Up North News

A movie theater in Concord, North Carolina, has shut its doors without warning after operating for almost five decades. The abrupt closure ends a nearly 50-year run as a local entertainment fixture, leaving residents without a longtime venue for screenings and raising questions about what prompted the sudden decision.

North Carolina Wesleyan University has established a new school focused on sports and entertainment. The announcement was reported by Raleigh-area station WPTF, which covered the university's move to expand its academic offerings in these growing industries. Details on programs, degrees and launch timing have not yet been made widely available, and public reaction so far appears limited to the regional news coverage.

Alliance Orthopedics has opened its first location in Ocean County, based in Toms River, New Jersey. The new facility expands the group's multidisciplinary orthopedic and spine care into the region, giving local patients access to its range of services without traveling farther north. The announcement was carried by Ortho Spine News.

Vail Resorts has reported its fourth-quarter earnings, with analysis outlining six key takeaways from the results. The figures are being examined by the skiing community and industry watchers for signs of the company's financial health, season pass strategy, and outlook heading into the 2026-27 ski season across its North American and Australian resorts.

The New York Power Authority has taken majority ownership of the Rich Road solar project in the Canton area, a move that gives the state power agency a leading role in the facility's development and operation. The item sits alongside other North Country news, including Canton residents calling for a four-way stop and Michael Sheehan planning a shipyard in Ogdensburg, drawing attention from regional readers.

Scientists have identified the largest known crayfish species in North America, nicknamed 'Crawzilla'. The discovery is drawing attention for its sheer size and the reminder that large, previously unrecognized species can still be found on the continent. Details on where it was found and how it was confirmed as a distinct species have not yet been widely reported.

A last-minute agreement has prevented a strike by workers at roughly 500 residential buildings across New York's Hudson Valley. The deal averts a walkout that would have disrupted building services for tenants across the region. Details of the terms have not been released, but the agreement heads off what would have been a significant labor action affecting residential communities north of New York City.

US President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has a 'pretty large' nuclear capability, but added that things will be 'fine' as long as he himself is 'around'. The remarks, reported by Yonhap News Agency, draw fresh attention to Trump's personal framing of deterrence on the Korean peninsula and his past dealings with the North Korean leader.

US President Donald Trump said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un possesses a 'pretty large' nuclear capacity, adding that Kim will be 'fine' as long as Trump remains in office. The remarks, reported by Yonhap News Agency, renew attention to Trump's personal-diplomacy approach with Pyongyang and come amid ongoing debate over North Korea's weapons programme and future talks.

The United States has implemented import bans on Canadian dairy products, alcohol, and motorcycles, effective September 29. The move marks an escalation in trade tensions between the two countries and follows Canada's earlier imposition of 20 billion dollars in retaliatory measures. The tariffs target sectors significant to Canadian exports, and observers are watching for how Ottawa responds and what the dispute means for broader North American trade relations.

North Carolina state representative and former state budget director Lee Briner? Briner, alongside the State Employees Association of North Carolina, is again backing a legal challenge to the state's certificate-of-need laws, which restrict who can open or expand healthcare facilities. The group argues the rules limit patient choice and raise costs, while defenders say they protect access and quality of care.