Monday, March 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1865, Confederate forces under Lt. Gen. William Hardee delayed Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's Union advance during the Battle of Averasboro, buying time for Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to concentrate his forces. The outnumbered Confederates eventually withdrew after intense skirmishes and the arrival of Union reinforcements.

Severe weather is expected today. Learn more in Top Stories so you can prepare.

Get the 15-Minute Retirement Plan from today's sponsor, Fisher Investments, for tips that can help you work toward a comfortable retirement with $1,000,000 or more in savings.

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NC Braces for Rare Level 4 Storms

Residents of Central and Eastern North Carolina are on high alert as a rare Level 4 severe weather outlook takes effect today, the first issued for the region in recent years.

The main threats include damaging wind gusts topping 75 mph, large hail, and a chance of tornadoes—some potentially strong or embedded within the line of storms—as a cold front sweeps across the state.

The storms are expected to move through Charlotte between late morning and early afternoon, then impact the Triangle between noon and 5 p.m. Areas from the eastern Piedmont to the Sandhills and Coastal Plain face the greatest danger, with forecasters warning residents to monitor updates from the National Weather Service and have shelter plans ready.

The system should clear the area by 6 to 8 p.m.

Fort Bragg Troops Among First in Iran Strikes

The U.S. Department of War confirmed Friday that troops from Fort Bragg were among the first to launch strikes on Iran at the start of Operation Epic Fury, using precision-guided missiles.

The soldiers involved were from the 3rd Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment.

Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, who spoke to some soldiers from the unit, said, "The soldiers I met came from all over this great country... They spoke with a sense of calm, pride, purpose and clarity that tells you clearly, they understand the weight of what they're doing and the people who depend on them."

Caine also said that in less than two weeks the Iranian Navy has been rendered ineffective.

March Madness in North Carolina

The Duke men's basketball team earned a No. 1 seed in Sunday's March Madness bracket reveal, giving them a marquee route to the Final Four as the favorite to come out of the East Region. It's the program's 16th selection as a top seed, second-most in college basketball history behind only the Tar Heels' 18.

The Blue Devils' seeding may be favorable, but a potential championship run won't be easy. Their region includes powerhouse programs like UConn, Michigan State, and Kansas—they'll likely have to get through several of them to reach the Final Four. See the full bracket.

Other tournament contenders from the state include No. 6-seeded North Carolina, No. 12-seeded High Point, No. 15-seeded Queens, and NC State, who play the Texas Longhorns tomorrow night for a spot in the 64-team field.

Duke, North Carolina, and High Point tip off on Thursday, while Queens' first matchup will come on Friday. Here's how to watch.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina's state demographer projects that by 2033, deaths will exceed births, resulting in a natural population decrease, unless fertility or life expectancy rise significantly. (More)

➤ Carrboro: The town's Public Works Yard, devastated by Tropical Storm Chantal last July, lost 42 vehicles—including 22 police cars—and will not be rebuilt on its flood-prone site. The town is pursuing replacements through FEMA and insurance. (More)

➤ Wake County: School officials have identified 11 multi-track year-round schools that could switch to traditional or single-track year-round calendars starting in 2028-29. The potential changes are driven by slowing enrollment growth and reduced need for the 25% or more capacity boost provided by rotating student groups. (More)

➤ Stokes County: Community groups and Walnut Cove residents filed a lawsuit to block rezoning of more than 1,800 acres for Project Delta, a hyperscale data center complex. The suit alleges procedural violations, opposition from the planning board, and failure to assess environmental, cultural, and rural impacts. (More)

➤ New Hanover County: The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is proposing to purchase the 60-acre Bryan Tract for $3 million from the county to establish a public nature preserve. Plans include trails, longleaf pine restoration, educational features, and pollinator and carnivorous plant gardens. (More)

➤ Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting Elk Rover volunteers to promote safe elk viewing, manage traffic along U.S. 441/Newfound Gap Road, and protect wildlife and visitors near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center in Cherokee. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers agreed to terms Saturday on a one-year contract with safety Nick Scott, who had a career year with Carolina in 2025. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets fell 115-102 to the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday afternoon in a matchup of two of the NBA's hottest teams. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes winger Jordan Martinook helped the team beat the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night with this go-ahead third-period goal. (See Goal)

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➤ Google plans to invest $1 billion over the next two years to expand its Lenoir data center, with potential for additional jobs at the site, where around 400 people are currently employed. (More)

➤ Charlotte Pipe and Foundry updated its operating structure to create an Infrastructure Division built around products from its Neenah Foundry and Bingham & Taylor acquisitions, alongside Plumbing and Irrigation divisions. (More)

➤ The 2026 Carolina Liberty Conference, hosted by the North Carolina-based John Locke Foundation, highlighted efforts in states including Utah, Pennsylvania, and Georgia to create portable benefits programs for gig economy workers. (More)

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➤ North Carolina ranks as the 36th flattest U.S. state with an elevation range of 6,684 feet between its highest and lowest points, far exceeding the nation's flattest states like Florida and Delaware, as measured by U.S. Geological Survey data. (See Map)

➤ Pet parents brought their furry friends to the March 14 Pet Stroll in Asheville's River Arts District, where local artists painted live pet portraits to support the River Arts District Artists Foundation's Hurricane Helene recovery efforts. (See Photos)

➤ A survey of 2,000 single Americans ranks the Southern drawl—spanning the Carolinas, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas—as America's sexiest accent, praised for its warm, elongated vowels and relaxed charm. (More)

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