Hurricane Florence Coverage

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NEWS 9/7/25 1:33pm

North Carolina sues FEMA over freeze of $200 million infrastructure funding after severe storm season

By Alice Morrissey

Throughout the summer months, Elon students received more than 40 e alerts warning of power outages, severe weather and flood watches. North Carolina’s typical wet season was made even more tempestuous by storms such as Tropical Storm Chantal, which swept across the state. The storm raised concerns among North Carolina residents not only about damage but also about the freeze of federal disaster relief funds promised by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson filed a lawsuit against FEMA over its decision to cancel a program that provides more than $200 million to protect the state’s infrastructure. 

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SPORTS 9/7/25 1:12am

Dominant team performance propels Elon University football to historic first win of season

By Benjamin Berfield

Nine days after their 45-17 loss against Duke, the Elon University football team made an immediate impact in its first home game of the season with a convincing 55-7 win over Davidson College. Even with multiple delays before the game due to inclement weather, Elon came out firing on all cylinders in what was the largest win of head coach Tony Trisciani’s tenure. “It was really just to be in the moment and win the moment,” Trisciani said. “These guys just went out and played one snap at a time."

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SPORTS 9/6/25 5:42pm

Elon University football home opener postponed

By Nia Bedard

Elon University football’s home opener against Davidson College on Sept. 6 was postponed until 8 p.m. according to an e alert sent out at 6:20 p.m. The game officially started at 8:17 p.m. over two hours after the expected start time. In addition to the game being delayed, Rhodes Stadium did not open to the public until 7:30 p.m. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for Alamance, Davidson, Randolph and Guilford counties until 8 p.m. due to excessive rainfall 

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NEWS 9/6/25 4:12pm

Rise Against Hunger, Elon University Kernodle Center host annual meal packaging event, package over 21,000 meals

By Kate Gray

Over 170 student volunteers gathered in Alumni Gym on Sept. 6 to package more than 21,000 meals for people facing food insecurity and malnutrition around the world. The annual event is held in partnership with Rise Against Hunger and Elon University’s Kernodle Center for Civic Life. Michaila Minto, an event facilitator with Rise Against Hunger, said volunteering is an important way to give back to the community. “Food is a safe cause,” Minto said. “It doesn’t matter what religion or what background, as humans we all have to eat.

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NEWS 9/6/25 6:33am

Town of Elon block party builds community between residents, students

By Alannah Klingsporn

Elon University students and residents of the town of Elon gathered Sept. 5 in downtown Elon for the annual block party, which included vendors, inflatables and live music. Town of Elon Downtown Development Director Jill Weston said the block party started three years ago when they launched the social district downtown. Community events like this just bring everybody together,” Weston said. “And we're a very unique community. We have senior citizens, we have families and obviously we have students. So this is the type of event that has appeal for everybody.

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LIFESTYLE 9/5/25 8:17pm

Elon University students paint, plant at Community Garden

By Emma Luckman

Sustainability-focused student organizations including the Garden Club, Student Sierra Coalition, an organization that focuses on environmental conservation, and Elon’s environmental fraternity, Kappa Alpha Omicron, worked with the Office of Sustainabilitygathered at Elon University’s Community Garden to paint pots and plant succulents at Planting for the Planet on Sept. 5. The event provided attendees with a way to meet new people, connect with nature and learn about climate change. “The planet is getting warmer,” Associate Director of Sustainability for Education and Outreach Kelly Harer said. ”What we do in the Office of Sustainability is bring people together because it can be really scary.”

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NEWS 9/5/25 5:36pm

Elon University SGA announces priorities for the year in first meeting of semester

By Trista Panagakos

The Student Government Association held their first meeting of the semester, which brought the executive council, made up of Executive President Anya Bratić, Vice President Sammy Azúa, Vice President of Communications Kennedy Steiner, Vice President of Finance Ian Brecker and Speaker of the Senate Selma Maric in front of the senate to detail the five priorities they worked on over the summer. “In several years past with other execs, we’ve had really, really, wonderful priorities, but not one that necessarily been all cohesive and or surrounded around one another. That’s where we really succeeded. This year we decided that it was really important for us to all have a common goal.” 

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NEWS 9/4/25 7:12pm

Elon University Student Organization Fair postponed

By Nia Bedard

Elon University's Student Organization Fair, which was supposed to occur on Sept. 4, has been postponed due to inclement weather. Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley wrote in an email to undergraduate students that the event was also postponed in order to prioritize safety. The Student Organization Fair has previously taken place on the first Thursday of the school year. This year the event was move back to the second week of classes. According to Dooley, Student Involvement will be working to schedule a new date for the event as soon as possible. 

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NEWS 9/4/25 3:17pm

Tree removal crane lowered after blocking West Lebanon Avenue

By Charlotte Pfabe and Sarah T. Moore

A tree removal crane was vertical on West Lebanon Avenue after tipping backwards around 2:10 p.m. Sept. 4. Massey said the fire department is assisting in lowering the crane by using a ladder truck to pull it to the ground. According to Massey the tree removal crane was still running.  At 9:24 p.m. the crane was lowered and is no longer upright. The Town of Elon Fire Department left the scene at 9:55 p.m. Town of Elon Police and tow trucks are still on West Lebanon Avenue, which is still closed.

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NEWS 9/4/25 2:03pm

Q&A: Orange-striped oakworms: why you probably don’t need to worry

By Lilly Molina

As orange-striped oakworms cover Elon University, professor of forestry and environmental resources at NC State Kelly Often sat down with Elon News Network to discuss these leaf eating critters. She specializes in forest health and posts content on NC State’s Extension Forestry website about bugs impact on trees. "We like trees for the shade they provide and all these other ecosystem services, but they generally don’t impact the long term tree health," Oten said in an interview with Elon News Network.

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NEWS 9/4/25 8:07am

Sin una red: la ayuda federal en caso de desastre en Carolina del Norte se agota

By Miles Hayford

Mientras Carolina del Norte continúa recuperándose del Huracán Helene y ahora responde a la temporada de huracanes de 2025, la ayuda federal se ha convertido en un tema de conflicto entre las autoridades federales y estatales. Con tormentas como la Tormenta Tropical Chantal y el Huracán Erin causando más daños en el estado, el gobernador Josh Stein ha exigido más ayuda federal por desastres. Carolina del Norte ha tenido dificultades para obtener los fondos que desea del gobierno federal en la aftermath del Huracán Helene de 2024.

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NEWS 9/4/25 8:07am

Federal disaster relief in North Carolina dries up

By Miles Hayford

As North Carolina continues to recover from Hurricane Helene and now responds to the 2025 hurricane season, federal aid has become a point of contention between federal and state officials. With storms such as Tropical Storm Chantal and Hurricane Erin bringing further damage to the state, Gov. Josh Stein has demanded more federal disaster relief. North Carolina has struggled to get the funding it wants from the federal government in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in 2024. North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson recently joined 19 other states in a lawsuit against the Federal Emergency Management Administration. 

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NEWS 9/3/25 11:30pm

Elon students, community come together at Harris Teeter College Night

By Nia Bedard

College students and Burlington residents filled the Harris Teeter located off of South Church Street for the store’s College Night, with a live DJ, food samples and a 20% discount on groceries. Elon senior Emily Dvorak also said she was excited to go to College Night and step outside of Elon’s campus. “It's a great way to show that Elon isn't necessarily just tied to the Elon campus,” Dvorak said. “We do participate in the community, and the community hopefully likes us.”

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NEWS 9/3/25 4:38pm

Kappa Sigma regresa al Consejo de Fraternidades en la Universidad de Elon

By Anjolina Fantaroni

El capítulo de Kappa Sigma de la Universidad de Elon regresará oficialmente al Consejo de Interfraternidades de Elon después de seis años de haber sido removido del campus universitario. El capítulo de Kappa Sigma fue eliminado de la IFC de Elon en 2019 después de que se encontrara responsable de múltiples violaciones del Código de Honor, incluyendo incidentes de conducta desordenada, uso no autorizado de alcohol, poner en riesgo el bienestar y los estudios de los nuevos miembros, y destrucción y vandalismo de propiedad.

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NEWS 9/3/25 4:38pm

Kappa Sigma returns to Elon's campus after 6 years

By Anjolina Fantaroni

Elon University’s Kappa Sigma chapter will officially return to Elon’s Interfraternity Council six years after being removed from campus. The Kappa Sigma chapter was removed from Elon’s IFC in 2019 after the chapter was found responsible for multiple Honor Code violations, including incidents of disorderly conduct, unauthorized use of alcohol, compromising the well-being and academics of new members, and destruction and defacement of property. “The Kappa Sigma Fraternity is excited to announce the reorganization of the Lambda-Lambda Chapter at Elon University during this academic year,” Kappa Sigma national, Senior Vice-President and Chief Recruitment Officer Leo J. Brown IV wrote. 

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NEWS 9/3/25 7:15am

Elon University students, faculty adjust to updated Moodle interface

By Evan Cooper

As fall semester classes start at Elon University, students and professors are getting their first look at Moodle 4.5, the latest update to the learning platform. Kelly Reimer, senior director of Teaching and Learning Technologies, declined an interview but wrote in an email statement to Elon News Network that the new update improves accessibility, modernizes the text editor and improves the user interface — also known as UI. According to Reimer, Moodle 4.5 refined workflows for instructors to better manage their courses. “Students will benefit from a more consistent, user-friendly experience that’s easier to navigate, especially as courses evolve with new learning tools,” Reimer wrote.

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LIFESTYLE 9/3/25 12:00am

Best of 2026

By Elon News Network

Based on surveys of students, faculty, staff, and local residents, Best of 2026 highlights the best food, local businesses, sports and more in the area, providing a curated guide to community favorites.

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LIFESTYLE 9/2/25 10:34pm

Class of 2026 reflects on journey at annual kickoff

By Katrina Holtz

The class of 2026 gathered for Senior Kickoff Under the Oaks on Sept. 2, marking the first official event of the year for seniors. For many students, the kickoff was a chance to pause and appreciate the journey from convocation to commencement. Environmental science major Olivia Levy said standing Under the Oaks again brought her back to the start of her time at Elon. “It feels like it’s coming full circle,” Levy said. “I’m really proud of all my accomplishments, and I’m excited to see what I do next. I want to contribute to the planet and see real solutions made.”

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NEWS 9/2/25 1:05pm

CNBC names North Carolina top state for business in 2025

By Fiona McAllister

North Carolina was rated the number one state in the country for business. According to CNBC, North Carolina has a “solid economy, a world-class workforce and a wealth of corporate hospitality” — therefore, North Carolina was ranked the highest overall. Assistant teaching professor of economics at Elon University Devon Hawkins said North Carolina,  received this ranking because of affordability within southern states. “The scarcity of money, the scarcity of choice, affordability, the balance of how much I can afford and my lifestyle here — the more choices we have in life, the more happiness that correlates to that,” Hawkins said.

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NEWS 8/31/25 6:09pm

Alamance local organizes fundraiser for summer flood victims

By Lilly Molina

Lemon Ninjas, a lemonade company owned and operated by a local family in Alamance County, hosted a flood fundraiser to help raise funds and donations for those affected by Tropical Storm Chantal. From vintage cars to a pygmy goat named Oliver, the fundraiser at Straightway Baptist Church included gospel performances, car shows, a petting zoo, vendors and, of course, lemonade. “We wanted to give back to the people that were closer to us too,” owner of Lemon Ninjas and coordinator of the event Christine Jordan said. 

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