A 15% fee for vendors on revenue on top of booth rental seems insane. For an experience that is already super expensive for attendees, I just don't see how this is a good idea when everyone knows this cost is going to be passed on to fairgoers as much as possible.

From Orlando

Lots of the sites are reporting no wait this morning. Information on the sites, wait times, and GPS directions can be found here:

https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/board-elections/election-information/2026-general-election

And a bonus shot of my boy, Bentley.

What’s your NC State Fair budget? Between parking, food and rides you may have to take out a second mortgage.

Or are you not attending ?

was anyone else here around 5:30? I don’t understand why the woman stopped the car right there and was yelling at the man/phone and stopped traffic during rush hour and didn’t move the car over a bit

Raleigh, now, reminds me of how Austin was when I grew up there back in the 80s. With all this growth happening here, I doubt Raleigh is far behind from what Austin is now.

I've been really curious about our local government and wanted to be able to explore just how complex funding our schools are.

So I built this gamified version of the WCPSS budget and it's quite eye-opening to see just how complex it is!

Seeing a visual of my own property taxes going to charter schools is quite wild. And also seeing it visualized just how punished WCPSS is from the state in terms of state funding is quite disappointing to see.

Would love any feedback or suggestions for ways to improve. My goal is to make it free for all users. I've done 50 or so other communities if you want to check any others out (or feel free to make a request for your town).

https://towntoonify.com/wcpss-nc

Recently got an E-Reader. Just found out ebook pricing is set by publishers.

But I also found out you can go to https://bookshop.org/ebooks and pick a local book store to support. So your 30% goes towards the LBS without you ever stepping a foot inside.

Why send it to Amazon when you can keep it local?

Also, fuck stiltgrass. This little guy was safely relocated to a much better habitat away from humans.

OG post: https://www.reddit.com/r/raleigh/s/sEy8PcYcdE

I just wanted to quickly update everyone on my experience in case you are planning to do the same thing!

I ended up getting three quotes.

I had an old quote already from Micheal And Son from when they were out doing another issue. Their eight circuit transfer panel and 50 amp generator inlet was over a $5,000 quote.

Arc electric was incredibly responsive and reached out immediately after I filled out the contact form. They came out and gave me a free quote and answered a lot of my questions. They are the ones that explained that an interlock switch was actually better and cheaper than a transfer panel. Quote came in at just over $1,600 which included the generator inlet.

M Power and electric was also incredibly responsive and came out quickly to give me a free quote. Their quote came in at $1500 and they threw in a free circuit that I needed swapped out separately. I ended up going with them and they had the appropriate parts ordered and in stock within a week. They made quick work of the project and did not need to turn off the power to my home while they were working. I am extremely happy with how the project turned out.

I did reach out to Humphrey electric at the suggestion of another redditor, but they wrote back to me and said that this was not within their scope of work. He recommended valor electric, but I did not end up reaching out to them.

Anyway, just wanted to put all this back out into the community and thank everyone once again for all the suggestions!

As a passenger, just passed 8 cops that pulled cars over. I've never seen that level before anywhere let alone 540 between those mile markers. Just trying to give a heads up!

Edit: didn't type my sentence correctly

I volunteer at the Wake County Animal Center, and last week I posted the statewide shelter numbers over on r/NorthCarolina. A few people asked what it looks like here in Wake, so here's the local version.

Wake's shelter numbers. Wake County doesn't file the state's annual shelter report (it doesn't take state spay/neuter reimbursement, which is the only thing tied to filing), but it does publish its own monthly reports. Adding those up for 2025: 8,388 animals taken in and 1,422 euthanized, about 17%. That's all species, wildlife included. Statewide, the rate for dogs and cats was 26%. Wake's reports are here: https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/animal-services/animal-center-reports

Low-cost spay/neuter in Wake that a lot of people don't know about:

• Five County Spay Neuter: low-cost clinic, rabies and distemper included.
• SPCA Wake Saving Lives Clinic: cats $90 to $120, dogs $200 to $270 depending on weight.
• Operation Catnip: free monthly clinic for community cats, up to 100 a day, register ahead.
• Wake County Animal Center Working Cats Program: free spay/neuter, ear tip, rabies and FVRCP shots for stray and feral cats.
• SAFE Care Clinic: cats only, by appointment.
• Friends of Wake County Animal Center: Pit Stop and Kitty Clip assistance programs.

If cost is the only thing in the way, start with Operation Catnip or the Working Cats Program for cats, and Five County for dogs.

I put the full list with phone numbers and eligibility on the Wake page of a free, volunteer project I run called NC Pet Project (no ads, nothing for sale): https://ncpetproject.org/counties/wake/

Why the numbers matter. The state's spay/neuter fund only covered about 37 cents of every dollar counties asked for last year. A lot of us are asking the General Assembly to fund it properly when the long session starts in January. Wake has 690 signatures so far, the most of any county, but that's only about 6 per 10,000 people. Craven County is at 35. If you think it's worth funding, you can add your name here: https://ncpetproject.org/sign-the-petition/

Happy to answer questions about any of the numbers or the clinics.

I think most of us have made up our minds on the big ticket races.

What I really have the most trouble with are the local races, in which the candidates are somehow more similar to each other yet far more consequential (in terms of daily life) than some of the more recognizable federal elections.

I know some people work directly with these officials. Basically don't hear anything about these races. Any opinions?

With voting starting today who's got the comprehensive candidate comparison site? Maybe it's hiding, but I didn't see anything in the stickied post, and haven't seen any posts pop up on the sub. I looked at the beginning of this month and saw surprisingly little. Doesn't at a minimum Indie put something out? Feel like there's been other sites I've used before too, but don't recall the names.

I try and vote for at least a couple token non-dems on the smaller stuff, usually a couple deserve it. Would also like to avoid supporting d in name only candidates if possible.

Specifically I'm looking at Wake Board of Commissioners, Clerk of Superior Court, Sheriff, Soil and Water, Mayor, City Coucil at large and my district. I usually just vote yes on City/County bonds if I'm doing well financially, but would take info on those. Ammendments are obvious death traps.

Any and all guides are appreciated

If I want just KBBQ, which one is better? Seol Grille seems to limit premium cuts. But has more appetizer.

I could use a comfort meal and Im craving chicken and dumplings, where can I get the best?

Why is 440 Completely shut down heading towards Cary?

I was driving headed towards Raleigh and say tons of police and fire trucks and DOT workers blocking the whole side of 440 and a sign said road closed.

There was no accident or anything on the other side. I noticed there was no cars for mile or so before I saw the road blocked.

Does anyone know what’s going on? I’d advise to take another way to Cary.

Like go down Tryon Rd and get on the 40.

Any chance someone is going to the fair and checking out the decorating competitions in the Education Building? My sister decorated one of the Christmas trees and we’re trying to find
out which trees won (they take awhile to announce and we can’t get over there until next weekend).

NC State Fair Website

and in honor of the yearly festival here is my small collection of media passes from years past. Be safe and have fun!

Hello! My friends and I want to do some fall things this Sunday. One person mentioned cider and donuts. Are there any markets or pumpkin patches that have those in the Raleigh area that yall would recommend? I’m looking on google but there are so many options! Thanks in advance!