Illegal Immigrant Charged in New Rail Attack

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested 33-year-old Oscar Solarzano minutes after he allegedly stabbed a man in the chest on a Charlotte Blue Line light rail train around 5 p.m. Friday near North Brevard and 22nd Street.

Witnesses said an intoxicated Solarzano shouted at passengers before attacking the victim with a large knife during a verbal dispute. The victim remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

Solarzano, a Honduran national who entered the U.S. illegally and was previously deported, has been charged with attempted murder and related charges. He is being held without bond and is reportedly under an ICE detainer.

The incident follows the fatal August stabbing of Iryna Zarutska on the same light rail system. Decarlos Brown, who has been charged in her death, was heard in recently released bodycam footage making 911 calls about “man-made material” controlling him.

Federal Judge Backs End to Ballot Envelope Suit

U.S. Chief District Judge Richard Myers approved a settlement Thursday ending a Republican lawsuit against North Carolina’s State Board of Elections (NCSBE) over mail-in ballot envelope rules.

The suit challenged a 2021 NCSBE memo allowing county boards to count certain absentee ballots not sealed in required container-return envelopes, alleging violations of state law.

The board, now controlled by Republicans, must reconsider the GOP’s 2024 request for a declaratory ruling within 60 days. Any policy changes would apply only to future elections and not affect ballots already counted. The case was dismissed without prejudice, enabling potential refiling.

This resolution coincides with the NCSBE’s renewed request for full Social Security numbers from the DMV to verify voter eligibility, remove duplicates and deceased registrants, and check citizenship via federal databases ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Light Snow Possible Across Central NC Today

Central North Carolina faces another round of isolated light snow this morning as an arctic front ushers in highs in the upper 30s to low 40s and lows plunging into the teens overnight.

At least two weather models show light rain transitioning to snow north of I-85 late this morning, with up to an inch of accumulation possible on grassy surfaces. Areas south of I-85 may get trace amounts or sleet instead.

Highs in the mid-50s are expected by Wednesday, but more arctic air arrives across the state this weekend.

Looking ahead, forecasts for Christmas Day indicate cooler-than-average conditions across the state, influenced by a pattern favoring drier, variable winter weather.

➤ Johnston County: Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against 38-year-old Wellington Dickens III, of Zebulon, who’s charged with murdering three of his children and a stepson through prolonged neglect and over-discipline. The next hearing is scheduled for March 27. (More)

➤ Madison: In early 2026, the Lawson Family Murder Museum will debut six rare, high-quality photos from the infamous 1929 Christmas Day slayings in Germanton, where Charlie Lawson killed his wife and six of his seven children. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Organizers announced Friday that the Lovin’ Life Music Festival—a three-day Uptown event featuring more than 50 artists on three stages headlined by stars like Post Malone, the Dave Matthews Band, and Stevie Nicks—will pause in 2026 due to “circumstances outside of our control.” (More)

➤ Buxton: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resumed excavations on Nov. 30 at the Buxton Naval Facility Formerly Used Defense Site, uncovering additional fuel lines, concrete slabs, pipes, and deeper petroleum contamination from Cold War-era operations. (More)

➤ Ocracoke: The Light Station’s Double Keepers’ Quarters is being raised 10 feet for storm repairs; mold, lead, and asbestos remediation; and repainting. It will then be lowered to 5 feet above its original height, and an accessible pathway will be added. (See Photos)

➤ Wilmington: The Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center building, which had been under construction but exploded on Aug. 19 after a vehicle crashed into a gas pipe, is set for demolition starting tomorrow. The process is expected to take 30 to 45 days, with reconstruction to follow. (More)

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➤ Duke was left out of the College Football Playoff bracket when the final rankings were revealed yesterday, despite winning the ACC. (More)

➤ Charlotte Hornets star point guard LaMelo Ball was one of several starters who missed yesterday’s game against the Denver Nuggets due to injuries. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes got back on track on Saturday night, defeating the Nashville Predators 6-3 after two power-play goals set the tone early. (More)

➤ Michael Jordan testified Friday in the NASCAR antitrust trial, saying he is suing because the league’s model shortchanges teams and “someone had to step forward and challenge the entity.” (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer | PGA | F1

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➤ Spanish retailer Zara, known for developing and distributing new apparel faster than other retailers and offering high-tech features like self-checkouts and sensor-equipped fitting rooms, opened its first North Carolina location at SouthPark Mall Thursday. (More)

➤ Despite a specific portion of production at Greensboro-based Neese’s Country Sausage being shut down in September for failing to maintain listeria controls, the facility hasn’t been completely shut down, and no recalls have been issued. (More)

➤ East Fork Pottery announced a $2.5 million investment to expand its Asheville operations, doubling production capacity, sustaining 125 jobs, and creating 40 new engineering and manufacturing positions over the next three years. (More)

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➤ NC State researchers have developed new statistical methods to fix a major flaw in mapping animal traits, accurately pinpointing DNA variants in related livestock like pigs and cattle, and improving the process of breeding for traits such as growth and feed efficiency. (More)

➤ Chimney Rock State Park held its 28th annual Santa on the Chimney event Saturday, featuring Santa rappelling down Chimney Rock to practice for Christmas Eve deliveries. He’ll return Dec. 13 with Mrs. Claus to make hourly rappels from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (More)

➤ A 16-foot-tall, brightly lit holiday camel debuted Friday in Winston-Salem’s Innovation Quarter at Bailey Park, nodding to the city’s “Camel City” nickname and tobacco heritage. (Watch Report)

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What’s your Christmas decorating strategy?

1. Classy with mostly white lights
2. Flashy with multicolor lights
3. Somewhere in between
4. No decorations for me

Yesterday’s Results:

How many winter coats do you own?

1. Two or more: 51%
2. One: 27%
3. None: 22%

What Virginia bluegrass duo recorded a song about the Lawson family murders of 1929?

Show me the answer