TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1881, Vance County was formed from parts of Granville, Warren, and Franklin counties, named after Gov. Zebulon B. Vance. Henderson, named for Leonard Henderson, who served as chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, became the county seat.

Biltmore’s gardens are alive with color, according to the estate’s latest bloom report. Learn more in Et Cetera, then reply to let us know if you’ve ever seen the Biltmore gardens during spring.

The stock market has been on a tear as of late. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both closed at fresh all-time highs last Friday, and the Dow is climbing back toward 50,000. Yesterday was down a bit, but the market has been rallying. What's actually driving it? Is it Big Tech earnings? The AI buildout? Hopes that the war in Iran ends soon? On today's episode of The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down the three forces behind Wall Street's record run and what investors are watching next. Tune in!

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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.

Leaders Report WakeMed-Atrium Vote Delayed

Wake County commissioners postponed a planned Monday vote on a proposed strategic combination between Raleigh-based WakeMed and Charlotte-based Atrium Health, according to state officials.

The deal, announced Friday, would convert WakeMed to a single-member nonprofit, in which Atrium Health would become the sole member while committing $2 billion for new facilities, additional beds, and expanded services.

State Treasurer Brad Briner, Rep. Mike Schietzelt, R-Wake, and State Auditor Dave Boliek also urged the delay, citing insufficient time for public review and concerns that reduced competition could drive up healthcare costs.

Atrium is part of Advocate Health, which labels itself the nation’s third-largest nonprofit hospital system. WakeMed, which has over 970 beds and leads market share in Wake County, would affiliate with the Advocate Health system.

New Lithium Discovery Concentrated in Carolinas

A massive lithium deposit has been identified in the Appalachian Mountains and is heavily concentrated in the Carolinas. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the eastern U.S. holds an estimated 2.3 million metric tons of undiscovered, recoverable lithium—enough to replace 328 years of current U.S. imports.

The southern Appalachians, particularly the Carolinas, account for about 1.43 million metric tons of lithium oxide. This discovery could significantly reduce American reliance on China for the critical mineral used in EV batteries, electronics, and energy storage.

In a boost for domestic production, the Kings Mountain lithium mine in Cleveland County recently cleared key EPA permitting hurdles and completed dewatering of its open pit.

Backed by a $90 million Pentagon purchase agreement, the project aims to restart operations and extract about 420,000 tons of lithium-bearing spodumene concentrate annually.

‘Shotfest’ Party Chaos Sends 10 to Hospital

A large overnight party billed as “Shotfest” at The Healing Chamber Farms in Iredell County descended into chaos early Friday morning, prompting a mass casualty incident that resulted in at least 10 people reportedly being transported to area hospitals.

Deputies responded to a report of an unconscious person at the 60-acre equestrian farm on Archer Road and found numerous attendees needing medical attention.

The event was promoted on apps such as Posh and “geared to NC A&T” but not sanctioned by the university, with over 3,500 guests invited to a “night of nonstop shots and undeniable fun.”

No arrests have been reported, and the exact cause of the medical emergencies remains under investigation. The Healing Chamber Farms rents space for events and retreats. Authorities say charges could be forthcoming as the case stays active.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina officials lifted a burn ban for 81 counties Sunday after recent rainfall eased wildfire danger, but restrictions remain in 19 Piedmont counties, mainly around the Triad. (More)

➤ Robeson County: The Lumbee Tribal Council voted 17-2 last month to approve a constitutional amendment authorizing gaming, advancing casino plans on 240 acres along I-95. The full membership still needs to approve the measure in a future vote. (More)

➤ Durham: Police are investigating a stabbing at an Amazon fulfillment center where a man was assaulted with a sharp object in the face around 5:30 a.m. Monday. Employees were briefly evacuated before returning inside. (More)

➤ Wilmington: The city’s metro area recorded North Carolina's highest job growth rate over the past year, expanding 3.1% with about 5,900 new jobs and outpacing Raleigh-Cary, which grew by 1.8%, and Charlotte, which grew by 0.7%. (More)

➤ Kure Beach: Carolina Beach Adventure Taxi has suspended operations in Kure Beach after drivers were cited for lacking vehicle registration and tags, despite an informal prior arrangement with the previous police chief. (More)

➤ Buxton: A long-planned restroom project at Old Lighthouse Beach—which has been closed while the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers addresses contaminated soil there—is expected to be complete by June or July ahead of a possible beach reopening. (More)

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➤ UNC football coach Bill Belichick attended the Kentucky Derby with his girlfriend Jordon Hudson this weekend. Hudson posted photos of the couple in matching pastel outfits and captioned them “not the first time we’ve trudged through the mud together.” (More)

➤ Former UNC basketball star Tyler Hansbrough and men's soccer great Eddie Pope were inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame this weekend. (More)

➤ The Big Ten is disputing Duke’s new deal with Amazon Prime Video, claiming that they own the broadcast rights to next season's Duke-Michigan basketball game at Madison Square Garden. (More)

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➤ Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced Friday that the $7.4 billion Purdue Pharma and Sackler family opioid settlement is now in effect, securing nearly $150 million for the state's addiction treatment, prevention, and recovery efforts. (More)

➤ Curtis Media Group has agreed to acquire five radio stations and two translators serving Wilmington and Jacksonville from Capitol Broadcasting’s Sunrise Broadcasting for $1.75 million. (More)

➤ Nucor Corporation celebrated the grand opening of its $440 million micro mill steel plant in Lexington, creating about 200 living-wage jobs and boosting economic growth in Davidson County. (More)

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➤ The town of Grover in Cleveland County claims two Star Wars-themed streets—Darth Maul Drive and Yoda Drive—named in 1999 and 2001, respectively, by a local developer whose son chose them as his favorite characters from the film series. (More)

➤ Biltmore’s late April bloom report includes full-bloom hawthorns, horse chestnuts, buckeyes, a dove tree, wisteria, hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas, and mountain laurel, with roses beginning to bloom in the Walled Garden. (See Report)

➤ NBA Rookie of the Year and former Duke men’s basketball player Cooper Flagg, who served as an honorary pace car driver Sunday, also took a high-speed ride around Texas Motor Speedway with NASCAR Cup rookie and North Carolina native Connor Zilisch before the race. (See Photo)

➤ Former military airman Mark Huneycutt of Hendersonville completed a cross-country paramotor flight on April 28 that started in San Francisco and ended in Kitty Hawk just north of the site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. (See Photos)

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