North Carolina

North Carolina’s latest Democratic governor is sworn in

Published

10 months ago

January 1, 2025

North Carolina’s latest Democratic governor is sworn in

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s latest Democratic governor was sworn into office on Wednesday, as Josh Stein succeeded Roy Cooper in a top elected position for the second time in eight years.

During a small ceremony inside the old Senate chamber of the 1840 Capitol building, Stein took the oath from Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby. His wife, Anna, family and friends and state officials watched, including Cooper.

“Today I stand before you humbled by this responsibility, grateful for this opportunity and ready to get to work for you, the people of North Carolina,” Stein said in a speech.

By defeating GOP Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson in November by almost 15 percentage points, Stein continued a run of Democrats leading the executive branch in the nation’s ninth-largest state, even as Republicans have recently dominated the General Assembly and appellate courts. Democrats have won eight of the last nine gubernatorial elections since 1992.

Stein had been attorney general for the past eight years, following Cooper in the elected law-enforcement post.

Cooper was barred by the state constitution from seeking a third consecutive gubernatorial term.

Cooper, who delivered opening remarks, said to his successor: “Governor, this will be the best job you have ever had.”

Stein’s powers have already been challenged by Republican lawmakers, who last month overrode a Cooper veto of a wide-ranging measure that erodes the governor’s authority to manage elections, fill appellate court vacancies and pick his own Highway Patrol commander. Cooper and Stein sued recently to block the Highway Patrol and state election board changes.

Stein made no direct references to the legal battles Wednesday. He praised Cooper’s leadership and urged bipartisanship and the rejection of “the politics of division, fear and hate that keep us from finding common ground” to succeed in priorities that he highlighted.

“The time is now to build a safer, stronger North Carolina, where our economy continues to grow and works for more people, where our public schools are excellent and our teachers are well paid, where our neighborhoods are safe and our personal freedoms are protected,” Stein said.

He also said the state must “act with urgency” to help western North Carolina recover from the historic flooding caused by Hurricane Helene in September, particularly with housing, small businesses and infrastructure. Congress last month approved legislation that will bring at least $9 billion more in storm aid to North Carolina.

Stein planned Thursday to announce in Asheville executive orders to support Helene recovery efforts.

Stein, 58, grew up in Charlotte and Chapel Hill, the son of a noted civil rights lawyer. He graduated from Harvard Law School and gained notice as the campaign manager for John Edwards when he was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998. He also served as a Raleigh-area senator before being elected attorney general for the first time in 2016.

Stein, who is the state’s first Jewish governor, placed his hand for the oath Wednesday on an 1891 edition of the Tanakh, the Hebrew Bible provided by a woman whose ancestors settled in Charlotte and later in Statesville in the 1850s, according to Stein’s office.

Stein and Cooper then participated in the formal transfer of an historic embossing device that creates the state seal — a symbol of the governor’s authority.

Wednesday’s ceremony of close to 100 people was livestreamed. A larger, outdoor inauguration for Stein and other elected members of the Council of State is set for Jan. 11.

Since the state constitution says their terms begin Jan. 1, many council members took formal oaths Wednesday including new Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt, State Auditor Dave Boliek and Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green.

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North Carolina

North Carolina man arrested for vandalism, trespassing at Lynchburg Regional Airport

Published

1 day ago

October 23, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina man arrested for vandalism, trespassing at Lynchburg Regional Airport

CAMPBELL COUNTY, Va. – A man from North Carolina has been arrested and charged with damaging property at Lynchburg Regional Airport, according to the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office.

Shortly after midnight Thursday, deputies found the suspect on airport grounds attempting to break through the glass doors to enter the building. Deputies approached and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect has been identified as 20-year-old Landen Ray Hayden of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Investigators determined that Hayden, who was intoxicated at the time, unlawfully entered airport property and caused significant damage. This included overturning several drums containing cleaning fluid used by airport staff in daily operations.

Hayden faces the following charges:

Felony property damage
Trespassing
Underage possession of alcohol
Public intoxication
Contaminating waterways

The Campbell County Sheriff’s Office is working closely with Lynchburg Regional Airport officials as the investigation continues.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Campbell County Sheriff’s Office at 434-332-9574, Central Virginia Crime Stoppers at 1-888-798-5900 or www.cvcrimestoppers.org, or submit a tip online at www.p3tips.com. Tips may remain anonymous, and information leading to an arrest could be eligible for a cash reward.

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North Carolina

Freeze watch issued for counties in Western North Carolina

Published

2 days ago

October 22, 2025

Press Room

Freeze watch issued for counties in Western North Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A freeze watch was issued on Wednesday for counties in Western North Carolina.

Officials said that the freeze watch was issued for Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties along with southwest and west central Virginia, southeast West Virginia, and the northern mountains of North Carolina.

The freeze watch was expected to last through Friday morning, according to officials.

Temperatures were expected to reach as low as 28 degrees for Ashe, Avery, and Watauga counties.

Forecast –> Charlotte Metro to remain cool and dry through the weekend

Thursday and Friday morning will start in the 30s and low 40s for most across the area. Temperatures in the upper 20s are even possible in our mountain communities on Friday morning, prompting a freeze watch for those locations.

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North Carolina

North Carolina loses three more players, including early season offensive line starter

Published

3 days ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

North Carolina loses three more players, including early season offensive line starter

Three more players have left the North Carolina football team amid a tumultuous start to head coach Bill Belichick’s first season with the Tar Heels.

Offensive lineman William Boone, pass rusher Pryce Yates and tight end Yasir Smith are no longer with the team, a team spokesman confirmed to WRAL on Tuesday. Inside Carolina first reported the departures.

None of the players are listed on the team’s online roster. UNC (2-4 overall, 0-2 in the ACC) hosts No. 16 Virginia on Saturday.

Boone, a transfer from Prairie View A&M, started the first three games of the season. His agent posted on social media that Boone “will be pursuing a medical redshirt in hopes of having 2 years of eligibility remaining. He should be 100% for spring practice.”

Yates, a transfer from UConn, played in just one game for the Tar Heels after dealing with an injury in the early part of the season. Smith, a freshman tight end, didn’t appear in a game for the Tar Heels.

Previously, senior running back Caleb Hood announced his retirement after UNC’s fifth game of the season. Hood scored the first touchdown of the Belichick era in the season opener against TCU.

Wide receivers Paul Billups and Aziah Johnson and offensive tackle Treyvon Green also left the program earlier this season.

The most recent departures come two weeks after a WRAL report that players brought in by Belichick were receiving preferential treatment over those who were with the program before Belichick’s arrival. One assistant coach was suspended for NCAA violations tied to the report, though cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins is back with the team.

Several sources who spoke to WRAL News, including high school football coaches, former UNC players and an NIL agent, said Belichick’s demeanor when it comes to recruiting and dealing with former players is starting to sour people from the program.

While the program has faced scrutiny and a call for an independent review for student leadership, Belichick refuted a report that he was looking for an early exit from the program and said he felt the reports of a divide in the locker room were unfounded.

“I don’t know what kind of perspective some of those people have that are saying that, but I think anybody that’s around it on a daily basis would see that,” Belichick said in an Oct. 13 press conference.

“I’m sure the players all see the improvement they’re making.”

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