NC Enters Innovation Top 10

North Carolina ranked ninth in the nation for innovation capacity in the state Commerce Department’s 2026 Tracking Innovation report, its first appearance in the top 10.

The report measured the state against the rest of the country on 41 metrics and found its innovation economy has grown faster than the national average since the early 2000s. Academic research, a surge in tech startups, and college-educated newcomers arriving at three times the national rate drove the climb.

High-tech businesses have more than doubled since 2000 and pay wages roughly twice the state average. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said the report shows “where we are making progress and where we can do more.”

It also pointed to weak spots: lagging public school funding, uneven broadband access, and rural counties being left behind as the gains concentrate in the cities.

NC Ranks Near Bottom for Teachers

North Carolina ranked 44th of 51 in a new study of state-friendliness toward teachers, placing it the eighth worst in the country.

The study weighed 24 metrics, from pay to working conditions. North Carolina came in 46th in public school spending per student and 49th in teachers’ income-growth potential, though it ranked a stronger 22nd in average starting salary. Washington state topped the rankings and New Hampshire finished last. 

The result lines up with the state’s own Commerce Department, whose 2026 innovation report—featured in today’s top story—likewise flagged public school spending that trails most other states. 

Teacher pay has long divided Raleigh, where Republican lawmakers point to raises they have passed while Democrats and educator groups say schools remain underfunded.

NCDOT Awards $14.4M for EV Chargers

The North Carolina Department of Transportation awarded $14.4 million to build electric vehicle charging stations at 14 sites across the state, from Weaverville to Kinston.

Eight businesses will build and operate the chargers under the second round of the federal National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program, joining five stations funded in 2024. Other sites include Asheboro, Columbus, High Point, Raleigh, and Wadesboro.

Charged EV Raleigh was awarded $671,749 for an eight-port station on U.S. 64 capable of 500 kilowatts. NCDOT has $109 million in federal money to spend on the network.

State Initiatives Manager Heather Hildebrandt said expanding the network makes it “easier for everyone to travel confidently across the state.” The agency expects to finish the full buildout within three years, with a later phase aimed at rural areas.

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➤ Statewide: Demand at North Carolina food banks has hit its highest level in nearly two decades, with about 630,000 people in need of meal assistance across the 34 counties served by the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, up 40% since 2021. (More)

➤ Ashe County: First Lady Melania Trump will visit one of the county’s elementary schools today to promote classroom technology and community resiliency, marking her first return to Western North Carolina since she and President Trump toured Hurricane Helene damage in January 2025. (More)

➤ Wilmington: NCDOT holds the second of two public hearings today in Leland on replacing the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, weighing a movable span against a fixed 135-foot bridge that Wilmington’s council opposes. (More)

➤ Cary: A water main break early Monday shut down part of N.C. 55 at Wade Drive and prompted a boil-water advisory for nearby customers, officials said. (See Photo)

➤ Southport: The Southport-Fort Fisher ferry is suspended while crews repair the ramp at the Southport terminal, cutting off a popular shortcut across the Cape Fear River for drivers and beachgoers. (More)

➤ Greensboro: A Page High School junior varsity football player, Davion Fewell, died after suffering an injury during Thursday’s game against Grimsley High School, Guilford County Schools said. The district made grief counselors available but didn’t provide additional details. (More)

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➤ ACC Week 2 power rankings reflect UNC rolling East Tennessee State 35-3 to stay ninth, NC State crushing Richmond 73-0 to climb to 12th, Duke edging Illinois to hold seventh, and Wake Forest beating Purdue in double overtime to remain eighth. (See Rankings)

➤ Fourth-ranked Charlotte FC extended their unbeaten run to seven matches with a 3-3 draw at FC Cincinnati on Saturday, taking the lead on Idan Toklomati’s goal before the hosts equalized in stoppage time. Charlotte visits D.C. United on Sept. 19. (More)

➤ No. 3 Duke women’s soccer throttled top-ranked Stanford 5-0 on Sunday in its ACC opener, with six different Blue Devils recording an assist in a rematch of last season’s College Cup. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Duke volleyball beat Marshall 3-1 and swept Belmont to improve to 7-1, their best start since 2012. Junior libero Mailinh Godschall reached 1,000 career digs over the weekend. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Soccer

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➤ Coffee vs Hot Cacao vs Green Tea:  Which of these hot drinks was proven in a study boost stem cells by 220% in 30 days?  Billionaires drop 6 figures on stem cell therapy, but this hot drink costs 50 cents a day and boosts anti-aging stem cells improving heart health, blood pressure, and longevity.

➤ SteelFab will expand its Fayetteville plant with a $19 million to $22 million investment, adding 38 to 42 jobs, backed by nearly $1 million in state and local incentives. The new positions will pay an average of $70,106. (More)

➤ Windsor Jewelers, a Winston-Salem-based family-owned jeweler, has signed sponsorship deals with the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, deepening its presence in Charlotte, where it opened a store in 2013. (More)

➤ Network for Entrepreneurs in Wilmington drew investors and founders from 19 states to its fourth annual Investor Buzz-In at Cape Fear Community College, an event aimed at building the region’s startup pipeline and connecting entrepreneurs with capital. (More)

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➤ Celebrity chef Richard Blais is teaming up with 2025 James Beard semifinalist Asheville chef William Dissen for a one-night-only pop-up Wednesday at Dissen’s downtown restaurant, The Market Place. The two met through seafood sustainability advocacy. (More)

➤ NC State wildlife professor Chris DePerno is donating some of the proceeds of his homemade NC State Slobberin’ Sauce—a nod to both Eastern and Lexington-style traditions—to fund student scholarships. (More)

➤ The Children’s Museum of Wilmington will participate in Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play on Sept. 26, offering pop-up programming and extra activities from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at no added cost. (See Details)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ These 10 ways to save money could put thousands back in your pocket. (Hear List)

➤ Owning a car now costs thousands a year beyond the loan payment, and one expense is climbing fastest. (Hear Details)

➤ Celine Dion returned to the stage after years of silence forced by an incurable neurological disorder. (Listen Now)

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Yesterday’s Results:

Have you been to a Michelin-recommended restaurant?

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2. Yes: 25%
3. Not sure: 25%

Which North Carolina cities are best known for their barbecue?

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