https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article317705710.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/f853fe5e-e729-42d1-8d6a-3137fc2e0aca/1_th.jpg Federal judge won’t block NC’s new mail-in ballot rules from taking effect. What does it mean for you? News & Observer democracy reporter Kyle Ingram explains why a federal judge declined to block North Carolina’s new mail-in ballot rules as voting began and the posible impact for voters. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/election/article317705710.html/video-embed 72 2026-10-20T21:00:55Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317701523.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/5fa5fafc-8ec3-4203-b9dc-dfc24aed9749/1_th.jpg Faith Hedgepeth trial reveals another family’s tragedy News & Observer courts and justice reporter Virginia Bridges dives into the close relationship between Miguel Salguero Olivares, defendant in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial, and Katie Ellen, who died before the trial. Jurors in the trial saw the accused killer’s friendship with a woman who believed he was innocent. They don’t know her life ended in tragedy too. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317701523.html/video-embed 73 2026-10-20T17:03:23Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317714911.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/7c85ec1b-308c-4a9e-88c1-988c9150ae27/3_th.jpg Judge in Hedgepeth murder trial reminds defendant that he cannot testify if the defense rests Miguel Salguero-Olivares, on trial for the rape and murder of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth answers questions from the judge after his defense team indicated that they would not be calling any witnesses or presenting additional evidence. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317714911.html/video-embed 19 2026-10-21T14:17:33Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article317700834.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/683d4b44-6969-4ab4-8cfa-2f16553f9ace/1_th.jpg UNC makes a deal to end federal probes and keep funding. What policies were added? N&O Higher Education reporter Jane Winik Sartwell explains the agreement that the University of North Carolina made to remain eligible for federal funding along with added policies and oversight. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article317700834.html/video-embed 68 2026-10-20T16:16:45Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317700130.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/f26f15f2-8611-4689-855d-0a86ad40c9c2/1_th.jpg Jail call between defendant in Hedgepeth murder trial shows close friendship with Katie Ellen A portion a jail video call between Miguel Salguero Olivares and friend Katie Ellen, a former UNC student, recorded after Salguero Olivares arrest. She could not hear him during the call. Ellen broke down in sobs when the call was played in court. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317700130.html/video-embed 86 2026-10-20T15:28:32Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317690764.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/df29a1a8-2009-4d24-9e3a-fd30f4517493/1_th.jpg SBI agent wrongly tied note to Faith Hedgepeth’s accused killer. It was an internet meme. One of the lead investigators in Faith Hedgepeth’s killing told jurors Monday that a handwritten note he previously attributed to the man charged with her murder and rape was actually an internet meme — not something the defendant had written. State Bureau of Investigation agent Justin Heinrich acknowledged the mistake after showing jurors the image Friday as part of the prosecution’s effort to connect Miguel Salguero Olivares to a note found on Hedgepeth’s bed after her killing in September 2012. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317690764.html/video-embed 199 2026-10-19T22:44:11Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317690476.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/f3257cc0-577e-4db0-85b0-f10656025472/1_th.jpg Investigator acknowledges mistake in handwriting evidence in Faith Hedgepeth murder trial One of the lead investigators in Faith Hedgepeth’s killing told jurors Monday that a handwritten note he previously attributed to the man charged with her murder and rape was actually an internet meme — not something the defendant had written. State Bureau of Investigation agent Justin Heinrich acknowledged the mistake after showing jurors the image Friday as part of the prosecution’s effort to connect Miguel Salguero Olivares to a note found on Hedgepeth’s bed after her killing in September 2012. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317690476.html/video-embed 43 2026-10-19T22:17:20Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article317686709.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/73a38e85-47c9-47b9-8e6c-d4a096f70559/1_th.jpg Duke football coach says player's altercation with medical staff fell below the standards of the team Duke defensive back Kimari Robinson issued a public apology Sunday night for his altercation with a Blue Devils medical staff assistant during Saturday’s game against North Carolina. Coach Manny Diaz addressed reporters about the incident and apologies at the beginning of his weekly press conference, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article317686709.html/video-embed 40 2026-10-19T18:02:29Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article317684128.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/eb7d1d10-4423-4bb8-80fe-604e8c880f71/2_th.jpg Former NC State football coach Chuck Amato has died Chuck Amato, who played at N.C. State, later energized Wolfpack football as its passionate coach and won a school-record 11 games in 2002, has died. He was 80. Amato, the Pack’s head coach from 2000 to 2006, had suffered in recent years from a recurrence of throat cancer. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article317684128.html/video-embed 144 2026-10-19T15:21:04Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article317709636.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/bb5f42e2-cebb-4a60-8c7a-92c87a23a9ed/4_th.jpg Duke basketball defeats Tennessee in exhibition game See over 100 photos from the Blue Devils 103-64 exhibition victory over Tennessee at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026. Six Duke players scored double digits, led by freshman Deron Rippey, Jr. with 21 points. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/duke/article317709636.html/video-embed 55 2026-10-21T03:01:11Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317682866.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/64bf3767-aec8-400f-b013-ff794459df16/1_th.jpg NC could be getting a second Buc-ee's ABC11 reports that Buc-ee's is looking at a location in Rocky Mount, N.C. along I-95. The first Buc-ee's location is currently under construction in Mebane. https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article317682866.html/video-embed 38 2026-10-19T14:00:06Z no https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article317677162.html https://img.thecontentserver.com/26b06881-b2f2-4d70-ad73-ef7a7d81543e/3_th.jpg Photos: NC State basketball defeats Mississippi State in exhibition See images from the Wolfpack's first game under new head coach Justin Gainey in an exhibition matchup with Mississippi State in The Preview at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2026. https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/college/acc/nc-state/article317677162.html/video-embed 52 2026-10-18T23:42:45Z no