AGP Executive Report

UNC vs. Notre Dame Weekend Spotlight: ESPN has the national TV call for UNC’s Chapel Hill matchup with No. 3 Notre Dame, with streaming options via fubo and the ESPN app. Local Sports Pulse: The North Carolina Courage moved above the playoff line with a 1-0 win over Seattle, while Pitt stayed unbeaten in a dramatic 35-33 ACC win over Virginia Tech after a late missed field goal. State Politics & Campaigns: Private, profanity-laced text messages from Sen. Thom Tillis to Trump are fueling fresh attention as North Carolina’s Senate race heats up and outside groups shift spending. Public Safety & Courts: The NC Attorney General announced a $32 million Monsanto settlement tied to environmental contamination claims, and separate updates include court action involving Camden-Fairview consent decrees. Hurricane Recovery & Infrastructure: Lenoir is holding public hearings on nearly $6M in Hurricane Helene repair projects, including a major bridge replacement tied to reduced load capacity. Science & Agriculture: NC State researchers’ military-inspired fabric is showing big promise for strawberry production, boosting harvestable fruit in trials.

UNC Sports Spotlight: No. 3 Notre Dame visits UNC at Kenan Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3, as Marcus Freeman’s unbeaten Irish look to keep rolling against a Tar Heels team in its second season under Bill Belichick. Local Surveillance Debate: In Surry County, residents are raising concerns after the sheriff’s office expanded a Flock camera contract, questioning audits, data use, and how the system is searched. County Government: Caldwell County commissioners approved a CPS restructuring aimed at cutting supervisor-to-staff ratios, easing case loads, and reducing burnout. Elections & Voting: North Carolina’s regular voter registration deadline is next Friday, Oct. 9 (5 p.m.), with early voting running Oct. 15–31. Politics in Motion: A major GOP Senate group reportedly paused spending in North Carolina and shifted money to Kansas as midterm odds tighten. Public Health: UNC’s Mental Health First Aid program is set to expand to more campuses with new state funding.

NCDMV Digital Shift: North Carolina’s DMV stopped mailing license plate stickers and printed registration cards as of Oct. 1, moving to fully electronic registration while keeping the usual renewal notice, inspections, and fees. Elections & Voting Access: The DNC sued the Trump administration over alleged last-minute changes to an overseas voting postcard, arguing it makes some Americans abroad harder to register. Public Safety & Health: The FDA says a sprout-linked E. coli and Salmonella outbreak has grown to 76 confirmed patients across 16 states, including North Carolina. Education & Accountability: UNC Wilmington leaders say they’re using NSSE survey results with clear visuals to turn student engagement data into campus action. Local School Politics: Two candidates—Jennifer Dacey and Cleopatra Hargett-Lawton—are vying for Craven County’s District 4 school board seat. Community Events: New Bern’s MumFest returns Oct. 10-11 with music, vendors, and family activities in historic downtown.

Rural Health & Jobs: Gov. Josh Stein announced a $20 million Rural Health Innovation Fund to expand care access in North Carolina, alongside summer apprenticeship academies that trained 500+ high school students for in-demand careers. Public Safety: Union County courthouse rules now restrict phones and other electronics, with unauthorized devices subject to confiscation and possible contempt, fines, or jail. State Politics & Education: North Carolina’s State Board of Education is set to investigate “serious” financial allegations at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, while UNC Wilmington leaders say they’re using student engagement survey results to drive campus action. Environment & Courts: North Carolina Attorney General Nick Brown joined a coalition challenging the EPA’s rollback of power-plant greenhouse gas limits, arguing it harms public health and community sustainability. Business & Growth: Matthews officials say removing development barriers is drawing major industrial interest, and Caterpillar is moving ahead with a $1 billion expansion in the state. Community & Health: A Duplin County food drive runs Oct. 1 through Nov. 16 to fight food insecurity, and Wilmington’s Run for the Ta Tas returns Oct. 3 to support breast cancer patients.

Healthcare & Community: UNC Health Appalachian and MAHEC honored Dr. Charles Baker through a new lecture series celebrating his decades of care and community impact in the High Country. Public Safety: Henderson County authorities arrested four people after a search tied to an illegal gambling venue seized 15 machines and nearly $10,000 in cash. Local Government & Accountability: Durham County’s “In Touch with Durham County” premiered an episode on youth services moving through court and the county’s internal audit work. Business & Jobs: Caterpillar announced a $1 billion expansion in North Carolina, with Lee County incentives tied to job creation. Health Policy: The Trump administration began sending $500 Affordable Care Act refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in states using the federal marketplace, including North Carolina. Sports (NC spotlight): No. 3 Notre Dame visits North Carolina on Saturday, while App State reopened Duncan Hall after a $32 million transformation and continues Helene resilience research. Education: UNCW leaders shared how NSSE results are turned into campus action using clear visuals for stakeholders.

Workplace Safety & Justice: A Hickory man and former Draughn High soccer coach, Herlinton Ramon Rugama-Blandon, faces felony charges after authorities allege he had sex with a student; bond was set at $250,000 with strict no-contact conditions. Public Safety & Health: The CDC is warning clinicians and pet owners as rabies-related calls rise, pushing more people to consider post-exposure shots after potential exposures. State Government & Economic Development: State Treasurer Brad Briner and Labor Commissioner Luke Farley announced new appointments to the EDPNC board, including Ray Starling, Mike Verlander, and Zeb Hadley. Local Services: The Fleetwood Post Office remains closed after Hurricane Helene, and the American Postal Workers Union is organizing to push for reopening. Health Coverage: Avina Women’s Care reached a multiyear deal to stay in UnitedHealthcare’s network past Oct. 1, avoiding a potential disruption for patients mid-treatment. Education: UNCW leaders say they’re using NSSE survey results with clear visuals to drive campus action. Business Expansion: Tires Easy added 16 Colony Tire installation locations across North Carolina and Virginia as it expands its installation network.

Immigration Enforcement: North Carolina agencies face a Thursday deadline to sign new agreements with ICE that let state and local officers carry out immigration enforcement, with the Highway Patrol already on board. Housing After Helene: Buncombe County officials are pushing back after Helene-recovery affordable housing funds showed “extreme disparities,” while Mission Health’s MAMA marks 40 years of airlifting critical care across WNC. Courts & Public Safety: A judge is weighing whether to order the sale of Hendersonville’s stalled Cedars Lodge & Spa project, and a Buncombe County real estate fraud case involving forged deeds has led to multiple convictions and property returns. Crime & Justice: An Arden woman was sentenced to nearly 15 to 18½ years for trafficking cocaine from Atlanta to Western North Carolina, and a 25-year-old man was sentenced after a case tied to a Snapchat contact and a hotel assault of a 15-year-old. Local Life: Avery County’s long-term Helene recovery group says it still handles dozens of new cases weekly as attention and funding fade. Sports: Former NBA champ J.R. Smith was arrested in Texas on a family-violence assault charge.

Voting Rights Fight: North Carolina mail ballot rules are back in court as advocates seek a preliminary injunction over stricter absentee ballot enforcement, including added hurdles tied to signature verification. Federal Funding for Helene: FEMA announced millions for Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina, including Public Assistance for debris removal and repairs plus added mitigation funding. State Politics & Campaigning: Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans more midterm stops, including North Carolina, as Republicans defend the Senate majority. Energy Policy: North Carolina AGs joined a coalition urging FERC to reject the NextEra-Dominion merger, warning of higher costs and reduced competition. Local Development: Granville County set public hearings for Oct. 5 on a zoning map change and a land development code update affecting expedited subdivision review. Community & Business: Footsloggers won a national Community Giveback Award for long-running local support and Helene response; and American Pickers is scouting unusual collections in Pender County for filming. Sports & Culture: UNC Wilmington leaders describe how they turn student engagement survey results into campus action, while MacArthur Foundation named its 2026 “genius” fellows, including a Durham philosopher.

State DMV Upgrade: Gov. Josh Stein joined officials to open Charlotte’s new, largest-in-the-state DMV office on Albemarle Road, touting shorter wait times and more staffing plus expanded online services. Elections & Misinformation: With five weeks to midterms, an AP report says GOP hopes in Georgia and North Carolina are fading, while “pseudo-journalism” sites—some tied to partisan groups—are pushing polarizing narratives ahead of Nov. 3. Public Safety & Community: Raleigh Sheriff Steve Maynor rappelled down a downtown building for Special Olympics, and Guilford County is set to shift fireworks permitting duties away from the clerk’s office toward emergency services and major cities. Environment & Preparedness: The N.C. Forest Service warned residents to follow burn rules as wildfire season ramps up. Health & Education: Meredith College swore in Chief Eva Howard as its first woman to lead campus police and security, and UNCW leaders discussed how NSSE student-engagement results are turned into campus action. Lottery: Powerball climbed to an estimated $409 million after no grand-prize winner Monday.

Education & Accountability: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools fired Superintendent Crystal Hill in a 5-4 vote after months of board turmoil, raising fresh questions about whether the board can terminate “for convenience” without violating her rights. Local Housing: Boone is weighing a renter-protection ordinance modeled on Asheville’s “No Rent for Slumlords,” aiming to let tenants withhold rent when homes are substandard. Public Safety Contract: Hertford officials say their $375,000-a-year law enforcement deal with the Perquimans Sheriff’s Office is still in place, pushing back on claims made at a county meeting. Election 2026: A new AARP poll gives Roy Cooper a double-digit edge over Michael Whatley, with younger and Black voters driving the gap. Western NC Recovery: Gov. Josh Stein marked two years since Hurricane Helene with a visit to Lansing, highlighting reopened Main Street businesses and new local grants. State Policy: DEI prohibitions for North Carolina community colleges take effect, with rules barring DEI units and “divisive concepts.” Business & Community: Cape Fear Community College hosts its first NC Film Vendor Day at Cinespace Studios in Wilmington on Oct. 7. Sports: Notre Dame moved up in ESPN’s FPI after Week 4, and the Tar Heels are set to face the Irish next.

Nor’easter Aftermath: A powerful off-season nor’easter battered the U.S. Northeast with heavy rain, strong winds, and coastal flooding, killing at least one person and knocking out power for up to 130,000 customers before conditions began to ease. Local Leadership: Carteret County named Matt Reynal interim county manager and Trey Ferguson county attorney as Sharon Griffin prepares to retire at year’s end. Military Maintenance: Marine Corps Col. Christopher McDonald II took over command of Fleet Readiness Center East at Cherry Point, overseeing the Navy’s major aviation depot operations in North Carolina. Public Safety & Courts: A long-delayed assault and kidnapping retrial for Word of Faith Fellowship leader Brooke Covington is set to begin in North Carolina after nine years. Tech & Education: UNCW leaders described how they turn NSSE student engagement survey results into action across diversity, student affairs, and academic assessment. Sports: North Carolina A&T upset No. 19 Rhode Island 22-18, while ECU routed North Carolina Central 42-9.

Outer Banks Travel Disruption: With NC 12 still damaged after a nor’easter, NCDOT is running emergency ferry service between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe and resuming limited Hatteras–Ocracoke trips as the highway reopens Sunday at 1:30 p.m., with strict entry rules for essential workers and residents. Public Safety: In northwest Charlotte, the family of 4-year-old Caleb Flax held a vigil and pleaded for answers after he was shot and killed nearly a week ago; police say no arrests have been made. State Services: North Carolina says DMV wait times are down after expanding online appointments and staffing, cutting average waits to about 23 minutes. Education & Accountability: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools’ former superintendent Crystal Hill was nominated for superintendent of the year days before the board voted to fire her. Sports: College football’s Week 4 chaos reshaped the AP Top 25, and Notre Dame–North Carolina is set for a noon kickoff Oct. 3 on ESPN.

Coastal Emergency: N.C. 12 remains closed after nor’easter damage, and NCDOT’s Ferry Division will start emergency service between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe to keep people and essential goods moving. Storm Impact: A powerful Nor’easter battered the Northeast with heavy rain, high winds, major flooding warnings, and widespread outages. Drought Watch: Drought conditions persist across parts of N.C., with extreme and severe categories still in place and rainfall running well below normal. Education & Accountability: UNC Charlotte marked its 80th anniversary with tree-planting plans, while Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill was terminated after being nominated for Superintendent of the Year. Health Policy: Medicaid work requirements are rolling out, and some states are tightening rules on proving someone is too medically frail to work. Sports (NC): North Carolina soccer beat Virginia 3-1; N.C. State rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat Appalachian State 41-31; ECU routed NCCU 42-9.

Western NC Recovery: Gov. Josh Stein met Chimney Rock business owners to share a long-term Western North Carolina Economic Recovery Plan, pushing for a $10 billion congressional appropriation and $1.5 billion for economic recovery after Hurricane Helene. Food Assistance Demand: Manna FoodBank says pantry visits are still rising two years after Helene, averaging about 220,000 per month, even after rebuilding its operation. Weather & Roads: N.C. Highway 12 remains closed in Dare County after a nor’easter washed out and undermined sections between the Basnight Bridge and Rodanthe; NCDOT is assessing damage and officials are arranging emergency ferry help. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reported the lowest E15 in Johnston County at $3.49 (week ending Sept. 19) and the lowest E85 in Wake County at $3.41; statewide averages for E15 and E85 were about $3.73 and $3.61 respectively. Local Sports: Gardner-Webb travels to Marshall for Homecoming, with the Bulldogs entering at 1-3. Housing: Zillow pegged Pamlico County’s typical home value at $286,484 in August 2026, up 9.2% year over year.

Nor’easter Watch: A powerful early-season nor’easter is lashing the Northeast with gusty winds, heavy rain, and coastal flood warnings stretching from North Carolina’s Outer Banks to Long Island, with many events canceled. Public Safety & Recovery: Two years after Hurricane Helene, North Carolina families and communities are still dealing with missing loved ones and slow housing recovery, including ongoing questions in western NC. Health & Community: The Alzheimer’s Association is inviting people to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in New Bern on Oct. 17, with a Promise Garden ceremony honoring those affected. Local Spotlight: Hendersonville honored Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator Gary Norton as North Carolina’s A-Surface Operator of the Year. Civic Life: A bipartisan group of senators urged President Trump to withdraw Vladimir Putin’s G20 invitation, warning it could legitimize Russia’s war. Sports: Clemson beat California 24-10 in ACC play, while UNC field hockey topped Stanford 8-1.

Nor’easter Watch: A powerful nor’easter is expected to bring heavy rain, damaging winds, and coastal flooding from the Carolinas to Maine, with North Carolina’s Outer Banks seeing highway closures due to severe overwash and no clear reopening timeline. Hurricane Helene Recovery (2 Years Later): Western North Carolina communities are still asking hard questions about rebuilding, jobs, and whether FEMA’s temporary housing and rental help will be extended beyond Sept. 30. Data Breach Accountability: Acting AG Cori Mills announced a multistate settlement with Labcorp over a 2019 data breach tied to a medical debt collector, underscoring that companies can’t “delegate” data security risk to vendors. Health & Community: Pink With A Passion will host its first Healing Through Fashion Gala Oct. 17 to support breast cancer help locally. Education & Assessment: Peace College and UNCW highlight how they’re using NSSE results to drive changes in curriculum and general education. Local Tech/Transport: BETA’s all-electric aircraft flight testing is underway in North Carolina under a federal eVTOL pilot program.