Incumbents Lead in Mayoral Elections

Municipal mayoral elections took place across North Carolina Tuesday, with incumbents largely advancing in general contests, and primaries setting up November runoffs where no majority was achieved.

In general elections, Louisburg Mayor Christopher Neal secured reelection with 56% in a three-way race, avoiding a runoff. Elizabeth City Mayor Kirk Rivers won decisively, but New Bern Mayor Jeffrey Odham fell short of a majority, potentially facing Holly Raby in November if a runoff is requested.

Roxboro’s Cynthia Petty won the open mayoral seat with 55%, while Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin garnered 48% in the primary, setting up a general election matchup with Kathy Keefe Jensen.

Greensboro’s mayoral primary saw Marikay Abuzuaiter win 39.9%, followed by Robbie Perkins, who claimed 32.5%. In Asheboro, Joey Trogdon led with 44.75%, advancing alongside Eddie Burks at 37.97%. Find election results for your county here.

Bill Targets Judges Who Free Violent Offenders

U.S. Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C.-14, introduced the Judicial Accountability for Public Safety Act on Sept. 30 to enable civil lawsuits against judges who release violent offenders with “gross negligence or intentional disregard for public safety.” 

The bill follows North Carolina’s Iryna’s Law, signed by Gov. Josh Stein on Oct. 3, and addresses murder cases by repeat offenders. It also allows victims or their families to seek court remedies, including punitive damages, for injuries caused by such judicial decisions. 

The bill preserves protections for judges acting in good faith within standard discretion. Current law shields judges from civil liability for decisions made from the bench.

Duke AI Tool Could Predict Teen Mental Illness

Duke University received a $15 million federal grant to advance the Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health (Duke-PMA), an AI tool aimed at predicting mental illness in adolescents aged 10-15.

Duke-PMA uses questionnaires to achieve 84% accuracy across diverse demographics, identifying at-risk youth and key factors—like sleep disturbances and family conflict—that can be influenced through clinician intervention. The results could offer actionable insights to help prevent illness before it develops.

The grant will fund an observational study of 2,000 adolescents in rural clinics across North Carolina, Minnesota, and North Dakota, where mental health resources are limited. Predictions will then be validated through follow-up psychiatric evaluations.

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➤ Statewide: Newly signed Senate Bill 245 allows North Carolina drivers without a REAL ID to renew their licenses online for a second consecutive time. Teens can also upgrade provisional licenses online, potentially enabling 400,000 more online transactions and reducing wait times at the Division of Motor Vehicles. (More)

➤ Statewide: North Carolina Representatives Virginia Foxx, Tim Moore, Valerie Foushee, and Chuck Edwards have chosen to forego their paychecks until the federal government shutdown ends, as other lawmakers continue to earn roughly $479 per day. (More)

➤ Charlotte: As of Tuesday, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport wasn’t anticipating impacts from the federal government shutdown, despite air traffic controller shortages causing delays at other U.S. airports. (More)

➤ Greensboro: North Carolina A&T State University’s $12 million Urban and Community Food Complex, set to open soon, will function as a research hub, support farmers, provide food processing space, and revive Aggie Ice Cream. (More)

➤ Asheville: Mission Hospital’s new $5 million HCA Healthcare Center for Clinical Advancement is using lifelike mannequins that simulate real-world medical scenarios to train nurses and other healthcare professionals. (More)

➤ Triangle: Bearded Bee Brewery in Wendell sparked debate after children scattered rocks around the property, prompting calls for better parental supervision. Other nearby breweries, like ZincHouse, ban kids, while South Line Brewing embraces family-friendly spaces. (More)

➤ Concord: The 4th U.S. Circuit Court upheld Marian Hudak’s 41-month sentence for hate crimes against Hispanic and black men, affirming the exclusion of mental health evidence and inclusion of Nazi memorabilia evidence. (More)

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➤ The season-long Hulu docuseries chronicling this year’s UNC football team has reportedly been scrapped. Announced in August after a failed deal with NFL Films and HBO’s Hard Knocks, the project is no longer moving forward, according to a new report. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, a UNC football assistant was suspended in connection with allegations that players were selling complimentary game tickets, a violation of NCAA rules. (More)

➤ Liberty football took on the University of Texas at El Paso last night in a midweek matchup. (See Score)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NHL | NBA | WNBA | Soccer | Tennis

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➤ Matthews Mayor John Higdon confirmed Tuesday that plans for the Project Accelerate data center were called off after the developer withdrew its rezoning application for land near I-485 and East John Street. (More)

➤ Kinston-based flyExclusive will acquire Volato’s aircraft sales division for $2.1 million in stock as part of an agreement that also gives it the option to acquire Volato’s technology platforms, including its Vaunt travel app, for an additional $2 million. (More)

➤ U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick sold 13.38 million shares and 533,333 warrants in Satellogic, a Davidson-based satellite imaging firm that went public via a Cantor Fitzgerald-sponsored special purpose acquisition company. Lutnick, former CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, had previously transferred ownership of the firm to his children. (More)

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Harvard research reveals a surprising link: a specific gum bleeding pattern now tied to memory loss. While most people dismiss a little blood while brushing as harmless, this hidden sign can actually warn of something dangerous already spreading in the body. You may not notice until it’s too late. If your gums bleed like THIS, your brain could be at risk.

Watch this video to learn what to do immediately.

➤ New data reveals that Charlotte grew by 8% to 944,742 from 2020-24, while Raleigh grew by 7% to 500,639. Greensboro (306,749), Durham (300,907), and Winston-Salem (259,045) round out the top five largest cities in North Carolina, based on the data. (See List)

➤ 3D mapping from drone and lidar data shows Buxton’s shoreline retreated up to 141 feet due to ongoing coastal changes, including back-to-back storms that triggered nine homes to collapse, creating extensive coastal debris fields. (Watch Report)

➤ Pizza Baby in Charlotte earned top pizza honors for North Carolina in a Tasting Table report thanks to its beloved Roman-style and rosemary chicken pies, friendly neighborhood atmosphere, and devoted fans who rallied against a recent harsh review. (See Report)

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Should lawmakers forego their income during the federal shutdown?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you visited a haunted house?

1. Yes, just for Halloween: 28%
2. No, not planning to: 27%
3. Yes, it was actually haunted: 23%
4. Not yet, but hope to: 22%

What amenities did luxury steamboats, aka “floating palaces,” offer passengers?

Show me the answer