Saturday, July 12, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1996, Hurricane Bertha made landfall in southeastern North Carolina as a Category 2 hurricane with 116-mph winds at the Frying Pan Shoals tower off Cape Fear and 108 mph winds at the New River Marine Corps Air Station near Jacksonville.

One of the nation's last remaining gristmills needs your help. See how you can support Yates Mill and keep its historic waterwheel turning—just as it has since 1756.

Today, we're sponsored by Kikoff. They're here to help you build credit without stress.

Don't feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Federal Funding Paused for Public Schools

The federal government has paused $168.8 million in funding to several North Carolina school districts pending a review of how administrators plan to spend the money.

Officials are examining expenditures to make sure they align with the Trump administration's priorities on immigration and diversity, equity, and inclusion. There is no timeline for when the review will be completed.

Wake County is among the districts affected, facing rising costs, stagnant enrollment, and efforts to sustain programs once funded by federal pandemic stimulus dollars.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools were expected to receive about $12 million in federal support. Officials say they may need to understaff classroom support roles or incur millions in debt.

8 Detainees Face Federal Charges

At least eight of the 30 people who were detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Kings Mountain last month have been charged with reentering the U.S. after having been deported.

A Homeland Security agent filed affidavits against eight people. Seven were charged with illegally re-entering the U.S., and one was charged with using a fake ID.

A June 25 raid at Buckeye Fire Equipment led to over 30 detentions, according to ICE. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not said if more charges are expected.

Gov. Stein Announces Helene Recovery Grants

Gov. Josh Stein announced the North Carolina Department of Commerce will distribute $7.3 million in state grants to fund nine small-business recovery projects through its new Hurricane Helene program.

Projects are likely to include rebuilding damaged water, sewer, gas, and utility lines, as well as sidewalks, pavement, and the removal of barriers. The funding is from a larger grant program called the Small Business Infrastructure Grant Program that was announced in April.

Stein said the funding was another "important milestone" in rebuilding after Helene.

The grants will support projects in Morganton, Gamewell, Clyde, and Chimney Rock Village, which is receiving $5.5 million of the funding.

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➤ Chapel Hill: Camp ALEC, co-founded by a UNC professor for children with communication challenges, is featured in the Disney+ series "People and Places" for its use of devices that enable speech. (More)

➤ Roxboro: Authorities arrested two people accused of defrauding a victim of $34,000 through a PayPal scheme, with help from a local bank and the victim. (More)

➤ Raleigh: A former firefighter and his wife face over 50 charges and a decade in prison after authorities uncovered a drug-trafficking ring using private messages and cryptocurrency. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Councilwoman Tiawanna Brown, who's been federally indicted for allegedly misappropriating COVID-related funds, announced she is seeking reelection. (More)

➤ Cornelius: A police officer was suspended without pay after a viral video showed an interaction with a woman tending to a dog in a car on a hot day last month. (More)

➤ Anson County: Authorities launched an investigation after a customer reported numbness and discovered a foreign substance on food purchased from a Bojangles. (More)

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➤ The Little League Softball World Series will open Aug. 2 at Stallings Stadium in Greenville, with the public invited to celebrate the event's fifth year in eastern North Carolina. (More)

➤ Four-star offensive tackle JB Shabazz, a 6-foot-6 prospect from East Forsyth High in Kernersville, committed to Tennessee over Ohio State and South Carolina. (More)

➤ A Raleigh teen won the boys division at Steph Curry's Underrated Golf Tour in Colorado with a 5-under-par and hopes to win the U.S. Open someday. (More)

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➤ Yates Mill, a functioning gristmill built in 1756, has started replacing its waterwheel but still needs $500,000 to finish the project. (More)

➤ First responders used a rope system and basket to rescue an injured driver after a Subaru SUV plunged down a 50-foot embankment; the driver is expected to survive. (See photos)

➤ The North Carolina Zoo will raise ticket prices for the first time in 10 years on Monday, with new seasonal rates for online, on-site, group, and discounted admissions. Prices reflect rising costs in zoo operations. (More)

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