Sunday, September 21, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1944, American political adviser Hamilton Jordan was born in Charlotte. He was raised in Albany, Georgia, where he grew up in a family steeped in state politics. Jordan was White House chief of staff to President Carter. His grandfather was president of the Georgia Senate, his uncle was secretary of the Georgia Senate, and his cousin was chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court.

As leaves begin to turn across the mountains, North Carolina has plenty to talk about—from fall festivals and fiery foliage to courtroom battles and an owl that was left hanging. Check out Top Stories and Et Cetera to learn more.

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Judge Awards $50M in Charlotte Helicopter Crash

A North Carolina judge ordered $50 million to be paid to the family of WBTV meteorologist Jason Myers, who died in a 2022 helicopter crash alongside pilot Chip Tayag.

Superior Court Judge Forrest Bridges found the companies that owned and operated the aircraft liable in the wrongful death suit filed by Myers' widow.

During a video training flight, the Robinson R44 helicopter went down along a Charlotte-area interstate. A National Transportation Safety Board report later determined that inadequate inspections caused hardware to loosen and disconnect from the rotor, leading to loss of control.

While the overall judgment totaled $126.3 million, insurers for iHeartMedia subsidiaries and the Total Traffic & Weather Network will cover $50 million within two months, with the family pursuing the remainder through other carriers.

NC Lawmakers Divided on Health Care Budget

North Carolina's continued budget standoff has spilled into health care, with House and Senate Republicans split over a mini-budget to fund Medicaid and other projects.

House leaders want to cover the $819 million Medicaid shortfall to prevent cuts, while Senate leaders are pushing to also re-approve money for a $3 billion Apex children's hospital and the NC Care Initiative program for rural facilities.

The dispute leaves Medicaid funding and hospital projects uncertain as the Oct. 1 deadline looms. Lawmakers remain far apart on overall spending priorities, prolonging the state's budget impasse.

Fall Colors and Festivals Return to Haywood County

In western North Carolina, Haywood County towns Waynesville, Maggie Valley, and Lake Junaluska are drawing visitors with autumn festivals, mountain trails, and sweeping fall views.

Waynesville's downtown transforms in early October with the Church Street Art & Craft Show, followed by the Apple Harvest Festival. Maggie Valley's festival grounds host a Fall Arts & Crafts Show and the Smoky Mountains Bluegrass Festival, adding music and local flavor to the season.

Leaf-peepers can catch peak colors at Waterrock Knob, Graveyard Fields, and Black Balsam Knob, where elevations deliver wide windows of fiery hues. According to Southern Living, the events and landscapes make the county a top fall destination.

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➤ Black Mountain: Residents can vote to help the Black Mountain Home for Children, heavily damaged by Helene, compete for a national Chick-fil-A grant worth up to $350,000. (More)

➤ Asheville: Buncombe commissioners approved shifting over $4 million in sales tax revenue to cover operating expenses for Asheville City and Buncombe County schools. (More)

➤ Matthews: The Area Chamber of Commerce's September luncheon highlighted 18 nonprofits and drew over 100 attendees. (More)

➤ Ocracoke: A new UNC-led study modeled scenarios for Highway 12's future, showing current erosion could make the road unmaintainable within decades without major changes. (More)

➤ Greenville: North Greene Street will close at the railroad crossing near Industrial Drive starting Monday for CSX repairs, with work expected to take two days. (More)

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➤ With under a minute to go in the first half, NC State quarterback CJ Bailey was intercepted by Duke's Tre Freeman, setting up a Blue Devils touchdown after a 67-yard return. Duke never looked back, winning 45-33. (Box Score)

➤ North Carolina never got going against UCF, falling behind 20-3 by halftime en route to a 34-9 loss. Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez threw two interceptions. (Box Score)

➤ The Carolina Panthers will wear their player-favorite matte black helmets for the team's home opener against the Atlanta Falcons today. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: NCAAF | NHL | MLB | Soccer | LPGA

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➤ Sydney Sweeney's new biopic Christy, filmed at Charlotte sites like Bojangles Coliseum, is adding to the city's growing list of productions ahead of its Nov. 7 release. (More)

➤ Asheville's Sept. 21 history includes a drought-ending rain in 1919, the grand opening of Battery Park Hotel in 1924, and the dedication of French Broad River Park in 1994. (More)

➤ Craven County recreation staff and bystanders freed an owl dangling 20 feet in the air after it became tangled in fishing line. The bird is recovering at the Outer Banks Wildlife Shelter. (See Photos)

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