Trump Rallies in Greenville for GOP

President Donald Trump rallied supporters Tuesday evening in Greenville, boosting Republican candidates ahead of the November midterms. 

The event marked his second visit to the state in a month as early voting turnout surged, with 525,970 ballots cast statewide through Sunday—more than 37% higher than at the same point in 2022.

Trump endorsed Republican Senate hopeful Michael Whatley against former Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper and highlighted competitive House races. He also announced a $1.5 billion Pentagon investment in North Carolina semiconductor production, plus a new Sibelco plant to manufacture quartz for chips.

The president pledged Camp Lejeune water contamination settlements if Republicans retain Congress. Protesters briefly interrupted the nearly two-hour rally.

Judge Rejects Mail-In Ballot Challenge

A federal judge on Monday refused to block two new North Carolina mail-in ballot rules, allowing the signature-verification and envelope-sealing requirements to stand through the election.

Advocacy groups working with the Elias Law Group, founded by Democrat lawyer Marc Elias, filed the challenge Sept. 22, suing the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Durham and Guilford county boards.

In a 72-page order, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder cited the Purcell principle against changing election rules once voting is underway and found the plaintiffs unlikely to succeed on the merits.

The plaintiffs argued the rules would disqualify thousands of ballots over minor errors. The board countered that signing one’s name and sealing the envelope are basic safeguards, and that voters get notice and a chance to fix mistakes.

UNC-Chapel Hill Settles Civil Rights Probes

UNC-Chapel Hill agreed to adopt color-blind admissions and new antisemitism protections to settle federal civil rights investigations, the Departments of Justice and Education announced Monday.

Under the 10-page agreement, the university will stop using race in admissions, scholarships, and financial aid; hire a “merit and civil rights administrator” within 30 days; and expand protections for Jewish and Israeli students.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said policies that “tolerate antisemitism or favor certain racial groups over others frustrate our color-blind system,” and praised the university for resolving the matter without litigation.

Chancellor Lee Roberts said the deal “affirms the civil rights of everyone in our community” and protects academic freedom. The agreement runs through 2028, closes 18 federal investigations, ends a separate DOJ compliance review, and keeps UNC-Chapel Hill eligible for federal funding.

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➤ Statewide: A majority of a State Board of Education accountability task force favors scrapping North Carolina’s A–F school performance grades in favor of reporting individual measures without an overall rating. Any change would need General Assembly approval. (More)

➤ Durham: Prosecutors rested their case Monday in the trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares, charged with the 2012 burglary, rape, and first-degree murder of UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth. The defendant broke down in tears as a video call with a late friend was played for jurors. (More) 

➤ Liberty: A suspect died and two Guilford County deputies suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting Monday night during a domestic disturbance call on Kimesville Road. The State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing it. (More)

➤ Statesville: The estate of Craig Wadsworth, former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s personal assistant, filed a wrongful-death suit against the estates of Biffle and pilots Dennis and Jack Dutton over the December 2025 crash at Statesville Regional Airport that killed all seven aboard. The suit alleges they used an unqualified second pilot to save money. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: N.C. 12 remained closed Tuesday between the Marc Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe due to ocean overwash and dune erosion on Pea Island. An ongoing nor’easter is expected to push coastal flooding into Thursday. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The city council is advancing toward a Nov. 9 vote on a new 10.5-year airport lease with American Airlines and other carriers after Mayor Robert Harrington’s veto of a delay held, enabling $2.1 billion in capital upgrades. (More)

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➤ Former NC State football coach Chuck Amato, who led the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2006 after spending 18 seasons as a Florida State assistant under Bobby Bowden, died Monday at his Raleigh home at age 80. Amato went 49–37 at NC State and coached quarterback Philip Rivers. (More)

➤ No. 2 Duke men’s basketball dominated No. 8 Tennessee 101-64 in a Tuesday exhibition at Cameron Indoor Stadium, led by freshman Deron Rippey Jr.’s 21 points as six Blue Devils scored in double figures. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes, off to a 7-2-1 start, visited the struggling Vancouver Canucks (2-7-1) on Tuesday night, looking to bounce back from a loss to Calgary. (See Who Won)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NCAAF | NHL | Soccer

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➤ UNC-Asheville launched its new School of Business, uniting existing business and economics programs serving over 250 students and proposing new fall 2027 majors in finance, marketing, and business analytics. (More)

➤ Durham-based M&F Bank postponed a shareholder vote on merging Mechanics & Farmers Bank into South Carolina’s Optus Financial to Nov. 4. (More)

➤ Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock received the State Auditor’s Award of Excellence, a recognition for clean, well-run financial reporting. (More)

➤ I Love NY Pizza, one of downtown Wilmington’s longest-running pizzerias, changed hands after about two decades, with owners Dino Psilos and John Karonis selling to Megan Jackson and Jeremy Bailey, who plan to keep the staff, menu, and character. (More)

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➤ Cape Hatteras National Seashore logged 409 sea turtle nests in 2026, according to the nonprofit Outer Banks Forever’s annual “Sea Turtle Scoop.” (See Photo)

➤ A costumed burger character beefs up the midday mood at Pressley Park Restaurant, a six-decade-old Charlotte spot, where longtime employee James “Timmy” Hill helps keep lunch service lively with phrases like “Bite me.” (See Video)

➤ Speaking of burgers, Durham ranks 9th among America’s most affordable cities for fast food at 0.27% of median monthly household income, based on the cost of a burger, chicken sandwich, and pizza. (See Rankings)

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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. 

➤ What are Americans’ favorite fast food chains, and which ones land at the bottom? (Hear List)

➤ Ohio’s Democratic candidate for governor is being denounced as a liar by her mother in a new ad. (Hear Story)

➤ Robert and Ethel Kennedy’s granddaughter has died at 42, years after a paralyzing spinal cord injury. (Listen Now)

What main entree do you typically order at fast-food restaurants?

1. Burger
2. Chicken sandwich
3. Pizza
4. Taco or enchilada
5. Salad
6. Other (reply to tell us)
7. I don’t eat fast food

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever taken expired medicine?

1. Yes: 75%
2. No: 10%
3. Possibly: 15%

What North Carolina-born fast-food chain opened its first restaurant in 1960?

Show me the answer