Berger Requests Recount in NC Senate Race

North Carolina Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger has formally requested a recount in the closely contested Republican primary for Senate District 26, after trailing challenger Sam Page by just 23 votes following the official canvass of the March 3 primary.

Berger filed the request before the noon deadline on Tuesday, citing the narrow margin and concerns over potential ballot errors.

In addition to a machine recount already underway in Guilford County and the Rockingham County recount scheduled to begin today, Berger asked the State Board of Elections to manually examine 220 specific ballots, but the board rejected the request Wednesday morning. Berger also filed protests involving 13 disputed ballots.

Page, who is currently Rockingham County’s sheriff, expressed confidence that the outcome would stand, stating “Phil can’t handle the truth,” adding, “the people have spoken.”

NC Votes on 3-Tiered State Health Plan

The North Carolina State Health Plan Board of Trustees voted unanimously on Tuesday to approve a three-tiered provider network structure for 2027, consisting of Preferred, Access, and Non-Preferred tiers.

The restructuring aims to strengthen the Preferred Provider Program by encouraging members to select high-value providers, which could reduce overall healthcare costs for the plan and its roughly 750,000 members. Potential annual state savings could reach $600 million.

The three tiers will tie member out-of-pocket costs like copays and deductibles to provider choices. Preferred providers, who partner to lower total care costs, could offer reduced or no out-of-pocket expenses, while higher-cost or non-preferred providers may result in greater member expenses.

Specific copay amounts will be finalized at the board’s June 5 meeting.

 Nasal Swab May Detect Alzheimer’s Earlier

Duke Health researchers have developed a minimally invasive nasal swab test that shows promise for detecting early biological signals of Alzheimer’s disease, potentially years before memory loss or other symptoms appear.

The study analyzed cells collected from the olfactory cleft in the upper nose, revealing changes in nerve and immune cells linked to the disease, according to a new study announced by the university. Researchers worked with 22 participants, including healthy controls, patients with preclinical Alzheimer’s, and diagnosed patients.

A combined score from immune and neuronal changes distinguished Alzheimer’s cases from controls with 81% accuracy, capturing neuroinflammatory shifts even in early, asymptomatic stages.

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➤ Statewide: A new survey shows Democrat Roy Cooper and Republican Michael Whatley in a statistical dead heat for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, with Cooper leading 47% to 44%, within the margin of error, and 9% still undecided. (More)

➤ Statewide: A federal lawsuit by Disability Rights North Carolina against the Department of Health and Human Services could proceed as a class action, alleging unconstitutional delays in mental health evaluations and treatment for pretrial detainees in county jails. (More)

➤ Rockingham County: The State Bureau of Investigation is probing a use-of-force incident where officers injured an inmate who was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries before returning to custody. Two officers have been suspended pending the investigation. (More)

➤ Raleigh ranks third among large U.S. metros for women-owned businesses in 2026, boasting median female earnings of $50,480, 11% population growth since 2020, a 4.0% female unemployment rate, and strong community support. (See Rankings)

➤ NC State: Former university athletes’ sexual abuse lawsuit against former sports medicine director Robert Murphy and eight current or former administrators could proceed under a single Wake County Superior Court judge, with the parties recommending Judges Hoyt Tessener or Vince Rozier. (More)

➤ Iredell County: An 18-year-old South Iredell High School student in Troutman was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after pointing a realistic water gun at two teens during a “Senior Assassin” game, triggering a precautionary school lockdown on Tuesday. (More)

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➤ March Madness: High Point, Duke, and UNC play in round one of the men’s NCAA basketball tournament today. (How to Watch)

➤ The Charlotte 49ers fired men’s basketball coach Aaron Fearne after a 17-17 season. He finishes his tenure at 47-51 overall. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the David & Nicole Tepper Foundation donated $250,000 to support women’s sports programs at UNC Charlotte. (More)

➤ AP voters unanimously selected Duke’s Cam Boozer as a first team AP All-American. UNC’s Caleb Wilson—who missed the last six weeks of the season with a thumb injury—was named to the second team. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ A deadly explosion at the Perdue Foods Feed Mill in Hertford County on Feb. 21 triggered a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act notice for potential temporary layoffs of over 100 workers, as the facility faces indefinite closure. (More)

➤ More than 1,000 women leaders, CEOs, and aspiring entrepreneurs gathered in downtown Raleigh for the Women’s Leadership Conference, focusing on closing the gender pay gap and empowering women in business and male-dominated fields. (More)

➤ The North Carolina Home Builders Association filed an amicus brief supporting plaintiff LDI Shallotte in its unconstitutional takings lawsuit against the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality at the state Supreme Court, arguing the agency’s permit delays harmed developers and economic stability. (More)

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➤ Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham shattered its single-day visitation record with more than 15,000 visitors on March 14, following the Yoshino cherry blossoms’ peak bloom on March 10. (See Photo)

➤ A WorldAtlas list of 10 North Carolina day trips worth the drive includes Mount Mitchell, Biltmore Estate, the North Carolina Zoo, the Wright Brothers Memorial, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. (See List)

➤ Piedmont Triad International Airport (PTI) has launched the Nonstop Challenge, offering passengers up to $2,000 in travel vouchers through March 2027 for flying nonstop to new destinations from the airport. (See Details)

Have you been to Duke Gardens?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you live in one of the 10 counties mentioned in yesterday’s top story that has a high property tax rate?

1. No: 44%
2. Yes: 41%
3. Don’t care: 15%

What North Carolina museum has the world’s most complete Acrocanthosaurus skeleton ever found?

Show me the answer