NC Notables React to Jimmy Carter’s Death

A retired Secret Service agent who now lives in Clayton was among notable North Carolinians who expressed condolences for the passing of former President Jimmy Carter Sunday.

Denny Schlindwein, a Secret Service agent charged with protecting Carter’s grandchildren during his presidency and the former president himself after he left office, called Carter “the kindest, the most generous, the most outgoing leader of our country I’ve ever met.”

Gov. Roy Cooper reflected on Carter as “a kind, calm, giving, and sincere man of faith” and Gov.-elect Josh Stein posted that Carter “represented the best of America.”

Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., praised Carter’s “robust and unshakeable faith” and Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C., expressed respect for his “significant charitable work.”

Carter’s state funeral is scheduled for Jan. 9 in Washington, D.C. Details will be published here.

New State Laws Take Effect Jan. 1

A reduction in North Carolina’s personal income tax is among new legislation taking effect Jan. 1. House Bill 259 reduces the rate from 4.5% to 4.25%, with a goal of dropping it to 3.99% after 2025.

Other notable laws include Senate Bill 527 which exempts liquor sold for at least $50,000 from a 30% excise tax and caps the maximum tax on qualifying liquor at $1,000.

Senate Bill 382, a third Hurricane Helene relief bill, also contains controversial power shifts in state leadership.

Additionally, Senate Bill 452 increases the minimum liability insurance required for auto drivers from $30,000 to $50,000 per person, and from $60,000 to $100,000 per accident. The coverage also applies to uninsured drivers.

View a complete list of 2025 laws going into effect here.

2024 ACT and SAT Performance Review

A comparison of North Carolina high school students’ performances on the ACT reveals they scored below the national average in 2024.

Out of the maximum ACT score of 36, the national average composite score was 19.6 and the North Carolina average was 18.5. Approximately 89% of North Carolina students took the ACT in 2024.

On the other hand, North Carolina students who took the SAT scored an average of 1161 out of a possible 1600—higher than the national average of 1024. Around 20% of the class of 2024 took the SAT. The 1161 average combines an average score of 590 on evidence-based reading and writing, and 571 on math.

The UNC System will require students entering the system in fall 2026 and beyond to submit an ACT score of 17 or higher and an SAT score of 930 or higher.

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➤ Statewide: NC Quick Pass toll road increases take effect Jan. 1, adding 11 cents per 18 miles on the original Triangle Expressway and 12 cents per 18 miles on the new extension. (See Details)

➤ Winston-Salem: Certain city computer systems were taken offline Monday after a major outage limited the public’s ability to conduct business transactions, including payments. (More)

➤ Western NC: Sunday’s severe storms damaged repairs to some temporary bridges built after Hurricane Helene, creating timeline setbacks for permanent repairs. (More)

➤ Swannanoa: National Mental Health Alliance volunteers are constructing tiny homes for families impacted by Helene. So far, 20 people have received the homes. (More)

➤ Asheville: The Thomas Wolfe Memorial State Historic Site, a 19th-century Victorian home that belonged to the famous writer, has reopened after a 120-year-old tree fell and damaged it during Helene. (See Photos)

➤ Fayetteville: A U.S. Postal Service employee was sentenced to four years in prison for stealing over $750,000 in U.S. Treasury checks. The worker was also ordered to pay restitution to the U.S. Treasury. (More)

➤ Carolina Panthers star running back Chuba Hubbard has been placed on injured reserve, ending his season. (More)

➤ UNC linebacker Caleb LaVallee has entered the transfer portal. LaVallee was the team’s leading tackler in the Fenway Bowl. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes head coach Rod Brind’Amour has become the fastest coach in NHL history to reach 300 career wins. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW 

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➤ The City of Greensboro approved a $22.5 million permit for the long-awaited Westin Hotel downtown. Construction will begin in 2025. (See Rendering)

➤ Allegiant Air will add 44 nonstop routes to 51 cities from Asheville Regional Airport starting in February. New routes include Gulf Shores, Ala., Colorado Springs, Colo., and Columbia, S.C., among others. (More)

➤ The Duke Endowment disbursed a $14.4 million donation to agencies in western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina in support of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: The North Carolina Ferry Division released its 2025 schedule for all vehicle routes and the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. (See Schedule)

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➤ Thirteen-year-old Alexander Rossi of Fuquay-Varina qualified for the Rubik’s WCA World Championship after achieving a solve rate of under 10 seconds. (More)

➤ UNC neonatal intensive care nurses in Raleigh and Chapel Hill dressed up their tiniest patients as elves, candy canes, reindeer, Santa, and other festive characters to celebrate the season. (See Photos)

➤ WRAL shared over two dozen photos of Sunday’s stunning sunset sent in by Raleigh-area viewers. (See Photos)

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Will you make a New Year’s resolution at midnight?

1. Yes, I do it every year
2. Nope, I avoid it every year
3. I just want my New Year’s kiss!

Yesterday’s Results:

Will you watch the 2025 Miss America pageant:

1. Yes: 21%
2. No: 79%

What North Carolina town drops a 6-foot, 80-pound gold nugget sculpture at midnight on New Year’s Eve?

Show me the answer