Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1957, a moderate 4.0 earthquake struck McDowell County, causing minor damage, including cracked plaster at Micaville and Nebo, a loosened sprinkler pipe at a Woodlawn factory, and fallen books in a school library. It was felt across about 21,000 square kilometers, including parts of South Carolina.

Duke University researchers helped conduct a multi-university study on cellphone bans in schools. Find out what they learned in Top Stories.

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free guide on seven retirement income strategies for investors with $1 million or more. It’s a simple way to compare your options.

Today’s sponsor, EnergyX, is positioning itself at the center of America’s growing lithium boom with patented extraction technology, major industry backing, and access to millions of tons of untapped lithium reserves across the Americas.

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 Resident Quarantined for Hantavirus

A North Carolina resident is among U.S. passengers evacuated from a cruise ship struck by a hantavirus outbreak and is now quarantined at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit.

The person, whose identity is not being released, was aboard the M/V Hondius during its cross-Atlantic voyage that began in Argentina in early April. State health leaders are coordinating with federal partners to support the person and protect residents.

Three people have died from the outbreak, and 11 cases are confirmed as of Tuesday. The strain involved is the Andes virus, the only hantavirus variant known to spread person-to-person through close contact.

All evacuated passengers will be monitored for symptoms for 42 days. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, and severe respiratory issues. North Carolina health officials say the risk to the public remains extremely low, with no known cases in the state.

Duke Study Analyzes Cellphone Ban Gains

A national study involving Duke University researchers found that strict school cellphone bans using lockable Yondr-style pouches dramatically reduce student phone use during the day, from 61% to 13%.

The April study, a collaboration with researchers from Duke University, Stanford University, the University of Michigan, and the University of Pennsylvania, analyzed data from over 43,000 middle and high schools and examined lockable pouch policies, which are stricter than North Carolina’s new law limiting phone use during class only.

The researchers noted that benefits are not immediate. In the first year, schools saw an 11% rise in suspensions, lower student well-being, and no immediate gains in test scores, attendance, or attention.

They also noted enforcement challenges and students substituting other disruptive behaviors. By the third year, however, discipline returned to normal, well-being improved, and high school math scores showed modest gains.

Boliek Ponders Autism Therapy Audit

State Auditor Dave Boliek said his office is actively examining the dramatic surge in Medicaid spending on autism therapy services across North Carolina amid growing national concerns over potential fraud and waste.

Billings for applied behavior analysis therapy jumped from roughly $1.4 million to more than $660 million annually in just five years, which, Boliek said, “begs an audit from the state auditor.”

He also noted a roughly 47,000% increase in some metrics and cited examples of questionable billing practices, such as multiple providers billing for the same time period.

Boliek also pointed to AI as a critical tool in combating fraud, emphasizing the need to “pour jet fuel on artificial intelligence” because fraudsters are using it.

Flying together with our sponsor

Discovered: 328 Years Worth of Lithium

The United States just discovered a massive lithium reserve in the Appalachia region, a 328-year supply based on America’s 2025 import totals.

With Morgan Stanley forecasting an 80,000-ton shortage this year alone, the sooner we can tap into it, the better.

For companies like EnergyX, that spells opportunity. Their patented tech can recover lithium 500X faster than traditional methods. And where those only recover roughly 30% of available lithium, EnergyX recovers over 90%. It’s why industry leaders like General Motors have already invested.

With rights to up to 13M tons of untapped lithium across North and South America, EnergyX is already an emerging lithium power. They even just opened America’s largest lithium production facility in Texas.

All of which puts them on the short list of companies capable of turning massive reserves into fast results. Claim your piece of this lithium boom as an early-stage EnergyX investor while you can.

➤ Statewide: Lawmakers are nearing a deal on state employee raises, including roughly 3% for most workers and an average of 8% for teachers, plus possible experience-based bonuses. (More)

➤ Northeast NC: Two voters dropped their federal racial gerrymandering appeal against Senate Districts 1 and 2 on Monday, ending legal challenges there following the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting Voting Rights Act claims. (More)

➤ NC Schools: The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction restored access to the Canvas learning platform on Monday after a cybersecurity breach exposed student and staff data like usernames and emails. Officials say course content and credentials were unaffected. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Charlotte City Council voted 6-5 Monday night to rescind its support for the controversial I-77 toll lanes project and directed its local transportation board representative to oppose the $3.7 billion plan. (More)

➤ Asheville: Police launched their annual "Move Over or Get Pulled Over" campaign this week to step up enforcement of a law that requires drivers to change lanes or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles with flashing lights stopped on the roadside. (More)

➤ Wake County: State charges against South Carolinian Daniel Swain—which included resisting a public officer, methamphetamine possession, and displaying a fictitious license plate—were dismissed Monday in District Court. He remains in federal custody, facing charges for threatening President Trump. (More)

➤ Pilot Mountain: Former town manager Michael Boaz was indicted Monday on a charge of embezzlement by a public officer after investigators say he misused the town credit card for personal purchases that included food, DoorDash orders, gun ammunition, and gift cards. (More)

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

➤ The NCAA is urging the North Carolina Supreme Court to reject a lawsuit from 12 members of NC State’s 1983 national championship basketball team, who are accusing the NCAA of profiting off their NIL for over 40 years. (More)

➤ International sports officials toured Greensboro this week as North Carolina prepares to host the 2029 FISU World University Games, the world’s second-largest multi-sport event behind the Olympics. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes signed forward Mark Jankowski to a two-year, $3.7 million extension while awaiting their Eastern Conference finals opponent. (More)

➤ Charlotte FC hosts New York City FC tonight at Bank of America Stadium at 7:15 p.m. (How to Watch)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Homeowners are sitting on record levels of equity — averaging about $315,000 — and many are using HELOCs to consolidate debt, fund renovations, or cover major expenses. But lender rates and fees can vary significantly. That’s why we created a simple HELOC matching tool that helps you find the right provider in under a minute. (LEARN MORE)

➤ UNC Health announced plans Monday to build a new community hospital that would open in 2030 in Wilmington on a 62-acre site, pending state approval, with services including emergency care, cardiology, oncology, neurosurgery, and obstetrics and gynecology. (More)

➤ Liquidia shares soared more than 25% to a record high on Monday after CEO Roger Jeffs projected its FDA-approved pulmonary hypertension drug Yutrepia will hit $1 billion in net revenue by 2027. (More)

➤ The president of Mills River-based Four Seasons Plumbing, 50-year-old Rachel Ann Rose, was charged with embezzling $1.19 million in state sales taxes collected from 2022 to 2025, plus failing to file corporate and individual state taxes from 2022 to 2024. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ SpaceX is expected to go public in June, but most investors won’t get direct IPO access. That’s why the Trading Tips Research Team created a free report highlighting seven publicly traded space stocks positioned to benefit from a potential $1.5 trillion SpaceX valuation. Discover the companies with real revenue, catalysts, and upside potential before the IPO.

*By clicking this link you agree to receive emails from Trading Tips and our affiliates. You can opt out at any time. - Privacy Policy

Flying together with our sponsor

America's Biggest Lithium Bet Just Went Live

Lithium prices are up 2X+ since last summer, and Morgan Stanley forecasts an 80,000-ton shortage in 2026. In other words, those with a reliable supply are sitting pretty.

So it’s a big deal that EnergyX just commissioned the single biggest lithium production facility of its kind in the United States.

EnergyX’s patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods at 500X the speed of evaporation ponds. With this facility, they’re preparing to produce it at scale.

They’ve got nearly 150,000 acres of lithium-rich land spread across the Americas, including the rights to up to 9.8M tons in Chile alone.

General Motors has already invested. Now, for a limited time, you can join them as an early-stage EnergyX investor.

➤ North Carolina native Clay Aiken returned to the American Idol stage for the 2026 season finale Monday night, duetting with fellow Tar Heel finalist Braden Rumfelt and debuting his first new single in 18 years, Rewind. (More and Watch)

➤ Forsyth Humane Society in Winston-Salem launched Petco Love Lost, an AI-powered facial recognition tool that scans a national database to match and reunite lost pets with their owners using uploaded photos. (More and Use Tool)

➤ Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock ranked No. 2 in USA TODAY’s 2026 10Best fishing lodges, while Blue Ribbon Angler in Boone and Western North Carolina Fish Hunter in Hendersonville took the Nos. 1 and 2 spots, respectively, for best fly fishing guide. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Your Joints Can Still Rebuild After 50. Most people accept joint pain as normal aging—but research says otherwise. A Tufts study found adults over 49 actually regrew knee cartilage using one natural peptide. By middle age, collagen drops by half. This helps your body rebuild what's lost. Learn More

Have you ever taken a cruise?

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever used a parking app?

Yes: 40%
No: 36%
Not yet: 13%
Not ever: 11%

What man, known as the “Coca-Cola King of the Carolinas,” purchased the Chetola Resort property in Blowing Rock in 1926?

Show me the answer

Energy Exploration Technologies, Inc. (“EnergyX”) has engaged The Flyover to publish this communication in connection with EnergyX’s ongoing Regulation A offering. The Flyover has been paid $7,500 and may receive additional compensation. The Flyover and/or its affiliates do not currently hold securities of EnergyX. This compensation and any current or future ownership interest could create a conflict of interest. Please consider this disclosure alongside EnergyX’s offering materials. EnergyX’s Regulation A offering has been qualified by the SEC. Offers and sales may be made only by means of the qualified offering circular. Before investing, carefully review the offering circular, including the risk factors. The offering circular is available at invest.energyx.com/. Comparisons to other companies are for informational purposes only and should not imply similar results. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Market shortfall are forward‑looking estimates and are subject to substantial uncertainty.

Unsubscribe (Step One)

Flyover North Carolina
2474 Walnut St.
Mailbox #244
Cary, NC 27518