Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1812, composer and minister William Hauser was born in Bethania. He was a physician, Methodist minister, Confederate chaplain, and music teacher who composed and edited shape-note tunebooks like The Hesperian Harp (1848) and The Olive Leaf (1878). Through these works, he helped preserve early North Carolina folk spirituals.

Inquiring minds want to know: Do you put presents under the tree as you wrap them or wait until Christmas Eve? Let us know by taking today's Poll.

🎄 Which city in each state fits the Hallmark movie mold—snow-dusted streets, glowing storefronts, and just enough small-town charm? On today's Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown breaks down a new study highlighting the towns most likely to inspire a real-life Hallmark holiday story. Tune in here.

Today's sponsor, RAD Intel, is a rare private AI company already attracting thousands of early investors and real seven-figure contracts—giving readers a look at a potential inflection point before Wall Street fully catches on.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Just Eight Days Left in 2025—And a Decision That Matters

There are just eight days left in 2025, and our current Flyover funding round is set to close next month. More than 60% of the round is already subscribed, and once it's filled, this opportunity will be gone.

We don't want our most loyal readers to look back and realize they meant to participate—but missed the window.

As we head into 2026, a bigger question we are asking our readers is:

Are we really going to enter another year with the same tired, biased, politically motivated legacy media?

More celebrity journalists chasing clicks.
More opinions disguised as reporting.
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NC Election Field Set for 2026

North Carolina's candidate field for the 2026 elections is now finalized following the close of filing on Dec. 19. In accordance with state law, the North Carolina State Board of Elections conducted a random drawing and coin flip to determine ballot order, with the letter "F" drawn and candidates listed in reverse alphabetical sequence for most races.

The marquee contest is the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper has filed, while Republican candidates include former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, attorney Don Brown, and Michele Morrow, who lost the 2024 race for state superintendent of public instruction.

All 14 U.S. House incumbents are running again, with competitive primaries emerging in districts like NC-1. Primaries are set for March 3, with the general election on Nov. 3. View a complete list of all filings here.

Fraud Conviction in UNC-CH Scheme Upheld

A federal appeals court upheld the money laundering conviction of Kaodichimma Okechukwu Anyanwu, a 55-year-old New York man, in a scheme that defrauded UNC-Chapel Hill of $660,766.

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed his 33-month prison sentence on Thursday, rejecting challenges to the evidence of intent and sentencing enhancements.

The 2020 business email compromise scam tricked a UNC employee into wiring funds meant for a contractor to accounts controlled by the fraud ring. Anyanwu laundered nearly $68,000 through alias bank accounts and layered transactions to conceal the origin.

The case stems from a broader wire fraud scheme targeting the public university. Anyanwu was convicted in 2023 in the Middle District of North Carolina and will serve his sentence plus three years of supervised release.

5 Promising Small NC Towns to Visit in 2026

A newly published roundup of North Carolina small towns worth a visit—some located near cities hosting major events during 2026—includes Wilson, Saluda, Zebulon, Boone, and Davidson.

Davidson—known for its farmers market, college lectures, and festivals—is about 20 miles north of Charlotte, where the 2026 Duke's Mayo Bowl pits Wake Forest against Mississippi State on Jan. 2. The Duke's Mayo Classic, also in Charlotte, features Wake Forest taking on Notre Dame on Sept. 26.

Saluda is near the 31.5-mile Saluda Grade Trail and about 35 miles south of Asheville, where the inaugural PGA TOUR Biltmore Championship is set for Sept. 17-20.

Boone is home to Appalachian State University and hosts festivals and summer concerts. Wilson is building a $64 million baseball stadium that will be home to the Milwaukee Brewers-affiliated Wilson Warbirds, and Zebulon features a paved greenway and community park with disc golf, walking trails, and more.

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When 14,000 investors show up before Wall Street

You rarely see a private company cross 14,000 investors before Wall Street even clocks what's happening. RAD Intel has already done just that, with more than $60 million raised, recurring 7-figure contracts in place across major brands and agencies, and a reserved Nasdaq ticker, $RADI, while still private.

This isn't a concept-stage AI story. RAD Intel's platform is already wired into real marketing budgets, helping brands decide where the next dollar performs best before they spend it. That edge is starting to show up in the business. Sales contracts are on track to double by the end of 2026. The company's valuation has increased by more than 5,000% in approximately 5 years. Backed by multiple Fidelity funds and VCs, and selected by the Adobe Design Fund, RAD Intel attracts early investors—including operators from Google, Meta, YouTube, and Amazon—who spot inflection points early.

Through a qualified Reg A+ offering, shares are currently $0.85. On one side, you have traction that reads like an earnings call. On the other hand, a price that still lives in an early-stage window. Gaps between performance and price like that don't usually stay open for long.

➤ Wake County: WakeMed implemented seasonal visitor restrictions as of yesterday, barring children under age 12 from hospital nursing units, patient care areas, and waiting rooms across its facilities to curb the spread of flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill released Early Action admission decisions for in-state applicants on Thursday—about a month earlier than previous years—admitting 5,903 students from a record 14,931 North Carolina applications for fall 2026 enrollment. (More)

➤ Hillsborough tops WorldAtlas' list of 11 friendly U.S. towns for retirement, praised for its welcoming community, historic charm, natural beauty, hiking trails, art walks, cultural landmarks, and proximity to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill. (See List)

➤ Wilmington: The Martin Luther King Jr. Parade returns at 11 a.m. on Jan. 19 along 3rd Street after a one-year hiatus, featuring former WNBA player and Wilmington native Tamara "Ty" Young as grand marshal. (More)

➤ Great Smoky Mountains: Four new millipede species were discovered in the park, boosting the total documented to 80. The discoveries were made possible by the ongoing All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory and Discover Life in America initiatives. (More)

➤ Statewide: A 2025 Federal Communications Commission interactive broadband map lets Americans enter any address to compare internet providers' technologies and maximum advertised speeds. In cities like Raleigh and Charlotte, some addresses show access to fiber plans offering up to 8,000 Mbps download speeds. (More)

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➤ Men's Basketball AP Poll: Duke fell three spots after losing to Texas Tech over the weekend, landing at No. 6. Meanwhile, UNC didn't move at all, still ranked No. 12 in the country. (See Poll)

➤ Appalachian State hired Ryan Pugh as its next offensive line coach. He played at Auburn during the Cam Newton era and has spent the past 13 years coaching across the college ranks. (More)

➤ WRAL released a behind-the-scenes documentary examining how and why UNC hired Bill Belichick as its head football coach. (How to Watch)

➤ NC State basketball beat Ole Miss 76-62 this weekend—the team's first win over a Power Four opponent this year. (More)

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➤ North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey has scheduled a May 4 hearing to review the North Carolina Rate Bureau's proposed 68.3% increase in dwelling insurance rates, saying the department disagrees with the proposal and aims to reach a more balanced resolution for residents and insurers. (More)

➤ Capulet Cocktail Club, an immersive Italian-inspired bar named for the House of Capulet from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, opened Dec. 16 at The Exchange in Raleigh. (See Photos)

➤ Three former Duke football players launched Protect3D in Durham, using 3D printing to create custom braces that help athletes recover faster from injuries. Their products are now used by pro teams and college programs. (More)

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14,000 investors. Multiple 7-figure contracts. Still Private.

When 14,000+ investors step in before Wall Street, it usually means they're seeing something the broader market hasn't fully priced yet. In RAD Intel's case, that "something" is an AI engine already embedded in 7-figure creator and media budgets, predicting which campaigns will perform before brands commit any budget.

RAD has raised $60M+, locked in a Nasdaq ticker, $RADI, all while still private. Even better? They're pacing 2x sales growth heading into 2026.

Shares are still at $0.85 through an SEC-qualified Reg A+ offering. If you've been waiting for real AI financials—the ones with traction already—this is a good place to start reading the fine print. Invest now at $0.85/share.

This is a paid advertisement for RAD Intel made pursuant to Regulation A+ offering and involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. The valuation is set by the Company and there is currently no public market for the Company's Common Stock. Nasdaq ticker "RADI" has been reserved by RAD Intel and any potential listing is subject to future regulatory approval and market conditions. Please read the offering circular and related risks at invest.radintel.ai.

➤ UNC-Asheville professor Jeromy Rech won a $60,000 grant to develop plant-based materials that convert sunlight into electricity to help grow food. His lightweight, recyclable solar panels could power greenhouses on Earth or in space. (More)

➤ Operation Deployed Santa, run by the Military Order of the Lancers, brings holiday cheer to more than 2,000 children each year at 13 Eastern North Carolina locations. Veterans, first responders, and volunteers arrange for children to meet Santa and receive a toy. (Watch Report)

➤ North Carolina faces slim odds of a white Christmas in 2025, according to mapped data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with historic probabilities averaging just 3.1% statewide despite occasional mountain flurries. (See Map)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Do you put your Christmas presents under the tree as you wrap them or only on Christmas Eve?

Yesterday's Results:

Are you traveling for Christmas or New Year's?

No: 39%
Yes: 33%
Possibly: 28%

What internet provider available to North Carolinians offers the fastest speed?

Show me the answer

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