New Senate Leader Race Takes Shape

Four Republicans are vying to lead the North Carolina Senate, which will get its first new leader in 15 years in January.

Sen. Brent Jackson, R-Sampson, jumped in this week, joining Sens. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover; Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell; and Todd Johnson, R-Union.

Senate leader Phil Berger, who has held the post since 2011, lost his March primary to Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page by 23 votes.

Jackson, one of the Senate’s chief budget writers, pitched his background as a farmer and business owner, saying he knows “what it means to make payroll.”

Lee has raised the most money, nearly $1.3 million, but first must hold his New Hanover County seat. Democrat Jessica Bichler is challenging him in a district Democrats see as a top pickup chance.

Flags Lowered for Fallen Durham Firefighter

Gov. Josh Stein ordered flags at state facilities flown at half-staff Friday for Andrew Brokes, a 24-year-old Durham firefighter killed when a burning building collapsed Thursday.

“We mourn the loss of Andrew Brokes, a young Durham firefighter who died keeping people safe,” Stein said.

Fire trucks lined Interstate 40 overpasses Thursday, lights flashing, as a procession for Brokes passed below. He joined the department in May 2025.

Part of the Marly Drive building’s roof collapsed about 10 minutes after crews arrived, trapping firefighters on the first floor. The two injured firefighters have since been released from the hospital, and all residents escaped unharmed.

The State Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation into the cause. Residents told the ABC11 I-Team that people lived in buildings tax records list as commercial; the owner didn’t return calls.

North Carolina Reports First Flu Death

An adult in central North Carolina has died of flu complications, the state’s first flu-related death of the season.

The state Department of Health and Human Services said the death happened during the first week of October but released no other details.

Wilmington Health’s Dr. Alston Enz said he started seeing flu cases in August and now treats flu patients every day. Nationally, flu rates hit current levels seven weeks earlier than in the previous two seasons, according to Epic Research.

State health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated now, saying fall is the best time to build immunity. Counties including New Hanover and Brunswick are hosting low- or no-cost flu shot clinics.

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➤ Western NC: Hurricane Isaias could drop 4 to 6 inches of rain on parts of the mountains Saturday into early Sunday, with localized flooding possible. Unlike before Helene, the region is very dry, and forecasters expect the rain to be mostly beneficial. (More)

➤ Southport: Prosecutors will seek the death penalty against Nigel Max Edge, the former Marine accused of killing three people at American Fish Company in September 2025. (See Details)

➤ Greensboro: The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has opened a criminal investigation into Piedmont Memorial Park Cemetery, where families have complained about overgrown grounds. The state Cemetery Commission says National Vault Services, listed as the owner, may be operating it without a license. (More)

➤ Bladen County: A Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey caught fire and made a hard landing Thursday in Bladen Lakes State Forest during training. One of four Marines aboard was flown to the UNC Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill. (More)

➤ Durham: Gut bacteria may directly cause poor growth in extremely premature babies, a Duke study suggests. When researchers transferred bacteria from slow-growing preemies into newborn mice, the mice also grew slowly, pointing to possible new treatments in the NICU. (Read Story)

➤ Lumberton: Gov. Josh Stein helped dedicate a new floodgate protecting Lumberton’s industrial area, 10 years after Hurricane Matthew brought widespread flooding to Robeson County. The $15 million project drew on state, federal, and Golden LEAF funding. (More)

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➤ Bryce Young, the Panthers quarterback, returns to Tuscaloosa this morning as ESPN’s College GameDay guest picker, joining his former Alabama coach Nick Saban on set before Georgia visits Alabama. (How to Watch)

➤ Micah Ojo, a 6-foot-1 wing from Virginia Beach ranked No. 6 in the class of 2027 by ESPN, committed to UNC women’s basketball on Thursday over Duke and Vanderbilt. She led Princess Anne High School to three straight Virginia Class 5 state titles. (More)

➤ Five-star combo guard Brady Pettigrew, a 6-foot-3 junior from Bolingbrook, Illinois, takes an official visit to UNC men’s basketball this weekend. He’s one of the program’s top targets in the class of 2028; Kentucky gets its official visit on Oct. 23. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | WNBA | NHL | Soccer | NBA | Golf

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Genius Gadgets: The 37 That Actually Earn Their Keep

Smart shoppers know the secret: the best gadgets earn their keep. These 37 picks prove it. They aren’t gimmicks or dust collectors, they’re practical innovations that deliver real value every single day.

Whether you’re organizing your space, upgrading your routine, or getting a head start on gifts, this list highlights what’s genuinely worth buying right now. The catch? These popular items are selling faster than anticipated, so availability won’t last.

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➤ Eastern North Carolina’s wild red wolf population has grown to an estimated 34 or 35 animals, up from seven known wild wolves six years ago, federal officials said. A $31.25 million project to add wildlife crossings on U.S. 64 in Dare County should break ground in summer 2028. (See Details)

➤ A developer has begun surveying a 9-acre woodland in Charlotte’s Cotswold neighborhood where hawks and owls nest, according to the neighbor leading the push to save it. Its longtime owner is selling, and the Cotswold Conservancy is working with the city, county, and Trust for Public Land to preserve it. (More)

➤ A new Elizabethtown store has no cash registers. The nonprofit Classroom Closet lets Bladen County teachers shop for free supplies, with items “priced” in $1 increments against a pretend $50 budget per visit. The grand opening is Oct. 20. (Read Story)

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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. 

➤ The IRS is mailing notices about $1,000 in free retirement money, but strict cutoffs apply. (Listen Now)

➤ This year’s Nobel Peace Prize went to a South African jurist, drawing swift condemnation from Israel. (Hear Details)

➤ Severe turbulence forced a Colombia-to-New York flight to divert to Miami, sending at least eight people to the hospital. (Podcast Available)

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