Robbins
The flags went up on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026 for the annual Field of Honor celebration on the baseball field at South Asheboro Middle School, on the corner of US 64 and Park Street. It was the start of a Veterans Day week, including free admission to the North Caro-lina...
Starting Dec. 1, a new North Carolina law makes it illegal to put lithium-ion batteries in household trash or recycling.
Frost can coat your tomato leaves even when the thermometer never drops to 32 degrees. On clear, calm nights, plant leaves can lose heat faster than the air around them. That is why the weather service starts sounding the alarm at 36 degrees, not just at freezing. I know how frustrating it can be when a single chilly night undoes weeks of careful watering.
(Words and Photos by David Whealon) The roar of powerful engines, the scent of diesel fuel, and the cheers of an enthusiastic crowd came together once again for UPOC/ NTPA tractor pulling at the 2026 NC State Fair. The 50+ decade of the UPOC (United Pullers of the Carolinas) organization once again brought their traditional over 30+ year action-packed event back to “The Fair” that brings together competitors and fans for an exciting display of horsepower, determination, and mechanical skill.
ALBEMARLE — A freight railroad serving Stanfield, Oakboro, Aquadale and Norwood has acquired nearly $20 million in federal funding for rail improvements in Stanly and Montgomery counties. Announced last month, Aberdeen Carolina & Western Railway was awarded $19.9 million through the Federal Railroad Administration’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety...
Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Murphy, who clung to a razor-thin lead on election night, is trailing after provisional ballots tipped the race in favor of Democrat Raymond Smith Jr. Murphy, a Greenville physician, has represented the 3rd District in Eastern North Carolina since 2019. Smith is a former state representative and Army veteran. As of Monday, six days after the Nov. 3 election, Murphy led Smith by 233 votes, or 0.1%. After provisional ballots were tallied as of around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Smith gained a narrow lead of 293 votes, or 0.12%. Provisional ballots are cast when a voter’s eligibility can’t be confirmed at the polls and are counted only after county election officials verify that eligibility. The margin between Murphy and Smith was well within the 1% margin that allows the trailing candidate to request a recount. The candidates could also file formal challenges if they believe the vote count includes ineligible voters. Democrats will hold a majority of North Carolina’s congressional delegation for the first time since 2013, when the delegation was split 7-6 in their favor. Republicans took control after the 2012 elections under maps newly drawn by the GOP-led legislature. The GOP has led multiple
HIGH POINT, N.C. (WGHP) — Additional votes counted Tuesday could determine who will win North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District: longtime Republican incumbent Virginia Foxx or Democratic challenger Chuck Hubbard. By the morning after Election Day, Foxx trailed Hubbard by a mere 99 votes with 100% of precincts reporting, but that did not yet include provisional […]
The 2026 North Carolina high school boys basketball season is set to begin on Nov. 11. East Henderson, Hendersonville and Smoky Mountain enter 2026 as Western North Carolina's top teams after returning most of their top players. With the season beginning on Nov. 11, here are 16 WNC boys basketball players to watch this season. BOLD PREDICTIONS FOR NCHSAA PLAYOFFS: Three bold predictions for WNC programs in 2026 NCHSAA football playoffs Gabe Clark Andrews | Guard | Senior Clark had 16.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field and 38% from behind the 3-point line. Levi Clark Andrews | Guard | Sophomore Clark averaged 12 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists. He shot 48% from the field and 38% from deep as a freshman. Jaylin Brewer East Henderson | Guard | Junior Brewer was named All-WNC First Team last season after averaging 16.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and four assists on 47% from the field and 33% from behind the 3-point line. Lance Parker Franklin | Forward | Senior Parker averaged 10.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists, while shooting 48% from the field. Will Rauers Franklin | Guard | Senior Rauers is
North Carolina will receive more than $880 million in combined funds for Hurricane Helene recovery. The funds will be distributed across the state, including the 14th District, for building and bridge repairs, park restoration, debris removal, and highway and transportation system repairs. One set of federal funding totals more than...
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) -- After two recent major repairs to N.C. 12 and many delays over the years accessing the Outer Banks, renewed attention is focused on improving the key road frequently damaged by high surf. The focus is on one area of N.C. 12 that was washed away --...
Otters beside ocean dunes were not on my North Carolina wildlife bingo card. I usually picture them slipping through mountain streams, so learning that they roam the marshes and ponds of a skinny barrier island completely changed the picture for me. The refuge itself has an unexpectedly charming backstory too,...
North Carolina appears to be sending 10 Democrats and four Republicans to Washington in January.
A whole parade of decorated boats lights up a waterway near Wilmington every Thanksgiving weekend, and then fireworks take over the sky. I love that detail. Turkey at noon, glowing yachts by night. North Carolina packs its holiday weekend with surprises like that. One museum invites guests to bring a...
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reports a driver has been arrested after a pedestrian was killed in a crash on Monday.
Election week dominated the conversation at newsobserver.com. From a longtime Republican congresswoman hanging on by fewer than 100 votes to Democrats flipping the state House after 16 years, readers were talking online Nov. 2-8. Here are the five stories that had News & Observer readers talking last week, and where you can jump in. Virginia Foxx’s razor-thin loss Rep. Virginia Foxx, the 83-year-old Banner Elk Republican who chairs the powerful House Rules Committee, lost her reelection bid to Democrat Chuck Hubbard — but barely. With all precincts reporting in the 5th Congressional District, Hubbard led 48.7% to 48.66%, close enough for Foxx to call for a recount. »» Read the story, see the comments Is a blue wave sweeping NC’s congressional races? Heading into Election Day, politics reporter Danielle Battaglia broke down how President Donald Trump’s low approval ratings and shifting Cook Political Report ratings were putting Republican-drawn maps to the test. Districts once rated “solid Republican” — including those of Richard Hudson, Brad Knott and Foxx — had slid toward “likely Republican” or worse. Hudson and Knott lost their reelection races. »» Read the story, see the comments Meet NC’s new members of Congress With Republican incumbents Richard Hudson,
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Several communities around Eastern North Carolina will host their own ceremonies for Veterans Day. GREENVILLE: The Chick-fil-A at University Boulevard in Greenville is set to distribute 400 free boxed meals to veterans on Wednesday. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO. FROM PITT COUNTY BELOW: American Legion Post 289 Veterans Day Activities: American […]
Queen’s Grant, the reigning N.C. High School Athletic Association 2A state champion, has had a rough start to the season. The Stallions (2-2), ranked No. 1 in The Observer’s preseason Sweet 16 poll , lost to private school 3A state power Concord Academy last week on a buzzer-beater. Concord Academy is No. 3 in The Sweet 16. Not 24 hours later, they lost in overtime, 69-63, to private school 4A state champ Forsyth Country Day (Forsyth lost, 60-47, to Concord Academy Tuesday). Tuesday night at home, the Stallions played their second game in their brand new gymnasium and beat Carmel Christian, 71-59. Queen’s Grant — which lost 6-8 big man Mekhi Allen, a four-star recruit, to Faith Family (TX) in the offseason — got 28 points from 6-9 junior Chase Smith, plus 11 from Cannon DeBerry and 10 from point guard Preston Scott. Carmel’s Jermier Nelson, who had a school-record 51 points over the weekend, had 30. In his first three games, Nelson is averaging 38 points per game. Yes, it’s early, but that’s No. 1 in America. — In other boys’ featured games, No. 2 Ambassador Christian beat Caldwell Academy 89-74 behind 37 points from RJ Moore. As mentioned,
North Carolina’s Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission received notice of Joseph Costa’s Granville County appointment nearly two years after he took the oath in June 2024, the Raleigh News & Observer reported. The notice followed a court filing by prosecutor Mike Waters that raised questions about Costa’s departure from the Durham County Sheriff’s Office. Costa remains certified while the commission investigates; no outcome has been announced.
With North Carolina’s State Health Plan beginning to see higher costs in its financial outlook, the Board of Trustees approved a financial adjustment that will temporarily double the Retiree Health Benefit Fund’s monthly contribution from $300 to $600 per retiree. The benefit increase will hit employers rather than...
While North Carolina Democrats digest their stunning success on Election Day that gave the party control of the N.C. House and touching distance of taking over the N.C. Senate, supporters are wondering what the changes in the state legislature will mean in practice. One of the issues top of mind for residents, and one that became a campaign issue in the bruising race between Sen. Michael Lee , R-New Hanover, and victorious Democratic challenger Jessica Bichler, was what the changes could mean for environmental enforcement − specifically when it comes to "forever chemicals." The StarNews first broke the story in 2017 of the chemical discharges into the Cape Fear, which serves as the primary drinking water supply for nearly 500,000 people in Southeastern North Carolina, that couldn't be filtered out by local utilities before the water reached homes and businesses. Since then, testing also has found extensive PFAS contamination in groundwater and the environment across the Cape Fear region. Formally known as per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, PFAS are manmade substances used in a range of products from medical devices to nonstick cookware that don't break down quickly − hence their name forever chemicals − and have been tied to a host
