Visitor Spending Hits Record High in NC

A newly released study commissioned by Visit NC reports that visitors spent a record $36.7 billion across 71 counties in North Carolina during 2024, up 3.1% from 2023.

Mecklenburg County led with $6.4 billion, while Cleveland, Burke, and Iredell led the state’s growth, joining Stokes, Union, Gaston, and Ashe counties in posting double-digit visitor spending gains. Stokes also topped the state in direct tourism employment growth, with an 8.8% increase.

Despite Hurricane Helene’s impact, the state welcomed nearly 40 million domestic visitors, ranking fifth nationally, and saw a 16.5% surge in international spending to $1.2 billion.

A well-known out-of-state visitor sparked speculation that recently engaged Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce may be scouting Biltmore as a potential wedding venue after Kelce’s mother, Donna, posted about visiting the estate this past weekend. Gov. Josh Stein endorsed the idea, calling the Asheville estate a “wonderful place for a wedding.”

Forbes Ranks NC Schools Among Top Colleges

Forbes released its 2026 “America’s Top Colleges” rankings on Tuesday, with Duke University earning the highest spot among North Carolina schools at No. 22.

UNC-Chapel Hill followed at No. 35, making it the state’s top public university, while NC State ranked No. 66 and Wake Forest came in at No. 98.

Other North Carolina schools on the list include Davidson (59), Elon (147), UNC-Charlotte (236), Appalachian State (273), UNC-Wilmington (440), East Carolina (471), and High Point University (491).

Forbes based the rankings on factors including alumni salary, student debt, graduation and retention rates, return on investment, leadership, and academic success.

Leaders Advance America 250 NC Plans

The North Carolina Semiquincentennial Committee convened on Aug. 21 to advance plans for the state’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, dubbed America 250 NC.

The committee discussed the North Carolina Brigade Project, a traveling exhibit honoring Revolutionary War regiments set to debut at the 2026 National Congress of the Sons of the American Revolution in Greensboro. The exhibit will recreate a rare 1777 sketch of North Carolina soldiers by Pierre Eugène Du Simitière, with the original preserved at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia.

Other efforts include highway markers, a dedication of the Battle at Earl’s Ford in Polk County on Oct. 25, and the John Locke Foundation’s “Freedom’s Vanguard” initiative, which invites papers about North Carolina’s revolutionary role by Sept. 1, offering monetary awards for the top three submissions.

Learn more at the America 250 NC website.

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➤ Davidson and Union Counties: The state Board of Elections voted 3-2 to reject Sunday voting in upcoming municipal elections, calling it a “day of rest” for county directors who would otherwise be working 17 days straight. (More)

➤ UNC-Charlotte: The university froze hiring for non-essential roles and cut a $30-$60 monthly device stipend for 600 employees, citing a state budget stalemate and $14.3 million in losses from 17 cut federal grants. (More)

➤ UNC-Pembroke: Christopher Deas, 49, who has a history of grabbing women’s feet on college campuses, was arrested after being caught in the act at UNC-Pembroke. He was arrested at Wake Forest University for the same act last year. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill: Facilities workers boarded up a student-created pro-Palestinian mural under orders from the chancellor’s office. The university’s legal counsel will determine next steps. (See Mural)

➤ Hendersonville: The 79th annual North Carolina Apple Festival kicks off today with a pancake breakfast, street fair, and opening ceremony. Main Street will close Monday after 2 p.m. for the King Apple Parade. (More)

➤ Pinehurst: The fifth annual Pinehurst Barbecue Festival kicks off tonight with the High on the Hog dinner, followed by Saturday’s Barbecue Reimagined event and Sunday’s Pitmaster Invitational featuring seven top North Carolina pitmasters. (More)

➤ Ocracoke: The fourth annual Ocracoke Seafood Festival is Saturday at Berkley Barn, with seafood served starting at 4 p.m., along with live music, a silent auction, and a live auction. (More)

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➤ Gio Lopez was named UNC’s starting quarterback for its season opener against TCU. Lopez is a transfer from South Alabama, where he threw 18 touchdown passes and ran for seven last season. (More)

➤ Garinger High School snapped a 48-game football losing streak last week with a win over Winston-Salem Prep. The team hadn’t won a game since 2019. (More)

➤ Duke women’s soccer fell from No. 1 to No. 3 in the latest coaches poll despite a 2-0 start. UNC slid from No. 12 to No. 22 after opening the season 2–2. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NCAAF | Soccer | WNBA | U.S. Open | Golf

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➤ Wolfspeed reported a $1.6 billion loss in fiscal 2024-25, citing start-up costs for its Siler City wafer plant, underutilized New York chip factory, and a struggling electric vehicle chip market, amid Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. (More)

➤ Sheetz opened its 800th store Thursday in Raleigh and is celebrating by offering two free hot dogs with any purchase at all locations through Sept. 2. (More)

➤ Asheville residents spoke out at a city council hearing against a plan for 35 homes on a 5.8-acre Springside Road plot, citing high density, inadequate infrastructure, and traffic safety concerns. (More)

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➤ NASA’s TOMEX+ sounding rocket launched from Virginia’s Wallops Flight Facility Wednesday night, producing visible vapor trails in Cary and Franklinton. The mission aims to study turbulence at the edge of space. (Watch Video)

➤ Netflix reportedly canceled The Waterfront—filmed largely in Wilmington and Southport—after just one season, despite the show spending five weeks on the platform’s global top 10. (More)

➤ Duke University launched DukeGPT, a generative AI model for campus inquiries, alongside free ChatGPT-4o access for undergraduate students, staff, faculty, and professional students. (More)

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Are you going to a festival this weekend?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Maybe

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you have a library card?

1. Yes: 47%
2. I used to: 27%
3. No: 26%

Pierre Eugène Du Simitière’s 1777 sketch of North Carolina soldiers includes two female camp followers. What role did female camp followers play during the Revolutionary War?

Show me the answer