Control of NC Senate Still Unsettled

Nearly a week after the Nov. 3 election, control of the North Carolina Senate still hinges on one race in Robeson, Hoke, and Scotland counties.

Republican Sen. Danny Britt led Democrat Catina Hamm by 245 votes Friday, down from 268 on election night, with hundreds of provisional ballots still being reviewed. If Britt holds on, Republicans keep a 26-24 majority. If Hamm overtakes him, a 25-25 split would let Democrat Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, the Senate’s presiding officer, cast tie-breaking votes.

Democrats have already flipped the state House for the first time since 2010, and Robert Reives has lined up the votes to become speaker in January.

Several U.S. House races remain uncalled, including one where 11-term Republican Virginia Foxx trails Democrat Chuck Hubbard by 99 votes. County boards canvass results Nov. 13, and recounts are possible.

NC State Finalizing Philip Rivers Hire

NC State is finalizing a deal to hire legendary quarterback Philip Rivers as its next head football coach, sources confirmed Sunday.

The former Wolfpack star and longtime NFL passer will replace Dave Doeren, who was fired after the team’s loss to Stanford.

Rivers, who threw for 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns at NC State from 2000-03 and later starred for the Chargers and Colts, has coached high school football at St. Michael Catholic in Alabama since 2021. His son, four-star quarterback Gunner Rivers, is already committed to the Wolfpack.

The hire represents a bold bet on star power and program loyalty as NC State seeks ACC contention and College Football Playoff relevance. The university’s Board of Trustees, which meets Nov. 12-13, must approve the contract.

NC Keeps Top Bond Rating

North Carolina has again earned the top AAA bond rating from both S&P Global and Moody’s, reaffirming the highest grade on its general obligation debt.

S&P pointed to the state’s balanced biennial budgets, strong cash reserves, low-to-moderate debt, and well-funded pensions. Moody’s noted North Carolina’s available fund balance ranks fourth among the 18 states it gave the Aaa rating.

Moody’s scale starts at Aaa (the highest), then goes down to Aa1, Aa2, Aa3, and so on. The rating lowers the interest the state pays when it borrows for roads, schools, and other projects. State Treasurer Brad Briner said the grade “matters to every North Carolinian” because cheaper borrowing frees up tax dollars.

S&P also affirmed a lower AA+ rating on the state’s appropriation debt, which depends on annual legislative funding rather than the state’s full faith and credit.

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➤ Apex: Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, is held on a $1 million bond, charged with DWI and 16 felonies, including felony death by vehicle and eight counts of felony hit-and-run. Troopers say his car crossed the center line Saturday on Optimist Farm Road, killing one cyclist and injuring at least 20 others. (More)

➤ Raleigh: NC State’s Sigma Nu fraternity will shut down after its national organization suspended the Beta Tau Chapter over hazing allegations and the university revoked its recognition. Campus police are investigating the matter, and charging decisions could come within weeks. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: NCDOT will hold three public meetings in Nags Head, Rodanthe, and Hatteras Nov. 17-19 on its SAND Plan, a long-term effort to shore up the 11-mile stretch of N.C. 12 between Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe that repeated nor’easters keep burying under ocean overwash. (More)

➤ Durham: Stephen Miller, who graduated from Duke University’s Trinity College in 2007 and once wrote for the student paper, will become the White House chief of staff today. He replaces Susie Wiles, who is shifting to President Trump’s political operation. (More)

➤ Albemarle Sound: State fisheries officials propose sinking 300 concrete spans from the Alligator River bridge, which will be retired when its replacement opens in 2028, to create a 125-acre artificial reef for fish and anglers. A public meeting is set for Dec. 3. (See Photo)

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➤ NC State men’s soccer pulled off an upset in the ACC tournament quarterfinals yesterday, taking down nationally-ranked Wake Forest 1-0. Meanwhile, UNC took down Clemson 3-2 in its quarterfinal game. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes thrashed the Chicago Blackhawks 9-2 on Saturday after a dominant 4-0 first period. The nine goals tie the team’s franchise record since relocating from Hartford in 1997. (More)

➤ The NCAA announced the at-large bids for the 2026 field hockey tournament late last night. Duke, Wake Forest, and UNC were all in the running to back the field, with UNC looking to make its 24th consecutive appearance in the bracket. (See Bracket)

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In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down the 10 dog breeds that make the best pets. So what separates a great dog from the rest? Is it how smart they are, loyalty, size, or how much hair ends up on your couch?

Everybody thinks their dog’s breed belongs at the top, so where does your four-legged friend actually land on our list? Find out here!

In case you missed it, last week’s Flyover Focus dug into the strange but important history of Daylight Saving Time. (Watch Here)

➤ First Bank opened a more than 27,000-square-foot office in Charlotte’s SouthPark on Oct. 19, replacing its 3,000-square-foot Congress Street branch, which held $121.8 million in deposits as of June 30. The company runs nine offices in the Charlotte area. (More)

➤ Several couples who hired Raleigh’s Holly Christina Photography are finally receiving unedited wedding photos and some video clips after months of delays, a company shutdown, and a court order requiring delivery of the long-overdue memories. (More)

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➤ The Salisbury Police Department welcomed a new explosives detection dog, K-9 Mike, named for fallen Greensboro Officer Michael Horan, who was killed in the line of duty in December 2024. (See Photo)

➤ A female bald eagle found barely alive in an Asheboro landfill has been rehabilitated by the North Carolina Zoo’s wildlife center and released last week after regaining her strength and health. (See Photos)

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➤ An impaired driver plowed into a pack of weekend cyclists outside Raleigh, and the man now facing 18 charges is 76 years old. (Hear More)

➤ Melania Trump showed up at the LSU-Alabama game with a $7.2 million gift, and it had nothing to do with football. (Listen Now)

➤ Two-thirds of kids have had an imaginary friend by age 7, and researchers say the invisible milk cartons and ballerinas are doing more than keeping them company. (Hear Details)

Have you seen a bald eagle in person?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever been on a cruise?

1. Yes: 61%
2. Not interested: 19%
3. No: 15%
4. Not yet: 5%

What superlative does the North Carolina Zoo claim?

Show me the answer

If you’re a fan of our Trivia section, you’ll love our new book, The Flyover Book of Trivia 2027, an illustrated collection of 100 of our favorite questions and answers. (Buy It Now)