newly published ranking of the best U.S. universities based on metrics such as cost, quality, and career outcomes includes Duke University at No. 15, UNC-Chapel Hill at No. 38, Wake Forest at No. 65, and North Carolina State University at No. 71. (See Rankings)

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Do you ever use AI for anything?

1. Yes, more and more
2. No, never
3. I try to avoid it
4. Not sure—quite possibly

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you been a victim of check fraud?

1. No: 37%
2. Not that I know of: 32%
3. Yes: 31%

Which North Carolina county has the highest percentage of retirees?

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