Sunday, March 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1865, the first day of the Battle of Wyse Fork near Kinston, Confederate forces under Gen. Braxton Bragg, including divisions led by Gens. Robert F. Hoke and D. H. Hill, launched a double-flank attack on Union troops commanded by Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox.

Ray, the otter, celebrated his seventh birthday on Saturday. Find out how the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher marked the occasion in today's Et Cetera section. 🦦🎉

Today's sponsor, Sonic Glow Tooth Brush, uses powerful sonic vibrations and built-in blue light technology to help remove plaque, protect sensitive gums, and promote a cleaner, brighter, healthier smile in just seconds a day.

Don't feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Boozer Leads Duke Past Rival Tar Heels

Cameron Boozer’s double-double powered No. 1 Duke to a 76-61 win over rival No. 17 North Carolina, as the Blue Devils pulled away in the second half to avenge their only ACC loss of the season.

Boozer finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds, joining Duke’s RJ Barrett and Jeff Mullins as the only players to record a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double in each of their first two Duke-UNC games.

North Carolina guard Derek Dixon led the Tar Heels with 17 points. The Tar Heels were without star forward Caleb Wilson, who will miss the rest of the season after fracturing his right thumb during practice earlier this week.

Duke will enter next week’s ACC Tournament as the No. 1 seed, while North Carolina is the No. 4 seed. See the complete bracket here.

Investigation Keeps Solar Facility Closed

An investigation continues at Silfab Solar over the weekend after the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) ordered the manufacturing facility to halt operations pending a state and federal investigation.

The SCDES issued a total stop at the manufacturing plant in Fort Mill, which is part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, on Thursday after a second incident involving an "issue" with hydrofluoric acid. York County Emergency Management said the leak is within the designed containment and doesn't pose a health risk to the public.

Silfab Solar downplayed any potential impacts on the community. Plant Manager Greg Basden said the "small drip" that started a week ago was not large enough to require notification to county or state regulators or emergency officials.

The company plans to resume production at 7 p.m. on Monday following reviews from the EPA and the SCDES.

Page Extends Lead Over Berger for Senate Seat

Challenger Sam Page has extended his lead over Republican incumbent Phil Berger in the North Carolina Senate District 26 Republican primary after provisional ballots were counted on Friday afternoon.

Page gained 21 votes on Berger, giving Page 13,136 votes to Berger's 13,113—a 23-vote lead. Berger has served as the state Senate leader for the past 16 years.

The two candidates were separated by just two votes, with more than 26,000 votes cast on election night.

The razor-thin tally is likely to prompt a recount, which a candidate can request when the margin is no more than 1% of the total votes cast.

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➤ Statewide: State leaders warn some departments and agencies may face a crisis without passage of a full biennial budget, as the General Assembly has relied on temporary mini-budgets since July 1, 2025. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: Deputy Kaleb Mitchell died in a crash while on duty near the intersection of Highway 311 and Grubbs Road on Saturday, prompting tributes from local agencies honoring his service. (More)

➤ Orange County: Deputies arrested Matthew Jared Vukmer in Virginia on a first-degree murder charge after authorities said he fatally stabbed Paula Floyd at his home on Friday before fleeing the state. (More)

➤ Morrisville: A father and daughter returned home after sheltering for several days in a Jerusalem bomb shelter during a church trip with Madison Heights Freewill Baptist Church in Lexington. (More)

➤ Wrightsville Beach: Local fishing crews are working across regional waterways to recover lost fishing gear and crab pots that threaten marine life, damage habitats, and create hazards for boaters. (More)

➤ Greensboro: The International Civil Rights Center & Museum will honor Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.'s legacy in Greensboro today, celebrating the civil rights leader's decades of activism, political leadership, and ties to North Carolina A&T. (More)

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➤ Top-seeded Duke and third-seeded UNC advanced to the ACC women's basketball tournament semifinals on Friday with quarterfinal wins, while fourth-seeded NC State fell 81-63 to Notre Dame. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes acquired forward Nicolas Deslauriers from the Philadelphia Flyers for a late-round draft pick, adding a physical depth player who led Philadelphia in hits per 60. (More)

➤ Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Kneuppel has overtaken 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cooper Flagg as the betting favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award. (More)

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➤ NCIA's Vocational Training Center in Charlotte provides free hands-on training in high-demand trades, life-skills support, and job placement, helping veterans, returning citizens, and others access stable, good-paying careers. (More)

➤ Me Fine Foundation, created to honor Folden Lee IV, provides financial and emotional support to North Carolina families with children facing life-threatening illnesses, helping them manage medical hardships and daily living challenges. (More)

➤ Ray, the Asian small-clawed otter, celebrated his golden seventh birthday on Saturday at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher, enjoying a special cake prepared by the aquarium's otter care team. (More)

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