FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1966, sprinter Dennis Mitchell was born in Havelock. Mitchell won bronze medals in the 100 meters at three major international championships and earned Olympic gold in the 4x100-meter relay in 1992 and silver in 1996.

The Winter Olympics closing ceremonies take place on Sunday. We want to know: Do you prefer the Winter Games or the Summer Games more? Let us know by answering today's Poll.

Today's sponsor, GoldCo, is helping retirement savers explore how physical gold and silver could potentially strengthen and diversify their portfolios amid growing economic and political uncertainty.

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.

NC Lawmakers Weigh Property Tax Changes

North Carolina lawmakers met for the third time since December this week to debate property tax reforms amid homeowner concerns over escalating taxes driven by higher property valuations and shifting federal funding burdens.

A key proposal came from the Tax Foundation, advocating for a "levy limit" system. This would cap annual revenue growth from existing properties, potentially tied to inflation, while exempting new construction and allowing overrides via voter approval.

Such measures aim to automatically adjust rates downward if values rise sharply, providing broader relief than targeted exemptions.

State Expands Western NC Business Projects

The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina announced the westward expansion of its NC SelectSite Readiness Program on Thursday to support Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.

The program, which targets smaller sites for advanced manufacturing and job creation, is adding five new locations in western counties hit hard by the 2024 storm: Alexander County Rail Sites in Hiddenite, Great Meadows in Morganton, Project Shift in Sylva, Mitchell Business Park in Spruce Pine, and ECMD in Wilkesboro.

Chosen from 18 submissions, these properties feature existing infrastructure, highway access, and proximity to utilities, enabling accelerated development.

Mooresville Activates Police Drones

The Mooresville Police Department has deployed a $320,000 drone program to enhance emergency response times and officer safety.

Flock Safety's first responder drones launch automatically via dispatch using GPS coordinates, reaching speeds up to 58 mph and heights of 400 feet. They arrive at scenes within minutes—often faster than patrol officers—to provide real-time video feeds to officers' smartphones.

Police Chief Ron Campurciani said the drones offer "game-changing" technology for responding to high-priority calls by tracking fleeing suspects, locating missing persons, documenting traffic crashes, and managing crime scenes. While groups like the ACLU have raised privacy concerns, the chief stressed that strict policies limit use to public safety.

The program positions Mooresville among early adopters of such technology nationwide. View a video of how the drones work here.

Flying together with our sponsor

A New Era for Gold & Silver

For years now, many people in or near retirement have viewed precious metals through a single lens: wealth preservation. It was the "safe haven" you turned to when the rest of the market looked shaky.

But that era may have ended… with a new one emerging.

We have now entered a period of unprecedented momentum.

Gold charged past $5,000/oz.

& Silver skyrocketed past $100/oz.

For the first time in decades, the conversation for retirement savers seems to be shifting. It's no longer just about "holding the line"—it's about the potential growth these physical assets could bring to a diversified portfolio.

Why This Could Just Be The Beginning

While $5,000 gold and $100 silver are historic milestones, many seasoned market analysts suggest this move may just be getting started, even with the recent pullbacks.

Analysts report that gold has more room to run as geopolitics and central banks buying fuel gains. With the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections, political uncertainty may increase further. At the same time, persistent concerns about over-valued equity markets could reinforce portfolio diversification flows into gold.

Claim your FREE 2026 Gold & Silver Kit which reveals the latest market data and shows you exactly how to add physical metals as a hedge for your retirement strategy.

➤ Northeast NC: Two plaintiffs submitted arguments to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday to overturn a ruling upholding the map for Senate Districts 1 and 2. They argued the districts illegally dilute black voters' influence through racial gerrymandering. (More)

➤ Montgomery County: James Dunmore, 52, pleaded guilty via an Alford plea on Wednesday to voluntary manslaughter and failure to report a death in the 2023 death of his girlfriend, Allisha Watts, 39. He could receive up to 82 months per charge. (More)

➤ Union County: Police pulled over a 12-year-old boy driving an SUV to school by himself on Wednesday because he had missed the bus. No charges were filed, but the incident was referred to social services for follow-up. (More)

➤ Wake Forest: Former Wake Forest Elementary PTA treasurer Anna-Marie Ethridge, 56, was arrested and charged Wednesday with felony embezzlement for allegedly stealing $32,635 in PTA funds. She posted a $15,000 bond and was due in court yesterday. (More)

➤ Asheville: AVLFest will retire its name as co-founders Jeff Whitworth and Bryan Matheny part ways. Whitworth will debut AVL Sounds Fest Aug. 6-9, while Matheny will launch the inaugural Asheville Busker Fest May 2-3. (More)

Enjoy reading Flyover North Carolina? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ Hornets guard LaMelo Ball crashed his custom camouflage Hummer in Uptown Charlotte, then hopped out of the car and into a Lamborghini. He wasn't injured, but another person in the crash was. (More)

➤ Charlotte FC signed 21-year-old striker Idan Toklomati to a contract extension that keeps him with the club through 2030. He's scored the most goals by anyone 21 or under in MLS history. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers signed 40-year-old long snapper JJ Jansen, who's the longest tenured player in the league, to a one-year contract extension. Jansen's been with the Panthers since 2009. (More)

➤ Wake Forest men's basketball beat Clemson 85-77, their third consecutive ACC victory. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade your bathroom with the MatMend Instant-Dry Stone Bath Mat — a quick-dry, antimicrobial mat made from natural diatomaceous earth that absorbs water in seconds, resists mold and odors, and features a sturdy, slip-resistant surface for safer, cleaner floors with minimal maintenance. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Newly announced America 250 partnerships include the display of promotional materials at Raleigh-Durham International Airport and Charlotte Douglas International Airport, as well as a North Carolina Symphony Patriot Pop Series launching in April. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, RDU completed upgrades in Terminal 1 to ACC American Café and several shops, and opened a Raleigh Beer Garden, Italian eatery, and candy store yesterday as part of the $2.5 billion Transform RDU expansion. (More)

➤ Wilmington actress and author Sydney Penny has listed Jester's Café for sale at $250,000, following her late partner Robert Powers' 2024 death. The renovated bungalow, which the couple bought in 2016, offers breakfast, lunch, and brunch. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Rare Unlimited Cash Back Match Turns Heads. If you're carrying credit card debt, a new 0% intro APR card could give you breathing room to pay it down. This top-rated card also offers 5% cash back—matched after your first year for up to 10% on qualifying purchases. (Learn More)

Flying together with our sponsor

New Era for Gold & Silver: Despite recent pullbacks, Analysts report that precious metals have more room to run as geopolitics and central banks buying, fuel gains. With the upcoming U.S. mid-term elections, political uncertainty may increase further. For the first time in decades, the conversation for retirement savers seems to be shifting.

It's no longer just about "holding the line"—it's about the potential growth these physical assets could bring to a diversified portfolio. Get the latest market insights and learn how to add physical metals to your retirement savings with the 2026 Ultimate Guide to Gold & Silver.

➤ A newly published list of 15 actors who have lived in Wilmington includes Dennis Hopper, Orlando Jones, Linda Lavin, Pat Hingle, Peter Jurasik, and Elle Graham. (See List)

➤ The Old Farmer's Almanac predicts an earlier-than-normal last spring frost for North Carolina in 2026, signaling a longer spring planting window for cool-season crops. (See Map)

➤ A harbor seal was spotted resting on Nags Head beach on Sunday. The OBX Marine Mammal Stranding Network assessed it as "fat and sassy," and left it undisturbed to "rest for the rest of the day." (Watch Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Dentists can scream this is "medically impossible" all they want, but they can't deny the lab test results. Every single patient who ate this fruit experienced dramatic improvements in their teeth and gum health within days, rebuilding gums, eliminating bad breath and toothaches, and even growing back stronger teeth. Read all about it here: The Cheap Fruit That Makes Dentists Almost Useless (They Tried to Ban It).