Monday, October 21, 2024

Technical issues slowed down our delivery this morning; we apologize for the delay.

Good morning! On this day in 1852, the first Charlotte & South Carolina Railroad passenger train arrived in the Queen City and was greeted by a crowd of 20,000. Music, speeches, a barbecue, a dance, and a fireworks display followed.

If passenger trains make you think of Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas, tune in tonight at 10 p.m. to see A Biltmore Christmas, filmed on-site at Biltmore last year. The movie features a cameo of Hendersonville's historic train depot amid bustling crowds as passenger trains arrive.

Speaking of Biltmore, don't miss our update on the estate's reopening in Business.

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Today we're sponsored by NativePath, be sure to check them out in today's edition.

Early Voting Turnout Breaks Records

North Carolina voters set a first-day early voting record Thursday, with 353,166 ballots accepted statewide—surpassing the 2020 early voting first-day total of 348,559.

A Newsweek map shows the number of North Carolinians who voted early by county Thursday, with many in areas ravaged by Hurricane Helene.

As of Sunday morning, 862,640 in-person ballots had been accepted in North Carolina, as reported by Election Lab, an election data analysis service. Of that number, 34.8% were registered Democrats, 34.4% were registered Republicans, and 30.7% were registered unaffiliated voters.

Both presidential campaigns are prioritizing North Carolina this week, with Former President Bill Clinton stumping for Vice President Kamala Harris in Raleigh yesterday, and Former President Donald Trump holding a rally at Minges Coliseum in Greenville today.

Voter Registration Case Returned to State Court

A federal judge dismissed a portion of a lawsuit Thursday filed in August by national and state Republicans against the N.C. Board of Elections, then sent the remainder of it back to state court.

The lawsuit challenges 225,000 voter registrations, claiming the NCBOE failed to maintain its registration list in compliance with the federal Help Save America Vote Act.

U.S. Chief District Judge Richard Myers determined the Republican National Committee and North Carolina Republican Party had no right to bring the lawsuit, which alleges NCBOE failed to require identification from prospective voters to prove citizenship, thus opening the door for noncitizens to vote.

Myers refused to rule on whether the NCBOE's actions directly interfered with North Carolinians' fundamental right to vote, saying a state court should determine that.

A ruling on a separate lawsuit regarding an NCBOE memo stating absentee ballots need not be returned in sealed container-return envelopes has not yet been made.

Copy of Constitution Sells for $9 Million

A rare, 237-year-old copy of the U.S. Constitution sold for $9 million in just 7 minutes at an auction in Asheville Thursday evening.

The signed ratification copy, printed in 1787 by Continental Congress Secretary Charles Thomas, was found inside a filing cabinet in an Edenton home once owned by Samuel Johnston, North Carolina's governor from 1787-1789.

Thomsen printed about 100 copies. Only eight are known to exist, with the other seven in public ownership. A letter from George Washington asking for ratification was also included with the document.

Brunk Auctions hosted the private auction, which was rescheduled from Sept. 28 due to Hurricane Helene. Bids came in at $500,000 intervals. The buyer's name has not been released.

Please refer Flyover North Carolina to your friends and family!

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'Eat' 1 Scoop of This Odd Fruit Before Breakfast to Help Burn Calories Faster

In one study, researchers discovered fat loss was "significantly greater" in the participants who ate this fruit every day.

They also noticed that subcutaneous fat — the frustrating layer of fat around your middle — was also reduced.

Before you eat breakfast… 'Eat' 1 scoop of this tropical fruit to switch your metabolism ON for the day!

⇒ This Odd "Abdominal Fat Burning Fruit" Reboots Your Slow Metabolism (Burn Calories Faster)

➤ Asheville: Police are working to return hundreds of photos they found along the Swannona River in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene back to their owners. (More)

➤ Cary: A resident reported a check-washing scam after mailing a check via a secure USPS box. The town's postal inspector is investigating the incident. (More)

➤ Raleigh: A 2,206-pound pumpkin from West Virginia won the North Carolina State Fair pumpkin contest, with second- and third-place pumpkins weighing 2,197 and 1,858 pounds each, respectively. (Watch Video)

➤ Charlotte: Parisian fashion house Balenciaga opened its first North Carolina location Friday at SouthPark Mall. There are only 40 locations nationwide. (More)

➤ Mooresville: Dale Earnhardt's widow Teresa Earnhardt plans to have what was once her husband's 399-farm rezoned to become an industrial park. (More)

➤ Western NC: Actor Channing Tatum showed up at an Asheville food bank with a truckload of supplies that he helped unload and organize for victims of Hurricane Helene. (See Photo)

➤ NC State running back Hollywood Smothers caught a 41-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to help the Wolfpack defeat California 24-23. (Watch Video)

➤ Washington dominated the Carolina Panthers 40-7 in Charlotte Sunday, despite the Commanders' Jayden Daniels leaving the game early with a rib injury. (More)

➤ Duke football defeated Florida State 23-16 Saturday to earn the school's first win ever over FSU. (More)

➤ East Carolina fired coach Mike Houston Sunday, a day after the Pirates lost to Army 45-28, falling to 3-4. (More)

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➤ Biltmore will reopen Nov. 2, the day the estate's annual Christmas at Biltmore event begins. All attractions and restaurants will be open. (More)

➤ N.C Attorney General Josh Stein and his department are suing timeshare company Club Exploria for spamming more than 1 million North Carolinians with robocalls. (See Details)

➤ A unanimous ruling from the N.C. Supreme Court sent a case back to trial to determine whether "certificate of need" laws that currently apply to the state's health care industry should be struck down as unconstitutional. (More)

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Best Fruit To Fight Belly Fat

Millions of seniors across America struggle with stubborn abdominal fat, which can be difficult to shed even when a healthy lifestyle is adopted.

New research has uncovered why that is: the metabolism decreases during aging and makes it easier for seniors to gain weight, especially in the abdominal region.

Not only is abdominal fat — also called visceral fat or 'belly fat' — unsightly, it can lead to an increased risk of a number of health conditions.

Read More

➤ Comet C/2024 S1, known as the ATLAS comet and nicknamed the "Halloween comet," was discovered Sept. 27 and may become visible in the Southeast starting Oct. 24—just in time for Halloween. (More)

➤ A 49-year-old single mom from central North Carolina and 13 of her 15 children (ages of 4-15) through-hiked all 2,200-miles of the Appalachian Trail in seven months. (More)

➤ Most of North Carolina has a 33-40% chance of a drier-than-normal winter, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (See Report)

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