Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1798, Quaker abolitionist Levi Coffin was born in Guilford County’s New Garden community. After moving to Indiana, he and his wife, Catharine, helped about 2,000 enslaved people escape, earning him the nickname “President of the Underground Railroad.”

Vice President JD Vance will be in Kinston campaigning for the GOP today, and President Trump arrives in the Charlotte area tomorrow. Learn more in Top Stories.

Go-Go. Slow-Go. No-Go. Financial planners say retirement isn’t one long vacation. It’s three distinct chapters, and each one has its own price tag. When does each chapter begin? How big does the nest egg need to be? Which classic rule of thumb just got a haircut? And which bill keeps growing no matter what? Whether you’re retired, about to retire, or still planning, today’s Flyover Podcast is for you. One question surprises almost everyone. Could you need less money than you’ve been told? Listen here to find out.

When was the last time you compared your car insurance? If it’s been a year or longer, the rate you’re renewing may deserve a second look. Today’s sponsor, Insurify, makes it easy to compare quotes from more than 120 insurers in just a few minutes.

Vance and Trump Return to the Carolinas

Vice President JD Vance headlines a rally in Kinston today, his second North Carolina stop in less than two weeks, as Republicans make a closing push before the Nov. 3 midterm election.

Hosted by the Trump 47 Committee, the rally opens its doors at 11 a.m. The program starts at 12:30 p.m., and Vance is scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. The venue hadn’t been announced as of Tuesday.

President Trump follows Thursday with a rally across the state line in Rock Hill, South Carolina, just south of Charlotte. That venue also hasn’t been announced, but he’s expected to speak at 12:30 p.m.

The push centers on North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, where Republican Michael Whatley faces Democrat former Gov. Roy Cooper.

Charlotte’s Teen Curfew Starts Sunday

Charlotte’s new youth curfew takes effect Sunday, requiring everyone under 18 to be off public streets from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The City Council approved the 10-month pilot 9-2 in September. It replaces a tiered rule that set a 10 p.m. curfew for kids 12 and under and 11 p.m. for ages 13 to 15, and didn’t cover 16- and 17-year-olds at all.

Police Chief Estella Patterson pushed for the change to curb “teen takeovers”— late-night crowds that have blocked roads and turned violent at spots like Romare Bearden Park uptown. She said officers won’t make traffic stops based solely on suspected curfew violations.

At-large council member LaWana Mayfield, one of the two no votes, worried the rule would penalize teens who follow the law. Exceptions cover work, school, religious activities, and errands. The pilot runs through August 2027.

Duke Math Program Tops Pay Rankings

Duke University’s mathematics program posted the highest median earnings of any bachelor’s degree in the country: $297,029 a year, four years after graduation, according to an HEA Group analysis of federal College Scorecard data covering more than 24,000 undergraduate programs.

It topped computer science and engineering programs at schools like Carnegie Mellon, Harvard, and MIT, and its graduates’ median earnings were more than four and a half times the $64,500 median across all programs in the dataset.

The ranking rests on a thin sample of just 17 Duke math graduates, and it reflects a field that funnels students into finance and tech. The data also only covers graduates who received federal financial aid.

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➤ Charlotte: Decarlos Brown Jr., accused of fatally stabbing Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail in August 2025, has again been ruled incapable of proceeding to trial—following a June federal finding of incompetence—delaying the case another 180 days. (More)

➤ Cary: Jonathan D. Miller, the Libertarian nominee for state Senate District 16, was taken into custody Monday after an hours-long standoff with Cary police that began as a welfare check prompted by concerning social media posts. The standoff ended without gunfire. (More)

➤ Cleveland County: Maiden High School football coach Will Byrne, 43, resigned and was suspended from his teaching job after an arrest in Cleveland County early Sunday on charges of driving while impaired, reckless driving, and misdemeanor child abuse, due to a child being in his vehicle. (More)

➤ Huntersville: The Charlotte Area Transit System briefed Huntersville leaders on the long-delayed Red Line commuter rail, a proposed line linking uptown Charlotte to north Mecklenburg. CATS said the project could get a new name before it's finished. (More)

➤ Asheville: Hurricane Helene’s flooding damaged Lake Craig Dam, allowing smallmouth bass and russet darters to reach upstream sections of the Swannanoa River for the first time in a decade, biologists say. (More)

➤ Leland: American Legion Post 68 is honoring veterans receiving hospice care across the Cape Fear region with “pinning” ceremonies, presenting each with a lapel pin, a signed flag, and a certificate of appreciation. (More)

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➤ Wake Forest held second, and Duke jumped to fifth in the Week 8 ACC power rankings, while North Carolina slid to eighth and NC State fell to last. (See Rankings)

➤ Carolina Panthers’ veteran offensive tackle Taylor Moton is out indefinitely after fracturing a bone in his lower leg in Sunday’s 43-13 loss to Tampa Bay, in just his second game back from blood clots. The Panthers play at Green Bay tomorrow night. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes hosted the Boston Bruins in last night’s NHL marquee matchup, highlighting a packed 11-game slate after four weeks of the 2026-27 season. (See Who Won)

➤ The Charlotte Checkers’ former majority owner Michael Kahn pleaded guilty Monday to filing a false federal tax return after funneling more than $4.5 million from his family charity to himself between 2020 and 2023. He faces up to three years in prison. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NBA | NHL | Soccer

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➤ Coastal Comic Con returns to the Wilmington Convention Center March 6-7, 2027, with more than 150 artists, vendors, guests, and cosplayers. Two-day passes run $35 online, and kids 6-12 get in for $5. Guests haven’t been announced yet. (More)

➤ Hickory-based US Conec will invest $149.7 million in a new 200,000-square-foot plant in Catawba County, adding 224 jobs. The state is backing the expansion with a $500,000 performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund. (More)

➤ Plaintiffs propose a $1.5 million settlement with eCourts vendor Tyler Technologies in a North Carolina federal lawsuit, capping claims for wrongful arrests while litigation continues against Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden. (See Details)

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➤ North Carolina’s standout Halloween candy is Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, which residents buy more often than the national average, according to Instacart’s October 2025 order data. (See Map)

➤ Carol Fair, American Airlines' most senior flight attendant, retired after 63 years, landing her final flight from London to Charlotte to a water-cannon salute. She started the job in 1963 and only planned to fly for six months. (See Video)

➤ Headliners for the 80th North Carolina Azalea Festival include DJ Diesel, better known as NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O'Neal, on April 8, and the Avett Brothers on April 9 at Live Oak Bank Pavilion. Tickets go on sale Nov. 9. (More)

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➤ This popular fruit marketed as healthy contains a toxic nutrient, triggering immune attacks that harm your body and joints. Dr. Brian Paris reveals this hidden threat (and 4 other dangerous foods) in a viral video helping Americans feel better. See which fruit (and 4 other foods) are feeding your joint pain, free