Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1840, North Carolina's first public school opened in Rockingham County, launching the state's free common school system. The Common Law of 1839 enabled it, and voters approved local taxes for public schools in 61 of the 68 existing counties. By 1846, every county had at least one public school.

Speaking of public schools, find out which of North Carolina's school districts received funds to expand homebuilding and residential construction classes in Top Stories.

Later today: If you've been thinking about getting into silver, watch for a partner message from GoldCo breaking down why interest is rising right now.

Today's sponsor is FemiCore, a women's health solution featuring a doctor-backed restoration technique that supports bladder control and confidence without traditional exercises.

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.

10 Districts Receive CTE Expansion Funding

Ten North Carolina school districts will receive $197,929 in grants from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction to expand Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs focused on homebuilding and residential construction.

The grants, authorized by the General Assembly, were announced on Jan. 14. The following districts were selected from 33 applications and prioritized based on low-wealth status and higher populations of at-risk students and students with disabilities: Alexander, Duplin, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank, Harnett, Lee, Onslow, Robeson, Rockingham, Surry, and Yancey.

The grants support hands-on learning opportunities that enable students to earn industry-recognized credentials, such as National Center for Construction Education and Research certifications and Occupational Safety and Health Administration safety credentials.

Examples include Lee County Schools students building full Habitat for Humanity homes and Yancey County students constructing tiny houses for local disaster recovery.

Buddhist Monks Walk for Peace Through NC

Eighteen Buddhist monks, accompanied by their dog Aloka, are making their way through North Carolina as part of a 2,300-mile Walk for Peace from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C.

The journey, which began on Oct. 26, promotes mindfulness, compassion, unity, and national healing amid global challenges.

They arrived in Lexington on Jan. 18, gave a Peace Sharing Talk, and had meals provided by the local Cambodian Community Center. The group rested overnight before continuing toward High Point and Greensboro early Monday morning in below-freezing temperatures.

The monks, who practice Vipassana meditation and some of whom walk barefoot, have gained nearly 2 million followers online. They plan to stop in Raleigh by late January and conclude their walk in mid-February in Washington, D.C.

Duke Targets Mitochondria for Pain Relief

Duke University scientists have discovered a novel approach to treating chronic nerve pain caused by conditions such as diabetic neuropathy and chemotherapy-related nerve damage. The treatment works by restoring healthy mitochondria, the cell's energy-producing "power plants."

Led by Ru-Rong Ji, PhD, the research shows that nearby support cells, called satellite glial cells, can transfer healthy mitochondria to struggling nerve cells through microscopic tubes, helping nerves recover and reducing pain behaviors.

Using mouse models and human tissue, researchers enhanced this natural process by boosting the cells' own mitochondrial production and injecting healthy mitochondria into damaged nerve clusters. The injections significantly reduced pain for up to 48 hours.

The findings support growing evidence that cells can swap mitochondria. Ji said, "This approach has the potential to ease pain in a completely new way."

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➤ Fayetteville: No charges will be filed in the Jan. 3 fatal shooting at Mac's Speed Shop, where brothers Timothy Nakamoto, 43, and Daniel Nakamoto, 45, were killed. The Cumberland County district attorney determined the shooter acted in lawful self-defense. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: Treymale De'Angelo Harrison pleaded guilty to felony charges of burning a public building and personal property after setting fire to lawsuit documents inside a courthouse restroom on Oct. 21. He was sentenced to 30 months of probation. (More)

➤ Zebulon: New search warrants reveal that Wellington Dickens III, charged with murdering his three children and stepson, may have had visitors at his Zebulon home via Grindr while their decomposing bodies were in his car trunk inside the garage. (More)

➤ Rockingham County: The sheriff's office is searching for 36-year-old Sandra Grbus from High Point. She was last seen on Jan. 9, leaving Gideon Grove Church Road in a blue 2014 Chevrolet Cruze, wearing black pants, a gray sweater, and black knee-high boots. Anyone with information should contact 336-634-3232. (More)

➤ Moore County: The UNC System launched its first systemwide Basic Law Enforcement Training academy at the Samarcand Training Academy, centralizing campus police cadet training statewide. The inaugural class of 17 cadets is underway. (More)

➤ NC State has launched new master's programs in Global One Health, cybersecurity, agricultural business management, and wide bandgap semiconductors. The first cohorts will begin in fall 2026. (More)

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➤ Men's Basketball AP Poll: Duke rose one spot to No. 5 this week, while UNC dropped eight spots, the most of any team in the country, to No. 22. (See Poll)

➤ UNC basketball's Caleb Wilson was named to the midseason watch list for the Oscar Robertson Trophy, awarded to the top player in college basketball. (More)

➤ The Miami Hurricanes are contenders to land Duke quarterback Darian Mensah, who announced last week he plans to enter the transfer portal. (More)

➤ Former UNC quarterback Drake Maye will play in the AFC championship game with the New England Patriots this weekend. (More)

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➤ North Carolina ranks 15th overall in WalletHub's 2026 ranking of the best states to start a business, with a score of 49.73. The ranking is based on a No. 14 finish in business costs, No. 29 in access to resources, and No. 16 in business environment. (See Data)

➤ ECU Health has earned system-wide accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. The designation reflects its compliance with rigorous standards designed to improve cancer patients' survival and quality of life. (More)

➤ The PGA TOUR has named Nate Goldsnider as event director for the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville, scheduled for Sept. 17-20 at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove. (More)

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Researchers are discovering that bladder health isn't just about muscles—it's also about bacteria.

Studies show the urinary microbiome plays an important role in comfort and urgency. When that balance is off, leaks and irritation may follow.

FemiCore is designed to support this balance with carefully selected probiotics and botanicals that promote urinary health.

Learn about the science behind it and how women are using it as part of their daily routine.

➤ Annual closures of rock faces used by peregrine falcons for nesting began Jan. 15 in North Carolina's Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. Climbing, camping, and foot traffic are restricted in specific areas through Aug. 15 to protect the endangered birds. (See Affected Locations)

➤ The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration closed the 2026 recreational giant bluefin tuna fishery in the Atlantic on Jan. 14, just 13 days into the season, after the southern trophy subquota was exceeded. (More)

➤ North Carolina ranks No. 22 in overall safety, No. 2 in workplace safety, No. 10 in personal safety, No. 30 in road safety, No. 33 in financial safety, and No. 45 in emergency preparedness, according to an analysis of government and industry data. (See Data)

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Did you take a career and technical education (CTE) class during high school?

Yesterday's Results:

Should public universities' syllabi be considered public records or intellectual property?

Public records: 26%
No opinion: 20%
Both: 19%
Intellectual property: 18%
Neither: 17%

What method did the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission use starting in 1984 to help re-establish the state's peregrine falcon population?

Show me the answer