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

It will be mostly clear and mild across the state overnight with a light southwest breeze. Another cold front will work its way across the state, leading to spotty showers late Saturday into Sunday morning along the south coast. In advance of the front, look for Saturday's highs to be well above average, then behind the front on Sunday afternoon highs will be well below average on a northeast breeze. 

Get your full forecast: Charlotte | Triad | Triangle | Coastal | Mountains


Watch the latest local news and get your Weather on the 1s.


Today's Big Stories

1. Cooper approves over $600 million in Helene recovery funding

The bill, passed Thursday by the General Assembly, is the second legislative iteration of recovery funding for western North Carolina after an initial $273 million relief package approved earlier this month.

2. Sole apple grower makes it to the N.C. State Fair after Helene

Before Hurricane Helene swept past the state, the fair had 300 vendors set to bring in their apples for competitions, sale and display to the public. Now, Trey Enloe, a fifth-generation apple farmer from Hendersonville, is the only one.

3. Voters could change state constitution to clarify only U.S. citizens can vote

This year, North Carolina voters get to weigh in on a change in wording to the state constitution specifying that only U.S. citizens can vote. “The most important thing that voters need to know about is they have the chance to amend our constitution,” said state Sen. Brad Overcash, a Republican from Gaston County who sponsored the bill to put this issue on the ballot.

4. 4-H competitions at the N.C. State Fair can turn into lifelong career

By participating in 4-H and showing cows, not only has Rilen Wright made friends around the country and gained skills, it has opened up future avenues for him. “It's just really, it's a bunch of hard work going into it. But then there's also a bunch of scholarships, a bunch of opportunities, a bunch of job opportunities to get into,” Wright said. 

Your Notes for the Weekend

Saturday

  • The North Carolina football team travels to Virginia for a noon kickoff
  • Wake Forest has a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Stanford
  • Duke hosts SMU at 8 p.m.
  • The Charlotte Hornets host the Miami Heat at 7 p.m.
  • The Carolina Hurricanes continue their road trip with a 10 p.m. faceoff vs. the Seattle Kraken
  • Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Kalamazoo, Michigan
  • Former President Donald Trump speaks at campaign rallies in Novi, Michigan, and University Park, Pennsylvania
  • Vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz campaigns in Arizona
  • Vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance speaks in Atlanta and at stops in Pennsylvania
  • National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
  • MLB World Series continues, New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers
  • King Charles III and Queen Camilla end visit to Australia and Samoa, marking the king's first visit overseas trip since his cancer diagnosis.
  • 30th anniversary of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordan's King Hussein signing peace treaty

Sunday

  • The Carolina Panthers go on the road for a 4:25 kickoff vs. the Denver Broncos
  • Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in New York
  • Vice President Kamala Harris campaigns in Philadelphia
  • Vice presidential nominee Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz campaigns in Las Vegas
  • Second anniversary of Elon Musk completing the acquisition of Twitter, now known as X
While western North Carolina is still recovering from Helene and many state parks remain closed, Grandfather Mountain announced Wednesday that it was reopening for the first time since Sept. 26. Check out our list of things (spooky and not so spooky) happening around the state this weekend.