Isaias Remnants Spark Tornadoes, Floods

Remnants of Hurricane Isaias triggered severe weather across North Carolina on Sunday, spawning multiple tornadoes, flash flooding, and landslides. 

At least five tornadoes touched down in central North Carolina on Sunday, according to WRAL and the National Weather Service, which said three to six more were possible. Damage reports ranged from overturned vehicles in Fayetteville to damaged homes in North Raleigh. Several dozen buildings were also damaged or destroyed.

In the mountains, heavy rain Saturday night, with localized totals of 8 to 10 inches along the Blue Ridge, caused landslides along roads in McDowell and Mitchell counties.

In Burke County, people clinging to a dock were rescued from the Catawba River. Rescue crews also helped hikers stranded by high water near Linville on Saturday night.

In the east, a weather spotter observed a tornado near Atkinson in Pender County. No injuries had been reported as of Sunday afternoon.

Ex-NC State Trainer Held on $2M+ Bond

Former NC State sports medicine director Robert Murphy Jr. faces a $2.25 million bond after a Wake County judge maintained the amount Friday. He is charged with nine felony counts of sexual contact under the pretext of medical treatment and 23 counts of sexual battery.

Authorities arrested Murphy in Florida on Sept. 23 following a Sept. 14 grand jury indictment. He was extradited to North Carolina on Thursday and appeared in court virtually. The next hearing is set for Nov. 2.

The charges stem from allegations by 14 former male Wolfpack athletes about incidents from 2016 to 2021. Murphy worked at the university from 2012 until he resigned in 2022 amid misconduct claims.

A civil lawsuit by more than 30 athletes was dismissed in June on procedural grounds. The plaintiffs are appealing.

NC Sues Atrium Over Health Plan

State Treasurer Brad Briner sued Atrium Health on Friday, asking a Wake County judge to shut down a new Atrium program he says threatens the State Health Plan that covers 750,000 state workers, retirees, and families.

The plan is moving to a tiered pricing system next year that charges members more to use “non-preferred” Atrium and WakeMed while discounting “preferred” systems UNC Health and Novant. Atrium’s new “Affordability Protection Program” would pay its patients to offset those higher costs and keep them from switching.

Briner argues only the treasurer can set the plan’s copays and deductibles, and that Atrium’s program “single-handedly threatened” the plan’s stability. Atrium says it strongly disagrees and that its focus is affordable care for public servants.

Open enrollment opens today and was set to run through Nov. 6, but that deadline was extended due to the lawsuit. The dispute lands as Atrium’s proposed merger with Raleigh-based WakeMed awaits regulatory review.

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➤ Wake County: Voters will decide on a $680 million school bond this fall that would fund repairs and upgrades to existing schools, a shift from past bonds that leaned more heavily toward building new ones. (More)

➤ Rutherford County: Lake Lure officials opened the dam’s tainter gates 3 feet overnight Saturday, then widened them to 6 feet Sunday morning, warning people in low-lying areas along the Broad River to expect rising water. (See Photos)

➤ Trinity: Several Trinity High School students suffered a medical emergency Friday after reportedly eating THC gummies, drawing EMS and deputies to the Randolph County campus. The sheriff’s office is investigating. (More)

➤ Durham: Rocky Mount City Councilman Timothy Jerome “T.J.” Walker Jr. faces felony and misdemeanor gun charges after authorities say he brought a firearm onto the North Carolina Central University campus in Durham Saturday during homecoming. (More)

➤ Whiteville: More than 3,000 elementary students will explore helicopters, public safety vehicles, and heavy equipment at Southeastern Community College’s second Careers on Wheels event on Oct. 22. (More)

➤ Duck: Robin and Kevin Carey held their final Yappy Hour fundraiser on Oct. 7 as they sell their Outer Barks dog shop, but new owners Jennifer and Robby Ann Carter say they will revive the dog-friendly events next summer. (See Photos)

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➤ Charlie Briscoe took home the win at the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, beating out Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Christopher Bell in the second-closest finish in the history of the venue. (More)

➤ Carson Kvapil started on pole in the weather-postponed Blue Cross NC 300 at Charlotte on Sunday night as NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series playoff drivers competed under the lights. (See Results)

➤ The Carolina Panthers are the most injured team in the league, according to a recent tally that looked at total games missed by starters per team. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes rolled to their fourth consecutive victory on Saturday, taking down the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | Soccer | NBA | NASCAR | F1 | Golf

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➤ Companies are quietly overcharging you every month, and most Americans have no idea how much it adds up to. (Tune in here)

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In case you missed it, last week’s Flyover Focus counted down 10 American traditions that are quietly disappearing. How many did you grow up with and completely forget about? (Watch Now)

➤ Walmart is bringing drone delivery to parts of Gastonia after finishing a drone facility at its store on North Myrtle School Road, with flights expected to begin soon and cover about a 6-mile radius. (See Photo)

➤ Several Western North Carolina professionals under 40 earned spots on Business North Carolina’s annual Trailblazers list, which spotlights business leaders in the state’s smaller cities and towns. (See List)

➤ Greensboro’s Cone Health and Whitsett plastics maker Core Technology Molding are recruiting workers years in advance. Core Technology will host 800 students this month, from elementary school through college, and Cone Health is building pipelines with local schools and colleges. (More)

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➤ The 2026 North Carolina State Fair, opening Oct. 15, will showcase the fair’s largest Ferris wheel yet: the 230-foot America 250 Wheel featuring 45 presidential gondolas and 14-mile views. (See Photo)

➤ Grammy-nominated rapper and North Carolina native Petey Pablo will headline the halftime show at the Charlotte Hornets’ home opener Oct. 23 against the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. (See Details)

➤ An Asheville woman’s campaign to “pardon Dolly,” a black bear named for Dolly Parton that broke into homes and injured a resident, drew more than 21,000 signatures and persuaded wildlife officials to drop plans to euthanize her. If she’s caught, she’ll go to the North Carolina Zoo temporarily. (See Photos)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Amazon keeps a secret list of assumptions about every shopper, and the people finding theirs are not amused. Here’s where it’s hiding. (Hear Details)

➤ Book publishers have spent all year fighting AI in public. Behind closed doors, three of the biggest are doing something else entirely. (Listen Now)

➤ Two years together and still no idea what your partner earns? There’s a right moment to ask, and most couples miss it. (Hear More)

Would you ride the new 230-foot American 250 Wheel at the North Carolina State Fair?

1. Absolutely
2. No way
3. Maybe

Yesterday’s Results:

Which type of eater are you?

1. A fast eater: 44%
2. A one-at-a-time eater: 15%
3. Other: 10%
4. A picky eater: 9%
5. A spiller: 8%
6. A salter: 8%
7. A talker: 6%

What item belonging to UNC President Bill Friday did President John F. Kennedy accidentally take with him following the University Day event in 1961?

Show me the answer