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Today’s edition · Thurs., Nov. 5

Tar Heels win Malone's debut as Triangle lakes run low

Plus, UNC's football probe cost more than $914,000.

The 5AM Chapel Hill team2 stories19 sources5 min read

Tar HeelsTop story

UNC beats Western Carolina 80-⁠72 in Michael Malone's first game as UNC's coach

North Carolina beat Western Carolina 80-⁠72 in Malone's debut

  • Western Carolina72
    North Carolina80
    FinalMichael Malone's first win as UNC's coach

Sources: Chatham Journal Newspaper, Charlotte Observer, The News & Observer

If you missed Monday's opener, North Carolina narrowly held off the Catamounts at the Dean E. Smith Center. Matt Able led UNC with 18 points. Carolina led 39-30 at halftime, and Western Carolina cut it to 48-47 before UNC pulled away.

Malone's biggest worry was consistency. "Right now we're a team that takes two steps forward, three steps back," he said. "We can't sustain anything." UNC was outrebounded 41-32, and starters Jarin Stevenson and Sayon Keita grabbed two boards each. Malone wants seven to 10 apiece.

  • Early lead: 12-3 for UNC
  • Bench help: Maximo Adams had four rebounds
  • Guards: Neo Avdalas had seven rebounds, Terrence Brown five

UNC's opener left plenty to clean up

35
free throws UNC earned
21
threes UNC missed
13
offensive rebounds UNC allowed
11
newcomers on UNC's roster

Sources: Chatham Journal Newspaper, Charlotte Observer

Asked

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Asked

How will you follow UNC basketball against Wofford on Friday?

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Drought

Triangle lakes hit their lowest levels in years as the drought drags on

If you water your lawn, Falls Lake is at 245 feet, six feet below normal and its lowest level in at least three years. Raleigh's supply on the lake is at 63%, well above the 35% that would trigger Stage One restrictions in November. Raleigh Water's Ed Buchan said irrigation demand has picked up over the last month. We suggest trimming it back, even with no restrictions in place.

Wake and Durham counties are in severe drought

Rating set by U.S. Drought Monitor

Severe drought

  • Wake County is in severe drought
  • Durham County is too
  • Durham's reservoirs are lowest in over a decade

Sources: CBS 17, The News & Observer

View as table
LevelIn effect
Abnormally dry
Moderate drought
Severe droughtNow
Extreme drought
Exceptional drought

Durham is tighter. Its reservoirs are 33% full, compared to 38% in July, and city analyst Joe Lunne said this is typically "our driest time of year." Water is also being bought and pulled from Jordan Lake through the Town of Cary. Falls and Jordan lakes aren't quite as low as Durham's reservoirs, mainly because they're larger.

Durham's reservoirs are 33% full, down from 38% in July

33%Durham's main reservoirs, how full they are

Source: The News & Observer

View as table
Value
Durham's main reservoirs, how full they are33%
July38%
  • Durham water left: 81 days in its reservoirs
  • Durham Stage 2: no spray irrigation since June
  • Stage 3 would ban all outdoor water use
  • Wake County earlier this year: Stage One, irrigation once weekly

News Notes

Football probe

UNC spent more than $914,000 on the internal investigation during which general manager Michael Lombardi and defensive coordinator Steve Belichick resigned, WRAL reports from public records. Contracts and invoices show the school hired three law firms between July 9 and Sept. 30 and spent at least $914,463. The probe ended in mid-September with a finding that "certain actions demonstrated a disregard for Carolina's values and standards of conduct." WRALDurham Herald Sun

$914,463at least, spent on UNC's football investigation

The school hired three law firms between July 9 and Sept. 30.

Sources: WRAL, Durham Herald Sun

Football

UNC plays at UConn on Saturday at noon in East Hartford, Connecticut. Belichick's Monday press conference focused on UConn's pressure defense and a quarterback capable of turning broken plays into gains. The News & ObserverChatham Journal Newspaper

Basketball

UNC hosts Wofford Friday night at the Dean Smith Center, and the Terriers have beaten the Tar Heels two straight times in Chapel Hill. You can listen at 97.9 FM and 1360 AM or stream the radio broadcast on chapelboro.com. Chapelboro

Soccer

UNC men's soccer beat Cal in a penalty shootout Wednesday night to reach the ACC Tournament quarterfinals as the No. 7 seed. Joschi Schelb scored a late equalizer after the Bears led from the 23rd minute, and keeper Alan Rutkowski saved Cal's fifth try to seal it. Chapelboro

Field hockey

One-seed UNC field hockey (12-7, 6-2 ACC) fell to 4-seed Syracuse, 3-2, in a penalty shootout in the ACC semifinals Wednesday at Karen Shelton Stadium. Jenna Narleski scored her first collegiate goal off a penalty corner to tie it in the second period. The Daily Tar Heel

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Read

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Around North Carolina

M&F Bancorp

M&F Bancorp shareholders overwhelmingly approved the Durham company's merger into of Columbia, South Carolina, with holders of fewer than 2% of shares voting against. The deal pays $53.30 per share in cash at closing, regulators still have to approve it, and the Triangle will lose the headquarters office. Business North Carolina

$53.30per share in cash for M&F Bancorp holders at closing

The sale to is pending regulatory approval.

Source: Business North Carolina

Wake Tech

Wake County voters approved a $149.1 million bond referendum that will expand workforce training programs and fund upgrades across Wake Tech campuses. ABC11 News

Duke

Duke men's basketball opened with an 84-50 win over Army. Dame Sarr led the Blue Devils with 16 points on 5-of-5 shooting. Freshman Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje had 15 points, seven rebounds and three blocks in 19 minutes. Ball DurhamThe Duke Chronicle

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But here’s the thing: creating meaningful, high-quality local content takes time, heart, and resources. That’s where you come in.

Over the next few days, we’re organizing a fundraising campaign to boost our daily, hyperlocal newsletters, and we’d love your support with a recurring monthly gift. Think of it like buying us a cup of coffee every month. You'll help keep our content free and continue growing a positive local space we can all be proud of. Prefer a one-time gift? That's great, too — every dollar is a high five to our small team and a boost to local news.

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Asked

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Asked

Have you cut back on outdoor watering during the drought?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.

— Sylvia Plath

Things to Do

Things to Do

Chapel Hill, NC

Thursday, Nov. 5

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Jobs

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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I just found this sweet kitty roaming outside.

“I fed him and he's very hungry but friendly so I'm guessing he has owners. He is currently housed in my garage. If this is your cat please contact me and I'll share my address in Carrboro. Thanks all! 😻”

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The Wrap

Festifall, Chapel Hill's arts market, is back for its 53rd year on Saturday, Nov. 7, with a day of creativity from artists around the Triangle on East Rosemary Street. It runs from noon to 5 p.m., and it's free to wander through. Festifall Arts Market sounds like a fine way to start the holiday gift list, and the forecast calls for clear skies. Browse away.

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Every source in this edition19 links · 14 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Chatham Journal Newspaperchathamjournal.com
  3. Charlotte Observercharlotteobserver.com
  4. The News & Observernewsobserver.com
  5. CBS 17cbs17.com
  6. The News & Observernewsobserver.com
  7. Durham Herald Sunheraldsun.com
  8. WRALwral.com
  9. Durham Herald Sunheraldsun.com
  10. The News & Observernewsobserver.com
  11. Chatham Journal Newspaperchathamjournal.com
  12. Chapelborochapelboro.com
  13. Chapelborochapelboro.com
  14. The Daily Tar Heeldailytarheel.com
  15. Business North Carolinabusinessnc.com
  16. ABC11 Newsabc11.com
  17. Ball Durhamballdurham.com
  18. The Duke Chronicledukechronicle.com
  19. Chapel Hill events calendar5amchapelhillnc.com

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5AM Chapel Hillto me · Thurs., Nov. 56:00 a.m.

Tar Heels win Malone's debut as Triangle lakes run low

Plus, UNC's football probe cost more than $914,000.

The TLDR

  1. UNC beats Western Carolina 80-72 in Malone's first game
  2. Falls Lake and Durham reservoirs hit multi-year lows
  3. UNC spent at least $914,463 on its football probe
Read this edition

Around Chapel Hill

From Qué Pasa, Chapelboro and 3 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

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  2. Chapelboro2 hours ago

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    Chapel Hill Mayor Jess Anderson spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, November 5, discussing town news and events. She discussed the results of Tuesday's midterm elections, and the implications locally. She also talked about resident's complaints about the volume of the public address system at Keenan Stadium. She previewed upcoming events including Festifall this weekend, and more.

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    A cold front brings widespread rain and a few thunderstorms to the Triangle and central North Carolina on Friday, Nov. 6. Weather and drought update.

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