Data Shows Safest Drivers, Iranian Strike Damage, NATO Closes Airspace

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1808, James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas, was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina.

Later today, watch for an email from our sponsor, the Texas State Historical Association, highlighting a unique weekend experience that brings Texas history to life.

🚙 Are Baby Boomers the safest drivers or the most dangerous? Which generation has the highest crash fatality rate? And who are the fastest drivers? In today’s Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown breaks down a new report ranking drivers from baby boomers to Gen X to millennials and Gen Z. But where did your generation end up on the list? Tune in to find out!

It's finally here: The California Flyover launches tomorrow! We're bringing the same daily briefing to the Golden State, and we'd love for your friends and family out West to be in from day one. Sign up here.

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Student Shoots Teacher Before Killing Self

A 15-year-old student shot a teacher before killing himself Monday morning at Comal ISD's Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde. Authorities have not released the names of the shooter or the female teacher, whose condition is unknown.

The school entered a lockdown around 8:30 a.m., shortly before classes were set to begin. Students were later reunited with their families at a nearby middle school. The shooter's family was reportedly informed of his actions when they came to pick him up.

Officials have not identified a motive for the shooting or explained how the student obtained the gun and brought it on campus. "This was a frightening morning," Comal County Sheriff Mark Reynolds said. "Our focus now is on supporting those affected."

Hill Country College Preparatory High School is a public school of choice serving around 200 students and known for its STEAM program.

Smokable Hemp Now Banned

New regulations restricting the sale of THC-infused hemp products go into effect today, effectively banning the sale of smokable hemp.

The new rules were issued pursuant to an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott, who vetoed legislation to ban the sale of such products outright. They restrict purchases to customers age 21 or older, dramatically increase licensing fees for retailers, and revise the method of determining a product's THC concentration, which is limited to 0.3%.

Now, THCA—a non-psychoactive cannabinoid in smokable hemp that converts to THC when heated—is included in THC concentration. Retailers have been trying to clear their shelves of THCA products in recent weeks ahead of their effective ban.

Boomtown Vapor, a vape shop chain based in Beaumont with several locations throughout the state, sued to stop the new rules earlier this month, claiming the Department of State Health Services doesn't have the unilateral authority to redefine how THC concentration is measured.

Houston Comets Return

Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has purchased the WNBA's Connecticut Sun and will relocate the team to Houston as the Houston Comets, his sports and entertainment company confirmed Monday. Several outlets published reports on the $300 million deal last Friday.

"My family and I are thrilled for the opportunity to bring the Houston Comets back to this incredible city," Rockets alternate governor Patrick Fertitta said in a statement. "We believe the time is right to begin the next great era of Comets basketball."

The Comets were one of the WNBA's first eight teams when the league was established in 1997, winning the championship in its first four seasons with stars Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Swoopes, and Tina Thompson. The original Comets organization folded in 2008.

The team will play the upcoming season in Connecticut and move to Houston ahead of the 2027 season.

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➤ Austin: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has tasked the Texas Senate with studying dozens of issues ahead of the next legislative session, including proposals to increase the homestead exemption, the proliferation of data centers, and tightening state gambling laws. (More)

➤ Houston: Two firefighters were injured when a balcony collapsed during a two-alarm apartment fire on Sunday. Fourteen apartment units were impacted by the blaze. (More)

➤ El Paso: Timothy France Johnson, the 63-year-old estranged brother of Mayor Renard Johnson, pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges stemming from a Ponzi scheme in which he claimed he would invest victims' money in promoting NBA preseason games. (See Details)

➤ Austin ISD: The Texas Council for International Studies, a Dallas-based nonprofit, will assume management of three failing middle schools, providing the district a two-year reprieve from a potential state takeover. (More)

➤ Brazos County: The sheriff's office recovered nearly $400,000 in funds stolen from the county through a sophisticated email phishing scam last October. "These hackers had been in our system for quite some time monitoring our activity and waited for a large transaction to strike," said Emergency Services District 1 Commissioner and President Rodger Stout. (More)

➤ Trophy Club: U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited The Original Roy Hutchins "for protein-packed BBQ" during last week's Conservative Political Action Conference in Grapevine. (See Photos)

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➤ Texas women's basketball beat Michigan by 36 points last night, 77-41, to advance to the NCAA tournament Final Four. The Longhorns' offense was led by Madison Booker, who finished with 19 points. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, TCU's season ended with a 78-52 loss to South Carolina in the Elite Eight, matching the program's deepest NCAA tournament run for the second straight year. (More)

➤ Gary Woodland won the Houston Open on Sunday, capping a comeback from brain surgery with his first PGA Tour victory since the 2019 U.S. Open. The win also earned him a spot in the Masters field next week. (More)

➤ Texas Rangers pitcher MacKenzie Gore had a no-hitter through five innings and struck out seven batters in his debut against the Phillies on Sunday. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Astros pitcher Tatsuya Imai allowed four runs and four walks in less than three innings in his MLB debut. Beyond first-game nerves, he cited the subtle differences between Japanese and American pitching mounds as a factor in his struggles. (More)

➤ No. 15 Texas A&M softball snapped Texas' 29-game winning streak on Sunday, scoring six runs in the sixth inning, during which Texas coach Mike White was ejected. (More)

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➤ MMA fighters should have the world’s worst teeth. But they don’t—why? Because, despite the risk of cracked, broken, and loose teeth, which a mouthguard does little to stop…They use this 15-second hack from an elite Harvard dentist that turns even the most rotten teeth into perfect whites. All you need is your finger and a little bit of salt. After which, you’ll be able to stop gum bleeding, tooth decay, and bad breath…Even if everything else you’ve tried (so far) has failed. It’s easy. Watch this short video to find out how

➤ Facebook parent company Meta revised plans for its massive data center in El Paso, boosting its investment from $1.5 billion to $10 billion. The social media giant will initially cover all costs for a planned 366-megawatt natural gas power plant serving the data center. (See Details)

➤ The Signorelli Company, a real estate developer based in The Woodlands, has opened the first phase of Austin Point, a 4,700-acre master-planned community in Fort Bend County that is expected to include up to 14,000 homes when fully completed. (More)

➤ Austin-Bergstrom International Airport's South Terminal is closing today to make room for new taxiways serving the planned 26-gate Concourse B. Allegiant and Frontier will operate out of the main Barbara Jordan Terminal. (More)

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➤ A Reddit user shared a photo of eight concert tickets in Austin and Dallas from the 1980s. Prices ranged from $13.50 to see Chicago at Austin's Frank Erwin Center on September 16, 1984, to $22.50 to see George Michael at Irving's Texas Stadium on October 14, 1988. (See Photo)

➤ Former Texas Longhorns quarterback Colt McCoy will give this year's commencement address at his alma mater on May 9. "Colt has applied the same leadership we saw on the field to everything he's done since," said UT Austin President Jim Davis. (More)

➤ The Motley County town of Matador was one of 20 locations featured in Airbnb's recently published "America Off-the-Map" list. It's about 40 miles south of Caprock Canyons State Park, home of the Official Texas State Bison Herd. (See Details)

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Today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast with Ayla Brown has a few stories you won’t find in today’s emailed edition, only in the podcast episode, because not everything fits in an inbox.

If you like what you see, subscribe to our YouTube channel and never miss an episode!

Here's a sneak peek of what we're diving into in today's Podcast Extra section:

➤ Data shows that this generation has the safest drivers. (Listen Now)

➤ Images from an Iranian strike reveal damage to a key U.S. surveillance aircraft. (Hear Episode)

➤ A NATO member has closed its airspace to U.S. aircraft involved in the Iran war. (Podcast Available)

Hit play and get the full scoop.

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Best Places to Live, RDU Threat, and Zoboomafoo's Great-Grandson

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Good Morning. On this day in 1993, actor Brandon Lee, 28, was accidentally shot to death during the filming of The Crow in Wilmington, when he was hit by a bullet fragment that had become lodged inside a prop gun.

Find out which North Carolina towns and cities were named among Niche’s best places to live in America in Top Stories, then hit reply to let us know if you live in one of them.

Today’s sponsor, Brad's Deals, is highlighting 9 hidden perks of your Amazon Prime membership that many subscribers don’t realize they already have access to.

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 Cities, Towns Among Best Places to Live

Several North Carolina cities and suburbs rank among the nation's best places to live in 2026, according to Niche's annual report, which is based on an evaluation of data related to public schools, the cost of living, housing, safety, and local attractions.

Raleigh scored the highest national ranking among major North Carolina cities at No. 22, thanks to its urban vibrancy and suburban appeal. Durham came in at No. 50, Charlotte at No. 55, Greensboro at No. 62, Winston-Salem at No. 83, and Wilmington at No. 88.

Cary was ranked the No. 1 place to live in North Carolina, with Charlotte's Brookhill neighborhood coming in at No. 2, Morrisville at No. 3, Apex at No. 4, and Charlotte's Dilworth neighborhood at No. 5.

Charlotte's Fourth Ward neighborhood also landed at No. 10 among the best places for young professionals nationally.

Bank of America Pays $72.5M to Epstein Survivors

Charlotte-based Bank of America has agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's sex-trafficking operation.

The proposed settlement covers women allegedly abused or trafficked by Epstein or his associates between June 30, 2008, and July 6, 2019.

Plaintiffs accused the bank of ignoring red flags, failing to file timely suspicious activity reports, and continuing to provide banking services—including handling large payments such as roughly $170 million from billionaire Leon Black to Epstein—despite warning signs.

Bank of America denied any wrongdoing or facilitation of sex trafficking, stating the settlement allows the matter to be resolved and provides closure for plaintiffs. A fairness hearing is scheduled for April.

Anonymous Threat Evacuates RDU Terminal 1

An anonymous threat prompted the evacuation of Terminal 1 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) early Monday morning.

The threat was received around 4:20 a.m., leading authorities to immediately evacuate passengers and staff. Hundreds waited outside for more than an hour as law enforcement and TSA officers conducted a thorough sweep of the facility.

No suspicious devices or individuals were found, and the terminal reopened around 6 a.m. after being given the all-clear. Passengers faced long security lines and flight delays, with several airlines, including American, Southwest, and Frontier, reporting disruptions.

The incident occurred the same day TSA officers were scheduled to begin receiving back pay after six weeks without compensation.

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➤ Dare County: FEMA delays and proposed reforms are raising concerns for Outer Banks beach nourishment projects, as engineered shorelines may face uncertainty in accessing post-storm Public Assistance funding. (More)

➤ Buxton: Meanwhile, three more oceanfront homes at the end of Old Lighthouse Road are being relocated roughly 200 to 250 feet inland to safer ground amid ongoing coastal erosion threats. (See Photos)

➤ Mecklenburg County: A district attorney’s office staffer, Johana Martinez, was charged with felony death by vehicle after a deadly crash that killed another driver on Saturday. Martinez was fired. Troopers identified the victim of the crash as 38-year-old Lauren Shamariah Foster. (More)

➤ Charlotte: NCDOT opened a community engagement center on Monday at 1023 W. Morehead Street for the I-77 South Express Lanes project, aiming to gather public input, rebuild trust, and share early designs. (More)

➤ Wilkes County: A 600-acre woods fire near Cane Creek Church Road was 50% contained as of Monday morning, prompting evacuations in the McGrady community. (More)

➤ Asheville: Vietnam War Veterans Day was marked Sunday with a memorial event at Charles George VA Medical Center, honoring 165 Western North Carolina soldiers killed in action from 22 counties. (See Photos)

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➤ NC State is hiring former Wolfpack player (and current Tennessee assistant) Justin Gainey as their next men's basketball coach. (More)

➤ UNC suspended all discussions about the location of their future homecourt arena until they've hired their next men's basketball coach. (More)

➤ North Carolina resident Kevin Harvick headlines the 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees in his first year of eligibility. Official voting is set for May 19 in Charlotte. (More)

➤ Wake Forest's lefty pitcher Matthew Dallas will undergo elbow surgery and miss the remainder of the 2026 baseball season. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ MMA fighters should have the world's worst teeth. But they don't—why? Because, despite the risk of cracked, broken, and loose teeth, which a mouthguard does little to stop…They use this 15-second hack from an elite Harvard dentist that turns even the most rotten teeth into perfect whites. All you need is your finger and a little bit of salt. After which, you'll be able to stop gum bleeding, tooth decay, and bad breath…Even if everything else you've tried (so far) has failed. It's easy. Watch this short video to find out how.

➤ A state audit revealed that key delivery benchmarks weren't consistently met by the Alcoholic Beverage Control system's distribution vendor, LB&B Associates, despite the system generating over $1.4 billion in public revenue over two fiscal years. (More)

➤ State Farmer's Market vendors in Raleigh are bracing for higher fertilizer costs and potential shortages due to the ongoing Iran War disrupting global supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. (More)

➤ Activist hedge fund ADW Capital, which holds a 2.5% stake in Charlotte-based Driven Brands, is urging the Meineke and Auto Glass Now owner to explore a sale or breakup to unlock shareholder value. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Oil prices are surging and retirement accounts could pay the price. When supply chains weaken, overvalued stocks correct, wall street panics and 401(k)s freefall. Smart money is protecting their wealth with a little-known IRS loophole, transferring savings into gold tax-free. Learn how—get the free 2025 Wealth Protection Guide.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Duke Lemur Center announced the Feb. 11 birth of a male Coquerel's sifaka to parents Cassia and Eustace. The infant, to be named by the public, is the great-grandson of Jovian, the lemur who played the famous “Zoboomafoo” in the children's television series. (See Photos)

➤ NC A&T alumnus Joshua Suiter has been cast as Andre in Netflix’s A Different World reboot, which is filming 10 episodes in Atlanta about new students attending Hillman College. (More)

➤ Pilots to the Rescue, a nonprofit organization that transports at-risk animals from under-resourced shelters, flew six dogs from Odell Williamson Municipial Airport in Ocean Isle Beach to shelters in New Jersey, where their chances of adoption are higher. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Struggling with foot fungus? This simple “toe-stretch” method is gaining attention for delivering fast results—no creams, medications, or gels needed. Just one easy movement may help eliminate fungus in weeks. Thousands are already experiencing relief. Curious how it works? Discover the full method and see if it can help you too.