North Carolina
North Carolina Advances NIL Rule for Public School Athletes
The North Carolina State Board of Education has taken a significant step forward by advancing a proposal to permit public school students in grades six through twelve to profit from their Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL). This initiative follows a lawsuit initiated by the mother of Faizon Brandon, a top high school football recruit.
A stark disparity exists: while private school athletes in North Carolina can capitalize on NIL opportunities, their public school counterparts have been left without such options. This inequity is particularly pronounced given that around 40 states have already enacted various NIL regulations for grade-school athletes. The proposed rules aim to rectify this imbalance, allowing public school athletes the opportunity for equitable compensation through public appearances, autograph signings, social media endorsements, and hosting sports camps.
Braly Keller, Director of NIL with Opendorse, anticipates a significant uptick in NIL deals following the proposed rule change. “I certainly think whenever there’s a rule change, we see an immediate influx of deals. Someone wants to race to be the first athlete in the state to have done an NIL deal,” said Keller. He points out that North Carolina ranks among the top 15 states nationally for NIL spending, which accounts for approximately 5% of the overall market. This influx of opportunities could provide financial benefits to the athletes and enhance their visibility and marketability early on.
However, the proposed rules have a structured framework to guide young athletes through this new landscape. Students and their parents must complete an NIL education course and submit forms for each NIL deal to school administrators. This regulatory oversight is intended to ensure that athletes remain focused on their sports while navigating the complexities of financial opportunities. Former NCAA Division I basketball player Jared Grady emphasizes the necessity of maintaining that focus: “High-school athletes, middle-school athletes, they’re young. And making big-time decisions when it comes to money, it can definitely deter their ultimate goal to actually be something more, whether that’s inside basketball, outside basketball, college (or) pro.”
The proposed rules also incorporate specific limitations on endorsements, prohibiting athletes from promoting alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, controlled substances, vaping products, gambling, weapons, and adult services. These restrictions are designed to safeguard young athletes from potential pitfalls while allowing them to explore legitimate avenues for monetization.
As the proposed rules enter a public comment period from October until early December, anticipation builds for a final vote expected in January. If approved, these rules could take effect on July 1, 2025, marking a pivotal moment for high school athletes in North Carolina. The ability to monetize their talents could not only provide financial support but also empower young athletes to take control of their futures in a way that has previously been denied to them.
A $2 Powerball ticket turned into a life-changing investment for Richard Kee Jr.
Kee tried his luck on the ticket in January and won the $209.3 million jackpot prize, the second-largest prize won in North Carolina history.
Kee, who lives in Roanoke Rapids, bought the winning ticket from West 10th Mart on West 10th Street in Roanoke Rapids.
Kee chose to remain anonymous for 90 days. North Carolina law dictates a lottery winner of $50 million or more can choose to be anonymous for up to 90 days after claiming the prize.
Kee’s winnings will come through a lump sum payment of $95.3 million and, after required federal and state taxes, took home $68.6 million.
ELLERBE, N.C.. (AP) — Andre The Giant, a towering menace in the wrestling ring but a gentle giant on the movie screen, is being honored with a roadside marker in his beloved adopted small town in North Carolina.
Officials plan to unveil the marker Thursday in Ellerbe, North Carolina, a community of about 1,000 people where the wrestler born Andre Rene Roussimoff lived on a ranch just outside town.
Andre was billed at 7-foot-4 (2.24 meters) and 520 pounds (236 kilograms) during his time wrestling for the WWE in the 1970s and 1980s.
A larger than life villain, Roussimoff was touted as unbeatable until he faced Hulk Hogan in a match in 1987 at WrestleMania III that launched the once regional wrestling company into a nationwide entertainment force.
Later that year, Roussimoff appeared on film as the giant Fezzik in “The Princess Bride.” Fezzik was the gentle-hearted muscle for the antagonist and needed rhymes to remember his instructions.
Roussimoff was born in France. But as he wrestled around the U.S. South he fell in love with the region, buying his North Carolina ranch and raising cattle on his land about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Charlotte.
He became a critical part of the Ellerbe community. In 1990, he taped TV and radio spots against a possible low-level radioactive landfill nearby. A pair of his size-26 cowboy boots are kept at a museum.
Roussimoff died in 1993 at age 46 in France where he was visiting for his father’s funeral. They had a service for him there, but his body was cremated and his ashes spread at his beloved ranch.
The Richmond County marker at NC Highway 72 and Old NC Highway 220 simply says “Andre The Giant. 1946-1993. Actor and professional wrestler. Was born Andre Roussimoff. Known for role in The Princess Bride in 1987. Lived nearby.”
North Carolina
NC State’s 2026 Atlantic hurricane forecast calls for an average season with 12 to 15 named storms
North Carolina State University is calling for a fairly average 2026 Atlantic hurricane season similar to recent years.
Researchers predict:
- 12 to 15 named storms (the average between 1994 to 2025 is 15 storms)
- 6 to 9 hurricanes (the average between 1994 to 2025 is 7 storms)
- 2 to 3 major hurricanes (the average between 1994 to 2025 is 4 storms)
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30. Look for WRAL’s hurricane season outlook airing May 18.
NC State’s forecast was released on Wednesday by Lian Xie, a professor of marine, earth and atmospheric sciences.
Xie and researchers are calling for 1-3 named storms and 1-2 hurricanes in the Caribbean Sea (slightly below recent averages) and 2-5 named storms and 1-2 hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico (near recent averages).
Researchers at Colorado State University released their Atlantic hurricane season outlook earlier this month, pointing to a slightly below-normal year ahead and calling for 13 named storms, six hurricanes and two major hurricanes.
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