Axios Raleigh

September 10, 2024
Hello, Tuesday.
π Weather: Sunny with a high around 84Β°.
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π Happy birthday to our Axios Raleigh member Barry Ostrow!
Situational awareness: The North Carolina State Supreme Court ruled on Monday that RFK Jr. be removed from the ballot in the state.
Today's newsletter is 818 words β a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: NC Republicans to push a top priority across the finish line
With less than 60 days until Election Day, North Carolina Republicans are making a final push to accomplish some key legislative priorities this week.
Context: Republican lawmakers announced last week that, after a monthslong stalemate, they had worked out a deal to pass legislation that includes two of the GOP's biggest priorities this year, including fully funding the state's "Opportunity Scholarship" program.
Why it matters: Should the legislation become law, it will unlock funding for more than 53,000 students of all income levels who were on a waitlist for state-funded vouchers to pay for private schools in the 2024-25 school year.
- It would also decrease public school funding by nearly $100 million, according to a recent Office of State Budget and Management analysis.
Driving the news: The state Senate passed the legislation, which additionally makes changes to this year's state budget, along party lines Monday afternoon.
- The bill would also mandate that state sheriffs comply with Immigrations and Customs Enforcement detainment requirements for immigrants charged with violent crimes.
Between the lines: Passing the legislation this week will all but ensure that the measures become law before year-end. Republicans hope to retain their legislative supermajorities, which afford them the votes to override a governor's veto, in the November election.
- The move could also help the party shore up the support of the state's conservative voters and donors, as the presidential, gubernatorial and key legislative races are all highly competitive.
What's next: The House is expected to send the legislation to Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's desk Wednesday, with Cooper's veto all but certain.
2. π PNC Arena no longer
The home of the Carolina Hurricanes and N.C. State basketball could be getting a new name after PNC Bank's naming rights agreement ended on Aug. 31 and its signage began coming down on Monday morning.
Why it matters: The facility β which opened in 1999 and is headed for massive renovations β has been named PNC Arena since 2012, after PNC Bank acquired the previous naming rights owner RBC Bank.
Driving the news: On Monday afternoon, the Hurricanes announced the team was entering into a new deal with PNC to sponsor the arena's club and club-level seating.
- The team, however, did not comment on whether PNC would retain the arena's naming rights, even as the signage was coming down.
- Hurricanes spokesperson Mike Sundheim said in an email the team did not have a timeline for announcing a new naming rights deal. But the arena's owner, the Centennial Authority, has a meeting scheduled for Thursday to consider a new naming rights contract, WRAL reported.
By the numbers: The previous naming rights deal signed by RBC was a 20-year, $80 million deal, per the Triangle Business Journal.
Zoom in: Speculation about the future of the building's name has been high since its deal with PNC officially ended.
- The arena was recently referred to as the Lenovo Center in the trailer for EA Sports' new hockey video game NHL 25 β further adding to the speculation.
- Computer maker Lenovo is one of the largest employers in Research Triangle Park. The company has not yet responded to a request for comment.
- A spokesperson for PNC confirmed the original naming rights agreement had ended, but did not say whether the bank had the new naming rights.
Flashback: When it opened in 1999, the stadium was called the Raleigh Entertainment & Sports Arena.
- From 2002 to 2012, it was known as the RBC Center.
3. The Tea: ShareFile acquired
π Wake County will move its drop-in shelter for people experiencing homelessness to north Raleigh near the intersection of Old Wake Forest and East Milbrook roads. (News & Observer π)
- The current shelter was in a temporary location in downtown Raleigh.
π» Raleigh software firm ShareFile has been acquired from Citrix by Progress Software for $875 million. (Triangle Business Journal π)
A 24-year-old Cary man was arrested on Monday after waving a handgun in the air near N.C. State University. (WRAL)
π³οΈ Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris will make stops in Greensboro and Charlotte on Thursday. (Axios)
North Carolina lawmakers overrode three of the governor's vetoes, enacting new laws related to off-road vehicles, digital currency payments and a ban on requirements for accepting federal housing vouchers. (WUNC)
4. π Constitution for sale

One lucky bidder will soon get the extremely rare chance to own a copy of the U.S. Constitution.
- It's one of about 100 copies that were printed in 1787, after the Constitutional Convention, and sent out to the 13 colonies to review as they decided whether to ratify it.
- The document was found about 10 years ago, accompanied by a letter from George Washington asking for ratification.
πΊπΈ It'll go to auction Sept. 28 in Asheville. There are very few privately held copies of the Constitution, making it hard to estimate how much this one might ultimately cost.
- A copy that was used for internal debate by the founders sold for $43 million in 2021.
π₯Ά Zachery actually felt a little cold yesterday morning when he stepped outside. He's declaring it long sleeves and shorts weather ... at least in the morning.
π₯΅ Lucille spent her weekend in San Diego, where the temperature got up to a cool 110Β° βΒ definitely not long sleeve weather.
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Thanks to Katie Peralta Soloff for editing this newsletter.
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