Friday, January 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1943, Grammy-winning singer Ronnie Milsap was born in Robbinsville. Blind from birth, he became a country music legend who blended country, pop, R&B, and rock into crossover hits like It Was Almost Like a Song and Smoky Mountain Rain.

A Winter Weather Advisory impacted parts of Western North Carolina yesterday, with more wintry weather potentially on tap for the rest of the state this weekend. Get the scoop in Top Stories.

Today's sponsor is Femicore, a women's health solution featuring a short, doctor-backed bladder restoration technique that supports bladder control and confidence without traditional exercises.

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Weekend Snow Chances Increase for Central NC

North Carolina's chances for snow this weekend are rising, driven by an Arctic cold front arriving Saturday and a potential coastal low-pressure system developing Sunday.

Forecast models increasingly point to wintry precipitation, particularly if the low tracks closer to the coast rather than farther offshore.

Sunday holds the best potential for light snow or a rain-snow mix across the Triangle and Triad, with some models favoring snow and others suggesting a mix or dry conditions.

Depending on the system's track, Charlotte could see a few flurries or nothing at all. Coastal regions have a 40 to 50% chance of an inch or more of snow, with minimal accumulations expected elsewhere if precipitation occurs.

NC Leaders Push for More Helene Funding

Gov. Josh Stein, Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer, and state Sen. Kevin Corbin visited Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to press federal leaders for more Hurricane Helene recovery funding.

In meetings with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials and U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd of North Carolina, state leaders said that federal funding has only covered about 12% of the estimated $60 billion in damages. They requested an additional $13.5 billion from Congress.

Around 15.5 million cubic yards of storm debris have been removed across affected counties, but repairing damage to private roads and bridges remains one of the state's most significant challenges.

State leaders welcomed recent announcements of more than $116 million in new reimbursements and hazard mitigation funds, but said more support is needed to expedite rebuilding efforts across the region.

NC Flu Deaths Rise to 134

North Carolina's flu-related death toll climbed to 134 for the 2025-26 season after 63 new deaths were reported Wednesday, according to the latest update from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. Three children are among the victims.

The surge, which nearly doubles the 74 fatalities recorded at this time last year, follows heavy holiday travel and gatherings. The resulting spike in flu activity has also led to thousands of hospital admissions for respiratory illnesses.

State health officials strongly urge all residents ages 6 months and older to get vaccinated. They emphasize that flu shots, handwashing, and other preventive measures remain the best defenses against severe illness, hospitalization, and death as the season continues.

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Millions of women experience bladder leaks, urgency, or discomfort. Recent scientific research is uncovering a new piece of the puzzle: the urinary microbiome.

Recent medical studies have found that the balance of bacteria in the urinary system is closely linked to bladder symptoms and overall comfort. When helpful bacteria are out of balance, it may contribute to irritation, sensitivity, and leaks.

That's why many women are now exploring microbiome-focused support.

FemiCore is a daily supplement formulated with targeted probiotics and plant-based ingredients designed to support urinary balance and bladder comfort. It's not a medication, but it offers a science-based way to support bladder health as part of a wellness routine.

To learn how this emerging research works, watch the free educational video below.

Watch the free video

➤ Statewide: Education advocacy groups Public Schools First NC and the North Carolina PTA gathered at the General Assembly Wednesday, urging lawmakers to boost public school funding and add oversight for private schools receiving state-funded vouchers. (More)

➤ Mooresville: On Jan. 8, just weeks after NASCAR legend Greg Biffle died in a Dec. 18 plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport, thieves broke into his home and stole $30,000 in cash and a backpack, prompting an ongoing investigation with no arrests. (More)

➤ Greenville: The city dropped its lawsuit against Camping World over its 3,200-square-foot American flag—which violated city ordinances due to its large size—following a new state law that bans flag restrictions. (More)

➤ Durham: Two juveniles face 78 charges each for a series of vehicle break-ins and thefts in public and residential parking lots between Dec. 10 and 20. Counts include felony larceny, breaking and entering vehicles, and conspiracy. (More)

➤ Wilson: The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against cancer patient DeAnne Haggins, who refused a hybrid return-to-office schedule after her employer, Wilson Air Center, extended remote work accommodations—finding she wasn't a "qualified individual" under the Americans With Disabilities Act. (More)

➤ Ocracoke: Researchers from UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, Duke, and ECU are urging Ocracoke residents to participate in community dialogues Jan. 30 and 31 to share perspectives on environmental changes, island access, and coastal resilience challenges. (More)

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➤ The Charlotte Hornets are retiring sharpshooter Dell Curry's No. 30 jersey on March 19. He played 10 seasons in Charlotte and is now in his 17th year as the team's broadcaster. (More)

➤ Panthers wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan was named a finalist for the 2025 Pepsi Zero Sugar NFL Rookie of the Year award. McMillan led all rookies this season in receiving yards (1,014) and touchdown receptions (seven). (More)

➤ NC State football secured a transfer commitment from former UNC defensive back Ty White. White spent two seasons in Chapel Hill, but struggled to get playing time. (More)

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➤ Duke Energy has activated a $100 million, 50-megawatt battery energy storage system at the retired Allen coal plant site in Belmont. The company plans additional expansions that could total up to $1 billion in regional battery and grid investments by 2028. (More)

➤ Wegmans is now hiring and training for its first Charlotte store. The Ballantyne location on North Community House Road is under construction and expected to employ about 450 workers when it opens this fall. (More)

➤ Georgia-based Fortrex, a sanitation contractor, will lay off 170 workers in Siler City next month after its contract with Mountaire Farms' chicken processing plant ends on Feb. 6. Fortrex plans to offer transfers to other nearby facilities. (More)

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Researchers are discovering that bladder health isn't just about muscles—it's also about bacteria.

Studies show the urinary microbiome plays an important role in comfort and urgency. When that balance is off, leaks and irritation may follow.

FemiCore is designed to support this balance with carefully selected probiotics and botanicals that promote urinary health.

Learn about the science behind it and how women are using it as part of their daily routine.

➤ A 22-year-old female great horned owl, injured after getting tangled in chicken coop wire in Mecklenburg County, was successfully rehabilitated at the Carolina Raptor Center in Huntersville and released back into the wild Tuesday. (Watch Video)

➤ Bird counters participating in the Ocracoke Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 31 tallied 102 species, exceeding 100 for the second straight year. Highlights included 12,122 Double-crested Cormorants, 508 Redheads, 150 Brants, 135 Buffleheads, and 127 Black Scoters. (See Details)

➤ Football teams from UNC-Chapel Hill, NC State, Fayetteville State, and Shaw University participated in Food Lion Feeds' Sack to Give Back program. The effort led to the donation of 90,000 meals to campus food pantries based on 90 quarterback sacks recorded during the 2025 season. (More)

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➤ Plastic surgeons across the U.S. are surprised by a natural alternative to Ozempic that's helping thousands lose weight while supporting healthy blood sugar—without injections, high costs, or common side effects like nausea. Some claim Big Pharma isn't happy. Watch the short video to see how this inexpensive solution works while it's still available.