☀️ In Today’s Edition

1. Dream of Fields
2. A Duke-Aetna Deal
3. Can Madison Cawthorn Make a Comeback?
4. What We’re Reading
5. Our Recent Stories

When Raleigh is mentioned as a serious contender for a Major League Baseball expansion franchise, the reaction is often a mix of disdain and disbelief.

“People say, ‘Really? Raleigh?’” said Wayne McDonnell of Concord, who teaches sports industry management at Georgetown University. “Funny thing is, when you start laying everything out, they go, ‘It makes total sense.’” 

MLB last expanded 27 years ago, but is nearly certain to select two new teams by 2029. But the MLB team owners who will determine where those teams go want to see proof of concept. And that has been a challenge for Raleigh, which hasn’t had professional baseball on any level for 54 years. It’s the largest U.S. city without pro ball within 20 miles of its center. 

As Eric Frederick reports, some are increasingly hopeful the capital city will finally break that curse.

Raleigh Tries to Break Its 54-Year Baseball Losing Streak

The fast-growing state capital appears to be a good candidate for a Major League Baseball franchise. But even a minor league team has eluded it for more than a half-century.

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Duke Health and Aetna have concluded a heated rate negotiation with just weeks to spare before the health care giants’ contract expired. 

The contract determines reimbursement rates that insurer Aetna will pay Duke Health, which operates a sprawling health care system anchored by the largest hospital in the state. Aetna is the third-party insurance administrator for the state’s public employees, which includes retirees, teachers, and their dependents. With 743,000 members, the State Health Plan makes up the bulk of Aetna’s business in North Carolina. 

As negotiations stalled this summer, Duke Health kicked off a contentious campaign, urging its patients through a website, letters, and radio ads to contact Aetna to keep their providers in-network.

Duke had requested higher rates to accommodate rising medical costs and had not received a rate adjustment from Aetna in four years, according to a report by Johanna Still. Meanwhile, Aetna wanted to keep any increase as modest as possible to keep member premiums in check. 

Following an investigation and a threat of legal action, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill has reinstated Professor Dwayne Dixon after it placed him on leave on September 29th, INDY Week reports.

Two Republican activists file assault charges against each other following a Cumberland County GOP meeting, according to CityView.

The City of Greensboro is changing course on winter shelters for those who are unhoused. The Thread has the story.

Have a news tip for our team? You can reach us at scoops@theassemblync.com.

What We’re Reading

Duking it Out: Despite Duke University’s attempts at keeping a low profile, the Trump administration has the school in its crosshairs as it continues to tamp down DEI policies. The New York Times has this analysis.

Calling in the Guards: Charlotte’s Fraternal Order of Police plans to ask city, state, and federal officials to authorize the National Guard to provide reinforcements for fighting violent crime, WSOC-TV reports.

Cooper’s Tightrope: A decade after House Bill 2, also known as the “bathroom bill,” Republicans are trying to put former Governor Roy Cooper on the defensive over identity politics during his U.S. Senate campaign. The Daily Tarheel has more.

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Our Recent Stories

Medicine By Design

A sharp dresser and an unabashed evangelist of hope, Duke Professor Dr. Richard Bedlack built a research and support network for patients with ALS.

Democrats Are Losing Members in N.C. But Are the Republicans Gaining?

Much has been made of the decline in registered Democrats. But who it’s benefiting is more complicated.

Appeals Court Affirms Exoneration

The N.C. Court of Appeals has seemingly affirmed the exoneration of the men convicted of killing NBA star Chris Paul’s grandfather.

WRAL-TV Fights to Succeed in a New Media World

WRAL confronts a precarious future as locally owned television stations deal with declining viewership and advertising revenue.

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