Good morning. It’s Friday, December 18th. This is your briefing from Moneen Daley for The News & Observer. It will be sunny but chilly today, with a high of 45 degrees and a low tonight of 25. In our top story: Nearly 2 dozen people -- including current and former students at U-N-C, Duke, and Appalachian State universities -- have been charged in connection with a large-scale drug ring. Local and federal law enforcement officials announced the investigation yesterday.