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Today's newsletter is 769 words — a 3-minute read.

UNC-Chapel Hill trustees are considering putting the university's athletics department into a separate entity owned by the school — a move its athletic director said could help maximize revenue.

Why it matters: As college sports move into a more professional and expensive direction, some colleges across the country are spinning their athletics into limited liability companies.

• The move, UNC's new Athletic Director Steve Newmark said, would give UNC athletics more flexibility and speed in negotiating sponsorship deals, multimedia rights, NIL contracts and live events, like the Savannah Bananas playing at Kenan Stadium.

Driving the news: The idea was put before the UNC Board of Trustees on Tuesday and a final vote could be held in September.

• The LLC would be considered an associated entity that is wholly owned by the university.
• It would be managed by a seven-person board, whose members would include the university's athletics director, its chief financial officer, the chairman of the board of trustees, the chairman of the Rams Club (UNC's booster club) and three members appointed by Chancellor Lee Roberts.

What they're saying: Newmark told the trustees that UNC is not being a trailblazer in forming an LLC. Other schools, such as Louisville, Kentucky and Clemson, have made similar moves, with some variations.

• "They've all structured them in slightly different ways," Newmark said. "We think we're a bit more conservative in how we're operating, and it still remains in the complete total control of the chancellor and the university."

Go deeper

A decline in homicides in Raleigh stands out nationally, according to new data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association.

Why it matters: Among the nation's largest cities, Raleigh had the second-biggest decline, with homicides declining nearly 64% from the first half of 2025, according to preliminary data reviewed by Axios.

Zoom in: In Raleigh, that translates to four homicides in the first half of this year, compared to 11 over the same period last year.

• The data also shows that the number of rapes had also declined, while robberies and aggravated assaults were up.

The big picture: Homicides were down around 17% across major cities, continuing a trend of declining violence since a pandemic-era surge, Axios' Russell Contreras writes.

What they're saying: Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell told Axios she believes the decline is down to increased community engagement by the city and the Raleigh Police Department.

• "Public safety is a share responsibility," she said in a text. "Residents in Raleigh are coming together and working with police. They are calling us [and] communicating with police more than some years ago."

Zoom out: While not included in the major cities report, Durham appears to also be experiencing a decline in homicides this year, according to its own data.

• Through Aug. 1, Durham reported 18 homicides — a 22% decline from the 23 homicides it reported over the same period last year.

🥎 A team from Johnston County won the Little League Softball World Series. (Daily Reflector)

✈️ RDU might have a useful connection in Washington, D.C., as it tries to win federal dollars. Daniel Edwards, who oversees grants for the Federal Aviation Administration, lives in Moore County and commutes to D.C. via RDU. (News & Observer)

A Walgreens in Fuquay-Varina is being converted into a DMV and license plate agency by early 2027. (WRAL)

Smash Social Club, an "eatertainment" bar in Glenwood South featuring games like ping-pong and darts, is temporarily closing as its owners tweak its offerings, the bar said on social media.

Why it matters: Smash was a big bet by the Raleigh restaurant group LM Restaurants, which closed an existing Caroline Ale House location there to turn into Smash.

• Smash opened last December with big expectations in Raleigh's most popular nightlife district.

Zoom in: LM Restaurants has not yet responded to a request for comment, but described Smash as temporarily closed.

• "Smash is one of the newer brands undergoing incubation, part of how the company continues to test, learn and refine new ideas alongside its guests and communities," the company wrote.
• Smash employees have been offered positions at other LM Restaurants, which include Carolina Ale House, Taverna Agora, Birdie's and Vidrio among others.

🦷 Zachery discovered yesterday while lying in the dentist's chair that he really dislikes the song "Sunglasses at Night."

🌱 Mary Helen can't stop putting basil in everything.

Thanks to Melissa Oyler for editing this newsletter.