NC Falls Short on Special Ed

A new report from the U.S. Department of Education found that North Carolina public schools are failing to meet federal special education standards under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

North Carolina received a “needs assistance” designation for the second consecutive year, triggering increased federal oversight. It is one of 27 states that fall into this category.

Issues flagged include delayed student evaluations, slow complaint resolutions, and inadequate preparation for adulthood among disabled students age 16 and older. Compliance with transition plans for older students has plummeted from 94.7% in 2009-10 to 44.6% in 2023-24, coinciding with higher dropout rates and lower post-graduation employment or college enrollment.

State officials attribute these shortcomings to a teacher shortage, with 1,544 special education positions vacant or filled by unlicensed staff last fall.

Coastal Storm Closes Roads and Beaches

A powerful nor’easter battered the Outer Banks on Sunday with 3 to 5 feet of flooding, high winds, and hazardous surf.

The storm, which peaked around midday during high tide, suspended ferry service and closed N.C. Highway 12 in northern Ocracoke. The highway partially reopened on Hatteras Sunday morning.

Farther south at Wrightsville Beach, king tides, 2 to 4 inches of rain, and 40 mph winds closed beach accesses 9, 10, and 22-28, where strong waves, rip currents, and erosion were major concerns.

The storm is expected to intensify as it moves up the East Coast, bringing 20 to 60 mph wind gusts and causing coastal flooding, high surf, and beach erosion from the Carolinas to New England through Tuesday.

Graham Ministries Exit Accountability Group

North Carolina evangelist Franklin Graham has pulled his international ministries—the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse—from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), saying it has “inappropriately ventured” beyond its original mission.

The accountability group, co-founded 45 years ago by Franklin Graham’s father, Billy Graham, implemented a new “leader care” accreditation standard that Graham says “poses grave concerns about the appropriateness of ECFA addressing matters clearly outside its founding mission.”

The new standard requires all ECFA member organizations to develop a care plan for their senior leader that includes regular communication with a board-led spiritual team and time for rest, retreats, and physicals.

Graham said the council’s focus on personal spiritual maturity and behavior is “clearly outside the scope of ECFA’s expertise,” which he believes should focus solely on members’ financial practices.

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➤ Great Smoky Mountains: The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians voted unanimously last week to maintain U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road in Great Smoky Mountains National Park during the federal shutdown, ensuring access to support local economies. (More)

➤ Buncombe County: The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a 2.1 magnitude earthquake at 4:52 a.m. on Saturday that struck 4.7 miles northwest of Weaverville and 10.5 miles north-northwest of Asheville, with a depth of 11 kilometers. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: A new report found that Cape Hatteras National Seashore, the Wright Brothers National Memorial, and Fort Raleigh National Historic Site generated $913 million in economic output for the region in 2024. (More)

➤ Wilmington: An analysis of the 15 best East Coast beach towns ranked Wilmington ninth based on 62 livability indicators, including affordability, weather, safety, economy, education, health, and quality of life. (See List)

➤ Chapel Hill: A hearing in Hillsborough on Wednesday will address former UNC Provost Chris Clemens’ lawsuit against UNC-Chapel Hill, alleging that UNC violated open meetings and public records laws by using Signal’s auto-delete feature and holding closed sessions. (More)

➤ Winston-Salem: A federal judge is allowing left-of-center groups to subpoena election integrity activist Cleta Mitchell via email and priority mail for a trial challenging North Carolina’s 2023 same-day voter registration law. (More)

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➤ Rico Dowdle racked up 239 yards, and rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald hit a last-second field goal to lift the Panthers over the Cowboys 30-27 Sunday in Charlotte. Carolina is now 3-3. (Recap)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes right wing Seth Jarvis drilled the game-winning goal in overtime to give the Hurricanes a 4-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. (See Goal)

➤ The Savannah Bananas will play the Texas Tailgaters at UNC-Chapel Hill’s Kenan Stadium April 11-12, bringing their unique Banana Ball antics to the venue for the first time. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NFL | NHL | PGA | LPGA | Soccer | Tennis | NBA | NASCAR

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➤ Mooresville-based Lowe’s announced Oct. 9 it had acquired Foundation Building Materials for $8.8 billion, enhancing its professional builder offerings with 370 locations across the U.S. and Canada. (More)

➤ Swiss medical technology company Ypsomed announced a $195.4 million investment to build its first North American manufacturing facility in Holly Springs, creating 62 jobs initially. (More)

➤ Judge Michael Robinson on Friday denied DuPont and Chemours’ request to pause North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s environmental lawsuit, allowing an Oct. 30 hearing to proceed despite their appeal challenging his legal authority. (More)

➤ Techtronic Industries announced the relocation of its Charlotte floor care operations to Anderson, South Carolina, impacting 172 workers. Some may transfer, while others face layoffs by June 2026. (More)

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Trump Ally Says Congress Approved the Setup for a Digital Dollar 2.0

On July 17, the House passed the GENIUS Act. 

But according to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, it’s a bill that contains “the entire setup, groundwork, and infrastructure to move from cash to digital currency.”

If they control your money, they control you.

This may be your last move. 

>> Click here now.

➤ A doorbell camera captured a deer crashing through the storm door of a Fuquay-Varina home, followed by a doe. One of the deer walked through the kitchen and living room before exiting. No one was injured. (Watch Video)

➤ Nine-banded armadillos, first spotted in North Carolina in 2007, have been reported in 70 counties, with verified sightings in 28 counties as of 2022, according to a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission report. (More)

➤ North Carolina ranks third nationally for check fraud, with 559 reports per 100,000 residents, based on Financial Crimes Enforcement Network data from September 2024 through August 2025. (See Data)

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Have you been a victim of check fraud?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not that I know of

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you buy a beach house in the Outer Banks if you had the funds?

1. No: 39%
2. Depends on the location: 32%
3. Yes: 29%

Why did Jim Thorpe play baseball in North Carolina?

Show me the answer