FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1827, Hiram R. Revels was born in Fayetteville. He became the first black man in Congress as a Republican U.S. Senator from Mississippi, serving from 1870 to 1871.

If you’re heading to Raleigh this weekend for the IMBA World of Bluegrass festival, be sure to check out today's Et Cetera for an update on how Helene’s rainy weather is impacting the schedule.

We hope you’re enjoying Flyover North Carolina and telling all your friends about us! If you haven’t subscribed yet, sign up here.

We’re flying today with The Chill Pill, a natural and medication-free way to improve your sleep and reduce stress.

NC Braces for ‘Catastrophic Flooding’

The North Carolina Weather Service warned residents of western North Carolina to prepare for potentially catastrophic flooding as rain from Hurricane Helene moved into the area Thursday and continued today.

Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency in preparation for the hurricane's arrival. He also activated the National Guard and deployed swift water teams.

Duke Energy has technicians and tree crews ready to respond as the storm brings heavy rains, high winds, localized flooding, and potential power outages to parts of the state.

The state also faces a risk of tornadoes from the storm. A possible tornado was caught on video Wednesday near Blowing Rock, which meteorologists say was not caused by Helene. Watch the video here.

Poll Shows Trump Ahead in NC

AARP North Carolina released a 2024 statewide election survey of voters Wednesday, revealing that former President Donald Trump maintains a 50% to 47% head-to-head lead over Vice President Kamala Harris, and a 48% to 46% lead on the full ballot.

Trump holds a 9-point lead over Harris on both the full ballot and in a head-to-head matchup with voters ages 50 and older, a group that made up 64% of all North Carolina voters in the 2022 mid-terms.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released Monday also gives Trump a 49% to 47% edge in North Carolina.

Both campaigns continue to prioritize North Carolina voters. Trump held a rally in Mint Hill Wednesday, where he discussed jobs, inflation, and the economy.

Meanwhile, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz made a campaign stop in Raleigh on a bus labeled “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom.”

NC Restaurants Get High Marks

Tripadvisor featured Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian South and Jettie Rae’s Oyster House—both in Asheville—in its 2024 Best Casual Restaurants rankings.

Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian South was ranked No. 6 due to its friendly staff, large portions, pasta, and charming decor.

Jettie Rae’s Oyster House took the No. 8 spot thanks to its seafood offerings, cocktails, bread, and outdoor area.

Yelp put together a list of the best taco spots in each state, with 13 Tacos and Taps in Raleigh getting the nod for North Carolina. See the full list here.

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➤ Raleigh: Four members of North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s staff announced their resignation: Chief of Staff Brian LiVecchi, Director of Communications John Wesley Waugh, Policy Director Jonathan Harris, and Director of Government Affairs Nathan Lewis. (More)

➤ Surf City: Beginning Tuesday, 99 beach access flags will be auctioned off, creating an opportunity for people to own a piece of Surf City history. (More)

➤ Wake County: School district leaders say it will cost more than $220 million—money the school system doesn't have—to replace aging HVAC systems in schools across the county. (More)

➤ Durham: In order to meet the state’s voter ID requirement, Duke University distributed physical ID-only DukeCards to students ahead of election day. (More)

➤ Southport: A red pickup truck plunged into the Cape Fear River Thursday. Locals pulled the driver from the submerged vehicle before first responders arrived at the scene. (More)

➤ Statewide: RTI International is working with the state government to test public school tap water for lead paint and asbestos. (More)

➤ Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathan Brooks is in the “final stages” of rehabbing his torn ACL, according to head coach Dave Canales, and he could make his debut as soon as Week 5 against the Chicago Bears. Despite his injury, Brooks was the first running back taken in the 2024 NFL draft. (More)

➤ North Carolina regulators have unanimously approved retail sports betting. This means companies like BetMGM and Draft Kings will be able to open physical locations in the state for sports betting. (More)

➤ Five-star basketball recruit Dwayne Aristode revealed on Wednesday that he has Duke among his final five schools. (More)

Yesterday's Results: NFL | MLB | NHL | WNBA | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Amazon workers in Garner are trying to form a union called Carolina Amazonians United for Solidarity and Empowerment (C.A.U.S.E.). (More)

➤ J.D. Power ranked Charlotte Douglas International Airport below average for customer satisfaction among mega airports in the U.S. and Canada. (See Survey)

➤ N.C. State debuted a red blend wine called Lake Raleigh Woods as part of the university’s Hallowed Places Collection, which launched in 2021. (More)

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➤ IBMA World of Bluegrass organizers have delayed certain festival events in Raleigh, including live stage performances, until 5 p.m. today, due to Helene's rain. (See Details)

➤ Scientists have discovered a never-before-seen predatory species of flatworm living in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and other parts of the U.S. that likely originated from South America. (More)

➤ Six North Carolina schools have been recognized as National Blue Ribbon Schools by the U.S. Department of Education. (See Schools)

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