MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1861, North Carolina adopted its first state flag, which featured two dates: May 20, 1775, and May 20, 1861—the dates of the controversial Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the state’s secession, respectively.

Congratulations to the UNC Tar Heels on their Game 2 win in the College World Series. The championship will be decided tonight. Learn more in Top Stories, then hit reply to let us know who you think will win.

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Private Sponsors to Rep NC at Nat’l Fair

North Carolina will still have a presence at the Great American State Fair despite the state’s official withdrawal.

Citing budget constraints, state agencies declined to fund a pavilion for the June 25-July 10 event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., which celebrates the 250th birthday of American Independence.

Three private sponsors—SPEVCO, Richard Childress Racing, and Operation Helo—have stepped up to cover costs with no taxpayer funds. Volunteer organizer Lorie Khatod is coordinating the exhibit under the theme “Spirit of North Carolina: First in Flight, Fast on the Track, Strong in the Storm,” highlighting the Wright brothers, NASCAR heritage, and Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.

The move has sparked partisan debate, with Republicans criticizing Gov. Josh Stein’s decision while praising the businesses’ patriotic initiative. Organizers say the fair will feature exhibits from most states and territories despite several Democrat-led withdrawals.

UNC Forces Decisive Game 3 in MCWS Finals

No. 5 UNC baseball staved off elimination yesterday with a strong 6-2 win over Oklahoma in the Men's College World Series finals.

Oklahoma scored two runs across the first two innings, but UNC held the Sooners scoreless for the following seven innings, thanks in part to a dominant relief effort from freshman pitcher Caden Glauber, who struck out eight Sooners in five scoreless innings.

UNC grabbed the lead in the top of the third and extended it in the fifth on a solo home run from junior outfielder Owen Hull. The Tar Heels later extended their lead further on a two-run jack by junior infielder Cooper Nicholson.

Oklahoma threatened in the ninth by putting two runners on base with one out, but Glauber induced a double play to end the game.

UNC will play again tonight at 7 p.m. with a winner-take-all game for the national championship.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail Section Reopens

A beloved section of North Carolina’s Mountains-to-Sea Trail near Asheville has reopened thanks to dedicated volunteers from the Carolina Mountain Club.

Hurricane Helene in 2024 devastated the 1,100-mile trail, burying sections under fallen trees and debris, particularly along the Blue Ridge Parkway. National Park Service crews performed initial clearing, but full restoration required months of volunteer labor with chainsaws and hand tools.

In a single 10-day blitz during July 2025, nearly 100 volunteers contributed about 450 hours to reclaim the popular Asheville corridor, which serves walkers, runners, and families. Volunteers described the effort as reclaiming their “church” and a symbol of community resilience, with new growth already emerging where towering trees once stood.

As of late April, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail was over 95% reopened, though sections near Mount Mitchell and Linville Gorge remain closed pending further repairs and bridge work.

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➤ Statewide: The State Health Plan is partnering with OrthoCarolina to offer eligible members no-cost Lantern surgery benefits for certain orthopedic procedures. The program connects patients with top surgeons, coordinates full care journeys, and aims to improve outcomes while controlling rising healthcare costs. (More)

➤ Eastern NC: Sound Rivers flagged three swim sites—Washington waterfront on the Pamlico River, Wrights Creek near Belhaven, and Slocum Creek in Havelock—after they failed recent water-quality tests due to elevated fecal bacteria. (See Details)

➤ Triangle: Durham ranked No. 2 and Raleigh No. 8 nationally in a newly founded Geography of Prosperity index, which evaluates U.S. cities on future-readiness factors including automation, climate resilience, social cohesion, population renewal, and governance. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The Morrison YMCA branch in Ballantyne will close in summer 2027 after being sold for $42.5 million to Moments of Hope Church, which plans to redevelop the site for expanded ministry, sports programs, and community outreach. (More)

➤ Buncombe County: The county will host its 2026 July 4 celebration at North Buncombe Fields in Weaverville instead of Lake Julian Park due to construction access issues. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Darius Rucker fans who attended the rescheduled concert yesterday at White Oak Amphitheatre enjoyed free parking courtesy of the venue after the June 18 show was delayed by weather. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Hurricanes 2026 Stanley Cup celebration parade drew roughly 150,000 fans—roughly five times the size of the team’s 2006 championship parade. (More)➤ Wake Forest men’s basketball guard Kevair Kennedy will represent the United States at the 2026 FIBA 3x3 Nations League Americas Conference, which will be held from June 27 to July 3. (More)

➤ North Carolina lawmakers are reportedly discussing a “possible budget provision” that would pave the way for an MLB expansion team in Raleigh. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has previously said he plans to name two expansion cities before 2029. (More)

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➤ North Carolina ranks 9th nationally in business AI adoption, with more than 22% of its companies already using AI, according to a new report. The state’s tech-forward economy and strong financial sector are driving this high usage, particularly for generative AI tasks. (More)

➤ Heritage Golf Group, based in Northern Virginia, purchased The Palisades Country Club in southwest Charlotte for nearly $7 million and plans multimillion-dollar renovations over 12 to 18 months. (More)

➤ Three Durham entrepreneurs—David Spratte and Kasper Kubica of Carpe, and Zach Maurides of Teamworks—were named among the best in the Southeast as winners of the 2026 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. (More)

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➤ “Halfback states” like North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee are emerging as popular retirement alternatives to Florida, thanks to lower costs, milder weather concerns, and attractive lifestyles for seniors moving halfway back north. (More)

➤ Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is temporarily “topless” as crews remove the lantern room and gallery for critical restoration work on deteriorating cast-iron brackets during the ongoing $19.2 million preservation project. (See Photo)

➤ North Carolina ranks 29th nationally in per-person beer consumption, with residents purchasing 22.2 gallons per person—slightly above the U.S. average of 22 gallons—according to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism data from 2023. (See Map)

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