Agriculture

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC's Ruby the red spruce will be the US Capitol Christmas tree. Track her journey.
The U.S. Forest Service almost found the answer Wednesday to the age-old riddle, “If a 78-foot Christmas tree is felled live on Facebook and the sound is muted so no one can hear, does it still kick off the holiday season?”

Economic Development

WRAL TECHWIRE: Construction begins on $167M new manufacturing facility in Oxford that will bring 37 jobs
A $167 million economic development project in Oxford is now officially underway as Saint-Gobain held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the company’s CertainTeed Roofing campus on Friday. When the project was announced in April, the company committed to investing at least $118 million, but the company will now invest approximately $167 million according to a statement.

Education

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC Supreme Court orders state to increase funding for public schools in Leandro case
Just days before North Carolina’s midterm elections, the state Supreme Court’s Democratic majority ruled Friday that state officials can be ordered to transfer funds to try to provide students their constitutional right to a sound basic education.

EDNC: State Board of Education considers what it will ask legislature to do about PEPSC's teacher licensure and pay proposal
The State Board of Education prepared this week to consider the licensure and pay reform proposal that a state commission has been working on for the last year and half. The Professional Educator Preparation and Standards Commission (PEPSC) has been fine-tuning a plan that would overhaul how teachers are licensed and paid in North Carolina.

Elections

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: NC early voting ended with more than 2 million ballots. Breaking down who's voting.
More than 2 million North Carolina voters cast ballots ahead of Election Day as the state’s early voting period concluded Saturday afternoon, election officials said. In-person early voting started on Oct. 20 and lasted 17 days.

ABC 11: Vote 2022 Voter Guide: What you need to know before voting on Midterm Election Day
It is almost Election Day and if you didn't cast your ballot during early voting, this is your last chance to to do so. Here are some things you should know before you head out.

Environment

WUNC: What NC's growing white-tailed deer population means for drivers, hunting and the species' survival
White-tailed deer are the only deer species in the state, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Researchers at North Carolina State University are currently conducting a four-year study in Durham and Orange counties on how the white-tailed deer survive, as the state continues to grow and develop.

Government

SPECTRUM NEWS: Bonds on the ballot: Voters to decide on hundreds of millions in public spending
The races at the top of the ballot — for Congress, General Assembly and local leaders — have been getting much of the attention ahead of the midterms. But voters in the Charlotte region will also decide on hundreds of millions in bonds this election.

Healthcare

NORTH CAROLINA HEALTH NEWS: Judges' order gives NC 10 years to provide more at-home disability services
In a sweeping judgment handed down last week, a Superior Court judge ruled that the state of North Carolina needs to provide services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the home settings that they choose. In his order, Judge Allen Baddour noted that North Carolina is “over-reliant on institutions” for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Politics

WRAL: Spending $1M+ for a $14k job: Big money flows, obscured by complexity, in NC legislative races
North Carolina’s state legislative races are once again big-money affairs, with multiple campaigns spending more than $1 million to win part-time, $14,000-a-year jobs. Republicans are pushing for a supermajority that would let them fully control the state’s budget-writing process and legislative agenda without worrying about Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto power. Democrats are working hard to block the GOP, particularly in a handful of closely divided districts that are likely to decide the matter.

WCNC: Could NC Republicans snag a supermajority in the midterm elections?
North Carolina's U.S. Senate race between Ted Budd and Cheri Beasley is getting headlines nationwide, but a number of key races in statewide elections could have a huge impact on the everyday lives of North Carolinians.

Transportation

WRAL: FAA encourages airlines to fly over water between NC and Florida - just ahead of holiday travel rush
Just ahead of the busiest travel period of the year, the Department of Transportation is putting airlines on notice - equip your planes to better utilize airspace over the water between North Carolina an Florida.

WSOC-TV: New electric car-sharing program to launch in Charlotte by 2023
The City of Charlotte has announced on Thursday the launch of a new electric vehicle car-sharing program that will look to provide lower-income residents with transportation without paying for the cost of maintenance that comes with traditional ownership. The program aims to increase the access to electric transportation by making electric vehicles available at a low cost.