THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1961, Battleship North Carolina reached her final resting place on the Cape Fear River after being towed from New Jersey to Wilmington via tugboat. She now serves as a World War II Memorial to the 11,000-plus North Carolinians who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Today, our Top Story section includes a bulleted list of Hurricane Helene updates to keep you informed of the latest recovery efforts. Hit reply and let us know if you find it useful.

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I-40 and I-26 Sections Reopen

NCDOT reopened I-40 East from Buncombe County to Old Fort in McDowell County to emergency traffic Tuesday. Gov. Roy Cooper announced that the I-40 West section there was expected to open later that day.

A confusing Google Maps notice stating that I-40 will be closed at the Tennessee-North Carolina border until September 2025 is not accurate, as no date for its reopening has been set.

I-26 East in western North Carolina also reopened, but as of Wednesday, I-26 West remained closed. Both directions of I-26 are closed at the Tennessee state line. You can find the latest news on road openings and closures at drivenc.gov.

Additional Hurricane Helene recovery updates:

The death toll reached 183 Wednesday.
Most western North Carolina school systems are closed this week.
President Joe Biden took an aerial tour of western North Carolina Wednesday.
ATVs are being used to reach Ashe County’s remote towns.
A 30-truck convoy brought food and supplies to Avery County Tuesday.
North Carolina Agricultural Secretary Steve Troxler stated Hurricane Helene “will probably go down as the worst disaster in North Carolina history.”

Voting in Western NC

Early voting begins on Oct. 17, but state officials say they have enough time to ensure residents in Helene-ravaged areas are not disenfranchised.

State Board of Elections Director Karen Brinson Bell said Tuesday she would go to remote communities and “knock on doors if that’s what it takes” to ensure voters can cast their ballots.

The state legislature returns to Raleigh next week and will discuss potential changes to election rules, among other Helene-related issues.

Voting equipment and ballots were unharmed during the storm. Some counties without internet service have received or requested “election offices in a box” that allow them to register voters and process absentee ballots.

Judge Clears Way for NIL Profit

Superior Court Judge Graham Shirley granted a prelimary injunction Tuesday allowing public school athletes to profit from their Name, Image and Likeness (NIL).

Shirley directed plaintiffs to prepare an order finding that the General Assembly intended for public school athletes to be able to use their NIL, and asking the State Board of Education to create rules permitting that use.

The ruling comes from a case involving Greensboro high school football quarterback Faizon Brandon, who has committed to play for the University of Tennessee, and it stops the North Carolina State Board of Education’s prohibition of NIL use.

Brandon family attorney Mike Ingersoll says he will write the judge’s requested order by the end of this week.

Want more news about the world of Name, Image, and Likeness in athletics? Subscribe to NIL Wire here.

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➤ Western NC: Duke Energy announced Tuesday that most remaining customer outages in North Carolina should be restored by Friday night. (See Details)

➤ Durham: Duke University’s biomedical engineering department announced the creation of a Center for Computational and Digital Health Innovation to increase student involvement in health care research. (More)

➤ Brunswick County: NCDOT released photos of the latest work on NC 211, which washed out during flooding caused by Potential Tropical Cycline 8 last month. (See Photos)

➤ Kill Devil Hills: The National Wright Brothers Memorial released the names of the five people killed in Saturday’s tragic plane crash. (See Details)

➤ Apex: A new map shows the best small cities in the U.S., with Apex in Wake County ranked No. 6. (See Map)

➤ Spruce Pine: Long timeframes for water and power restoration at Avery-Mitchell Correctional Institute prompted the transfer of 841 male offenders there to seven different prisons Tuesday. (More)

➤ NASCAR is postponing the Whelen Modified Tour race at North Wilkesboro Speedway to assist with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts and serve as a donation collection site. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers are signing former first-round cornerback Caleb Farley to the team’s practice squad. (More)

➤ Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium has been selected as one of 12 to host games for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. (See List)

Yesterday's Results: MLB | NHL

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➤ Starlink satellite terminals are headed to western North Carolina thanks to N.C. Republican Sen. Danny Britt connecting with Elon Musk via Former President Donald Trump. (More)

➤ Longshoremen picketed at the Port of Morehead City Tuesday as the nationwide longshoreman’s strike began. (See Photos)

➤ The Greensboro Coliseum posted on its official X account that it will now be known as First Horizon Coliseum. (See Details)

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➤ WCNC Charlotte’s Verify Series published tips for how to spot AI-generated photos of Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. (Read Tips)

➤ Country singer Luke Combs, who was born in Huntersville, is planning “something really special” to help survivors of Helene, and he says details are coming soon. (More)

➤ A donation drive for Helene survivors proposed by N.C. State football captain Davin Vann turned out enough supplies to fill a 26-foot box truck in just five hours, prompting the addition of a second truck. (More)

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