NC College Connect Cuts Out Student Apps

More than 60,000 high school seniors across North Carolina will begin receiving college acceptance letters next week without having to submit applications, thanks to NC College Connect.

The program automatically admits students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 or higher who meet academic requirements.

It eliminates traditional applications, with participants receiving admission notices through College for North Carolina (CFNC), a free state service that helps students plan, apply, and pay for college. Students are then matched to various UNC System colleges, independent colleges, and community colleges.

View program details and a list of participating colleges here.

Canes Owner Agrees to Buy Trail Blazers

Tom Dundon, owner of the NHL’s Carolina Hurricanes, has reportedly agreed to buy the Portland Trail Blazers for over $4 billion from Paul Allen’s estate. The new ownership group, including Marc Zahr and Sheel Tyle, plans to keep the team in Portland and pursue a new or upgraded arena.

The sale is in accordance with Allen’s wishes, with proceeds going to charity. Before the sale, the team extended the contracts of general manager Joe Cronin and head coach Chauncey Billups, while Jody Allen, the estate’s trustee and team chair, continued overseeing operations. 

Dundon is also the majority owner of the Professional Pickleball Association and Major League Pickleball.

Duke, Wake Forest Among Top 50 US Colleges

LinkedIn unveiled its inaugural Top Colleges 2025 ranking on Tuesday, spotlighting the 50 U.S. schools best preparing graduates for long-term career success, with Duke University securing the No. 2 spot and Wake Forest University landing at No. 25.

The rankings, based on LinkedIn’s exclusive data, evaluate alumni outcomes across five pillars: job placement, internships and recruiter demand, career success, network strength, and knowledge breadth.

Duke’s high ranking reflects its graduates’ strong entry into top industries such as technology, financial services, and business consulting, bolstered by skills in MATLAB, web development, and AI engineering.

Wake Forest earned its spot through strong career alignment in financial services, technology, and legal services, with alumni frequently showcasing skills like Stata, data science, and foreign languages. 

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Now celebrating 20 years, euphoria puts you front and center with celebrated chefs, musicians, craft brewers, sommeliers, and one-of-a-kind events. This milestone year marks two decades of unforgettable flavors, soulful sounds, and a lasting commitment to the Greenville and hospitality communities.

While many events are sold out for euphoria 2025, there are plenty of opportunities to savor the weekend festivities!

FOR THE COCKTAIL ENTHUSIAST: Bold flavors, smooth bourbon, and beats from Steel Toe Stiletto collide at Aged to Perfection! Expect eclectic bites, signature cocktails, beer, and wine to keep the good times flowing.

FOR THE MUSIC AFICIONADO: Get ready for a rhythm-fueled night at Party in the Park as The Vegabonds and St. Paul and The Broken Bones ignite the stage. Indulge in flavorful tastes, along with cocktails, brews, and wine to satisfy your thirst.

FOR THE FIRST-TIMER: If you’ve never been to euphoria before, Feast by the Field is a great place to start. Sip, sample, and savor your way through an incredible lineup of chefs, winemakers, brewers, and distillers.

All-inclusive tickets are available at euphoriagreenville.com.

➤ Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is appealing a denied request to waive interest on debt associated with an $11.3 million deficit, which has prompted potential job cuts and school consolidations. (More)

➤ North Raleigh: Cleanup is underway after flooding along Capital Boulevard, described as the worst in 15 years, damaged multiple businesses on Monday, including a car dealership where nearly 50 cars were submerged in water. (Watch Report)

➤ Downtown Raleigh also experienced rare flooding Monday night, with one resident of Smoky Hollow saying she “had never seen anything like it.” (Watch Report)

➤ Wake County: The family of Giovanni Pelletier, a Wake County teen found dead in a Florida pond near his abandoned belongings, has launched a petition urging the FBI to step in, citing inadequate local law enforcement response. (More)

➤ Surry County: Rep. Sarah Stevens, a Republican running for the North Carolina Supreme Court, returned $8,300 in lobbyist donations after scrutiny due to a legal gray area that bans state lawmakers from taking lobbyist money, but allows judicial candidates to accept it. (More)

➤ Alamance County: The 4th Circuit Court vacated a federal ruling favoring Sheriff Terry Johnson in a 2020 protest arrest case, sending it back to state court due to a lack of federal jurisdiction over Maurice Wells’ First Amendment claims. (More)

➤ Linville Gorge: Trails and waterfall access are temporarily closed as U.S. Forest Service crews work to repair Hurricane Helene damage throughout the Grandfather Ranger District along the Old N.C. 105 corridor. (More)

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➤ Charlotte-born NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch underwent collarbone surgery after falling from his car while celebrating his Mission 200 win at Watkins Glen last weekend. (More)

➤ The North Carolina Courage are hosting a back-to-school event during Saturday’s game to help teachers stock their classrooms with school supplies ahead of the 2025-26 school year. (More)

➤ Judge Kenneth Bell denied NASCAR’s motion to sanction North Carolina-based 23XI Racing, co-owned by Michael Jordan, and Front Row Motorsports for alleged false statements, dismissing the motion as unproductive and urging focus on resolving the antitrust lawsuit. (More)

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

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➤ The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously rejected Lumberton businesses’ and residents’ breach-of-contract claim against CSX Transportation over flooding tied to Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, affirming that CSX had no contractual duty since the levee dike was never built. (More)

➤ High Point University, recognized by The Princeton Review as America’s best-run college, is reporting record enrollment and awarding full-time employees two bonuses totaling $3,848 this year—part of a five-year, $19,240 bonus program. (More)

➤ Chai Pani, an award-winning Asheville Indian street food restaurant founded by Meherwan Irani, is opening a Washington, D.C., location in the Union Market District on Aug. 29, led by chef Vishwesh Bhatt. (More)

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Raise your fork, glass and voice—and celebrate 20 years of euphoria!

euphoria 2025 (Sept. 18–21) promises to be bigger, bolder, and more unforgettable than ever before. While many events are already sold out, there are still plenty of ways to savor the celebration!

From guest chef dinners to educational classrooms, lively lunches and brunches, and signature events, there’s something for every food lover, cocktail enthusiast, and music aficionado. Plus, don’t miss exclusive hotel and ticket packages!

All-inclusive tickets and packages are available at euphoriagreenville.com.

➤ Six-year-old Graham Huntley of Waxhaw is being hailed a hero after spotting a tree lying across train tracks and alerting someone who called ahead to warn the conductor of an oncoming train, preventing a derailment. The train stopped just feet from the tree. (More)

➤ Three North Carolina bars made The Journal’s list of The 50 Best Dive Bars in America: Burger Bar in Asheville (No. 33), The Green Room in Durham (No. 34), and The Kraken in Chapel Hill (No. 35). (See List)

➤ North Carolina barn quilt trails, which celebrate local heritage, artistry, and landscapes, were highlighted in a recent report that featured the Yadkin Quilt Trail, Tar and Roanoke Rivers Trail, and Haywood County Quilt Trail. (See Report)

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Have you ever visited a quilt trail?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet
4. What’s a quilt trail?

Yesterday’s Results:

Would you try a dating app specifically designed for dog lovers?

1. No dating apps for me: 46%
2. If I were single, I might: 23%
3. I’m more of a cat person: 17%
4. Sign me up: 14%

What natural area in North Carolina is referred to as the “Grand Canyon of the East”?

Show me the answer