TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1868, the North Carolina Constitutional Convention—known as the Convention of 1868—opened in Raleigh, as required by an act of Congress that ordered the creation of a new state constitution.

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NASCAR fans, we've got plenty of news for you today. Check out Top Stories, Sports, and Et Cetera for multiple scoops!

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Stay cozy, stay salty: Warm up your winter with today's sponsor, LMNT Chocolate Medley!

NC Forest Fire Risk Increases

The North Carolina Forest Service is warning of a high risk of forest fires spreading eastward across the state over the next week, with western regions facing immediate concern.

Officials advise residents to make sure they are up to date on safe burning practices and to consult with county rangers about local conditions before conducting outdoor burns.

Nineteen counties—all in western North Carolina—are at a high risk for fire, while central and northeastern counties face a moderate risk.

Click here to see an interactive map showing fire danger levels across the state and to access a fire weather intelligence portal.

Greenville Broker Arrested for Triple Murder

A Greenville real estate broker and business owner is facing triple homicide charges after three people were shot and killed at two different locations Friday.

David Lever, 55, is suspected of shooting and killing 80-year-old Anthony Gribble and 76-year-old Paula Gribble, who were married, and Enrique Reyes, 64. Their bodies were found at their respective homes, which are about 4.5 miles apart.

Pitt County Sheriff Paula Dance said around 1:45 p.m. Lever fueled his van then fired shots from it while driving away. Lever's neighbors said he also fired shots into another home, but no one was harmed.

Around 2:15 p.m., the Gribbles' adult son called 911 to report his parents' death and held Lever at gunpoint until police arrived and took him into custody.

Reyes was found in his driveway with multiple gunshot wounds around 3:30 p.m. after Lever was arrested. The Sheriff's Office says the investigation is still active.

NASCAR Implements Major Rule Changes

NASCAR announced substantial rule changes for the 2025 season as part of an effort to thwart controversies that arose last year.

Drivers granted playoff waivers for missing a race must now forfeit all current and future playoff points earned before the playoffs, limiting the driver to a maximum of 2,000 points at the start of the playoffs.

The pit road 7-minute repair clock rule remains unchanged, but for the first time since 2016, NASCAR will unconditionally allow damage repairs in the garage area. However, a two-lap penalty will be assessed if an excess number of crew members service the car on the pit road.

NASCAR will also begin penalizing manufacturers if their drivers or teams attempt to manipulate race outcomes. Read a full list of the rule changes here.

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Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Statewide: Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey says a decision on the North Carolina Rate Bureau's request to raise homeowners' insurance rates by about 42% will be announced in the next week. (More)

➤ Western NC: Local volunteer organizations raised enough money to keep 20 residents displaced by Hurricane Helene in their hotel rooms, despite FEMA's impending Transitional Sheltering Assistance deadline. (More)

➤ Alligator River: Skanska USA was awarded a $450 million contract to replace the Lindsay C. Warren Bridge, known as the "Alligator River Bridge" by fall 2029. The bridge is a key link to the Outer Banks. (See Details)

➤ Outer Banks: Sea turtle rescuers say this winter is comparable to the "Turtle Apocalypse of 2016," when 600 sea turtles were rescued in the Outer Banks alone. Around 800 sea turtles have been rescued in the area so far this year. (More)

➤ Morrisville: Chabad of Cary held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 11,000-square-foot Jewish center on Holdford Court. The group's previous space consisted of a 1,500-square-foot storefront. (More)

➤ Buncombe County: A hiring freeze has been implemented across most governmental departments due to reduced revenues. First responders are exempt from the freeze. (More)

➤ No. 4 Duke men's basketball hosts Miami tonight at 9 p.m. The Blue Devils head into the game 10-0 at home, where they outscore opponents by an average of 20.8 points per game. (More)

➤ NC State women's basketball defeated Stanford 81-67 Sunday, despite the Cardinal women holding them to 12 points during the first quarter. The Wolfpack women host Pittsburgh Thursday at 7 p.m. (More)

➤ Charlotte-based Hendrick Motorsports signed 19-year-old Corey Day to a multi-year contract. He'll run the NASCAR Xfinity, Craftsman Truck, ARCA Menards, and TransAm Series in 2025. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Front Row Motorsports confirmed Zane Smith will be in their third car for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. (More)

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➤ North Carolina's artificial reefs, built to promote marine life and spawn habitats for commercially and recreationally important fish species, are scheduled for concrete pipe enhancements and other reinforcements over the next five years. (More)

➤ NCInnovation, a private nonprofit that received $500 million in taxpayer funds to help commercialize public university research, selected Wells Fargo as its investment manager after receiving more than a dozen financial institution bids. (See Details)

➤ A historic Canton paper mill established in 1908 by Champion Fibre Company has been acquired by Spirtas Worldwide, which plans to turn the property into a mixed-use site. (More)

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➤ The Lost Fishing Gear Recovery Project, coordinated by the North Carolina Coastal Federation, has started collecting crab pots and fishing gear along the northeastern and central coasts that pose a threat to boaters, wildlife, and the fishing community. (More)

➤ The Trek asked Appalachian Trail hikers to name their favorite hiking shoe brands. The top three winners were Topo Athletic (1), Altra (2), and Hoka One One (3). (See Details)

➤ Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced changes to his popular Door, Bumper, Clear podcast, including the addition of co-hosts Tommy Baldwin and his niece, Karsyn Elledge. Both will join the current host Freddie Kraft. (More)

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