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NC News Oct. 21, 2026

Trump Rallies in Greenville for GOP

President Donald Trump rallied supporters Tuesday evening in Greenville, boosting Republican candidates ahead of the November midterms.

The event marked his second visit to the state in a month as early voting turnout surged, with 525,970 ballots cast statewide through Sunday—more than 37% higher than at the same point in 2022.

Trump endorsed Republican Senate hopeful Michael Whatley against former Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper and highlighted competitive House races. He also announced a $1.5 billion Pentagon investment in North Carolina semiconductor production, plus a new Sibelco plant to manufacture quartz for chips.

The president pledged Camp Lejeune water contamination settlements if Republicans retain Congress. Protesters briefly interrupted the nearly two-hour rally.

Article Icon 1Judge Rejects Mail-In Ballot Challenge

A federal judge on Monday refused to block two new North Carolina mail-in ballot rules, allowing the signature-verification and envelope-sealing requirements to stand through the election.

Advocacy groups working with the Elias Law Group, founded by Democrat lawyer Marc Elias, filed the challenge Sept. 22, suing the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Durham and Guilford county boards.

In a 72-page order, U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder cited the Purcell principle against changing election rules once voting is underway and found the plaintiffs unlikely to succeed on the merits.

The plaintiffs argued the rules would disqualify thousands of ballots over minor errors. The board countered that signing one’s name and sealing the envelope are basic safeguards, and that voters get notice and a chance to fix mistakes.

Article Icon 1UNC-Chapel Hill Settles Civil Rights Probes

UNC-Chapel Hill agreed to adopt color-blind admissions and new antisemitism protections to settle federal civil rights investigations, the Departments of Justice and Education announced Monday.

Under the 10-page agreement, the university will stop using race in admissions, scholarships, and financial aid; hire a “merit and civil rights administrator” within 30 days; and expand protections for Jewish and Israeli students.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said policies that “tolerate antisemitism or favor certain racial groups over others frustrate our color-blind system,” and praised the university for resolving the matter without litigation.

Chancellor Lee Roberts said the deal “affirms the civil rights of everyone in our community” and protects academic freedom. The agreement runs through 2028, closes 18 federal investigations, ends a separate DOJ compliance review, and keeps UNC-Chapel Hill eligible for federal funding.