Lawmakers Ponder DMV-NCDOT Split

North Carolina lawmakers are considering splitting the Division of Motor Vehicles from the North Carolina Department of Transportation to slash long wait times, following an August audit of the DMV that led State Auditor Dave Boliek to brand the partnership as “dysfunctional.”

The House Select Committee on Government Efficiency addressed the audit Wednesday. The audit found that wait times exceeded 2.5 hours in 13.8% of visits, a nearly 80% increase since 2019.

Supporters of the split say it would allow more of the DMV’s revenue—which makes up 30% of NCDOT’s total—to be reinvested into DMV operations, amid low morale among overworked staff.

DMV Commissioner Paul Tine opposes the separation, touting the success of online renewal expansions, a hiring blitz, and process improvements that helped cut wait times by 31% in recent months, despite an increase in office visits.

NC Supreme Court Hears Private School Suit

North Carolina’s Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in Doug and Nicole Turpin’s lawsuit against Charlotte Latin School, which expelled their children in 2021 after the Turpins raised concerns about curriculum and school policies.

The parents allege breach of contract, defamation, and unfair trade practices, claiming the school expelled their children in retaliation for their criticism of its mask policy and use of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the curriculum, despite inviting parental dialogue.

The Turpins, backed by Republican lawmakers and Moms for Liberty, warned that unchecked expulsions threaten private school accountability. Charlotte Latin School says judicial oversight would homogenize education. 

A trial judge dismissed the case in 2024, citing the school’s contractual discretion, and the Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal. Supreme Court justices, led by Chief Justice Paul Newby, questioned whether alleged retaliation for parental concerns violated good-faith contract duties.

NASCAR Driver Kyle Busch Sues Pacific Life

NASCAR driver Kyle Busch and his wife, Samantha, are suing Pacific Life Insurance Company and one of its agents in Lincoln County Superior Court, alleging they were misled in an $8.5 million retirement scam involving a misrepresented Indexed Universal Life policy pitched as a “tax-free retirement plan.”

The couple claims agents used misleading projections and hidden fees to secure $10.4 million in premiums, resulting in a riskier product than promised.

Kyle Busch called it a “financial trap,” while Samantha warned it “could happen to anyone.” Their attorney says the case exposes industry-wide deceptive marketing of complex policies as safe retirement vehicles.

Pacific Life, which recently announced a $12.3 million investment in a South End Charlotte office, declined specific comment and emphasized its 160-year commitment to integrity.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Supreme Court temporarily stayed Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s environmental contamination lawsuit against DuPont and Chemours, blocking a Business Court hearing that had been scheduled Thursday in Winston-Salem. (More)

➤ Charlotte: A UNC-Charlotte report shows that the city added 78,255 people in 2024, and the median home price rose 3.2% to $443,850. Housing supply grew faster than households, and only 17.8% of homes sold under $300,000. (More)

➤ NC State: The university expanded its Wolf Pack Connect program to all 58 community colleges across the state, guaranteeing admission to students earning an associate’s degree with a 3.0 GPA or higher in eligible majors. (More)

➤ Duke: Former university employees allege that 2019 layoffs at the Duke Clinical Research Institute violated Duke’s last-in, first-out policy by arbitrarily subdividing departments, disregarding seniority, and failing to provide 60-day notice. Duke has not commented on the issue. (More)

➤ Greene County: Democratic Rep. Don Davis, who resides in a county previously included in District 1 and may be gerrymandered out of his seat under a new Republican-approved congressional map, has introduced a bill banning most mid-decade redistricting, with exceptions. (More)

➤ Transylvania County: A rockslide near the Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway struck a pickup truck Wednesday night. The driver and passenger were unharmed, and the road reopened on Thursday. (See Photos)

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➤ Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel has made 16 3-pointers through his first four games with Charlotte—an NBA rookie record. (More)

➤ No. 7 Duke, No. 9 NC State, and No. 11 UNC were all picked to finish in the top three of the ACC this year in women’s basketball. It’s the first time the Triangle trio has held those spots in the preseason poll since the 2001-02 season. (More)

➤ UNC basketball beat Winston-Salem State 95-53 in its final exhibition game of the season on Wednesday night. (See Highlights)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ The North Carolina Free Enterprise Foundation’s 2025 Legislative Business Rankings show Senate Republicans averaged 94.94% pro-business votes and House Republicans averaged 83.80%, while Senate Democrats averaged 37.13% and House Democrats averaged 40.56%. (More)

➤ Imports of rare earth minerals and related materials into North Carolina surged 211% to $1.1 billion year to date through July amid export control fears, with China dominating 90% of supply and President Trump seeking deals with Japan and Vietnam. (More)

➤ Affordable Care Act premiums offered through North Carolina’s insurance marketplace will rise nearly 30% on average in 2026, affecting around one million residents as open enrollment starts Nov. 1. Rate hikes range from 16.88% to 36.4%. (More)

➤ U.S. Sen. Ted Budd and U.S. House Rep. David Rouzer, both North Carolina Republicans, lead a bipartisan effort to urge President Trump to protect flue-cured tobacco farmers as China halts 2025 buys, risking $220 million in losses. (More)

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➤ Mission Health hospitals partnered with local law enforcement to collect more than 300 pounds of unused or expired medication during an Oct. 25 Crush the Crisis event. Asheville’s Mission Hospital led in collection totals with 146 pounds. (See Photos)

➤ Boone was named the “Ski Capital of the South” by Travel + Leisure thanks to three resorts in the area that offer night skiing, tubing, mountain views, cozy restaurants, and access to the Blue Ridge Craft Trails. (More)

➤ A ranking of the 100 best cities for Halloween—based on candy access for trick-or-treaters, safety, and event affordability—puts Charlotte at No. 62, Raleigh at No. 67, Greensboro at No. 78, Winston-Salem at No. 80, and Durham at No. 93. (See List)

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Are you attending a Halloween party tonight?

1. Yes, in costume
2. Yes, but not in costume
3. Nope, not my thing
4. Does handing out candy count?

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you use an app like OpenTable to book restaurant reservations?

1. No: 42%
2. Yes: 35%
3. I’m open to trying it: 23%

What’s the oldest private school in North Carolina?

Show me the answer