Saturday, September 26, 2024

Good Morning! On this day in 1780, William R. Davie's outnumbered militia held off Lord Cornwallis's British army at the Battle of Charlotte. The stand reportedly led Cornwallis to call the town a "hornet's nest," a name Charlotte's NBA team carries today.

UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts said he stands behind football coach Bill Belichick on Thursday after an outside investigation. Learn more in Sports.

The age at which Americans can start collecting full Social Security checks could drop for millions of workers. A new bill in Congress would move retirement up years early for some, just as Social Security speeds toward insolvency, and not everyone thinks it's a good idea. So who would qualify, and who gets left out? Amy has the full story on today's episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Today’s sponsor, Splash Spotless Cleaning Products, is here to upgrade your cleaning routine with a hands-free foam toilet cleaner that tackles stains and odors without scrubbing. Just pour, let it foam, and flush for a fresh, sparkling bathroom.

CMS Board Member Defends Hill Firing

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools board member Shamaiye Haynes says she doesn't regret voting to fire Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill, pointing to a toxic work environment and a need for change.

The board voted 5-4 Tuesday to end Hill's contract "for convenience," a month after an investigation found no wrongdoing on her part. Before the vote, Hill gave the board a 200-plus-page document accusing members of extortion and misusing funds.

Board member Monty Witherspoon, who voted to keep Hill, called the firing "a governance failure." A CMS parent has launched a petition demanding the resignations of all five members who voted to fire her.

The investigation and Hill's severance will cost taxpayers more than $700,000. Separately, State Auditor Dave Boliek has confirmed a probe into "financial irregularities" at CMS alongside the SBI.

Franklin County Suspends Flock

Franklin County Sheriff Kevin White fired a detective and suspended use of Flock after an audit he says showed she'd been using the county's Flock license plate cameras to track a private citizen.

White said Detective Janet Leonard routinely monitored the person's movements with no legitimate law enforcement purpose. "This is unacceptable, unconstitutional, and a complete violation of privacy," he said.

The sheriff's office has indefinitely suspended its Flock system, which it used for nearly a decade, while investigators examine past uses. White warned that anyone who misused it "will face immediate and significant consequences."

The findings went to the district attorney, though court records showed no charges as of Friday morning.

Nor'easter Keeps N.C. 12 Underwater

Ocean water up to 4 feet deep covered N.C. 12 Friday as a slow-moving nor'easter battered the Outer Banks for a second day.

The highway remains closed from the Basnight Bridge to Rodanthe, where a dune breach near the Pea Island Visitor Center left about 500 feet of pavement undermined or broken. NCDOT crews drove a dump truck into the waves Friday to pour sand onto the broken road.

A second closure hit Ocracoke, where N.C. 12 shut down between the Pony Pens and the ferry terminal. NCDOT says it has no timeline for reopening either section.

Forecasters extended the coastal flood warning for Hatteras and Ocracoke islands into Saturday morning. Buxton resident Kevin McCabe told WRAL that Pea Island is "our lifeline" for mail, groceries, and medical care.

Flying together with our sponsor

The Cleaning Toilet Hack You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner

Refresh your bathroom this spring without the scrubbing. Splash Foam Cleaner is the fast, hands-free way to keep your toilet fresh and spotless. Just pour, let it foam, and flush. It removes tough stains, eliminates odors, and leaves your bathroom smelling clean, all with zero mess.

LEARN MORE

➤ Statewide: Three advocacy groups and two voters sued the State Board of Elections in federal court over new absentee-ballot rules, including one requiring counties to reject ballots with unsealed inner envelopes. The board's Republican majority adopted the rules 3-2 on Sept. 4, the same day mail ballots first went out. (More)

➤ Greensboro: A large tree crashed through the living room of a Merritt Drive apartment Thursday afternoon, snapping rafters and collapsing part of the ceiling. The two residents weren't hurt but were displaced after officials deemed the unit unsafe. (See Details)

➤ New Bern: Sound Rivers is tracking a fish kill across roughly 15 miles of the Neuse River near New Bern, Bridgeton, and the lower Trent River, mostly juvenile menhaden. The environmental group suspects low dissolved oxygen, though the cause hasn't been confirmed. (More)

➤ Wilmington: WAVE Transit drivers told the Cape Fear Public Transportation Authority board that many work multiple jobs, as their union seeks a raise from $19 to $22 an hour. The authority said it can't comment on negotiations between the union and the private company that manages the system. (More)

➤ Western NC: Hurricane Helene's rainfall pushed microplastic deposition to three to 22 times pre-storm levels at three mountain research sites, according to a Virginia Tech-led study. At Highlands Biological Station, the storm alone accounted for nearly 19% of the year's deposition. (See Report)

➤ Pigeon River Gorge: NCDOT now says rebuilding the Helene-damaged stretch of I-40 will cost about $2.8 billion, nearly $1 billion more than planned, and all four lanes likely won't reopen until late 2029. Crews blame deep bedrock in some areas. (More)

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

➤ The Canes scored five straight goals to erase a 5-1 second-period deficit and beat Nashville 6-5 Thursday in their first Greensboro game since 1999. Felix Unger Sörum netted the winner with three seconds left. The team closes the preseason today in Nashville. (More)

➤ Chancellor Lee Roberts said he stands by UNC football coach Bill Belichick after an outside investigation of the program, which Athletic Director Steve Newmark said found "isolated incidents" that weren't pervasive. The Tar Heels (2-1) are off this week before hosting No. 3 Notre Dame on Oct. 3. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets are keeping play-by-play voice Eric Collins, analyst Dell Curry, and host Shannon Spake for its new broadcast setup, with non-national games airing free on Gray and Sinclair stations across both Carolinas. Curry begins his 18th season in the booth. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | MLB | NHL | Soccer | Golf

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Chuck Norris spent years researching what he believed were hidden threats inside the body that contribute to “rapid aging.” He identified three “internal enemies” that may affect energy, digestion, muscles, and joints. Before his passing, Chuck recorded a short video explaining what he discovered and the approach he believed could help. Watch the video here >>

Flying together with our sponsor

Freshen Up Your Home. No Scrubbing Needed

Tackle cleaning the easy way with Splash Spray Multipurpose Cleaner. Skip the harsh chemicals and hard scrubbing. This powerful spray melts away grime, soap scum, mold, and hard water stains before your eyes. Just spray, wait, and wipe for a sparkling clean bathroom. See why it’s a cleaning game-changer.

LEARN MORE

➤ Scout Motors, which made Charlotte its corporate home last year, is throwing a fall festival today at Camp North End with bands, barbecue, and its new SUVs on display. The festival runs 1-9 p.m. (See Details)

➤ Two years after Helene destroyed her home, Laurel LeSesne is settling into a new house in Yancey County that a group of nonprofits cleared, built, and furnished on her property. "It's still hard to believe this is my house," she said. (Read Story)

➤ Benson's 77th annual Mule Days festival runs through Sunday afternoon with a rodeo, wagon tours, a carnival, and a patriotic parade marking America's 250th birthday. Mission Mules, a disaster-relief group formed after Hurricane Helene to pack supplies into Western NC, will lead the parade. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Most Americans think eating sweets for breakfast is unhealthy… But according to Stanford researchers, there's one delicious “dessert” food that Costa Ricans in the famous "blue zone" there eat each morning that… So, what's the #1 “dessert” food that helps Costa Ricans live healthy, lean, and energetic past 100?

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country.

➤ Some American workers could start collecting full Social Security years early, but critics warn of fallout. (Hear Details)

➤ Coastal flood alerts cover 33 million people as a rare multiday nor'easter threatens the East Coast through the weekend. (Listen Now)

➤ The robotic spacecraft launched to save a failing NASA telescope has itself plunged back to Earth. (Podcast Available)

Have you ever voted by mail?

Yesterday’s Results:

How much do you trust government websites with your personal information?

Not much: 41%
Not at all: 35%
Somewhat: 22%
Completely: 2%

The Hornets' very first roster in 1988 included a former Wake Forest star who remains the shortest player in NBA history. Who was he, and how tall was he?

Show me the answer

Unsubscribe (Step One)

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