Songwriter Dies in Plane Crash

Grammy Award-winning country songwriter Brett James died in a plane crash Thursday near Franklin.

James, whose legal last name is Cornelius, was one of three who were killed in the crash. The aircraft was registered to James, and it’s unclear what caused the crash.

The songwriter left medical school to pursue a career in music. He found success with some of country music’s biggest names, including Rascal Flatts and Taylor Swift. James won a Grammy in 2006 for Carrie Underwood’s Jesus, Take the Wheel.

James’s songs have appeared on numerous albums with combined sales of over 110 million albums. He was elected to the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2020.

UNCW Alert Ruled False Alarm

A UNC Wilmington text alert about an active shooter on campus was ruled a false alarm by police. The alert went out around 7:30 p.m. Thursday and urged students to shelter in place.

Police received an anonymous tip over social media, saying there was someone on campus with a gun. Police issued a lockdown, which was lifted by 9:50 p.m. UNCW cancelled classes on Friday and offered limited on-campus services.

Chancellor Aswani K. Volety issued a statement about the incident, saying, in light of Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the memorials that took place on campus, “the conflicts on our campus in recent days don’t reflect who we’re called to be” and says he’ll work with local and federal investigators where necessary.

Lyme Disease Increasing in Western NC

Researchers at UNC Greensboro, NC State, and Appalachian State University have found a surge in Lyme disease cases in the western part of the state.

The three schools conducted a five-year survey of the state and found Lyme disease-carrying ticks in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Prior to the discovery, Lyme disease was generally found in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.

The study indicates that Lime disease-carrying ticks moved from southwestern Virginia over the last 10 years. Sixteen states account for 95% of reported Lyme disease cases, most of them in the northern part of the country.

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➤ Charlotte: Gov. Josh Stein is set to meet with the family of Charlotte light rail stabbing victim Iryna Zarutska as the General Assembly is set to vote Monday on legislation that aims to curb similar crimes. (More)

➤ Guilford County: Tech giant Lenovo plans to invest $77 million dollars into a new server-building plant that will create 420 new jobs. A $1.1 million incentive grant helped lure the company away from other cities such as Dallas and Memphis. (More)

➤ Yancey County: Mount Mitchell State Park reopened Monday for the first time since Helene. All 13 state parks that had closed after Helene are now reopened. (More)

➤ Raleigh: The nonprofit Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina have developed EduBuilder, an initiative that will offer rural areas more schooling options by using the learning center model in which students are taught individually. (More)

➤ Statewide: According to the United States Census Bureau, North Carolina’s median income was nearly $74,000 in 2024, roughly $10,000 below the national average. The report also revealed that the state’s poverty rate was 13%, which is 17th-highest in the nation. (More)

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➤ Fourteen former NC State student-athletes filed a lawsuit against the school’s former head trainer alleging they were abused while receiving treatment. (More)

➤ Duke quarterback commit Terry Walker III just tore his ACL during a high school game last week, which will end his senior season. He’s still expected to join the Blue Devils in January. (More)

➤ College football kicks off with a much-anticipated matchup between NC State and Duke today. UNC will also play UCF. (See Full Schedule)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ The Gary Sinise Foundation is building a smart home for a Four Oaks veteran, who lost both arms in an explosion during a tour of duty in Iraq. The home will be mortgage-free and offers accessible features. (More)

➤ A routine traffic stop turned into a life-changing moment when an officer offered a hug and kind words to a woman he had pulled over for speeding. The woman says the interaction likely saved her life. (See Interaction)

➤ The Carolina Renaissance Festival is returning Oct. 4 for the 32nd year. The festival, which features jousting, falconry, and local handmade goods, will run for eight straight weekends through Nov. 23. (Venture Hither)

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Do you shop at Food Lion?

1. Every week
2. Once in a while
3. When it’s the only option
4. Never

Yesterday’s Results:

Will Duke or NC State win tomorrow’s football game?

1. Don’t care: 35%
2. NC State: 33%
3. Don’t know: 17%
4. Duke: 15%

What was North Carolina’s first grocery store chain?

Show me the answer