THURSDAY, MAY 14, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1935, standout Wake Forest running back and 1956 ACC Player of the Year Billy Ray Barnes was born. Drafted by the Eagles in 1957, Barnes earned three Pro Bowl nods and contributed to their 1960 NFL Championship. He later played for the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings before coaching in the NFL.

Speaking of standout athletes, the legendary Michael Jordan reconnected with a former teacher in Wilmington to make her wish come true. Learn more in Et Cetera.

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our partner, Incogni, about how data brokers collect and sell personal information and how to remove it from hundreds of sites automatically.

Scientists say one small part of the brain holds the key to memory, navigation, and long-term cognitive health, but many Americans are unknowingly letting it weaken. The good news? A few surprisingly enjoyable activities may help protect your brain before real decline begins. Tune in to The Flyover Podcast as Ayla Brown shares three simple habits researchers say could help keep your brain sharper for years to come. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing practical money-saving strategies designed to help retirees cut unnecessary expenses, stretch their monthly budgets further, and focus more on enjoying retirement instead of worrying about rising everyday costs.

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.

Lawmakers Reach Budget Agreement

North Carolina Republican leaders in the House and Senate announced a framework agreement on Tuesday to end a months-long budget impasse, paving the way for a two-year spending plan.

The agreement includes an 8% average teacher pay raise, plus 3% raises for most state employees and double-digit increases for law enforcement. It also funds $208 million for a new children’s hospital in Apex and maintains Opportunity Scholarships, which help families pay for private education.

The personal income tax rate would continue decreasing on a set schedule toward 2.49%, and a constitutional amendment would be placed on the November ballot to lower the state’s income tax cap to 3.5%. Both chambers also agreed to pass a levy limit on property taxes.

Overall spending would grow about 7% across the biennium. Both chambers must approve a full budget before sending it to Gov. Josh Stein.

Cooper Faces New Scrutiny for Prison Releases

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat running for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat, is facing renewed criticism over a 2021 COVID-19 settlement that led to the early release of approximately 3,500 inmates.

The releases stemmed from a legal settlement with the NAACP and ACLU over prison conditions during the pandemic.

Recent analyses by the New York Post and Fox News reported that nearly half of those released were rearrested, with more than 600 facing charges for serious violent crimes, including homicides and sex offenses. At least 18 inmates have been charged with murder since their release.

Republican legislative leaders have launched an investigation into the releases, with Senate leader Phil Berger criticizing Cooper for endangering public safety. Cooper, who claims he oversaw “a sharp decrease in crime,” has defended the actions as court-driven and focused on low-risk individuals.

NC Students Stuck in ‘Reading Recession’

North Carolina students remain stuck in a national “reading recession,” with test scores showing little to no recovery since the pandemic and the state lagging behind pre-2019 levels by about half a grade, according to new data from the Education Scorecard.

Researchers from Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth analyzed scores from grades 3-8 across 38 states and found that North Carolina’s reading performance has been roughly average nationally since 2022. The decline predates COVID-19, with eighth-grade reading scores falling since 2013.

While the state has trained teachers in the “science of reading” and added literacy coaches, gains remain limited compared to states with more aggressive phonics-based reforms.

In contrast, North Carolina has made strong math gains, ranking ninth nationally in improvement since 2022 and closing most of its pandemic-era gap.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina House Finance Committee advanced a constitutional amendment on Tuesday directing lawmakers to limit local property tax levy growth, advancing a key GOP priority toward the November 2026 ballot. (More)

➤ Western NC: FEMA awarded North Carolina a $59 million grant to buy out more than 150 Hurricane Helene-flooded properties and convert them into permanent green space to reduce future flood risks. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The NAACP Charlotte-Mecklenburg Branch warned the city council on Monday against appointing a non-black interim mayor to replace Vi Lyles, stating it is “seriously disturbing for white folks to be lobbying” for the position. (More)

➤ Fairview: Devan Loving, 28, and Star Grant, 16, accused of killing three members of Grant’s family, waived extradition from Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and will return to Buncombe County to face first-degree murder charges. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill: The board of trustees moved forward Tuesday with plans for a 250-acre second campus on the former Horace Williams Airport site featuring housing, research buildings, a hotel, and retail space. (More)

➤ Craven County: The Back Country Horsemen of the Croatan are recruiting horseback riders to help maintain 15 miles of trails at Pine Cliff Recreation Area, with a meet-and-greet ride planned Saturday. (More)

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➤ NC State and UNC will open the 2026 college football season back-to-back in foreign countries on Aug. 29, with the Wolfpack facing Virginia in Brazil, and the Tar Heels taking on TCU in Dublin, Ireland, in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. (More)

➤ No. 2 UNC baseball smashed a season-high four home runs in a 13-7 road victory over UNC-Wilmington on Tuesday night, improving to 41-9-1 and a perfect 19-0 when scoring 10 or more runs. (More)

➤ British driver Katherine Legge will attempt to become the first woman to complete “The Double,” racing in the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte on the same day. (More)

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➤ Turn toothbrushing from a daily battle into something kids actually enjoy with the Sonic Glow Toothbrush. It's fun, kid-friendly design and gentle 30-second cleaning help children brush longer and more effectively while encouraging healthier habits, cleaner teeth, and happier smiles — without the constant reminders or struggles from parents. (LEARN MORE)

➤ Goodyear announced plans to close its Fayetteville tire plant by the end of 2027, potentially eliminating about 1,700 jobs as part of global cost-cutting. (More)

➤ North Carolina awarded Astellas Gene Therapies a $291,774 annual incentive payment on Tuesday after the company met most job creation and investment targets at its Sanford manufacturing plant. (More)

➤ Caterpillar Inc. on Wednesday announced plans to hire 600 production workers at its Sanford facility, offering a rare media tour to showcase operations amid its hiring expansion. (More)

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➤ InvestorPlace is spotlighting what it calls a potential “Black Swan” AI investment opportunity tied to the explosive race for artificial intelligence dominance. As billions pour into AI infrastructure and next-generation technology, early investors could gain exposure to companies positioned to benefit from what some analysts believe may be the market’s next massive disruption. (LEARN MORE)

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➤ Volunteer rehabilitator Lou Browning is giving orphaned and injured baby owls across eastern North Carolina a second chance at Hatteras Island Wildlife Rehabilitation before releasing them back into the wild. (See Owls)

➤ Raleigh Wide Open Music Festival will return Oct. 1-3 with free performances across downtown Raleigh and N.C. State’s Centennial Campus after drawing 155,000 attendees during last year’s event. (See Lineup)

➤ Basketball legend Michael Jordan surprised his former high school teacher, Ms. Etta, now in hospice care in Wilmington, with a phone call, granting her wish and bringing the room to tears. (Watch Reunion)

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