K&W Cafeteria Chain Closes After 88 Years

With “a heavy heart,” Winston-Salem-based K&W Cafeterias announced the permanent closure of all remaining locations on Monday, ending an 88-year legacy of serving Southern comfort food that began in 1937 as a family-owned business.

Under the sole ownership of Grady Allred Sr. since the early 1940s, K&W Cafeterias expanded to more than 30 Southeastern locations by the 1980s before filing for bankruptcy in 2020 amid pandemic-related challenges. The chain reorganized and was acquired by Falcon Holdings in 2022.

The sudden shutdown, announced with no advance notice on the company’s website and social media, stunned employees and customers. Staff learned of the closure as they arrived for work. Longtime workers and regulars expressed heartbreak over losing a cherished community gathering spot.

K&W thanked guests in a brief statement but offered no specific reason for the closure.

NC Pitches $1B Plan for Rural Health Care

North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services pitched a $1 billion federal plan on Nov. 3 to transform rural health care, targeting 85 counties that currently have fragmented services.

The proposal, submitted ahead of a Nov. 6 deadline, seeks $200 million annually over five years to fund Regional Organizing and Operational Transformation Support (ROOTS) hubs to support coordinated care, workforce incentives, telehealth expansion, and food-as-medicine programs.

Gov. Josh Stein hailed the plan as leadership in rural innovation for more than three million residents. If approved, the state could begin receiving funds as early as this month.

In a separate development, UNC Health’s contract with insurer Cigna expired Dec. 1, leaving 65,000 subscribers facing out-of-network costs statewide. Negotiations stalled over fair reimbursement, with UNC Health prioritizing patient care and Cigna offering a contract extension.

2026 Primary Candidate Filing Underway

North Carolina’s 2026 primary candidate filing period for statewide, judicial, and local offices opened Monday and runs through Dec. 19 ahead of the March 3 primary.

State Senate Leader Phil Berger and his primary challenger, Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page, were among the first candidates to file for the State Senate District 26 seat.

Don Brown of Waxhaw and Elizabeth Temple of Smithfield both filed for the Republican U.S. Senate primary and are expected to face Trump-endorsed Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley once he files later this week.

Democrat Don Davis announced he’ll run for reelection in the newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, which now leans Republican.

You can view an updated list of all candidates who have filed here.

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➤ Statewide: The U.S. Department of Justice filed a memorandum Friday opposing efforts by the Democratic National Committee and the NC Alliance for Retired Americans to reopen a federal lawsuit over North Carolina’s voter registration records. (More)

➤ Statewide: The North Carolina State Board of Elections voted 3-2 last week to use the Department of Homeland Security’s Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database to verify citizenship and flag potential illegal immigrants from voter rolls using names, birth dates, and Social Security numbers. (More)

➤ Durham: A school bus carrying 20 Mangum Elementary students overturned Monday near South Lowell and Johnson Mill roads, sending 10 to the hospital with minor injuries. The driver was cited for failure to maintain lane control amid an ongoing investigation. (Watch Report)

➤ Raleigh: A gas-fueled roof fire broke out at the Raleigh Convention Center around 9:30 p.m. Monday. Firefighters contained it swiftly, and there were no injuries or interior damage. Inspectors planned to assess the structural damage on Tuesday. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Denny Hamlin, co-owner of 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, broke down in tears Monday while testifying as the first witness in a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR, recounting sacrifices amid his father’s illness and partnership with Jordan. (More)

➤ Winston-Salem: Don Phipps, former superintendent of Beaufort County and Caldwell County school districts, was named Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools’ new superintendent on Monday after being recommended by the North Carolina State Board of Education. (More)

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➤ Women’s Basketball AP Poll: UNC rose one spot to No. 11 this week, while NC State fell out of the Top 25 entirely. (See Poll)

➤ The North Carolina High School Athletic Association is weighing whether to sanction girls’ flag football as an official high school sport in the state. (More)

➤ Tonight, NC State men’s basketball travels to face No. 20 Auburn, while the NC State women’s basketball team takes on No. 9 Oklahoma on the road. (See Men’s and Women’s Details)

➤ NC State football will kick off next season against Virginia in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—the first-ever college football game played in South America. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ A High Point University survey found that 44% of North Carolinians planned to shop online on Cyber Monday, compared to 33% on Black Friday, reflecting trends that contributed to a record $11.8 billion in U.S. online sales over the holiday weekend. (See Details)

➤ North Carolina’s new Commercial Vehicle and Cargo Protection Act, effective Dec. 1, bans booting commercial vehicles as a Class 2 misdemeanor, mandates that tow companies return any towed commercial cargo, and combats predatory practices targeting truckers and businesses. (More)

➤ The iconic McDonald’s in Biltmore Village, which was flooded by Hurricane Helene in September 2024, is expected to reopen by Christmas with a new grand piano set to play daily. (See Photos)

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➤ A new map shows North Carolina has mostly dry counties with wet towns and moist counties, reflecting a broader patchwork of Southern states with alcohol-sale restrictions. (See Map)

➤ North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission agents safely removed a toddler’s swing from a 3½-year-old elk’s antlers on Dec. 1 after it was reported near Moody Farm Road. The swing appeared to pose no harm, and the elk was released unharmed. (See Photos)

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Have you dined at a K&W Cafeteria?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Wish I had
4. Can’t remember

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever served a cause by going on a mission trip?

1. No: 38%
2. Yes: 33%
3. Not yet: 29%

What did K&W Cafeteria originally start as?

Show me the answer