Feds Weigh Death Penalty for Light Rail Killer

Federal prosecutors say the death penalty is on the table for Decarlos Brown Jr., accused of fatally stabbing Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, on Charlotte’s Blue Line light rail on Aug. 22.

Brown, who boarded without buying a ticket, faces a federal charge for causing death on a mass transportation system, with additional charges possible.

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek said his department will investigate the Charlotte Area Transit System’s public safety measures, focusing on security contracts and safety budgets. CATS announced Sept. 3 that it will boost ticket inspection and roll out validator machines.

North Carolina Republican lawmakers are demanding the removal of Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes for previously releasing Brown, a repeat offender with prior arrests for firearm possession, robbery, and assault.

Officials Study NC 12 Hotspots in OBX

Dare County and North Carolina Department of Transportation officials toured NC 12 “hotspots” on Hatteras Island, identified in the 2023 NC 12 Task Force report as vulnerable to erosion and storm overwash.

The task force recommends bridge construction as a resilient solution to ensure long-term connectivity.

A public session involving NCDOT and other public partners was planned for yesterday at the Ocracoke Community Center to review a UNC-Chapel Hill study on threats to NC 12 and seek public feedback on adaptation strategies for the region.

The vulnerable hotspots include the Canal Zone south of the Basnight Bridge, areas along Hatteras Island, and the ferry docks and NC 12 on the north end of Ocracoke Island.

Duke Advances Next-Gen Quantum Computer

Duke researchers at the Duke Quantum Center, led by Director Chris Monroe, have received funding to plan a 256-qubit trapped-ion quantum computer, one of the largest in academia. The system uses lasers to control qubits and promises exponential computing power for tackling complex problems.

Assistant Professor Marko Cetina highlighted its potential to revolutionize fields such as chemistry and finance by solving quantum-level problems that are unsolvable by classical computers.

The multi-institutional collaboration includes partners from the University of Chicago, North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, and Tufts University. It now moves into the second of three funding stages, during which the team will receive $4 million over two years for design planning and workforce development.

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➤ Charlotte: Incumbent Mayor Vi Lyles secured the Democratic nomination Tuesday despite criticism over her response to the fatal stabbing on Charlotte’s light rail and will face Republican Terrie Donovan in November. (More)

➤ Winston-Salem/Forsyth County: The school district will hire a second interim superintendent due to a prolonged search for a permanent one, amid a $37 million budget deficit, staff reductions, and a planned audit. The contract for the current interim superintendent, Catty Moore, expires Nov. 30. (More)

➤ Wake Forest: Ericka Lucas, 56, former Rolesville High School principal and wife of Wake Forest High School’s football coach, died from injuries sustained during an Aug. 29 shooting. Dexter Lamont Mills, 18, was arrested for her murder. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill: Police are investigating vandalism on campus. The words “I TOLD YOU I LOVE YOU” were spray painted in front of the South Building and Wilson Library steps, along with red paint splatters, echoing an anti-genocide mural that was recently removed. (More)

➤ NC State: The Council on the Status of Women, which focuses on gender equity, was suspended for the 2025-26 academic year to comply with a new UNC system policy eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. (More)

➤ Asheboro: Liam King, a 7-year-old nonverbal boy with autism, was found dead in a pond near his home after a three-day search. His body was discovered on Tuesday, and no foul play is suspected. (More)

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➤ Wake Forest announced its 2026 Hall of Fame inductees, including football coach Jim Grobe and basketball star Jeff Teague, among eight honorees across five sports. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon is leading efforts to bring Major League Baseball to Raleigh as part of a potential league expansion. (More)

➤ No. 25 UNC volleyball knocked off No. 11 Florida in straight sets on Tuesday. The Tar Heels are now 5-0 on the season. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ The Friendly Market in Morehead City—a roadside stand that evolved into a marketplace for local growers with a menu of baked goods, lunches, and take-home meals—was named one of the 20 friendliest places in the South by Southern Living. (More)

➤ Johnson & Wales University’s Charlotte campus will offer a three-year, 90-credit-hour hospitality management bachelor’s degree starting in fall 2026, aiming to attract students and address enrollment declines amid budgetary pressures. (More)

➤ Dollar Shave Club is relocating its headquarters from California to a 17,500-square-foot space at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus, citing the city’s “youthful spirit, creative energy, and irreverence.” An opening ceremony was held on Tuesday. (More)

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➤ Cary High School senior Sophie Laurenceau-Breton earned a perfect ACT composite score of 36 and an SAT superscore of 1600. She aims to become a doctor and is considering Duke, Brown, and Yale for her studies. (More)

➤ Jerry Seinfeld compared the Free Palestine movement to the KKK in a surprise Duke University appearance, calling it antisemitic during an event with former Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov. (More)

➤ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing listing the southern hognose snake as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, citing habitat loss, fragmentation, road mortality, and non-native species impacts in the Carolinas and Southeast. (More) 

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Should more colleges offer three-year degrees?

1. Why not?
2. Not sure
3. Need to learn more
4. Don’t really care
5. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you buy North Carolina-made products whenever possible?

1. I try: 29%
2. Sometimes: 24%
3. Always: 18%
4. Hardly ever: 16%
5. Other: 13%

Where are O. Henry’s works housed in North Carolina?

Show me the answer