Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1997, a severe supercell storm in southeast North Carolina moved northeast, causing significant damage in Pender County with tennis ball-sized hail and winds over 60 mph. The storm destroyed structures and crops, resulting in around $3.5 million in damage.

It's about time for the tropics to heat up. While there are no immediate concerns for North Carolina, that could change as the week progresses. Learn more in Around North Carolina.

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State Releases DMV Audit Findings

North Carolina State Auditor Dave Boliek released findings Monday from a North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) audit, revealing declining customer and employee experiences that have prompted consideration of separating the DMV from the Department of Transportation.

DMV wait times averaged 1 hour and 15 minutes in 2025, up 15.5% from 2019. Additionally, 13.6% of visits exceeded 2.5 hours, a 78.8% increase, and 47.5% of transactions occurred outside customers' nearest office.

The audit also revealed outdated technology and only a 10% increase in driver license examiner positions despite a 29% increase in North Carolina's population.

The DMV plans to present a strategic plan for initiatives—such as digitizing paper forms—by Dec. 1, with implementation by July 1, 2026. Boliek said the 435-page report is one-half of a two-part audit.

State Funds Available for Recovery and Farmland

State funds are available for residents and municipalities in need of post-Helene recovery assistance and, separately, for county governments and conservation nonprofits involved in farmland preservation projects.

North Carolina Emergency Management announced an Aug. 31 deadline for submitting interest forms for the North Carolina Private Roads and Bridge Program, offering $25 million in reimbursements. Applications open in September, with the state prioritizing emergency access and multi-home connectivity.

The state is also offering economic assistance to municipalities impacted by Helene through a third round of $51.5 million in interest-free Helene Cashflow Loans, which opened July 31 and are due by Aug. 15. Repayment is required within five years.

Meanwhile, county governments and conservation nonprofits have until Aug. 29 to submit an intent to apply for grants supporting agricultural easements, sustainable farming, and growth zones. Final applications are due Dec. 22.

NC State Studies Asymmetric Organ Formation

A professor in NC State's College of Veterinary Medicine received a $2.8 million National Institutes of Health grant to study left-right asymmetric organ formation as part of efforts to uncover why developmental abnormalities, such as congenital heart defects, occur.

Dr. Nanette Nascone-Yoder uses frog embryos and computational modeling to explore how cellular mechanisms shape organs like the stomach and heart.

Her co-investigator, Dr. Julio Belmonte, is an assistant professor of physics at NC State who uses computational modeling to create a virtual lab that reduces the number of steps and time required by traditional research methods.

Both professors are part of NC State's Quantitative and Computational Developmental Biology Cluster, one of several groups hired as part of the Chancellor's Faculty Excellence Program.

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➤ NC Coast: Three tropical systems are being monitored: Tropical Storm Dexter, which is moving east-northeast and poses no threat; a system southeast of South Carolina with low development odds; and a central Atlantic system with medium potential but no current threat. (More)

➤ Western NC: Jamie Ager, CEO and co-founder of Hickory Nut Gap Farm in Fairview, officially entered the Democratic primary for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards. (More)

➤ Southern Wake County is opening four new schools this school year to meet growth demands: Felton Grove High School and Pleasant Plains Elementary in Apex, Bowling Road Elementary in Fuquay-Varina, and Rex Road Elementary in Holly Springs. (More)

➤ Raleigh: The delayed Blue Ridge Road underpass project is expected to cause traffic issues impacting the 2025 State Fair, local businesses, and events at the Lenovo Center and NC State. (More)

➤ Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials announced that Newfound Gap Road, which closed due to a landslide, has reopened on the park's North Carolina side between Cherokee and Newfound Gap, but visitors must turn around at the Newfound Gap overlook. (More)

➤ Charlotte: American Airlines flight 3221, scheduled to land in Charlotte Sunday at 9:34 p.m., was diverted to the Philadelphia airport due to a mechanical issue. It departed around 10:25 p.m. and landed in Charlotte at 12:04 a.m. (More)

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➤ UNC soccer alumna Mia Hamm was inducted into the Washington, D.C., Sports Hall of Fame this weekend, honoring her legacy as one of the greatest female soccer players of all time. (More)

➤ The Little League Softball World Series kicked off yesterday in Greenville with North Carolina beating the Central Region champions 5-3. Check out all the action, including game schedules for the week. (More)

➤ UNC quarterback Max Johnson recently revealed that he needed five surgeries to repair his broken leg in 2024, at one point leading him to believe it might need to be amputated. Johnson is competing with South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez for UNC's starting QB position. (More)

➤ Yesterday's Results: MLB | Soccer

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➤ Philadelphia-based Alterra IOS acquired a 12-property industrial portfolio, including 851 Sunnyvale Drive in Wilmington, which it purchased for over $6.2 million, bolstering support for the growing Port of Wilmington. (More)

➤ Retired Blue Ridge Energy CEO Doug Johnson received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award, North Carolina's highest civilian honor. (More)

➤ Charlotte's Plaza Midwood neighborhood will soon welcome several new tenants, including French bakery Maman, PopUp Bagels, Warby Parker, bartaco, and Harriet's Hamburgers. (More)

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➤ North Carolina ranks 33rd on a list of the best and worst states to have a baby based on 31 measures, including cost, health care access, baby-friendliness, and family-friendliness. (See Rankings)

➤ Ishaan Raghavendra Rao, a rising senior at North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, scored a perfect 36 on his first ACT. He plans to study physics at UNC, Harvard, MIT, or Cambridge. (More)

➤ Athletes showcased their ultimate frisbee skills at the 29th annual Asheville HoDown Throwdown Saturday at Buncombe County Sports Park. The event included a taco bar and a post-tournament party. (More)

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