Storm Cleanup Begins Statewide

North Carolina is digging out from a historic winter storm that blanketed the state with record snowfall across all 100 counties.

Eastern regions saw the heaviest accumulations, with up to 19.5 inches in Carteret County. Wilmington received 5.8 inches, the most since 1989, while Charlotte recorded 11 inches, its fourth-highest on record.

Cleanup efforts are underway, with more than 2,500 NCDOT crews treating roads around the clock amid extreme cold and black-ice risks. Charlotte Douglas International Airport deployed a 300-member snow team to clear runways, though hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed as of Sunday.

Many schools, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, were closed Monday and will remain closed today. Hazardous travel and subfreezing temperatures persist, with gradual melting expected midweek as highs recover into the 40s in some areas.

Opportunity Scholarship Apps Open for 2026-27

Applications for the 2026-27 North Carolina Opportunity Scholarship opened Monday, with the priority period running through March 2 for new students.

Administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA), the program provides vouchers for private school tuition, available to all K-12 families regardless of income, though lower-income households receive priority.

Currently, 104,599 students are participating. Scholarship amounts range from $3,578 to $7,942 annually across four income tiers, with updated guidelines reflecting a slight increase.

A recent Carolina Journal poll shows strong voter support for school choice, with nearly two-thirds of likely voters backing taxpayer-funded scholarships like the Opportunity Scholarship.

Asheville Hospital Facing Immediate Jeopardy

Mission Hospital in Asheville has once again been placed under Immediate Jeopardy status by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), marking the third time in less than two years.

Immediate Jeopardy is a term that CMS, a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, applies to hospitals that fail to comply with health and safety regulations, placing patients at risk of serious harm. Under these conditions, hospitals can lose federal Medicare and Medicaid funding.

The latest citation follows an unannounced follow-up inspection by state regulators. The inspection stemmed from ongoing patient safety concerns identified during a prior inspection, including a preventable patient death, unsafe patient transport, patient misidentification, and infection control lapses.

Mission Health CEO Greg Lowe informed staff via a letter that the hospital has submitted an enhanced corrective action plan, including hiring an independent consultant and improving grievance processes.

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➤ Garner: Snerd the groundhog’s Groundhog Day event was canceled on Monday due to hazardous snow. No rescheduling date has been announced. (See Photo)

➤ Buxton: Four oceanfront homes have collapsed since Sunday morning due to the recent winter storm that brought high tides and rough surf. At least two of the homes were unoccupied, and no injuries have been reported. (See Photos)

➤ Cary: Firefighters rescued a boy under 10 and a 59-year-old neighbor from a frozen pond Sunday after the child fell through the ice and the man tried to save him. Both were treated for minor injuries. (More)

➤ Triangle: A “snow hole” left the region with minimal snow Saturday amid a major winter storm. Sinking air between western and coastal low-pressure systems blocked precipitation until evening. (More)

➤ Graham County: A petition for removal and immediate suspension of Sheriff Brad Hoxit was filed Jan. 29, alleging misconduct, corruption, and extortion tied to a criminal probe involving a county commissioner. A judge suspended Hoxit, with a removal hearing set for Feb. 20. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Post Malone and Jelly Roll announced a joint concert at Bank of America Stadium on June 9 as part of Post Malone’s upcoming tour. Presales start tomorrow, Feb. 4, and general ticket sales start Feb. 10. (See Details)

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➤ Men’s Basketball AP Poll: Duke remained at No. 4 in this week’s rankings, while UNC rose two spots to No. 14. (See Poll)

➤ The NASCAR Cook Out Clash was rescheduled to Wednesday due to heavy snow at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem. (More)

➤ Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will return to the team next season after interviewing for head coaching opportunities this month. He was reportedly a leading candidate for the Raiders’ head coaching position, but lost out to the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. (More)

➤ Wake Forest women’s basketball turned the ball over 31 times in its 80-44 loss to Duke on Sunday. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ Novant Health on Saturday renamed its neuroscience institute at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington the Deloris P. Jordan Neuroscience Institute, following a $10 million donation that Michael Jordan made in honor of his mother. (More)

➤ Demolition has begun on North 17 Shopping Center in Wilmington, built in 1954, to make way for a five-story mixed-use building encompassing retail space and residential units. (More)

➤ Zillow’s 2026 report on the most buyer-friendly markets ranks Charlotte No. 3 behind Indianapolis and Atlanta. The ranking is based on affordability relative to local incomes, a friendlier buying experience, and less competition. (See Data)

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➤ North Carolina’s median household income growth over the past 50 years, adjusted for inflation, rose 24.3% from $56,952 to $70,804, according to an Urban Institute analysis of U.S. Census data. (More and See Data)

➤ Kwamé Ryan, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra’s first black music director, won a Grammy for Best Opera Recording for conducting Heggie: Intelligence with the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. (More)

➤ This weekend’s rare snowfall turned the Wright Brothers Monument in Kill Devil Hills into an impromptu “slopes” spot, where locals and visitors enjoyed sledding, snowboarding, and jumps on the hill. (See Photos)

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Have you ever walked onto a frozen pond?

1. Yes, but it was safe
2. Yes, and it was risky
3. No, not a chance
4. I can’t remember

Yesterday’s Results:

How much snow did your area get?

1. 4-plus inches: 26%
2. 10-plus inches: 26%
3. 1-4 inches: 16%
4. None: 11%
5. Not sure: 11%
6. Less than an inch: 10%

Why did Wake Forest College move to Winston-Salem, where it was later renamed Wake Forest University?

Show me the answer