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Here's who's running for North Carolina governor in 2024

The election will take place November 5, 2024.

News

Remote work is shaping the Triangle

Remote work has a huge influence on the Triangle's economy

Nugget blew up during the pandemic. Now what?

Nugget's couches became one of the hottest items to own during the pandemic.

Budget proposal could include new limits on suing North Carolina employees

Under a little-known provision quietly slipped into early state budget proposals, North Carolinians who sue state employees could soon lose the ability to present their case to a jury of their peers in state court.

What games to watch this Thanksgiving holiday in North Carolina

Here are the basketball tournaments UNC and N.C. State play in this Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving isn&#x27;t just about eating Turkey with your family — it also happens to be rivalry week.<ul><li>Which means someone in the family could be served up a side of smack talk.</li></ul>

North Carolina FC take on Charlotte Independence in USL championship

North Carolina FC hopes to win a championship in its last year before moving up to USL Championship

Two North Carolina soccer teams will compete for silverware in Cary on Sunday.What&#x27;s happening: North Carolina FC hosts the Charlotte Independence at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary in the USL League One final.

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, the bipartisan pickleball caucus leader

Probably not on your bingo card for 2023: North Carolina's longest serving U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is the ringleader of the bipartisan Senate pickleball caucus, NPR reports.

Politics

Probably not on your bingo card for 2023: North Carolina&#x27;s longest serving U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis is the ringleader of the bipartisan Senate pickleball caucus, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="NPR reports" data-vars-click-url="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/25/1201054712/senate-pickleball-caucus-leaves-politics-off-the-court" data-vars-content-id="93c27e06-ae9d-46cf-8877-ab146a7c91bc" data-vars-headline="U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, the bipartisan pickleball caucus leader" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.npr.org/2023/09/25/1201054712/senate-pickleball-caucus-leaves-politics-off-the-court" target="_blank">NPR reports</a>.Driving the news: Once a week, Tillis, fellow caucus co-chairs West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and other lawmakers put politics aside and play one of the fastest growing sports in the country.Why it matters: Not even our U.S. senators can resist the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="pickleball hype" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/06/26/raleighs-pickleball-takeover" data-vars-content-id="93c27e06-ae9d-46cf-8877-ab146a7c91bc" data-vars-headline="U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, the bipartisan pickleball caucus leader" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/06/26/raleighs-pickleball-takeover" target="_self">pickleball hype</a>.

Duke and UNC both in preseason Top 25, as college basketball season nears

Both Duke and UNC are excelling on the football field. But their basketball teams are highly ranked too

Ready or not, college basketball season will soon return in the Triangle.Driving the news: With the first set of games coming on Nov. 6, Duke and UNC have found themselves both in the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="AP&#x27;s Top 25 men&#x27;s basketball poll" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll" data-vars-content-id="93036a02-3b98-4166-b1fc-9e90055e706b" data-vars-headline="Duke and UNC both in preseason Top 25, as college basketball season nears" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll" target="_blank">AP&#x27;s Top 25 men&#x27;s basketball poll</a>.<ul><li>Duke will enter the season as the No. 2 team in the country.</li><li>UNC comes in at No. 19 after missing last year&#x27;s NCAA tournament.</li></ul>

The Carolina Hurricanes enter the season with the best odds of winning the Stanley Cup

The Hurricanes have made the playoffs for five straight season, but they want more

Consistent success in sports is hard — just ask the Carolina Panthers — but it&#x27;s something the Carolina Hurricanes have mastered by making the playoffs for five straight seasons.Driving the news: The Hurricanes season begins Wednesday when they host the Ottawa Senators at PNC Arena.

Local Limelight: Don Waddell, general manager of the Carolina Hurricanes

Don Waddell has helped oversee a huge turnaround for the Carolina Hurricanes

When Don Waddell moved to the Triangle in the summer of 2014 to join the Carolina Hurricanes, the team was firmly in the doldrums.<ul><li>There was no success on the ice, a low of just 4,000 season tickets sold and a lack of interest from the community.</li></ul>Fast forward to today, and the Canes have become one of the league&#x27;s most successful teams during his tenure as general manager and has more than 14,000 season ticket holders.Axios spoke with Waddell over the phone from his office in PNC Arena for our Local Limelight series. Answers have been edited for Smart Brevity and clarity.

Photo illustration of Don Waddell in a polaroid frame.

What to know for College GameDay's takeover of Duke's campus

All eyes are on Durham for College GameDay's visit to Duke

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="ESPN&#x27;s College GameDay" data-vars-click-url="https://promo.espn.com/collegegameday/" data-vars-content-id="a0489d72-207d-447a-a32e-ffb41947edd7" data-vars-headline="What to know for College GameDay&#x27;s takeover of Duke&#x27;s campus" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://promo.espn.com/collegegameday/" target="_blank">ESPN&#x27;s College GameDay</a> comes to Durham for the first time this Saturday as No. 17 Duke takes on No. 11 Notre Dame at Wallace Wade Stadium.Why it matters: All eyes are on Durham for a college sport that&#x27;s not basketball.

N.C. State welcomes Notre Dame in one of the Triangle's biggest games of the year

Notre Dame's large fan base will descend upon N.C. State's Cartery-Finley Stadium on Saturday

The Irish will descend upon Raleigh this weekend in one of the Triangle&#x27;s most anticipated college football games of the season.Driving the news: N.C. State hosts No. 10 Notre Dame on Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium.<ul><li>The game kicks off at noon and will be aired on ABC.</li></ul>Why it matters: Notre Dame is one of the most well-supported college football programs in the country and continues to be a perennial contender.<ul><li>They will give N.C. State an opportunity to notch a signature win — but it will be a tough game, with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="betting odds" data-vars-click-url="https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/notre-dame-nc-state-prediction-odds-player-prop-bets-picks-ncaaf-week-2-jaa/" data-vars-content-id="de0ece83-30ce-4a60-b992-047eb37393ba" data-vars-headline="N.C. State welcomes Notre Dame in one of the Triangle&#x27;s biggest games of the year" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://sports.betmgm.com/en/blog/notre-dame-nc-state-prediction-odds-player-prop-bets-picks-ncaaf-week-2-jaa/" target="_blank">betting odds</a> putting the Fighting Irish as 7.5-point favorites.</li></ul>Flashback: The first and only other time Notre Dame played in Raleigh was in October 2016 — a messy game Irish fans probably don&#x27;t want to remember.<ul><li>It was during Hurricane Matthew, and relentless downpours and heavy wind made for disastrous field conditions.</li><li>N.C. State won 10-3.</li></ul>

The Soccer Tournament returns to Cary in 2024, with the addition of a women's tournament

Around 35,000 fans traveled to Cary to watch The Soccer Tournament last year

Sports

The Soccer Tournament, a seven-on-seven soccer tournament in which teams compete for a $1 million prize, is returning to Cary&#x27;s WakeMed Soccer Park for its second year from June 5-10. <ul><li>For the first time, next year&#x27;s edition will include a women&#x27;s tournament with a prize also equal to $1 million. </li><li><a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Last year" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/06/01/high-stakes-star-filled-soccer-tournament-begins-in-cary" data-vars-content-id="ae884ec3-770a-4cfe-955a-5fb7da64dcd1" data-vars-headline="The Soccer Tournament returns to Cary in 2024, with the addition of a women&#x27;s tournament" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/raleigh/2023/06/01/high-stakes-star-filled-soccer-tournament-begins-in-cary" target="_self">Last year</a>, women&#x27;s teams also competed with men&#x27;s teams for the overall prize — but next year&#x27;s set-up will ensure both the men&#x27;s and women&#x27;s brackets will compete for the same prize total. </li></ul>

North Carolina sues NCAA to block its transfer eligibility rules

Several collegiate players in North Carolina, including UNC's Tez Walker, had their eligibility challenged by the NCAA this year

N.C. Attorney General Josh Stein is suing the NCAA to block its rules requiring some athletes sit out for a year after they transfer to another school.Why it matters: The move comes after several high profile athletes in North Carolina, including UNC wide receiver <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tez Walker" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/06/sport/north-carolina-tez-walker-ncaa-eligible-spt-intl/index.html" data-vars-content-id="aa71b60b-9604-4869-828f-d15b1ea1aec7" data-vars-headline="North Carolina sues NCAA to block its transfer eligibility rules" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/06/sport/north-carolina-tez-walker-ncaa-eligible-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank">Tez Walker</a> and Wake Forest basketball player <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Efton Reid" data-vars-click-url="https://247sports.com/college/wake-forest/article/wake-forest-basketball-wins-efton-reid-ncaa-two-time-waiver-appeal-eligible-to-play-immediately--221543902/" data-vars-content-id="aa71b60b-9604-4869-828f-d15b1ea1aec7" data-vars-headline="North Carolina sues NCAA to block its transfer eligibility rules" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://247sports.com/college/wake-forest/article/wake-forest-basketball-wins-efton-reid-ncaa-two-time-waiver-appeal-eligible-to-play-immediately--221543902/" target="_blank">Efton Reid</a>, were ruled ineligible to play after transferring.<ul><li>Stein, a Democrat who is running for governor of North Carolina, said the current rules illegally restrain athletes&#x27; ability to move to new schools and are applied inconsistently.</li></ul>

What to know as The Soccer Tournament kicks off in Cary

The tournament features some of the most prominent U.S. soccer stars in recent years.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="The Soccer Tournament" data-vars-click-url="https://thetournament.com/tst/" data-vars-content-id="1114018a-05d3-46ec-9058-91811b92a821" data-vars-headline="What to know as The Soccer Tournament kicks off in Cary" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://thetournament.com/tst/" target="_blank">The Soccer Tournament</a>, a seven-on-seven soccer tournament in which 32 star-filled teams compete for $1 million, kicks off today at Cary&#x27;s Wake Med Soccer Park.Driving the news: The tournament — which will feature soccer icons like Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Heather O&#x27;Reilly — will run for the next four days, with the championship taking place on Sunday.<ul><li>The tournament is winner-takes-all, meaning second place gets $0.</li></ul>

The Triangle's ACC schools see rise in demand for football tickets

Visits from Clemson and Notre Dame drive demand for football tickets in Durham and Raleigh

The Triangle&#x27;s ACC schools are all seeing rising demand for football tickets this year, according to data collected by the ticket exchange StubHub.Driving the news: Duke had the highest increase in demand, with StubHub sales up 500%.<ul><li>Duke, which had a promising start last year with new coach Mike Elko, also has a stacked <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="home slate of games" data-vars-click-url="https://goduke.com/sports/football/schedule" data-vars-content-id="87a74027-01d4-4213-864d-f7018caf2acc" data-vars-headline="The Triangle&#x27;s ACC schools see rise in demand for football tickets" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://goduke.com/sports/football/schedule" target="_blank">home slate of games</a> this year, including: Clemson (Sept. 4), Notre Dame (Sept. 30) and N.C. State (Oct. 14).</li></ul>

Raleigh developers are placing a big bet on pickleball

Plans include several eateries and bars for players to congregate at before or after games.

Real Estate

The pickleball revolution is coming for Raleigh in a big way.Driving the news: <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Swing Paddle &amp; Racquet" data-vars-click-url="https://swingnc.com/" data-vars-content-id="29185bb8-8255-4592-bd06-7d0b46927e44" data-vars-headline="Raleigh developers are placing a big bet on pickleball" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://swingnc.com/" target="_blank">Swing Paddle &amp; Racquet</a>, a company founded by local entrepreneurs Rob Autry and Jason DeGroff, is planning to open a $70 million tennis and pickleball entertainment complex in the Brier Creek area by 2024.

Sports 🏅