Friday, January 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1926, the Mt. Olive Pickle Company was incorporated in Mount Olive at the iconic corner of Cucumber and Vine Streets. Inspired by Lebanese immigrant Shickrey Baddour, who saw cucumbers rotting in nearby fields, local shareholders invested $19,500 to build a factory. The company has since grown into America's top-selling pickle brand.

School choice continued to grow in North Carolina in 2025. Learn more in Around North Carolina.

Today's edition will be a bit shorter than usual as we ring in the new year. Our Saturday edition will be shorter as well. Sunday will be a regular weekend edition, and the full Flyover North Carolina returns on Monday.

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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.

AI Poses Misuse Risks to NC Courts

In a Carolina Journal exclusive, North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Phil Berger Jr. described artificial intelligence as both a risk and a resource in the legal profession, highlighting its potential misuse and its promise to improve access to justice.

In 2025, North Carolina judges faced multiple filings containing AI-generated inaccuracies, including fabricated cases—particularly in pro se matters requiring extra verification. Justice Berger said such errors stem from lawyers and litigants overrelying on AI without thorough review.

In Creech v. City of Raleigh, the plaintiff's brief cited multiple non-existent, AI-hallucinated cases. The error was acknowledged by counsel, leading to a motion to amend the brief, and the City of Raleigh noted this as potentially the first appellate-level AI misuse issue in the state.

Berger praised AI for helping underrepresented litigants in what he described as "legal desert" counties.

NC Offers Christmas Tree Recycling Options

North Carolinians have multiple options to recycle live Christmas trees after the holidays, turning them into mulch, compost, or erosion barriers instead of landfill waste.

In Wake County, the free Happy Trails program accepts undecorated trees at convenience centers and parks through Jan. 31, where they are mulched for trail use. Durham County offers curbside collection from Jan. 2 to Feb. 2 and drop-offs at select sites.

New Hanover County provides free drop-offs at Home Depot locations and the landfill from Dec. 26 to Jan. 31, composting trees for local parks and gardens.

Coastal areas are repurposing trees for dune restoration. Fort Macon State Park accepts drop-offs daily to stabilize dunes against erosion, while Surf City collects trees through Jan. 5 for similar beach protection efforts.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina matches the national average with 25% of households reporting no income earners. By total count, the state ranks ninth nationally, with over 1.14 million such households. (See Map)

➤ NC Schools: During 2025, the number of students enrolled in North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship program topped 114,000. Private school enrollment rose 3.4% to 135,738, charters grew 6.1% to 153,480 despite long waitlists, and homeschooling increased 4.8% to 165,243 students. (More)

➤ Western NC: North Carolina's Christmas tree industry thrived in 2025 despite Hurricane Helene's damage to some nurseries, harvesting millions of high-quality trees from 33,000 acres while maintaining stable prices and supply. (More)

➤ Duke University defeated Arizona State 42-39 in the 2025 Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw four touchdowns, including the go-ahead score to Que'Sean Brown in the fourth quarter, setting program records for passing yards and touchdowns. (More)

➤ Apex: Akami Sushi, located in the Han-Dee Hugo's gas station on NC 55, serves premium Japanese-imported fish in dishes created by chef Birdie Owattragool, earning praise as one of the South's best unexpected sushi spots. (More)

➤ Durham: Through Jan. 11, Duke University is hosting an online compilation of its annual performance of G.F. Handel's Messiah, performed by the Duke Chapel Choir and soloists, accompanied by Mallarmé Music and guest conductor Dr. David Rayl. (Watch Performance)

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