FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 2019, President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act to establish the U.S. Space Force. Two years later, the Space Force added North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University to its University Partnership Program to help create high-caliber recruits and develop a technology-savvy military service.

Have you been to Carowinds lately? Your favorite ride may soon be retired. Learn more in Et Cetera.

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Today's sponsor is the The Voice of Martyrs, who are helping provide aid to Christians in hostile territories.

State Auditor Reports Lax Nursing Home Oversite

State auditors released a report this week revealing lax oversight of the state's nursing homes by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' Division of Health Service Regulation.

According to the audit, the division failed to complete inspections in a timely manner, investigate complaints within the state-prescribed timeline, and consistently verify that deficiencies identified during inspections were corrected.

As of a year ago, North Carolina had 425 federally certified nursing homes accommodating 44,128 beds.

Auditors recommended the division inspect all nursing homes in accordance with federal regulations and laws, seek resources from the General Assembly to clear its backlog of overdue inspections, and ensure each inspection is completed as mandated.

Charlotte Named a Top 10 Housing Market

The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia area has been named as one of the 10 "housing hot spots" for 2025.

Three other metro areas from the 10 identified are also located in the South: Greenville-Anderson, S.C.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and San Antonio-New Braunfels, Texas. The hot spots, which weren't ranked, were chosen based on a variety of economic, demographic, and housing factors.

South Charlotte, in particular, is buzzing with development activity.

Horizon Development will build up to 350 multi-family units and 50 single-family units at Providence and Old Providence Road. Northwood Ravin plans 650 apartments and 95 single-family homes in the same area. Levine Properties will develop the largest parcel with retail, offices, a grocery store, and more.

Wake Schools Face Budget Shortfall

Wake County Public School System is facing a $7.5 million budget shortfall while contemplating the need to spend $69.4 million on required county-level expenses next school year.

The state's largest school system, which operates on a $2.2 billion budget, discussed the anticipated expenditures during its annual retreat in Cary on Wednesday.

Board members floated ideas such as freezing nonessential hiring, reducing "generous" assistant principal funding, and doubling down on fundraising and private partnerships. Program cuts will only be considered after evaluations of their effectiveness.

The WCPSS board plans to reinstate its budget committee in 2025 to review ongoing priorities and challenges.

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Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world's most hostile and restricted nations.

His mission? To meet the courageous men and women who have faced persecution for their unwavering faith in Christ. Todd has traveled far and wide to hear their powerful stories firsthand and to bring their voices to the world, sharing their extraordinary testimonies of faith and resilience.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes-difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ Statewide: State electors met in the Capitol on Tuesday to officially cast North Carolina's 16 Electoral College votes for Donald Trump. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin has asked the state's high court to block election officials from "counting unlawful ballots" cast during the recent election. (See Details)

➤ Wilmington: Construction on an overpass at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway and Market Street will begin in 2029. (See Details)

➤ Charlotte: Delta has opened its new 14,000-square-foot, 246-seat Sky Club at Charlotte Douglas International Airport Wednesday. (See Photos)

➤ Greenville: Former pastor William Barber II filed a federal lawsuit against AMC Theatres for not being able to use his own chair to watch a movie in one of the company's theaters. Barber claims he can't sit in a regular chair due to hip pain. (More)

➤ Pea Island: The Coastal Resources Commission approved a $400,000 sandbag installation on NC12. NCDOT plans to start the project in mid-January. (More)

➤ Durham: The city council authorized $1.75 million in federal funds to rebuild and repair homes and commercial properties along the Fayetteville Street corridor. (See Details)

➤ Carolina Panthers rookie linebacker Trevin Wallace will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery. (More)

➤ Wake Forest hired former Washington State head coach Jake Dickert to be the Demon Deacons' new head football coach after Dave Clawson stepped down earlier this week. Around the same time, Wake Forest announced the release of Randi Smart as head volleyball coach. (Football and Volleyball)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets are facing severe backlash for pretending to give a child a PlayStation 5 during a game and then taking it away off-camera. The team has since apologized. (More)

➤ Yesterday's results: NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW

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➤ Norfolk Southern estimates its Southern Railway line—severely damaged by Hurricane Helene—will reopen at the end of March 2025. The line connects Asheville east to Grovestone and west to Newport, Tenn. (More)

➤ United Airlines will offer daily service from Wilmington International Airport to Chicago O'Hare International Airport this summer, and add nonstop service to Denver International Airport on Saturdays during the summer. (See Details)

➤ A federal judge has ordered NASCAR to allow 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports—which are suing the company for antitrust violations and monopolizing premier-level stock car racing—to race as charter teams while the lawsuit continues. (See Details)

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Flying together with our sponsor

Be Inspired by Bold Believers

For 25 years, Todd Nettleton, the host of VOM Radio, has ventured into some of the world's most hostile and restricted nations.

In his new book, When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians, Todd invites you to meet these bold believers.

Each stop on this journey will challenge you to reflect on your own walk with Christ along the sometimes-difficult path toward our heavenly home.

Through their incredible stories of courageous faith, we pray you will be inspired to a deeper, bolder walk with Christ.

This compelling book is free for you with any gift—simply request your copy today!

➤ Carowinds will retire three rides—Nighthawk, Scream Weaver, and Drop Tower—to prepare for new additions that will include a Camp Snoopy raft ride in 2025 and a "record-breaking water ride" in 2026. (More)

➤ The North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island rehabilitated and released 399 of 553 formerly cold-stunned sea turtles representing North Carolina's most common species: loggerhead, green, and Kemp's ridley. More releases are expected this month. (More)

➤ Raleigh's WNCN shared holiday-themed pet photo submissions on its morning "Fur-Cast." Submissions are still being accepted and can be emailed to lsmith@cbs17.com. (See Photos)

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