🗞️ A Kernersville landscaper is singing on "The Voice"

🗞️ Forsyth County's voter registration deadline is this Friday, Oct. 9

🗞️ N.C. lawmakers are expected to vote on suspending the state gas tax today

🗞️ Your Wednesday in Kernersville: coffee with police, free fair mornings and a warm, sunny forecast

☀️ Sunny and warm | High: 77°F | Low: 53°F

Wednesday starts cool and clear, then warms up fast under nonstop sunshine, topping out near 77 with a light south breeze. It's a great afternoon for the fair or a walk downtown. Tonight stays mostly clear and milder, with a low around 53. Thursday turns even warmer, with sunshine and a high near 82.

Kernersville has a hometown rooting interest on network TV this season. Luke Cope, who owns Cope's Lawn and Turf in Kernersville and graduated from East Forsyth High School, made it onto NBC's "The Voice."

On Monday night's episode, Cope sang "Burning House" by Cam, and his performance drew widespread praise from the show's celebrity coaches. With more than one coach hoping to land him, Cope chose to join Queen Latifah's team over Adam Levine's.

Queen Latifah had a little fun with his day job, too. "You're not cutting grass today," the hip-hop legend told him.

It's a big moment for a local small-business owner and an Eagles alum. "The Voice" airs on NBC, and episodes stream on Peacock, so you can catch his performance and keep up with Team Queen Latifah as the season goes on. If Cope has ever mowed your lawn, now you can say you knew him when.

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If you need to register or update your registration before the Nov. 3 general election, Friday, Oct. 9, is the regular deadline in Forsyth County. Paper forms delivered in person must reach the Forsyth County Board of Elections, 201 N. Chestnut St. in Winston-Salem, by 5 p.m. Mailed forms count if they're postmarked Oct. 9 or earlier. The state recommends asking for a hand postmark at a post office counter if you're mailing close to the deadline, since dropping a form in a mailbox Friday doesn't guarantee a Friday postmark.

If you have an N.C. driver's license or DMV ID card, you can also register or update your address for free through the DMV's online service before Friday. Miss the deadline? You can still register and vote at the same visit during early voting, which runs Oct. 15 through 3 p.m. Oct. 31, including at Paddison Memorial Branch Library here in Kernersville. Bring proof of residence, such as a utility bill, bank statement or paycheck with your current address. Questions go to the county elections office at 336-703-2800.

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State lawmakers are expected to vote Wednesday afternoon on suspending North Carolina's gas tax. Drivers currently pay 41 cents a gallon in state tax, so a full suspension would save about $6.56 on a 16-gallon fill-up.

That tax helps pay for road work like the newly opened stretch of the Northern Beltway in Forsyth County, plus maintenance of state roads. In a statement to WFMY, the N.C. Department of Transportation said its preliminary estimate is that a 30-day pause could cost the department about $225 million, since the motor fuels tax produces about 40% of state-generated transportation revenue. Supporters, including state Rep. Grant Campbell, say the state's surplus revenue can cover that gap so road projects aren't disrupted. If it passes, North Carolina would join Ohio, Indiana and Georgia, which all have temporary gas tax suspensions.

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Wednesday brings nonstop sunshine and a high near 77, with Thursday climbing to about 82. Here's what's happening around town.

Coffee With a Cop. Members of the Kernersville Police Department will be at the McDonald's at 5226 Reidsville Rd. in Walkertown to meet neighbors, answer questions and hear concerns. Details are in the Kernersville News calendar.

Free fair mornings. Admission to the Carolina Classic Fair is free before 1 p.m. on weekdays, and the gates open at 11 a.m. Only five days remain, since the fair wraps up Sunday, Oct. 11.

At the library. Paddison Memorial Branch Library, 248 Harmon Ln., hosts its Spice Club Meetup at 11:30 a.m.

Plan your weekend drive. N.C. 66 at Old Hollow Road in Walkertown closes from 8 p.m. Friday until 6 a.m. Monday for drain work, and Pecan Lane stays closed to through traffic through Sunday.

Aldermen update. The Board of Aldermen took up the 670-unit apartment rezoning near N.C. 66 and Interstate 40 and the Bost Street rezoning Tuesday night. Results hadn't been published as of press time, and we'll share them as soon as they're out.