Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1756, Cherokee leaders and representatives from Virginia reached an alliance during the French and Indian War after several days of negotiations along the Broad River in North Carolina. The Virginians promised weapons, supplies, and a protective fort, while the Cherokee agreed to send about 400 warriors to help fight French and Shawnee forces.

March Madness has arrived—and we aren't just talking about St. Patrick's Day celebrations or yesterday's weather, which you can read more about in Top Stories. Are you planning to fill out an NCAA men's or women's basketball bracket? Answer today's Poll, then reply to tell us your pick to win it all.

Who says technology is just for kids? In today's Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown highlights tech tools that can make everyday life much easier for older adults. These products are especially helpful for your parents or grandparents, including one that Ayla says seniors really shouldn't be without. Tune in here!

Today marks three years since the launch of The Flyover, which began on St. Patrick's Day 2023 with just 47 readers.

Since then, The Flyover has grown into one of the largest independent news platforms in the country, including Flyover North Carolina, and we're inviting readers to support our work through a special anniversary donation campaign.

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.

Level 4 Storms Trigger Tornadoes, Power Outages

Severe storms tracked through North Carolina on Monday, prompting tornado watches and warnings, triggering power outages, and uprooting trees.

The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning early Monday morning for parts of Madison and Yancey counties, and later confirmed that an EF-0 tornado with 85 mph winds struck a warehouse in northeast Charlotte.

Tornado watches remained in effect for Central North Carolina through the afternoon, with storm bands delivering winds of up to 50 mph.

Over 24,000 North Carolina utility customers were without power as of Monday evening.

Sharply colder air was expected to arrive overnight, dropping lows to the upper teens in some areas, with single-digit wind chills and light mountain snow possible.

NC Upgrades Mental Health Bed Registry

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced the introduction of automated bed availability to its statewide mental health bed registry, known as the Behavioral Health Statewide Central Availability Navigator (BH SCAN).

Previously reliant on manual daily inputs or outdated methods like phone calls and faxes, the system now provides hourly updates on open beds at mental health and substance use treatment facilities.

It has also been integrated with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, so counselors and mobile crisis teams can quickly identify nearby available beds based on patient needs, helping reduce delays in finding care.

BH SCAN now covers more than 3,500 beds across 112 facilities. NCDHHS says the system provides visibility into about 80% of the state's inpatient psychiatric bed capacity, and officials say the tool will expand to full provider adoption by early 2027.

The Flyover Turns Three

Three years ago today, we sent our first-ever edition of The Flyover to 47 people. Read our first edition here.

Just one year ago, we delivered The Flyover to 1.1 million readers. Today, 2.7 million of you received our national edition, plus another 1.7 million in our nine state editions.

Flyover North Carolina now reaches over 175,000 readers. It's part of a nine-state network with more than 4 million total readers nationwide.

It has been a busy 12 months for our team. Along with that growth, we started a podcast that's amassed more than 1.1 million views per month, launched additional state editions in Ohio and Arizona, and welcomed 3,700 readers to the Flyover family as fellow owners.

Our audience has changed dramatically, but the core principles have stayed the same: fact-first daily news. We've made improvements over the years, but we still deliver the news without media bias or a political agenda. (And we have a little fun, too.)

The Flyover has emerged as a leading publication with a larger audience than many recognizable news media brands, and we owe that entirely to you, our Flyover readers.

We've got big plans for 2026, starting with The California Flyover on April 1. Click here to sign up.

Thank you for sticking with us. We wouldn't exist without your support, and we're excited to serve you for another year.

Flying together with our sponsor

Dear Flyover Reader,

Three years ago today—on St. Patrick's Day, 2023—we launched The Flyover. It was either a result of good luck or pure stubbornness. I'd like to think it was a little of both.

Back then, we had no idea if this thing would work. All we knew was that millions of Americans were tired of being talked down to by legacy media, and we believed a daily news publication focused on facts first (without the usual slanted nonsense) might be worth a shot.

Turns out, you agreed.

In three years, The Flyover has grown from 47 readers on day one to over 4.4 million across all editions, making us one of the largest independent news platforms in the country.

That growth happened because of you. Not because of some corporate media conglomerate. Not because of a cable news deal. But because everyday readers like you showed up, spread the word, and backed us when it counted.

Here's the honest truth: The Flyover is free, and it always will be. But free doesn't mean it costs nothing to produce. We have gone from a volunteer staff to a dedicated team of writers, editors, and builders who work hard for you every day, and now rely on us to pay the bill and feed their families. Our advertisers cover a lot, but we also count on our readers. Reader support is what closes the gap and keeps us independent.

On our third birthday, I'm asking: if Flyover North Carolina has earned a spot in your morning routine and you have come to trust us with your news, would you consider making a financial donation to Flyover North Carolina?

Whether it's $15 or $500, every dollar helps us keep doing what we do—delivering the news straight, without the spin.

Thank you for three incredible years. Here's to many more.

Give $15Give $50Give $150Give $500

-Cole, CEO

➤ Western NC: A U.S. Department of Justice filing seeks to dismiss misdemeanor charges against Western North Carolina veteran Jay Carey. He was arrested in August after burning an American flag near the White House to protest President Trump's executive order on flag burning. (More)

➤ Hamlet: Two CSX freight trains collided Saturday morning along Louis Breeden Boulevard, derailing 18 cars and one locomotive. No injuries were reported, and a minimal diesel spill was contained. The cause of the collision is under investigation. (More)

➤ Wallace: Carolina Strawberry Festival organizers are warning the public of an ongoing social media scam where fake accounts comment on posts and urge users to message them privately for vendor applications, tickets, or festival information. Organizers say they will only post and comment from their official festival page. (More)

➤ Durham: A Durham Technical Community College program, led by nonprofit Hope Renovations, offers seven-week training to prepare women for construction careers through hands-on skills and certifications. (More)

➤ Raleigh: The historic Rialto Theatre revived its Oscars watch party tradition Sunday night, rolling out a red carpet for locals to celebrate the 98th Academy Awards with fashion, nostalgia, and a viewing of Hollywood's biggest night. (More)

➤ Flat Rock: A one-act play about the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Carl Sandburg, who once lived in Flat Rock, is being performed at Flat Rock United Methodist Church. The next performance is scheduled for April 15. (More)

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

➤ NC State men's basketball plays Texas tonight at 9:15 for a spot in the 64-team March Madness field. The Wolfpack are slight underdogs in the do-or-die matchup. (More)

➤ Women's March Madness: Duke landed a No. 3 seed, UNC a No. 4 seed, NC State a No. 7 seed, and High Point landed a No. 15 seed. (See Bracket)

➤ USA TODAY named the Carolina Panthers one of the five most improved teams in the league following NFL free agency. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Charlotte's Queensbridge Collective is opening between Uptown and South End on the former site of Midnight Diner and Uptown Cabaret. The first phase of the mixed-use development includes a residential building, retail component, and Michelin-recommended steakhouse. (More)

➤ Kenco Logistic Services will permanently lay off 86 employees and cease operations at its Charlotte facility on May 17, following a contract cancellation at the site. The warehouse will remain open under a different logistics provider. (More)

➤ Made in Henderson County received $4,000 from the Work with Heart Giving Circle—made up of six local businesses that support nonprofits—for introducing Henderson County Public Schools students to local manufacturing careers. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Iran War Triggers Rush to IRS-Approved "Golden Retirement" Accounts. Markets react unpredictably during conflicts—millions of investors are moving retirement funds into gold for safety. Gold holds value during uncertain times. It returned 64% in 2025, crushing the S&P 500 by more than 3x. Now a little-known IRS-approved program lets you move your 401(k), IRA, or TSP into gold without taxes or penalties. Anchor Point Research released a free guide explaining how it works.👉 Read the report now before gold hits new record highs.

Flying together with our sponsor

Today marks three years of The Flyover, from a first send to 47 readers to more than 4.4 million across all editions. That kind of growth only happens when readers decide something is worth coming back to. We plan to keep The Flyover free, but it takes real resources to build and deliver it each day.

If you believe in what we're doing, please consider making a donation.

Give $15Give $50Give $150Give $500

-Cole, CEO

➤ Charlotte chef Holden Sasser at Union Barbecue is incorporating climate-resilient black-eyed peas—sourced from farmer Ben Geiger, who works with the Utopian Seed Project—into dishes like Hoppin' John to promote weather-hardy crops. (More)

➤ Charlotte Hornets forward Grant Williams hosted a chess workshop Sunday at the Charlotte Chess Center's North facility for youth from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas. Participants were grouped by skill level, with Williams playing games to encourage them and organizing 24 mentorship matches. (See Photo)

➤ Asheville ranked third on Southern Living's 2026 South's Best Cities list, behind Charleston and Savannah. Nearby Highlands' Old Edwards Inn and Spa also placed third among the magazine's South's Best Classic Hotels rankings. (See Cities and Hotels)

Flying together with our sponsor

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