MORNING LINEUP

A biker on the American Tobacco Trail near Fayetteville and Pilot streets this week, in the area where police recently cleared a homeless encampment. (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline)

By Greg Childress

Tito Husband began his first week as store manager of the Food Lion on the corner of Fayetteville and Pilot streets about a week after Durham police launched “Operation Safe Passage” to remove a nearby homeless encampment, which allegedly doubled as an open-air drug market. 

Husband told NC Newsline that he was already aware of the encampment and its resulting chaos before his arrival. Residents who live near the store had begun to shop at the Lakewood Shopping Center Food Lion, where he worked before his new assignment, to avoid aggressive panhandling at the Fayetteville Street store, he said.

Marchers arrive at NC Central University’s School of Law on the first day of early voting. (Photo: Greg Childress/NC Newsline)

By Greg ChildressCivil rights leader and Repairers of the Breach President Bishop William Barber led multiple marches to the polls across North Carolina on Thursday to mark the first day of early voting, which ends Oct. 31 at 3 p.m.

At North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, Barber said the march was meant to inspire students and other voters and to remind them that the right to vote was not won by “staying quiet.”

(Photo: Lynn Bonner/NC Newsline)

By Clayton Henkel

Early voting is off to a strong start for the 2026 midterms with more than 27,000 ballots cast before noon Thursday, the first day of early in-person voting, according to North Carolina State Board of Elections Executive Director Sam Hayes.

Seventy-four percent of North Carolina voters cast their ballots early in the 2024 general election, and Hayes anticipates similar participation this year across the state’s 370 early voting sites.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis speaking at an energy conference in Cary on Oct. 15, 2026. (Photo: Christine Zhu/NC Newsline)

By Christine Zhu

Two sitting GOP members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation say they’re bracing for Republicans to lose seats in November. 

Speaking at an energy conference in Cary on Thursday, retiring U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis said the Republican party has changed over the 20 years he’s spent in public office.

MORE NEWSLINE
MORE HEADLINES
NEWS
  • Teen shooter kills 4 at Oregon elementary school before being shot by a witness |APnews.com

  • Trump wants the midterms to be all about himself. Judging by the ads, Democrats are happy to oblige |
    APnews.com

  • Prime Minister Mark Carney says US is trying to break Canada as Alberta votes on separation path |
    APnews.com

  • Poll: NC adults want more curbs on data centers, fewer on marijuana. Lawmakers are doing otherwise |WRAL.com

  • Prosecutor: ‘Legitimacy of our elections’ a reason for charging 10 NC immigrants with voter fraud |WRAL.com

  • Tillis criticizes energy policy, warns GOP faces losses as NC debates data center costs |WRAL.com

  • Tillis’ book reveals what makes him cry, thoughts on Trump, and why the bolo tie |
    Raleigh News & Observer

  • NC congressman has ties to health system he’s promoting. Are they disclosed?|
    Raleigh News & Observer

  • NC family fights insurance denial ahead of 12-year-old’s heart procedure |WLOS.com

  • State Treasurer warns that Health Plan premiums could go up by $50 a month if Atrium plan proceeds| WUNC.org

  • Majority say they’ve never bet on sports in NC, but state reports $15.7B in wagers | WRAL.com

COMMENTARY
  • Michelle Goldberg: Trump’s Attempt to Deport Ilhan Omar Is Another Leap Toward the Abyss |New York Times

  • Mickey Lopez: What I learned about my trans daughter changed how I vote | Raleigh News & Observer

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