NC News Sept. 17, 2026

Trump Campaigns for Whatley in Gastonia

President Trump campaigned Wednesday for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley, speaking at Gastonia Municipal Airport around 7 p.m.

Whatley, a Blowing Rock native and former Republican National Committee chairman, is challenging Democrat and former Gov. Roy Cooper for the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.

Trump urged supporters to turn out Nov. 3 and asked them to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” He warned that a Cooper win would hand the Senate to Democrats and criticized the two-term governor’s record on crime, calling North Carolina’s cities dangerous under Democrats’ leadership.

Whatley spoke briefly about his decision to work for Trump’s first campaign, stating that 11 years later, “I am still with that guy.”

Security was tight, with road closures and checkpoints around the airport. Supporters lined up early despite the heat.

State Links Amoeba Death to Durham Water

State health officials say a water feature at a Durham mental health center was the most likely source of the rare brain-eating amoeba that killed a North Carolina teenager last month.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said the teen, who was from central North Carolina, likely splashed contaminated water on his or her face at the site. The teen died Aug. 31.

Durham County closed the water feature Aug. 28 for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testing, and it remained shut this week. Officials said the organism, Naegleria fowleri, lives in warm freshwater and infects people when it enters through the nose.

Infections are extremely rare, but nearly always fatal once symptoms begin. Federal officials recorded 167 cases nationwide from 1962 through 2024.

Inaugural Biltmore Championship Tees Off

PGA Tour action resumes today with the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in Arden, which is less than 20 minutes south of downtown Asheville.

The event, the first Tour stop in the area since 1942, runs Sept. 17-20 during the FedExCup Fall Series, with players battling for 2027 status.

Rookies Jackson Koivun and Ben James headline the field as top betting favorites after Justin Thomas’ late withdrawal. Coverage of Round 1 begins today on the Golf Channel at 3 p.m., featuring notable pairings and early tee times from both the first and 10th tees. Brendan Valdes returns in the final group after battling cancer.

Tickets remain available for fans seeking an Asheville-inspired experience, with free youth admission and military discounts enhancing the debut tournament’s appeal. View the schedule here.