Boliek, Lawmakers Defend Elections Board Shift

State Auditor Dave Boliek and GOP legislative leaders have filed new court briefs with the Court of Appeals defending Senate Bill 382, a law that transfers North Carolina’s elections board appointment power from the governor to the auditor.

They argue the change reflects constitutional design by distributing executive authority. In a separate brief, Boliek also challenges Democratic Gov. Josh Stein’s legal argument, stating, “The Governor is wrong” regarding his claim that the General Assembly violated North Carolina Supreme Court precedent and the state constitution’s separation of powers.

In April, a panel of Republican judges on the Court of Appeals issued a stay that blocked a trial court ruling favoring Stein, enabling Boliek to appoint elections board members and shift partisan control.

Stein continues to contest the law’s constitutionality, claiming it violates his duty under the state constitution.

Forbes Releases List of Best NC Employers

Forbes released its Best Employers by State 2025 rankings last week based on a survey of over 160,000 U.S. employees from companies with at least 500 employees. The companies were evaluated based on factors such as workplace culture, wages, and advancement opportunities.

Western Carolina University in Cullowhee took the top spot in North Carolina, followed by Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin; Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft; Cary-based Epic Games; and Durham-based Blue Cross Blue Shield, rounding out the top five.

The No. 6-10 spots went to Wake Forest University, USAA, JLL, FirstHealth of the Carolinas, and Duke University, which, ironically, implemented a voluntary separation program for 599 employees in July related to federal funding cuts. 

UNCG Study: Pretest Exercise Boosts Scores

A study published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise by researchers at UNC-Greensboro found that nine minutes of high-intensity interval exercise before testing improved children’s verbal comprehension scores.

The study, involving 25 students ages 9-12, compared interval exercise, moderate cycling, and rest—and found that brief activity boosts standardized test performance.

The scientists created exercises that can be done in one place: high knees, jumping jacks, lunges, and air squats. Students performed each exercise for 30 seconds, followed by 30 seconds of rest.

The study also found that brief interval exercise reduced students’ error-related negativity signals, making mistakes less distracting. This suggests that short workouts improve focus and enable more effective responses.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is modernizing its outdated computer systems with a new, scalable platform to improve service delivery, reliability, and security. A request for proposals is open, with bids due by Oct. 17. (More)

➤ NC Schools: North Carolina families will no longer automatically qualify for free or reduced-price school meals based on SNAP or Medicaid eligibility due to changes under President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. (More)

➤ Asheville: A proposed consent decree could end a federal lawsuit alleging that the Human Relations Commission discriminated against white applicants. Under the deal, the city would remove a provision in a race-based ordinance, ensuring equal treatment for all applicants. (More)

➤ Wilmington: Curtis Daniel Heskett jumped off the Thomas Rhodes Bridge to evade arrest after driving the wrong way and hitting a car. He survived the 60-foot drop with minor injuries but faces multiple charges, including assaulting a government official with a deadly weapon. (More)

➤ Raleigh: The North Carolina Supreme Court declined to hear a case from 37 Raleigh police officers claiming an unconstitutional denial of stand-by pay. Lower courts ruled they weren’t eligible under the city’s pre-2018 policy. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The Spectrum Center’s $245 million renovation, timed with the arena’s 20th anniversary, is nearing completion and features new seats, grab-and-go stations, 360-degree bars, and a modernized lobby. (More)

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➤ Whataburger announced a multi-year partnership with the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC on Monday, including a “strong presence” at Bank of America Stadium. (More)

➤ UNC football coach Bill Belichick listed his beachfront Nantucket cottage for $3.9 million ahead of the team’s season opener. (More)

➤ NC State fans will see new upgrades at Carter-Finley Stadium this season, including Raleighwood enhancements, new Alpaca and Wolf & Hen concessions, lactation rooms, a renamed Andy Albright Scoreboard, text assistance, and ticket account binding for iPhone users. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | U.S. Open

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➤ San Francisco-based biotech company Genentech broke ground on a $700 million facility in Holly Springs on Monday. The project will create 420 high-paying jobs focused on obesity drug development and 1,500 construction jobs to help build the facility. (More)

➤ Mooresville-based Lowe’s agreed to pay $8.8 billion to acquire California-based Foundation Building Materials, a distributor of interior building products with more than 370 locations in the U.S. and Canada. (More)

➤ Iredell County cattle farmer David Stamey is selling 340 acres of family land, valued at $3.46 million and located off Stamey Farm Road, to Compass Datacenters, which plans to construct a five-building data center. (More)

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How General Motors Is Securing Lithium Supply

The world will need to produce 3.8 million tons of lithium per year by 2035 to meet the demand for electric vehicles. GM is turning to a startup to unlock a US-based lithium supply: EnergyX.

EnergyX’s patented LiTAS® technology can extract up to 300% more lithium than traditional methods. GM led a $50 million funding round in EnergyX earlier this year, and EnergyX is now opening up the opportunity for all investors to join them. Don’t miss out: Become an EnergyX shareholder today.

➤ Coastal Connection – Wilmington, a new American Dream TV Network series hosted by Rainey Wallace and Chelsea Winstead, premieres today on the Travel Channel and other platforms, showcasing Wilmington’s lifestyle, culture, and real estate. (More)

➤ NASA’s TOMEX+ sounding rocket launch, scrubbed Sunday and Monday, was expected to launch last night at 10 p.m. from Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia and may have been visible 30–40 seconds after launch in Central North Carolina. (More)

➤ Veteran volunteers at Charlotte’s 145th Airlift Wing, home to C-130s and C-17s, are helping digitize 77 years of North Carolina Air National Guard photos and archives, identifying names to make them searchable online through the Heritage Program. (More)

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Did you inherit family land?

1. Yes, I live on it
2. Yes, I sold it
3. No, wish I had
4. No, glad I didn’t
5. Hope to someday

Yesterday’s Results:

Has traffic picked up in your area since schools reopened?

1. Yes, it’s much busier: 41%
2. Somewhat, but manageable: 31%
3. Not in my neck of the woods: 28%

In what war was the Lockheed C-130 Hercules plane first used?

Show me the answer