Monday, February 23, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1911, Avery County was established as North Carolina's 100th and final county, carved from portions of Mitchell, Watauga, and Caldwell counties in the mountainous High Country region, which borders Tennessee. Named for Revolutionary War colonel and first state attorney general Waightstill Avery, it marked the completion of the state's county system and later became a renowned tourist destination.

Can you guess what Avery County's top tourist attraction is? Test your knowledge by answering today's Trivia question, then hit reply and let us know if you've ever visited it.

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Armed NC Man Shot and Killed at Mar-a-Lago

U.S. Secret Service agents and Palm Beach County law enforcement shot and killed an armed man early Sunday after he unlawfully entered the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago. The president and first lady were at the White House in Washington, D.C., at the time of the incident.

The suspect, in his 20s and identified by police as Austin Tucker Martin from Carthage, North Carolina was armed with a shotgun and carrying a fuel can.

He entered the secure perimeter at Mar-a-Lago through the north gate as an employee was walking out around 1:30 a.m. Once inside the gate, he was confronted by law enforcement and then shot when he failed to put down his weapon.

The Moore County Sheriff's Office said a relative reported Martin missing at 1:38 a.m. Sunday. He was entered into a national missing-person database with no prior criminal history. Investigators believe he headed south and picked up the shotgun along the way.

FBI, Police Investigate Political Violence Cases

North Carolina authorities are investigating two separate incidents involving suspected political violence amid ongoing primary elections.

In Huntersville, shots were fired at the home of Republican Mecklenburg County Commission District 1 candidate Aaron Marin around 7:45 p.m. on Feb. 16, damaging vehicles, a tree, and a basketball hoop. No one was injured.

Marin expressed deep concern for his family's safety and said he believes the shots were "intentionally directed at our house." Huntersville police, with FBI assistance, confirmed the incident was deliberate and recovered shell casings from the scene.

Meanwhile, in Aberdeen, a handmade flash-bang-style explosive device was thrown from a moving vehicle and detonated near an early voting site on the afternoon of Feb. 18, but caused no injuries or damage. Local police are investigating the incident with the support of the state crime lab.

4 NC Cities Make List of Southern Tech Hubs

Four North Carolina cities have secured spots in CommercialCafe's Top 20 ranking of the South's Best Metros for Tech Workers in 2026, with Raleigh claiming the No. 3 position overall, trailing only Washington, D.C., and Austin, Texas. The city excelled in tech company density, employment growth, and median earnings for tech workers at $114,794.

Durham ranked No. 7, boasting the highest quality-of-life score thanks to a 54.7% bachelor's degree attainment, low unemployment, and affordable living. The median earnings for tech workers there sit at $97,323.

Both Triangle cities' rankings were bolstered by the nearby Research Triangle Park and highly skilled tech graduates from universities like NC State, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Duke.

Charlotte ranked No. 9 and Wilmington ranked No. 15, with median earnings for tech workers at $103,246 and $88,663, respectively.

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➤ Northeast NC: Four Republican candidates participating in the 1st Congressional District GOP primary debate on Thursday defended President Trump's tariffs as a temporary tool to level trade imbalances, acknowledging short-term pain for farmers. (More)

➤ Western NC: Gov. Josh Stein joined a bipartisan group of governors meeting with President Trump on Friday and asked him to back an additional $13.5 billion in federal aid for Hurricane Helene recovery. Trump promised to "take a hard look" at the request. (More)

➤ Cary: The State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing local police's handling of a 2016 drug investigation at the Harrison Motel, where records showed ousted town manager Sean Stegall's vehicle was spotted and followed to his home, but no charges were filed. (More)

➤ Raleigh: The Division of Parks and Recreation announced a land exchange with Anderson Automotive Group, trading 23 acres of inaccessible parkland for 26 acres of adjacent land that includes 13 acres for a safer new entrance to William B. Umstead State Park. (See Map)

➤ Tyrrell County: A federal judge denied the county's bid to block depositions of current and former commissioners in a lawsuit by black residents seeking removal of an inscription on a Confederate monument outside the courthouse, ruling that the county can't assert legislative immunity. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Police arrested Quatoya Morrison, 36, on Feb. 17 for allegedly stealing $7,700 in merchandise from the Atherton Mill Lululemon store in south Charlotte on Feb. 11; she faces multiple felony charges, including larceny and conspiracy. (More)

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➤ Carolina Hurricanes standout Jaccob Slavin and Team USA took home the Olympic gold medal in men's hockey after a dramatic overtime win against Canada yesterday. Hurricanes teammates Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho also won medals, with Jarvis winning silver while representing Canada and Aho winning bronze with Finland. (More)

➤ Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball will not face any charges after making headlines for a significant car crash on Thursday. (More)

➤ NC State athletics is currently projecting a budget deficit of over $18 million for the fiscal year. NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan stressed the importance of fixing this issue, saying, "We are going to fight and claw our way to a balanced budget." (More)

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➤ Elon Musk Sounds Alarm on China's Silver Ban "This is not good," Musk warned as China cut off 70% of global silver refining in January—right as demand exploded. Silver powers Tesla batteries, AI chips, and military tech. No substitute exists. Silver jumped 144% in 2025. In the 1970s, a similar crisis sent prices from $1.50 to $50—a 3,000% gain. Analysts say this shortage is worse. Early investors could see historic upside. 👉 Get The Free Silver Report & See How to Profit

➤ Six Flags Entertainment Corporation, which owns Carowinds, reported fourth-quarter net revenues of $650 million and a $92 million net loss, with full-year 2025 revenues at $3.1 billion and a $1.6 billion net loss. (More)

➤ Morrisville-based Eton Solutions launched the EtonAlpha mobile app for potential clients with $25 million-plus in assets on Thursday, democratizing a digital wealth management platform originally built for billionaires. (More)

➤ The U.S. Department of Energy plans to award Duke Energy $34 million to upgrade the gas-and-coal-fired Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County—extending reliable operations until 2039 with added capacity—as part of a $175 million multi-state grant package. (More)

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➤ Hollywood actor James Franco was spotted in Graham scouting locations for his upcoming movie, set to begin filming in March. He was also there to attend a screening of his brother Dave Franco's film Regretting You. (See Photo)

➤ A new list of North Carolina's six most idyllic small towns based on walkability, historic charm, natural access, and community vibe includes Beaufort, Blowing Rock, Mount Airy, Bath, Edenton, and Saluda. (See List)

➤ Raleigh ranks No. 2 in a list of the 2026 best state capitals to live in—second only to Austin, Texas—due to its fourth-highest median household income, rapid growth, strong education, professional hockey team, and access to top-rated restaurants. (See Rankings)

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