Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1918, sportscaster Howard Cosell was born in Winston-Salem. Cosell, who transitioned from law to broadcasting in 1956, was renowned for his brash, outspoken style. He gained fame covering Muhammad Ali and co-hosting ABC's Monday Night Football from 1970 to 1983.

From earthquakes to wildfires, Western North Carolinians had an eventful start to the week. Learn more in Around North Carolina.

We've been working on something big, and in one week's time, the first edition of The California Flyover comes out. Do you live in the Golden State or know somebody who does? Click here to sign up.

Today's sponsor, American Hartford Gold, is urging retirees to take a hard look at the warning signs in today's economy and explore how physical gold could help protect their savings in uncertain times.

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.

NCSBE Tables SAVE Vote to Review Comments

The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) is tabling a vote until next month on permanent rules to implement the federal SAVE system for identifying noncitizens on voter rolls, citing the need to review more than 15,000 public comments.

The proposed rules would codify procedures for county boards to challenge suspected noncitizen registrations using data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program.

On the advice of the board's associate general counsel, Adam Steele, members voted unanimously on March 18 to delay action until next month so they can review emails, letters, and input from a public hearing about the SAVE system.

Board members previously voted 3-2 at their Nov. 25 meeting in favor of using the SAVE system. If approved by the Rules Review Commission before April 20, implementation is possible by June 1.

NC No. 4 in US for Best Roads and Bridges

Despite slipping from No. 1 in 2025, North Carolina is No. 4 in the nation for its overall highway system performance and cost-effectiveness, according to the Reason Foundation's 29th Annual Highway Report. Virginia led the rankings, followed by Georgia and South Carolina.

Praised for delivering strong conditions and safety at relatively low per-mile costs, the report also highlights North Carolina's efficiency, placing it third in administrative disbursements and seventh in maintenance disbursements.

While fatality rates lag in some categories and the state ranked 30th in traffic congestion, North Carolina improved its rural fatality ranking from 39 to 31, and maintains solid pavement and bridge conditions compared to national averages.

UNC Fires UNC Basketball Coach Hubert Davis

Hubert Davis was fired as the University of North Carolina’s men’s basketball coach on Tuesday evening, following the Tar Heels’ stunning first-round NCAA Tournament exit. Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham cited the need for the program to “compete more consistently at an elite level” following back-to-back early tournament losses.

Davis watched his team blow a 19-point second-half lead in an 82-78 overtime defeat to 11th-seeded VCU. The collapse capped a late-season slide that included three straight losses and highlighted ongoing struggles against top teams.

In five seasons, Davis posted a 125-54 record. He guided the Tar Heels to the 2022 national title game and the 2024 Sweet 16, but also oversaw a missed NCAA Tournament in 2023 despite a preseason No. 1 ranking.

The university will honor Davis’ contract and has launched a national search for his replacement.

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A Final, Stern Warning For Retirees

Economists point to the “Expectations Index” as a key signal of America’s financial health. When the Index is below 80, it’s a major warning sign that a recession is near. In January, it fell to 65.

This isn't just a dip, it's a declaration. Our economy relies on a strong job market and confident consumers buying goods. In 2026, America’s working class is cutting non-essential spending.

An HR executive reports: “A worried and distracted workforce, whose concerns have them in 'survival mode.'" This "crisis of confidence" may impact those near retirement the most. It indicates deep, structural stress in the framework that supports your 401(k) s and IRAs.

Most 401(k)s and IRAs are designed for "fair weather." They thrive when the economy is booming. They are not built to withstand the pressure of “a 12-year low in consumer confidence.” Gold is the "foul weather" fund. When expectations drop and paper markets begin to crumble, the rich often turn to physical gold and silver to preserve their wealth.

Download the FREE 2026 Gold Investing Guide, and we’ll give you the step-by-step process that can protect your retirement savings from this crumbling economy.

>>Get Your Free WEALTH PROTECTION GUIDE<<

➤ Statewide: North Carolina lawmakers are investigating a surge in Medicaid spending on autism therapy, from $121.7 million in 2022 to a projected $1.1 billion by 2027. (More)

➤ Wake County: Meanwhile, a judge refused to dismiss a lawsuit by families of children with autism over Medicaid funding, despite the state arguing the case was moot after Gov. Josh Stein reversed proposed reimbursement rate cuts for autism service providers. (More)

➤ Morrisville: Philadelphia-bound American Eagle Flight 5201 made an emergency return and safe landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport on Monday after pilots reported smoke and a burning odor in the cabin. No injuries occurred. (More)

➤ Western NC: A magnitude 2.7 earthquake struck about 6 miles southwest of Dillsboro shortly after 8 p.m. on Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. No damage was reported. (More)

➤ Mitchell County: A 100-acre wildfire burning on U.S. Forest Service land north of Poplar, near the Tennessee state line, was about 20% contained Tuesday as crews closed N.C. 197 past Poplar Creek Road. No structures were threatened. (More)

➤ Dover: Dietrich Kilpatrick, who never missed a Powerball drawing for nearly a decade, won a $2 million prize with a Quick Pick ticket bought at a Dover gas station on March 16. He said the money will go toward home repairs and his church. (More)

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➤ Wake Forest secured a commitment from Emmett Queen, a three-star quarterback in the 2027 recruiting class. (More)

➤ Duke basketball coach Jon Scheyer said starting point guard Caleb Foster could return to the lineup on Friday for their Sweet 16 matchup with St. John’s. Foster fractured his foot on March 7. (More)

➤ Reidsville native Que Tucker announced she's retiring as commissioner of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association. A former Mars Hill College basketball player, Tucker was inducted into the state’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. (More)

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➤ After Harvard's latest brain discovery, you no longer have to lose your memory. We are born with "memory protein."After 50, it decreases, leading to mental decline.The solution is a song that reactivates it – boosting memory, eliminating brain fog, and sharpening thinking.>> 7-minute brain song reactivates your "memory protein"

➤ The Trump administration and Paris-based TotalEnergies agreed to rescind the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind lease off North Carolina’s coast, with the U.S. paying $133 million in compensation as part of a $928 million settlement. (More)

➤ Charlotte Douglas International Airport will switch parking operators after Reimagined Parking’s contract ends on June 30, triggering layoffs of 188 nonunion workers—most of whom are expected to be rehired by the incoming operator, San Diego-based Ace Parking Management. (More)

➤ Filmmaker Frederick Allen and Nautilus Productions will ask the U.S. Supreme Court for a second review of their decade-old copyright lawsuit against North Carolina over photos and video of Blackbeard’s sunken flagship Queen Anne’s Revenge, after the Fourth Circuit dismissed claims with prejudice. (More)

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➤ Did you know some credit cards can help you get out of debt faster? By using a 0% intro APR balance transfer, you can pay down what you owe without interest. FinanceBuzz reviewed top options—see which cards could help you avoid interest until 2026 and accelerate your payoff. (LEARN MORE)

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Inflation is rising, recession is looming, and the stock market bubble looks ready to burst. While dollar-denominated assets like stocks and bonds could plummet, holders of physical gold could soon be celebrating.

President Trump’s proposed “gold reset” could mark America’s greatest wealth creation event in nearly a century. This historic move would revalue the nation’s gold reserves overnight, catapulting the value of physical gold to new heights as government gold skyrockets by 9,000%.

To learn how to protect your savings and potentially benefit from this coming revaluation, claim your FREE 2025 Wealth Protection Guide today.

➤ Charlotte ranks No. 5 in Travel+Leisure’s top 10 Best U.S. Places for Gen X to live, thanks to economic diversity, job security in banking and finance, affordable housing equity, strong healthcare, and family-friendly communities. (See Ranking)

➤ Asheville artists Valérie Holstein and John Nelson Batovsky are collecting used half-gallon milk and juice jugs from Five Points residents to build a large harvest skeleton corn sculpture in a front yard on East Chestnut Street. (See Photo)

➤ North Carolina’s flat individual income tax rate drops to nearly 4% in 2026—as shown on a new map of marginal rates across the country—marking the final step in a multiyear reduction from 4.25%. (See Map and Details)

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➤ As we age, subtle changes in memory, focus, and balance can start to show up earlier than expected. Researchers are continuing to study what’s behind these shifts and what may actually help support long-term brain health. One recent breakdown highlights a lesser-known factor worth understanding. See what they found and how it may apply to you. Watch Now