Good evening, North Carolina. We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.
Your Weather Planner
A frontal boundary has slowed to a crawl around the region, and the result will be scattered showers and storms overnight and Saturday. Sunday looks to be the drier of the two weekend days. High temperatures this weekend will be much cooler than what we had earlier this week.
Get your full forecast: Charlotte | Triad | Triangle | Coastal | Mountains
Today’s Big Stories
1. Tropical system could bring heavy rain to North Carolina next week
Hurricane Humberto has already formed in the Atlantic. Imelda will likely join it as a second storm that we’ll need to watch through the weekend. Rough surf and rip currents will become a concern along the coast this weekend into next week. There’s growing concern of a heavy rain and flood threat.
2. Durham wants help planning where to put new sidewalks and bike lanes
The city of Durham and Durham County are asking for feedback on their Bike + Walk Plan for the region. Residents can voice their preference for which projects out of the 150 bike lane, sidewalk and intersection improvement proposals they would like to see completed. People can leave comments online or in-person at one of the upcoming engagement events.
3. In tight-knit mountain community, rebuilding continues 1 year after Helene
Sherry Housley’s house in Micaville was torn down after it flooded during Helene last year. Her house recently was rebuilt with the help of the nonprofit, Rebuilding Hollers. Stephanie Johnson runs the nonprofit, overseeing over 500 rebuild projects across Yancey and Mitchell counties. She partnered with Mountain Heritage High School carpentry students to rebuild Housley’s home and others.
Old Fort, like many other towns in western North Carolina, has reopened since Helene but is still struggling to get the word out to tourists. Old Fort has been transitioning to a tourism-based economy since furniture manufacturer Ethan Allen, one of the town’s largest employers, laid off more than 300 people in 2019. Biking trails became one of the town’s biggest draws, but flooding from Helene washed many of them away and damaged businesses. Tourism has been slowed down by the 35 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway that sit closed for repairs and aren’t slated to reopen until fall 2026.
5. Dallas shooting prompts federal leaders to increase security measures at ICE facilities
As the investigation into the shooting at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas continues, the Department of Homeland Security is looking at increasing security measures. DHS said ICE officers are facing a more than 1,000% increase in assaults against them. Some experts say there is not enough security in place to protect agents or detainees.
Your Notes for Tomorrow
Saturday
The Wake Forest football team hosts Georgia Tech at noon
Duke visits Syracuse for a noon kickoff
N.C. State hosts Virginia Tech at 7 p.m.
Long Island 5K Run and 2-Mile Dog Walk to benefit America’s VetDogs
Athletes race the International Space Station in Racin’ the Station Duathlon
Phoenix Award Dinner
Washington Humane Society Bark Ball
Sunday
The Carolina Panthers visit the New England Patriots, with 1 p.m. kickoff
Major League Baseball regular season ends
Opening night for Samuel Beckett’s “Waiting for Godot” starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter
Annual New York Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk
In Case You Missed It
A year ago, Hurricane Helene came ashore in Florida and then churned through to North Carolina, causing devastating flooding across a wide swath of the mountain region. Among the events to mark the Sept. 27 anniversary of the storm’s passage, the small community of Lansing is celebrating resilience. Elsewhere on Saturday, barbecue lovers will have a full plate, with a cooking contest and a festival celebrating the Lexington style of the meaty delicacy. Card collectors will converge on Greensboro for the POW Show.