From a pretrial ruling in the Faith Hedgepeth murder case to a hospital merger showdown and a vice presidential rally, here’s what’s making news across North Carolina.
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Here’s a roundup of top stories from The News & Observer on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026.
Hedgepeth murder ruling: A Durham County judge ruled Monday that Miguel Salguero Olivares’ attorneys cannot argue at trial that Faith Hedgepeth’s roommate was involved in her 2012 killing. Jury selection is set to begin Sept. 28.
WakeMed merger rally: Critics of the proposed WakeMed-Atrium Health merger rallied outside the Wake County office building ahead of a commissioners’ vote, presenting a petition signed by more than 1,500 residents opposing the deal. Gov. Josh Stein said Sunday he would not oppose the merger after recent revisions.
Vance campaigns in Greensboro: Vice President JD Vance rallied at the Koury Convention Center for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, calling the November midterms “make or break” and attacking Democratic candidate Roy Cooper. Recent polls show Cooper, North Carolina’s former governor, leading Whatley by 5 to 15 points in the race for Sen. Thom Tillis’ seat.
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Tropical Storm Fay: Tropical Storm Fay formed in the Atlantic Ocean near the Azores over the weekend but poses no threat to North Carolina, according to the National Weather Service. The storm is weakening and expected to dissipate within four or five days.
Wolfpack fallout: NC State faces mounting questions after a stunning loss to Vanderbilt, becoming the only team in the past 20 years to lose while holding a lead and possession in the final 10 seconds. The Wolfpack now turns to Appalachian State on Sept. 26 at Carter-Finley Stadium.
Raleigh fine dining honor: Second Empire Restaurant & Tavern on Hillsborough Street ranks No. 12 on Tripadvisor’s list of the nation’s best fine dining destinations. The Victorian-era restaurant has earned the fine-dining award at least two years in a row.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by journalists.
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