Sunday, May 31, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 2003, Eric Rudolph, the fugitive Olympic Park bomber wanted for the deadly bombings in Atlanta in 1996 and in Birmingham in 1998, was captured in Murphy. Spotted by rookie officer Jeffrey Postell behind a grocery store after five years hiding in the Nantahala Forest, Rudolph surrendered and later received four life sentences.

A local author and storyteller wants you to take a walk on the weird side of North Carolina. Learn more in Et Cetera.

Tomorrow, Flyover Updates officially launches, bringing the day's biggest developing stories straight to your phone each afternoon. Each update is designed to be quick, easy to read, and brief—giving you the most important news happening after your morning edition lands without cluttering your inbox or taking up your day. If you'd like to stay informed between editions of The Flyover, sign up today.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown highlighted a groundbreaking new treatment that researchers say could dramatically lower “bad” cholesterol with just a single dose, potentially eliminating the need for daily medications. Cardiologists are calling the approach “revolutionary,” saying it could one day transform how heart disease is treated. Listen here.

Today’s sponsor is Cozy Earth, and with Father’s Day around the corner, we wanted to highlight one of the most loved products among the The Flyover staff and family lately. Their Everywhere Pant has become a go-to because of its comfort, versatility, and polished look. Plus, during Cozy Earth’s sale, use code FLYOVER for 30% off good through June 1st.

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.

Towns Pump Brakes on Data Centers

Cary became the latest North Carolina community to consider a temporary halt on new data center construction, with Mayor Pro Tem Lori Bush raising the issue at a Thursday night town council meeting.

Bush cited concerns about Jordan Lake—Cary's primary drinking water source—along with strain on energy costs and land use. Town Attorney Lisa Glover told council members the first step would be directing staff to prepare a report outlining a recommended timeline for a moratorium, meaning no vote was taken yet.

Cary joins a growing list of NC communities pumping the brakes: Apex enacted a 12-month moratorium, Wendell approved a pause through December, and Cumberland County is also weighing a halt. The pushback is spreading statewide as residents and local officials grapple with the electricity and water demands these facilities bring.

At the state level, the Republican-controlled General Assembly is advancing Senate Bill 730, which would impose new restrictions on data centers—but the measure also targets North Carolina’s 2050 carbon-neutrality goal, putting Gov. Josh Stein in a bind on a bill he otherwise largely supports.

Stein Backs Budget, Pushes More Spending

Gov. Josh Stein says he supports the budget framework that Republican lawmakers hammered out—but wants the final spending plan to go significantly further before he'll sign off.

The House and Senate reached their framework earlier this month, ending a stalemate that stretched more than 10 months and left state spending frozen at 2023 levels. Stein praised the proposed salary raises for state workers but said the framework still falls short on Medicaid, teacher pay, and other priorities.

The governor's own $35 billion budget proposal—nearly $3 billion above the Republican baseline—called for raises for law enforcement officers, nurses, and correctional officers. Republicans argue their framework achieves a responsible fiscal balance while still delivering meaningful pay increases to state employees.

Lawmakers return to Raleigh next week for committee meetings expected to advance negotiations toward a final vote. North Carolina still has no comprehensive budget for the biennium that began in July 2025—the impasse is now roughly 11 months old, building pressure on both chambers to close the deal.

Poe Hall to Finally Come Down

North Carolina State University has received EPA approval to demolish Poe Hall, the PCB-contaminated Raleigh campus building at the center of one of the state's most consequential public health crises.

Fencing will go up around the building as early as next week while crews prepare for demolition. It will be replaced with a new College of Education facility on the site.

Poe Hall was closed in November 2023 after elevated levels of polychlorinated biphenyls—PCBs—were detected in its infrastructure. Hundreds of current and former students, faculty, and staff have reported health problems they link to years of exposure inside the building.

In court filings, NC State had described Poe Hall as potentially beyond remediation. The EPA demolition approval closes one chapter of a saga that generated national attention, though lawsuits over accountability remain pending.

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The Father’s Day Gift He’ll Actually Wear

Most Father’s Day gifts end up forgotten in a drawer or sitting unused in the garage. But every once in a while, you find something that instantly becomes part of someone’s daily rotation.

That’s exactly what’s happened with the Everywhere Pant from Cozy Earth.

These pants have become a genuine favorite around The Flyover because they’re incredibly comfortable without looking casual or sloppy. The fabric is lightweight, breathable, and stretchy enough for travel, weekends, golf outings, or long days on the go, while still looking polished enough to wear out to dinner.

A lot of our staff and The Flyover family members now own multiple pairs because they end up reaching for them constantly.

So if you're thinking about making a purchase, this is your last opportunity before June 1 to get 30% off using code FLYOVER.

Shop now.

➤ Charlotte: The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board approved an option to lease seven acres near Garinger High School for a roughly 130-unit affordable housing community aimed at income-eligible teachers. (More)

➤ Wake County: Triangle Land Conservancy opened Old Creedmoor Nature Preserve, a 65-acre site in northern Wake County near Falls Lake featuring hiking and mountain biking trails. (More)

➤ Statewide: NC prisons are piloting a fast-track hiring program that lets new correctional officers start earlier in the process—as the state ranks 49th nationally in correctional officer starting pay. (More)

➤ Wilmington: The Wilmington Transportation Metropolitan Planning Organization voted to remove the Independence Boulevard extension, a north-south corridor regional leaders had debated for five decades; the 2-mile project would have displaced up to roughly 100 homes and businesses. (More)

➤ Greenville: Gov. Josh Stein toured Pitt Community College to promote construction apprenticeship programs as a key to addressing North Carolina's housing shortage, urging more students into skilled trades. (More)

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➤ Wake Forest baseball racked up 12 runs on 15 hits yesterday to defeat Binghamton 12-3 and avoid elimination at the Morgantown Regional. The Demon Deacons play again tomorrow with a chance to advance to the regional championship. (More)

➤ No. 5 UNC baseball held on for a 7-5 win over ECU yesterday to advance to the championship of the Chapel Hill Regional. ECU will face VCU tomorrow in an elimination game. (More)

➤ NC State baseball's season came to an end yesterday after it was unable to overcome a 10-0 first-inning deficit, ultimately falling 17-13 against No. 4 Auburn in an elimination game at the Auburn Regional. (More)

➤ UNC men’s basketball transfer guard Terrence Brown was officially introduced as a member of the team on Friday afternoon. Brown averaged 19.9 points per game last season with Utah. (More)

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Comfortable Enough for Every Day

A big reason these pants stand out is versatility. They genuinely work in almost every setting. Comfortable enough to lounge in, but clean and tailored enough to wear out to dinner or on a flight without feeling underdressed.

That balance is hard to find, which is why the Everywhere Pant continues to become a repeat purchase for so many people around The Flyover.

So if you're thinking about making a purchase, this is your last opportunity before June 1 to get 30% off using code FLYOVER.

➤ Raleigh’s International Food Festival will take place next weekend on June 6 at City Plaza on Fayetteville Street in downtown. Foodies will enjoy global flavors from 50 different countries, cultural experiences, live entertainment, and over 120 vendors. (More)

➤ Liz Z Pardue is an author and storyteller celebrating North Carolina's delightfully weird side with several appearances around the Triad as she presents: “Keep NC Weird: North Carolina’s Strangest People, Places & Legends.” (More)

➤ Nicholas Sparks has called New Bern home for decades, and the coastal city has quietly become a literary tourism destination thanks to the author of The Notebook and dozens of other romance novels. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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