1-77 Toll Lane Hub Reopens

NCDOT reopened its I-77 South toll lanes community center on West Morehead Street in Charlotte Friday.

Residents can drop in on weekdays to weigh in on design and toll discounts, such as rate caps and free rides for carpools of three or more. Transportation Secretary Daniel Johnson said his team is there “to answer tough questions.”

The project would add 11 miles of toll lanes from uptown to the South Carolina line. Charlotte-area leaders pulled their support in May, then reversed course in September after the state promised at least $300 million in community benefits.

Supporters say the region’s growth demands the lanes, while opponents argue they’ll do little to fix daily bottlenecks. Neighbors in historically black McCrorey Heights have fought the elevated lane designs.

NCDOT expects to pick a developer in about a year, with construction not expected until 2030.

FBI Takes Wilmington Vote-Buying Case

The FBI has taken over the investigation into an alleged cash-for-votes scheme in last year’s Wilmington City Council race.

The North Carolina Republican Party referred screenshots to the State Board of Elections in October 2025, alleging a voter was offered $100 by text to back Democrats JC Lyle, Cassidy Santaguida, and Chakema Clinton-Quintana. All three won seats days later, unseating incumbents Luke Waddell and Clifford Barnett.

Elections board spokesman Jason Tyson said the board’s investigators reported the FBI took the case earlier this year. The FBI hasn’t commented.

At the time, State GOP Chairman Jason Simmons called the allegation “an affront to our shared values.” New Hanover County Democratic Party Chair Jill Hopman said her party offered to help get to the bottom of it and called the GOP’s response a “fearmongering performance.”

Vote-buying is a Class I felony under North Carolina law.

Driver Hits Cyclists Near Holly Springs

A driver struck a Capital Cycling Club group ride on Optimist Farm Road east of Holly Springs Saturday morning, killing one rider and injuring at least 20 others.

Patrick Turner, 63, of Cary, died at the scene. Seven riders were seriously hurt and 13 had minor injuries, Holly Springs Fire Chief LeRoy Smith said.

Authorities say a black Infiniti crossed the center line into the group of about 30 riders around 9:40 a.m., then ended up in a ditch about a half mile away.

The driver, Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, is charged with driving while impaired, felony death by motor vehicle, felony serious injury by motor vehicle, and careless and reckless driving.

Injured riders were taken to WakeMed Raleigh, WakeMed Cary, and UNC Health Holly Springs. Optimist Farm Road has since reopened.

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➤ Statewide: Campaign signs along state-maintained roads must come down by Friday, Nov. 13, 10 days after the election. NCDOT can pull any left behind, and anyone may remove an abandoned sign starting Dec. 14. Homeowners associations can set an earlier cutoff of Tuesday, Nov. 10. (More)

➤ Statewide: A glitch with a new payroll vendor delayed paychecks for thousands of Novant Health employees Friday. The health system says everyone will be paid and it will reimburse any overdraft or late fees caused by the delay. (See Details)

➤ Reidsville: Human remains recovered from Ruffin Rock Quarry this spring belong to Ronald Deon Washington, a Reidsville man missing since January 2020, police said Friday. Investigators have reclassified the case as a homicide but haven’t said how he died or named any suspects. (More)

➤ Durham: The city has an estimated 80 days of easily accessible water left, with its two main reservoirs at 31% capacity. Officials say they’re nearing the trigger for Stage 3 restrictions and are buying more water from Cary and the Orange Water and Sewer Authority. (See Details)

➤ Asheville: The city still hasn’t dipped to 32 degrees this fall, 16 days past its average first freeze date of Oct. 21. Forecasters see a better chance the weekend of Nov. 14-15. The latest first freeze on record came Nov. 15, 1916. (More)

➤ Macon County: Four Pisgah Climbing School climbers reached a dog stranded for three days on a crumbling 200-foot cliff near the Appalachian Trail in Macon County. Founder Karsten Delap won the dog’s trust with treats and lowered him in a harness. (Read Story)

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➤ Duke routed N.C. State 41-3 as Heisman hopeful Nate Sheppard ran for 217 yards and three touchdowns, and Andrew Pellicciotta returned a missed field goal 109 yards for a “Kick Six” to end the first half. (Watch Kick Six)

➤ North Carolina beat UConn 38-21, as Billy Edwards tossed three touchdown passes, and the Tar Heels snapped a two-game losing streak. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers will host the Denver Broncos today at 1:00 EST as they try to get back to .500 and remain in first place in the NFC South. (More)

➤ Charlotte FC will have to play Chicago on the road in the first round of the MLS playoffs after a 3-3 draw on decision day against Inter Miami CF. If Charlotte were able to earn a win yesterday, the series would have been played at home. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets had another abysmal showing on Friday night, falling 119-80 to the Boston Celtics, pushing their losing streak to six games and placing their point differential as the third-worst in the NBA. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | NHL | NBA | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ A pet boa constrictor missing since October turned up Wednesday on Richard Wood’s farm near Raeford, where he first mistook the 6- to 7-foot snake for a fence post. His wife insisted it was alive all along. “She was right, and I was wrong,” Wood said. (Read Story)

➤ Cape Fear Dolphin Research tallied an estimated 42 to 45 dolphins in two encounters Oct. 30 off Bald Head Island and the Oak Island Lighthouse. Researchers watched a calf chase fish alongside its mother near the mouth of the Cape Fear River. (More)

➤ Sunset Beach police moved a 7-foot, 2.5-inch female alligator to a nearby pond after an officer found her partly blocking Lake Shore Drive. The department says it relocates gators only when people or the animal are at risk, not just for wandering into neighborhoods. (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, straight from the heart of the country. 

➤ A 36-year-old tennis star went from beating the world’s best to calling it quits after a crushing loss. (Hear More)

➤ The latest home design trends revealed which exterior colors were making a comeback and which were falling out of favor. (Listen Now)

➤  Macy’s unveiled its newest Thanksgiving balloons, and one beloved character was returning after more than 40 years away. (Podcast Available)

Watch the Coast Guard medevac a cruise passenger off the North Carolina coast last week.

Have you ever been on a cruise?

1. Yes (reply to tell us which cruise line)
2. No
3. Not yet
4. Not interested

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you still listen to the radio?

1. Frequently: 55%
2. Sometimes: 32%
3. Never: 13%

What is North Carolina’s primary hub for the U.S. Coast Guard?

Show me the answer