Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1864, Confederate spy Rose O’Neal Greenhow drowned near Wilmington after the Condor, a British blockade runner carrying $2,000 in gold for the Confederacy, ran aground while trying to avoid Union ships. Fearing capture, Greenhow and two others took a rowboat toward shore, but it capsized and Greenhow drowned.

Apex lands at No. 3 on a national list of best small cities, while Banner Elk turns to an unlikely creature to help forecast the winter ahead. Find both in Top Stories and Et Cetera.

What’s the oddest way you’ve seen winter predicted—almanacs, animals, aching joints? Hit reply and let us know.

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Police Chief Targeted With Threatening Letter

Durham Police Chief Patrice Andrews received a letter Tuesday morning containing racial slurs, a threatening message, and a powdery substance later determined not to be harmful.

The letter was opened in Andrews’ office suite around 7:15 a.m., prompting a response from the Durham Fire Department. Forensics collected the material as police opened an investigation into the letter’s source.

Officials emphasized there is no current threat to staff or the public. Local leaders expressed support for Andrews, who has served as Durham’s police chief since 2021.

Private Schools to Offer Teen Road Tests

The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles has begun certifying private driver education schools to administer road tests for teens seeking a Level 2 Limited Provisional License.

Officials say the change will reduce long wait times at DMV offices and offer families more flexibility. Teens who test through certified schools will still complete their license transaction at a DMV office, but with less time spent in line.

The move follows recent legislation aimed at modernizing driver services, including provisions that will soon let teens upgrade from a Level 2 to a Level 3 license online.

Apex Named No. 3 Best Small City in America

WalletHub’s 2025 ranking of the best small cities in America placed Apex third overall out of more than 1,300 cities studied, citing low unemployment, strong incomes, and high credit scores.

Other North Carolina towns also scored well, including Fuquay-Varina, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Mooresville, Morrisville, Huntersville, Concord, and Cornelius.

WalletHub evaluated cities with 25,000 to 100,000 residents across 45 metrics: affordability, economic health, education and health, quality of life, and safety.

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➤ Southport: Family has identified 64-year-old Joy Rogers as one of three victims killed in Saturday’s waterfront bar shooting that also left five others injured. (More)

➤ Charlotte: A U.S. House subcommittee heard from families of violent-crime victims after the fatal stabbing of refugee Iryna Zarutska, prompting calls for tougher justice policies. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: Officials closed beaches in Buxton and Rodanthe as Hurricane Imelda’s surf and flooding raised fears that oceanfront homes could collapse. Coastal flood warnings remain in effect. (More)

➤ Asheville: Police responded to a bomb threat at Moldovian Missionary Baptist Church, part of a broader hoax campaign tied to Moldova’s election. No explosives were found. (More)

➤ Hickory: Police charged three people with stealing water from fire hydrants, prompting city officials to warn about health risks, infrastructure damage, and penalties tied to illegal hydrant use. (More)

➤ Durham County: Deputies responded to a fight involving more than a dozen non-students outside the Southern School of Energy and Sustainability, briefly placing the campus on hold but not lockdown. (More)

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➤ UNC officials are weighing whether to renovate the Smith Center or build a brand-new arena to improve the Tar Heels’ home basketball experience. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers will activate wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. for this week’s game against Miami. He has been inactive for each of the first four games this season. (More)

➤ Former Duke basketball star Cooper Flagg said his goals for this season are to win NBA Rookie of the Year and a championship with the Dallas Mavericks. He also said he’s been connecting with former Blue Devil Kyrie Irving because of their shared alma mater. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: WNBA | MLB | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Entrepreneurs in southeast Raleigh launched the Rock Quarry Road Corridor Small Business Alliance with a kickoff event at John Chavis Park, aiming to boost local businesses and drive economic growth. (More)

➤ The New Hanover Community Endowment announced $20.3 million in new grants across 16 projects, including $2.7 million for public schools and $5.1 million to expand dementia care services. (More)

➤ Enbridge Gas is seeking a 12% residential rate increase in North Carolina, which would raise average monthly bills by about $6.30 if approved this fall. (More)

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➤ October brings more than 100 events to the Triangle, from the State Fair and fall festivals to concerts, markets, and Halloween fun. (See List)

➤ A 10-foot, 5,050-pound reproduction of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse’s original 1853 Fresnel lens, crafted by Florida engineer Dan Spinella, is nearly complete and set for installation. (More)

➤ Banner Elk is set to host its annual Woolly Worm Festival Oct. 18-19, where racing caterpillars predict the winter forecast and winners earn bragging rights in the Blue Ridge Mountains. (More)

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