Home Care In Welcome, NC

President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will continue a beloved Thanksgiving tradition on Tuesday, as they host the 78th annual National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardoning Ceremony at the White House. This year, the spotlight shines on North Carolina, the home state of the two ceremonial turkeys.

The two turkeys, officially named “Gobble” and “Waddle,” were raised in Nahunta, North Carolina, under the guidance of National Turkey Federation Chairman Jay Jandrain and Butterball contract grower Travis Pittman. Upon arriving in Washington, the turkeys enjoyed a luxurious stay at The Willard InterContinental Hotel, located adjacent to the White House grounds.

After the ceremony, the turkeys will return to North Carolina State University in Raleigh, where they will live under the care of the Prestage Department of Poultry Science. There, they will receive dedicated housing, daily care, and veterinary services while helping to educate the public about animal agriculture and the importance of America’s turkey industry.

This year, the turkeys faced an online vote to name them, with name options from North Carolina 4H and FFA students, and to see who got the official “presidential pardon.” The White House releasing stats on the birds, including their dream job and favorite Thanksgiving side.

A Thanksgiving Tradition

The National Thanksgiving Turkey Pardon is a longstanding White House tradition. While turkeys were presented to presidents as early as 1947, the practice of officially “pardoning” a turkey became formalized under President George H.W. Bush in 1989. Since then, nearly every president has participated in the ceremony, which combines humor, media coverage, and educational outreach about America’s turkey industry.

North Carolina celebrated its own state-level turkey pardoning. On Friday, Governor Josh Stein pardoned two turkeys, Krispy and Kreme, at the NC Governor’s Mansion. The event was sponsored by the North Carolina Poultry Federation and partnered with Butterball, which donated 1,500 turkey breasts to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, helping families in need enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

“Thanksgiving gives us a moment to pause and reflect on all that we’re grateful for,” said Stein. “I’m grateful for the farmers who put food on our tables, for the first responders running into danger to keep us safe, for the teachers who educate our children, and for every North Carolinian who sees a neighbor in need and helps them back on their feet. I also want to thank the NC Poultry Federation for sponsoring the event and Butterball for partnering with us in support of our food banks.”

“The North Carolina Poultry Federation is proud to sponsor the annual gubernatorial turkey pardon, a tradition that celebrates the state’s leading industry,” said Tim Thomas, President of the NC Poultry Federation.“Poultry contributes more than $39 billion to North Carolina’s economy and supports nearly 150,000 jobs. This year, we’re honored to present the birds to Governor Stein and donate Butterball turkey breasts to help 1,500 North Carolina families in need enjoy a holiday meal.”

Krispy and Kreme, 19-week-old hens weighing roughly 45 pounds, will return to Naylor Family Farm in Fuquay-Varina following the pardoning, where they will live out their days.

The first NC babies of 2026 are here. Plus, rural health upgrades and college football players give back in this week’s “Good News Friday.”

If you’re reading this, you made it. We have officially entered 2026, and I personally am hoping that the year goes a little better than 2025 did. But I’m not here to speculate; I’m here to spread positivity.

Try to imagine entering the world for the first time in 2026. What role will artificial intelligence play in your life? Will you ever have to steer a car? The weather … ohhh, the weather.

I’m here on Good News Friday to shed some optimism, not worry about the weather. That’s something for Zayla, Eleonor, Eban and Leia to worry about. There’s always the chance that any of these new babies might just save the world. I’ll be rooting for them.

For past editions of Good News Friday, Cardinal & Pine’s weekly roundup of positive NC stories, click here.

The labor and delivery teams at Atrium Health and other health care providers welcome thousands of babies each year across North Carolina, but only a few of those babies get bragging rights to the first births of a given year.

Atrium is honoring the first babies of 2026, beginning with the first one across the finish … err, starting line.

Weighing in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 19.5 inches long, parents Jataya Stith and Jordyn Outen welcomed Hendrixx Alegend Outen into the world at Atrium Health Pineville at 12:02 a.m. on Jan. 1.

Hendrixx was followed by Zayla (7 pounds, 10 ounces, 20 inches long), born at 12:11 a.m. at Atrium CMC in Charlotte; Eleonor (6 pounds, 10 ounces, 20 inches), born at 12:13 a.m. at Atrium Health Lake Norman; Eban (9 pounds, 12 ounces, 21 inches), born at 2:38 a.m. at

Zayla Williams (7 pounds, 10 ounces, 20 inches long), and her parents. Zayla was one of the first NC babies born in 2026. She was born at 12:11 a.m. at Atrium CMC in Charlotte. (Photo via Atrium Health)

Atrium Health Stanly; and Leia (7 pounds, 8 ounces, 20 inches), born at 6:02 a.m. at Atrium Health Lincoln.

“We’re deeply honored by the trust families place in us during life’s most special moments,” said Dr. Katie Borders, senior medical director of Atrium Health Women’s Care, North Carolina and Georgia division. “We are so proud to continuously provide safe, high-quality care to families throughout our community, and welcoming the first baby of the year is always a fun and special milestone for our team.”

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on Monday awarded North Carolina $213 million through the Rural Health Transformation Program to improve health care access for rural residents of the state.

The NC Department of Health and Human Services (NC DHHS), which applied for the money in November, developed the state’s plan by engaging with more than 420 stakeholders including rural hospitals, community health centers, local health departments, Indigenous communities, community-based organizations, and faith-based organizations.

The strategies include launching locally governed hubs to connect medical, mental health and social supports; expanding prevention, chronic disease management, maternal health, and nutrition programs; increasing access to mental health services, including substance use disorder treatment; investing in the rural health care workforce; and more.

“We look forward to continuing the collaborative effort needed to make sure everyone has access to affordable, high-quality, patient-centered health care while reducing the burden on rural health providers,” stated NC DHHS Secretary Dev Sangvai in a release. “The North Carolina Rural Health Transformation Program is one part of our efforts to support the more than 3 million people in North Carolina who live in rural communities.”

In the lead-up to tonight’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, players from the competing teams — the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and Mississippi State Bulldogs — gathered at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina to do their part in addressing the statewide hunger crisis.

Players packed 3,000 bags for area children to utilize over the weekends when they’re unable to access free or reduced-price lunch at schools. A spokesperson with the Charlotte Sports Foundation told us the players knocked out three hours worth of work in just 25 minutes.

We’ll be going for Wake during tonight’s game, but both teams are winners on Good News Friday!

Early signing day has arrived in Raleigh, with NC State jumping into the fun with as many as 28 possible signees on the table in the class of 2026. The Wolfpack just wrapped up the 2025 season with a 7-5 record, but will lose a number of key plays to the NFL and graduation, so the class of 2026 becomes a major developmental group for head coach Dave Doeren and his staff.

On this episode of the NC State Insider Podcast, get the signing day basics, ranging from top-3 recruits in the class to an overall assessment of what the Wolfpack staff targeted over the offseason and the fall.

Watch the episode

More Signing Day basics

as NC State builds its 2026 recruiting class during the Early Signing Period. This real-time tracker features every official signee, individual breakdowns, position group insights, and how the class stacks up nationally.

After already receiving nearly two dozen hard commits, the Wolfpack's 2026 recruiting class ranks 51st in the nation, according to 247 Sports.

Position-by-Position Breakdown

10 of NC State's 22 initial commits were defensive players, with yet another emphasis on that side of the ball for Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren. NC State suffered numerous injuries in the secondary during the 2025 season, but seemed to move toward adding depth at those positions with the 2026 recruiting class.

The Wolfpack did not feel the need to make major additions at the quarterback position, with just one signal caller set to join the roster in 2026. North Carolina product Jacob Smith, one of the 22 three-star recruits, is the lone quarterback of the class. Running back Noah Moss is one of the more intriguing commits, as he plays for NC State alum and NFL legend Philip Rivers and alongside Rivers' son, four-star 2027 quarterback Gunner Rivers.

NC State secured hard commitments from four wide receivers in the early recruiting period, with Amiri Acker headlining the group, coming from South Carolina. Acker flipped from Liberty University. Wide receivers coach Joker Phillips has proven he can work wonders with young receivers, with the 2025 NC State receiver corps being a prime example of his ability.

With some key members of the linebacker corps and the secondary on the way out, NC State needed to reload at those positions. The Wolfpack lined up four safeties with hard commitments over the last year, headlined by D'Various Surratt, a three-star from Shelby, North Carolina. It's hard to say if the Wolfpack will get any work for these players as freshmen, but with rosters becoming smaller, it's possible.

The Wolfpack secured commitments from a pair of linebackers in the early stages of the recruiting cycle. The third-highest rated commit in the class is Zykir Moore, a three-star linebacker out of Woodland Hills High School in Pittsburgh.

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FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The 26th annual Fayetteville Rotary Christmas Parade returns to downtown this Saturday, bringing large crowds, a boost to local businesses, and a wave of holiday spirit to Hay Street.

Can't make it to the parade in person? ABC11 is streaming the parade live starting at 10 a.m. or wherever you stream ABC11.

Business owners say they rely on the parade each year to kick off the season, and after a challenging year marked by the government shutdown, many hope this weekend's turnout will bring renewed energy and new customers.

At Reverie Goods and Gifts, owner Megan Reed is preparing her shop for one of the busiest days of the year.

"This is our elf's most current hiding location," she said, showing one of the store's holiday displays.

Reed said the parade is an important driver for small businesses. "We have a lot of Christmas gifts that are specific to Fayetteville. Fayetteville ornaments, Fayetteville shirts," she said.

The parade, hosted by the Fayetteville Rotary Club, draws several thousand people downtown annually. Reed says the event is essential for local shops. "Events like this in our community are truly a lifeline. It's at least a 25% to 30% jump because it's where people are coming downtown for all of our fun events, and it's truly like more of the spirit of the holiday season coming down for all the different things happening downtown."

More than 100 parade entries are slated for this year, including nine marching bands and the traditional Santa Claus. Organizers expect downtown streets to be packed.

Brandon Price, chair of the Fayetteville Rotary Club, described the parade as one of the city's signature events. "It's like one of the Hallmark events for our community, and it always brings everyone out, and everyone's always in the Christmas spirit," he said.

Parade Route

The parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Person Street, and officials say security will be tight. "It'll be very tightly secured. We do a bomb sweep, uh, at six in the morning. And so at that point, there will be no more vehicles in or out of the perimeter of downtown so get here early plan to get here early because it will certainly be packed," Price said.

Back at her shop, Reed is adding final touches and staying optimistic about a strong turnout despite recent obstacles. "Through the ups and downs from COVID to the shutdown to any other thing. Events like this one give us exposure that, as a small business, we don't normally have," she said.

The parade isn't the only holiday event drawing excitement this year. For the first time, the city will host the Great Elf Gathering at Segra Stadium, an attempt to break the world record for the most people dressed as Santa's elves. The current record, held by Thailand, stands at 1,762 participants.

All you need is an elf hat, red or green clothing, and optional elf ears, all count. No full costume needed. Local downtown shops will be selling ears and hats.

Can't make it to the parade in person? ABC11 will be streaming the parade live starting at 10 a.m. wherever you stream ABC11.