Good morning, Fayetteville.

Early voting for the Fayetteville primary begins today at the Cumberland County Board of Elections at the E.

Newton Smith Center at 227 Fountainhead Lane and runs until October 4 with ballots cast Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.—with the primary election scheduled for Tuesday, October 7.

UNC basketball guard Seth Trimble, the youngest franchise owner of a Ben and Jerry's shop on Franklin Street, announced his plan on Sept 17 to honor former coach Roy Williams with a custom flavor—he said his father would handle shop repairs while he kept basketball as his top priority.

At Monday's board meeting, Hope Mills commissioners reviewed a town staff proposal for a right-of-way landscape and maintenance plan that would cost about $653,000 and raise taxes by 3 cents to improve 10 gateways and 84 miles of road for business growth.

The board scheduled a meeting with NCDOT—seeking further details on the plan.

Fayetteville and Cumberland County officials are planning to merge their 911 call centers into one at 500 Executive Place to improve emergency response and share renovation costs equally.

The proposal, which has faced previous challenges since 2007, will be reviewed by the city council and county board in October—leaving the decision on governance to local elected officials.

Fayetteville candidate D.J.

Haire is running for City Council District 4 and has served on council from 1998 to 2013 and since 2017. He plans to focus on neighborhood safety—clean streets and strict ordinance enforcement—if elected.

City Council candidates for Fayetteville provided unedited responses that graded local quality of life from excellent to needing improvement, noting strengths like a strong military presence and community assets alongside challenges such as homelessness, crime and failing infrastructure. Many candidates detailed plans to boost public services and safety—efforts that voters will consider in the upcoming primary.

Kathy Greggs—a U.S. Army Combat Veteran and former Chair of the Public Arts Commission—is running for Fayetteville City Council District 7.

She plans to improve public safety, repair aging roads, and boost transparency so residents know how funds are spent.

Fayetteville took legal action against contractors on major city projects and mayoral candidates proposed new ways to improve contractor vetting and oversight—each suggesting measures like prequalification, performance tracking, and third-party audits to protect tax dollars and complete projects on time. Their responses show a strong call for clearer, more accountable processes in city contracting.

UNC football will travel to Orlando on Saturday, Sept.

20 + facing Central Florida at the Acrisure Bounce House at 3:30 p.m. The game will air on FOX.

Melkart Abou-Jaoude began his college career working at a bagel shop and as a walk-on at Delaware before transferring to UNC, where he quickly became a key defensive player.

Coach Bill Belichick praised his hard work—he made key plays including two sacks and earned respect from his teammates.

The Perfect Pairing: Charcuterie Workshop

1-2:30 p.m. — Grapes & Hops-Craft Beer & Wine — Included in ticket — Craft a personalized charcuterie board while enjoying expertly curated wine pairings.

Fall Run Iron Mike Run 5K Run/Walk 2025

4 AM – 2 PM — 300 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC — Registration details available — Participate in a community-building fitness event while raising funds for future chapter activities.

Healthy Kids Running Series Fall 2025

2:30-3:30 p.m. — E Melvin Honeycutt Elementary — Registration fee applies — Engage children in a healthy running program tailored for pre-K through 8th grade.

Nurse John Live

7-8:30 p.m. — Crown Theatre - The Crown Center — Tickets from $78 — Experience the unforgettable performance by Nurse John in Fayetteville.

Crowder & Passion Music Concert

7:00 – 8:30 PM — Crown Complex — Ticket prices vary — Experience an uplifting evening with popular worship leaders and music from Passion City Church.

The Pink Walk: Walk It Out for Breast Cancer

8 AM – 1 PM — The Gathering Place — Vendor spots available — Celebrate breast cancer awareness with a day of walking, community, and empowerment.