MS-13 Member Arrested in Durham

ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) division announced Tuesday that a documented member of the MS-13 transnational criminal organization was arrested in Durham.

Rene Arturo Canas-Rivas, 40, a citizen and national of El Salvador, was arrested on Nov. 30 outside his home after ERO, which worked with the Raleigh Fugitives Operations Team, received an Interpol Red Notice indicating Canas-Rivas was wanted for aggravated homicide and terrorist organizing in El Salvador.

Canas-Rivas remains in ICE custody and has “no safe haven within our communities,” according to ERO Atlanta Assistant Field Office Director Andrew Dubyak.

In a related development, Gov.-elect Josh Stein told ABC News he’ll “wait and see” whether North Carolina will cooperate with the Trump administration’s mass deportation policies.

NC Supreme Court Candidate Renews Appeal

Republican North Carolina Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin renewed his request for state elections officials to address his ballot challenge Monday after a Wake County Superior Court judge ruled against mandating a deadline requiring them to do so.

Griffin’s court order filing set a deadline for state elections officials to respond by yesterday at 8 a.m.

In a separate document, Griffin argued against linking a Democrat lawsuit to a case already sitting before U.S. Chief District Judge Richard Myers. The case challenges 225,000 North Carolina voter registrations lacking a driver’s license number or the last four digits of the registering person’s social security number.

A hand recount of Griffin’s race against incumbent Democrat Justice Allison Riggs was expected to be completed Tuesday. At that time, Riggs still led Griffin by 734 votes.

Private School Admin Faces 10 Felony Charges

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police arrested Charlotte Country Day School’s former assistant head of academics, Scott Waybright, 58, on Dec. 6 and charged him with 10 felony counts related to secret peeping.

The arrest was made after a school administrator notified police of the suspected crimes. Waybright was terminated Dec. 2.

Detectives found a “large number” of inappropriate photos of women on Waybright’s school laptop and phone—some possibly of female students who attend(ed) the school—according to a police affidavit filed in court.

School administrators seized Waybright’s laptop and phone after a teacher sent an email about a student claiming Waybright took photos of her at the school. Waybright posted a $50,000 bond Friday and appeared in court Monday. His next court appearance is Dec. 31.

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➤ Asheville: A spokesperson for Asheville Water Resources shared what he called “astonishing” drone footage of a North Fork Reservoir watershed tributary filled with downed trees from Hurricane Helene. (See Footage)

➤ Cape Fear: Biologists are stocking the Cape Fear River with striped bass from South Carolina’s Cooper River to help boost the fish’s population there. (More)

➤ Nolicucky River: The Army Corps of Engineers stopped CSX Transportation from surface mining and dredging after questions arose about how nearby railroad tracks were rebuilt following Helene. (More)

➤ New Bern: Craven Community College students are turning plastic bags into durable sleeping mats for homeless people. So far 28,000 plastic bags have been donated to the cause—enough to make 40 mats. (More)

➤ Wilmington: A 135-acre recreation village is in the works that will include indoor and outdoor Olympic-sized pools, trails, green spaces, and gathering areas. (See Renderings)

➤ Raleigh: Researchers at N.C. State University developed a modeling tool designed to streamline ocean-based hydrokinetic energy projects while minimizing disturbance of ocean wildlife. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers opened as the betting favorite over Dallas this week—the first time the team has been favored heading into a game in two years. (More)

➤ Duke starting quarterback Maalik Murphy has entered the transfer portal despite a successful 2024 season with the Blue Devils. (More)

➤ UNC men’s basketball fell off of the AP Top 25 rankings this week after a rough stretch of play, while Duke improved five spots and is now ranked No. 4. (See Rankings)

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

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➤ Raleigh-Durham International Airport plans to realign the road between its terminals by extending John Brantley Boulevard 350 feet and building two bridges to ease bottlenecked traffic. (More)

➤ U.S. News & World Report ranked Duke University Hospitals, UNC Hospitals, and Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center as North Carolina’s top three hospitals, in that order. (See Report)

➤ Saint Augustine’s University was denied accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Tuesday. University officials plan to appeal the decision. (More)

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➤ An NFL in-game moment showing Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young praying for Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnston after he was injured Sunday has gone viral. (Watch Video)

➤ Winston-Salem-based Krispy Kreme’s annual Day of the Dozens is Thursday, Dec. 12, giving customers a buy-one-get-one-free dozen glazed donuts deal. The company also unveiled three new Grinch-themed donuts. (See Details)

➤ 100 Gold Star family members of fallen soldiers return to Fayetteville today after a five-day vacation at Disney World sponsored by the Gary Sinise Foundation’s Snowball Express. (More)

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Do you put gifts under your tree before Christmas Eve?

1. Yes, as soon as I wrap them
2. No, I wait until Christmas Eve
3. I don’t celebrate Christmas

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s the lowest you’ve ever paid for a gallon of gas?

1. Less than $1: 48.7%
2. Between $1 and $2: 20.1%
3. Between $2 and $3: 15.8%
4. Never paid less than $3: 15.4%

What are North Carolina’s official freshwater and saltwater fish?

Show me the answer