Both Jan. 1 Terror Suspects Served at Fort Liberty

Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect in New Orleans’ deadly New Year’s Day terrorist attack, is identified in a 2013 Facebook photo as a staff sergeant and information technology specialist for Fort Liberty’s 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team. 

Voting records confirm Jabbar previously lived in Fayetteville. Divorce filings in Texas listed his employer as Fort Bragg, which was renamed Fort Liberty in 2023.

A U.S. Army spokesperson confirmed Jabbar became a staff sergeant after a 2009 Afghanistan deployment. He also served as an Army human resource specialist and, later, as an Army Reserve IT specialist. Jabbar was honorably discharged in 2020.

Meanwhile, the suspect in the Jan. 1 Las Vegas attack, who was identified as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, also served at Fort Liberty. Livelsberger appears to have shot himself in the head inside a Tesla Cybertruck before it exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.

There is no record of Livelsberger having been in the same unit as Jabbar. Livelsberger had served in the U.S. Army since 2006, which included time as a Green Beret. 

Security Heightened for Duke’s Mayo Bowl

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department announced Thursday that “robust security measures” will be in place during tonight’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Police did not share specific details about the enhancements but emphasized they will create a safe environment for fans to “come out and enjoy the game.”

Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden said his deputies will also be on alert.

Security will mirror that of Carolina Panthers’ games, which enforce a clear bag policy with bags no larger than 12-by-6-by-12 inches. 

The Minnesota Golden Gophers take on the Virginia Tech Hokies at 7:30 p.m. and are favored to win by 8.5 points.

Cooper Commutes 15 Death Sentences

On his final day in office, Gov. Roy Cooper commuted death sentences for 15 convicted murderers to life in prison without parole.

Cooper said he thoroughly reviewed clemency petitions offered by 89 of North Carolina’s 136 offenders on death row—as well as input from prosecutors and victims’ families—before making his commutation decisions.

A Winston-Salem man whose brother was killed by one of the offenders said many of his family members are upset by Cooper’s commutations, saying that his brother’s killer is “escaping what was handed down to him.”

Cooper’s term ended Wednesday morning when fellow Democrat Josh Stein was sworn in as the state’s 76th governor.

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➤ Statewide: Former Gov. Roy Cooper and newly elected Gov. Josh Stein are seeking an injunction to block a state law that prevents Stein from appointing a state highway patrol commander. (More)

➤ Mooresville: Forty vehicles participated in a street takeover Monday night prompting the seizure of six trucks. Drivers were charged with street takeover offenses, reckless driving, and property damage. (See Photos)

➤ Wake County: Meanwhile, two street racing drivers’ actions ended in a crash, with one vehicle flying off a 15-foot embankment and running into an air conditioning unit attached to a home. No one was injured. (More)

➤ Buncombe County: Deaverview Mountain is closer to becoming a 343-acre park after receiving a $4.5 million National Park Service grant. (More)

➤ Wilmington: K&W Cafeteria is permanently closing due to lengthy renovations. The restaurant has nine other North Carolina locations. (More)

➤ Apex was named North Carolina’s safest small town thanks to a low crime cost per capita of $159 in a MoneyGeek report. The report also lists the 25 safest small cities and towns in the U.S. (See List)

➤ The Duke Blue Devils fell to the Ole Miss Rebels 52-20 in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl Thursday night, making their overall bowl record eight wins and nine losses. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers have been eliminated from the playoffs but can still play spoiler by eliminating their divisional rivals, the Atlanta Falcons, with a Week 18 victory on Sunday. (More)

➤ Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball is listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Detroit Pistons. Ball has missed the team’s two previous games with ankle and wrist injuries. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Duke Energy Carolinas cut rates by 6.2% on Jan. 1 for customers in western North Carolina, Charlotte, Durham, and the Triad due to falling fuel prices and the company’s annual rate adjustment. (More)

➤ Raleigh-Durham International Airport has been named the fastest-growing airport in the U.S. and is projected to carry more than 15 million passengers in 2024—its busiest year ever. (More)

➤ Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium was awarded the annual “Worst Economic Development Deal of the Year” by the Center for Economic Accountability due to the high cost of its renovations, lack of transparency, poor returns, and other factors. (See Details)

➤ Jeff Bezos’ and Lauren Sánchez’s Day 1 Families Fund donated a $5 million grant to the Salvation Army of Greensboro. (More)

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➤ Introducing New Year’s babies born on Jan. 1 in the Triangle, Charlotte, and Asheville. (See Triangle, Charlotte, and Asheville Photos)

➤ A new map illustrates the income needed to be included in each state’s top 1% of earners, with North Carolina’s at $665,000. (See Map)

➤ Mobile driver’s licenses will become an option for North Carolinians on July 1 and will be considered the “legal equivalent” of traditional, hard-card licenses. (More)

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Have you ever eaten at a K&W Cafeteria?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Can’t remember

Yesterday’s Results:

If you could live in one of North Carolina’s most expensive zip codes, which one would it be?

1. None – there’s no place like home: 37.2%
2. 28480 – Wrightsville Beach: 25.2%
3. 28717 – Cashiers: 21.2%
4. 28207 – Charlotte: 16.4%

What makes Duke’s Mayonnaise a cult favorite in the South?

Show me the answer