With a little more than two months until the midterm elections, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley campaigned Friday in Charlotte.

More than 200 people turned out to see the former governor, who faces Republican Michael Whatley in the fall.

Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty will receive North Carolina’s highest civilian honor later this year.Gov. Josh Stein announced Thursday that Petty will receive the North Carolina Award for public service.Petty, a longtime North Carolina resident and one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, will be honored at a ceremony in Raleigh in November.

The racing community will gather Friday afternoon at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem for the inaugural Kyle Busch Invitational.

Early voting ends Friday in South Carolina's Republican U.S. Senate primary runoff between Darline Graham and Ralph Norman.

CMS Superintendent Crystal Hill makes her first public appearance since being suspended. A state audit finds CATS has not spent the nearly $2 million set aside for safety improvements. North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein vetoes a bill to change the election process by shortening voting periods. And Queen City Nerve ceases publication.

North Carolina state law enforcement agencies are still working to implement a new state law requiring agreements with federal immigration authorities ahead of an Oct. 1 deadline.

The Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization continues to wrestle with a looming $60 million payback to the state for I-77 toll lanes planning if it remains opposed to the project.

Anson County is again without a permanent elections director after interim director Gerald Poplin said a medical condition prevents him from continuing. The State Board of Elections is also considering complaints involving a member of the county elections board.

The rule protects 172,000 acres of land in the state from logging. Now, that may change.