Teachers Stage Walkouts to Push for Higher Pay

Hundreds of North Carolina teachers staged coordinated walkouts on Wednesday to demand higher pay for advanced degrees, caps on healthcare premiums, the unfreezing of pay increases for experienced teachers, and the restoration of retirement health benefits.

Organized by NC Teachers in Action, the walkout involved educators from more than 50 schools across Wake, New Hanover, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, and Gaston school systems. Demonstrators gathered at intersections and landmarks, holding signs expressing their demands.

School disruptions were minimal, with most classrooms covered by substitutes, but the group plans monthly protests on the seventh day of each month through April to pressure lawmakers amid a stalled state budget.

The walkout prompted an opinion piece in the Carolina Journal, which argued that the walkouts—also described as “callouts”—constitute illegal strikes under state law rather than protected protests, on the grounds that they disrupt public education and violate public policy.

NC Maintains Vax Schedule Despite CDC Changes

North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) officials announced they will not alter the state’s childhood immunization guidance, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recent decision to scale back universal recommendations for several vaccines.

The federal changes, effective Jan. 5, no longer universally recommend vaccines for rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, meningococcal disease, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), COVID-19, and influenza.

The updated schedule follows President Trump’s Dec. 5 memorandum directing a review of U.S. vaccine practices to align with peer nations and rebuild public trust. The number of universally recommended vaccines was reduced from 18 to 11.

State health officials maintain that CDC recommendations are advisory, not mandatory. NCDHHS Division of Public Health Director Dr. Kelly Kimple stated that the scientific evidence around the excluded vaccines hasn’t changed and that they are “safe and effective.”

Panthers’ Playoff Guide: Tickets and Train Rides

The Carolina Panthers host the Los Angeles Rams in an NFL Wild Card playoff game Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium—the team’s first home postseason appearance in nearly a decade.

Most betting markets favor the Rams as 10.5-point favorites over the Panthers.

Tickets are available through verified resale platforms, with prices starting around $164 on sites like Gametime, rising to around $196 on Ticketmaster (excluding fees). Demand is high, so fans are urged to act quickly through trusted sellers.

Amtrak is offering train service to and from major North Carolina cities for the game, with tickets from Raleigh to Charlotte costing $29 each way, and tickets from Greensboro to Charlotte ranging from $20 to $25 each way, according to Amtrak’s ticket finder.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of Republican lawmakers over Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, upholding legislative changes shifting a Utilities Commission appointment and restricting judicial vacancy selections, while affirming Building Code Council reforms. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill: Meanwhile, the same court unanimously rejected a public records lawsuit by US Right to Know related to Dr. Ralph Baric’s coronavirus research and potential links to COVID-19’s origins. The ruling upheld UNC’s use of a research exemption, allowing it to shield over 5,200 unpublished records. (More)

➤ Durham: Ryan Camacho, charged with murdering Raleigh teacher Zoe Welsh during a break-in, previously burglarized a Durham woman’s home twice in 2021 and 2024, receiving only misdemeanor charges despite a lengthy criminal history. (More)

➤ Asheville: Officials are working to contact 26 people potentially exposed to measles in Mission Hospital’s ER waiting room on Jan. 4, after three Buncombe siblings visited while infected. They’re also assessing the air handling system to discover possible exposures. (More)

➤ Winston-Salem: Shots were fired into Mount Sinai Full Gospel Deliverance Center during a New Year’s Eve service just before 11:30 p.m., grazing an off-duty sheriff who was providing security. No other injuries occurred among the 80 congregants. (More)

➤ Camp Lejeune will clean two former training sites, UXO 28 and 29, contaminated with unexploded ordnance like bombs, shells, or grenades that failed to detonate as intended, with proposed measures including land use controls and warning signs. (More)

➤ Wilmington: A review of the USS North Carolina Battleship revealed ongoing financial reporting deficiencies, including over-reliance on single-person reporting and outdated paper processes. Accounting firm Cherry Bekaert recommended 13 improvements following a prior audit uncovering over $2 million in errors. (More)

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➤ Former UNC quarterback Gio Lopez is transferring to in-state rival Wake Forest. (More)

➤ LA Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford heaped praise on the Panthers’ defense ahead of their playoff matchup this weekend: “I have a ton of respect for them.” He added, “As far as the backend goes, it’s about as good as we’ve seen all year and it’ll be a good challenge for us.” (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets lost to the Toronto Raptors 97-96 Wednesday night on a buzzer-beating three-pointer by Immanuel Quickley. (More)

➤ Yesterday‘s Results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ Textron is urging the North Carolina Supreme Court to overturn an appeals ruling that says registering to do business in the state amounts to consenting to general personal jurisdiction, warning it fundamentally transforms the law and risks turning North Carolina into a magnet for unrelated lawsuits. (More)

➤ Three veteran wealth managers—Rob Ragsdale, Mark Paccione, and Larry Moye—have launched EQV Advisory, a fee-only fiduciary investment firm in Raleigh, attracting $200 million in assets since October. (More)

➤ Cary-based Corbett’s Burgers and Soda Bar is lowering prices at all locations after securing better supplier deals, passing cost savings directly to customers to boost traffic amid economic pressures. (More)

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➤ The North Carolina Museum of History shared photos of the progress on its $180 million renovation and 40,000-square-foot expansion, which includes accessibility upgrades, new climate controls, classrooms, a restaurant, and more. The museum is scheduled to reopen in 2028. (See Photos)

➤ The Ecusta Trail, a new paved rail-to-trail that will eventually connect Hendersonville and Brevard, opened its first 6-mile segment in July, featuring scenic river views, forests, and amenities. By decade’s end, it will extend over 19 miles to Brevard. (More)

➤ The 12th annual Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, organized by the North Carolina Coastal Federation, runs through Jan. 31. The initiative enlists the support of 21 commercial fishermen and women to remove abandoned crab pots and protect wildlife and waterways. (More)

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What’s your favorite January activity?

1. Mountain cabin weekend
2. Trip to the coast
3. Scenic hike
4. Home organizing project
5. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Should the state Board of Education expand reading and writing requirements to include audio texts?

1. No: 34%
2. Not sure: 34%
3. Yes: 32%

What was the first vaccine required by law in North Carolina?

Show me the answer