MORNING LINEUP
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally with North Carolina Republican Senate candidate and former RNC Chairman Michael Whatley at Gastonia Municipal Airport on September 16, 2026 in Gastonia, North Carolina. Whatley, currently trailing in the polls, will face off against Democratic Senate candidate and former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in the midterm elections on November 3. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
By Christine Zhu
Despite the president’s low approval rating, GOP U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley took the stage with him in Gastonia.
GASTONIA — North Carolina resident Charles Whatley hasn’t voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976. It was his first time voting.
In the past 50 years, he said he’s alternated between choosing Republicans and independents, depending on who’s running.
North Carolina Tar Heels players run out with flags before the first half of the game against East Tennessee State Buccaneers at Kenan Stadium on September 12, 2026 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jaylynn Nash/Getty Images)
By Clayton Henkel
It’s been 15 months since the landmark House v. NCAA settlement received final court approval, paving the way for Division I schools to compensate student-athletes directly. The revenue-sharing framework of that deal set a $20.5 million cap per school for university athletics in 2025-26. That figure is only expected to grow in the coming years.
Members of the UNC Board of Governors finance committee worried Wednesday that athletics spending is growing faster than the revenues the programs generate, and schools will have to cover the balance.
North Carolina State Board of Elections members, left to right, Jeff Carmon, Chairman Francis DeLuca, Stacy “Four” Eggers, Siohban Millen, and Robert Rucho, are sworn in on May 7, 2025. (Photo: Lynn Bonner)
By Lynn Bonner
The General Assembly did not violate the constitution when it transferred Board of Elections appointments from the governor to the state auditor, a split Appeals Court panel decided.
The legislature passed a controversial law after the 2024 election transferring Board of Elections appointment power to newly elected Republican state Auditor Dave Boliek, taking that power away from Democratic Governor-elect Josh Stein.
Kevin Warsh, chair of the Federal Reserve (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
By Ashley Murray
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve raised interest rates Wednesday for the first time in three years as inflation continues to dog the economy, largely driven by soaring gas and fuel oil prices while the war in Iran drags on.
The central bank’s Federal Open Market Committee voted 12-0 to increase its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point, reaching the new range from 3.75% to 4% and making the cost of borrowing more expensive for Americans.
MORE NEWSLINE
| Jennifer Shutt
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NEWS
Speaker Johnson recesses the House early as Rep. Thomas Massie pushes Hegseth impeachment |APnews.com
Trump suggests EU allowing Canada as associate member could be a ‘hostile act’|APnews.com
Trump claims NC crime among worst in country. His attorney general says otherwise|Raleigh News & Observer
Fencing goes up around the main Kennedy Center building after Trump-aligned board votes to close it|
APnews.comRaleigh city leaders no longer pursuing youth curfew, according to city councilwoman|WRAL.com
Heating oil distributor warns of steep price increase as costs rise|WLOS.com
In new State Health Plan program, a cluster of rural NC hospitals could cost patients more|WUNC.org
$111M in Helene care station invoices: North Carolina auditor asks how use was tracked|WLOS.com
Over $3.4M awarded to repair Helene-damaged dams in western North Carolina|WLOS.com
NC candidate accuses GOP attack ad of ‘capitalizing’ on his son’s death|
Raleigh News & ObserverShe lost her son to suicide. After a downtown Raleigh death, she’s sharing his story |Raleigh News & Observer
COMMENTARY
Paige Masten: In a dark, divisive NC speech, Trump tries to scare people to the polls |Raleigh News & Observer
Chuck Edwards just won’t move on from his sexual misconduct mess |
Raleigh News & Observer
Draughon Draws: Michael Whatley rides President Trump's coattails |
WRAL.comRepublicans came back to Washington and made voting harder |TheHill.com
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