WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1997, legendary basketball coach Dean Smith retired from coaching with a resume that included two national championships at UNC, an Olympic gold medal in 1976, and induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1983.

Things are looking good for UNC men’s basketball, since two of the nation’s top prospects are considering joining the program. Learn more in Sports.

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Floridians Flee to NC Ahead of Milton

North Carolina airports experienced a surge in arrivals from Florida airports Monday as Hurricane Milton tracked closer to land—just before a number of flights to and from the Sunshine State were canceled.

Eight Florida flights arrived at Raleigh-Durham International Airport Monday evening—three of which were delayed.

Another seven flights were canceled Tuesday morning as Florida airports shut down. Tampa International Airport suspended operations at 9 a.m., St. Pete-Clearwater International at 12:30 p.m., and Sarasota Bradenton International Airport at 4 p.m. Orlando International Airport will cease commercial flights at 8 a.m. this morning.

Evacuees are also packing interstates as they travel north to Georgia and the Carolinas.

Trump, Stein Lead in NC Polls

The latest round of North Carolina polls show Former President Donald Trump leading Vice President Kamala Harris in what is shaping up to be a tight presidential race, and North Carolina AG Josh Stein is ahead of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson by double digits in the state’s gubernatorial race.

Five ThirtyEight has Trump up by 1 point and Stein up by 13 points.
RMG Research has Trump up by 4 points and Stein up by 15 points.
Redfield & Wilton Strategies has Trump ahead by 2 points.
The Hill has Stein holding steady with a 14-point lead.
Polymarket’s latest forecast gives Trump a 60% chance of winning in North Carolina.
Silver Bulletin gives Trump a 48.6% lead over Harris’ 47.9% in North Carolina, but awards Harris the edge nationally with a 49.3% lead over Trump’s 46.2%.

‘Concert for Carolina’ Set for Oct. 26

North Carolina musicians Luke Combs, Eric Church, and James Taylor will headline “Concert for Carolina,” a special benefit show for victims of Hurricane Helene, on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. The event’s starting time has not yet been announced.

The benefit will also feature bluegrass musician Billy Strings, who recently performed in Raleigh at the 2024 IMBA World of Bluegrass festival.

Tickets go on sale via Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, with all proceeds supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in the Carolina region. Learn more here.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Department of Instruction has requested $166 million from the General Assembly to cover a range of financial and operational needs, along with general recovery from Hurricane Helene. (More)

➤ Western NC: FEMA officials say the arrival of Milton in Florida will not impact the amount of resources the agency allocates to western North Carolina. (More)

➤ Great Smoky Mountains National Park: Rangers say the park has reopened in most areas, but they're discouraging outdoor recreation due to safety concerns and a thinly stretched staff. (More)

➤ Western NC: While many popular tourist locations are closed due to Helene, the following are open to visitors: Bryson City, Fontana Village Resort & Marina, Deal’s Gap, Tail of the Dragon, and the Cherohala Skyway. (Explore Locations)

➤ Asheville: Biltmore staff and guests threw an impromptu wedding for a couple whose nuptials were canceled due to Helene. (See Video)

➤ Greensboro: N.C. Rep. Richard Hudson and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis are leading an initiative to house victims of Helene in the Greensboro Influx Care Facility, which is currently being used to house illegal migrant minors. (More)

➤ Lake Norman: Homeowners who live above and below Lake Norman have accused Duke Energy of protecting the lake at the expense of those who live around it. Duke Energy claims the flooding was unpreventable. (See Details)

➤ The Carolina Panthers lost starting center Austin Corbett for the remainder of the season after he ruptured his biceps tendon during Sunday’s loss to the Chicago Bears. (More)

➤ Five-star UNC basketball prospect Braylon Mullins set his commitment date for Oct. 23. UNC is one of Mullins’ top three schools, along with Indiana and UConn. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, No. 8-ranked UNC basketball prospect Caleb Wilson returned to UNC-Chapel Hill for a second visit over the weekend, reportedly to experience the campus during the off-season. (See Photos)

➤ North Carolina Central University was named the HBCU National Team of the Week and is now ranked on both of the major Football Championship Subdivision football polls. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: MLB | NBA | NHL | WNBA

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➤ Hendrick Automotive Group, Hendrick Motorsports, Sonic Automotive, and Speedway Motorsports pledged a combined $2 million to Samaritan’s Purse in support of Hurricane Helene relief efforts. (More)

➤ A hearing on multiple home insurers’ requests to raise homeowner premium rates statewide by more than 42% began Monday, and it's expected to involve weeks of witnesses, evidence, and arguments. (See Details)

➤ Mega Millions, which can be played in North Carolina, announced a ticket price increase from $2 to $5 beginning in April. (More)

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➤ A Mint Hill woman who ate sardines for three months lost 35 pounds and says she has no intention of reintroducing plants into her diet. (More)

➤ North Carolina taxes on wireless services increased slightly from 9.05% to 9.12% this year, but the rate is still 3.7% lower than the national average of 12.82%. (See Report)

➤ Penne alla vodka at Little Mama’s Italian restaurant in Charlotte is North Carolina’s most popular pasta dish, according to a list created by Yelp Elites. (See List)

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