THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1941, the USS North Carolina battleship was commissioned four months ahead of schedule at the New York Navy Yard, an event that received tremendous media attention. The "world’s fightingest ship" is now permanently moored on the Cape Fear River in Wilmington.

North Carolina officials want to expand the state’s passenger rail service. Learn more in Top Stories, then hit reply to let us know if you think we need more passenger routes here.

Twenty-one months ago, Tucker Carlson told America that President Trump surviving an assassination attempt was "divine intervention." Today, he's calling Trump's latest post "vile on every level." Trump's response? "I like dealing with smart people, not fools." This isn't a subtle disagreement. This is open warfare between two of the most influential voices in conservative media and politics. In today's Flyover Podcast, CEO Cole Strehlow walks through exactly what happened, what they've said, and how we got here. Listen here.

Later today, keep an eye out for a message from our partner, Frontieras, exploring how new technology is reshaping domestic energy by transforming coal into high-value fuels, an approach that’s gaining traction quickly.

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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.

Mullin Pledges Progress on NC Disaster Relief

Markwayne Mullin, secretary of Homeland Security, made North Carolina the destination of his first official trip, touring Hurricane Helene-devastated areas in Chimney Rock and Lake Lure on Tuesday.

Accompanied by Sen. Ted Budd, Reps. Chuck Edwards and Tim Moore, and FEMA officials, Mullin received briefings on recovery progress and held a roundtable with local leaders.

Less than a week after removing his predecessor Kristi Noem’s $100,000 spending approval rule, which had slowed reimbursements, Mullin pledged to accelerate Hurricane Helene disaster relief by clearing backlogs and empowering local decision-making. “We’re trying to push this stuff forward as fast as possible,” Mullin said.

Mullin noted FEMA’s recent approval of $26 million for home buyouts in affected counties and committed to briefing President Trump on pending disaster declarations while reforming—rather than eliminating—the agency to better support state and local efforts.

Commissioners Act on OBX Beach Nourishment

Dare County Commissioners unanimously approved key measures on Tuesday to advance beach nourishment projects along the Outer Banks.

The board adopted a new Beach Nourishment Model requiring towns to match or exceed baseline allocations and maintain minimum tax rates. They also greenlit projects for Buxton/Avon and Nags Head.

The Buxton/Avon nourishment project calls for groin repairs and placing 1.351 million cubic yards of sand in Buxton and 300,000 cubic yards in Avon at an estimated $45 million cost, with $40 million from county funds. The Nags Head project, scheduled for this summer, carries a $36.4 million contract, including over $13 million from the county.

The actions come as the Cape Hatteras National Seashore warns that oceanfront homes in Buxton and Rodanthe could partially or fully collapse due to persistent northeast winds and high surf through April 11.

NC Pushes to Expand Rail Corridors

North Carolina submitted 12 passenger rail corridors for federal review, with seven selected by the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor Identification and Development Program for further development.

The proposals include direct routes from Raleigh to Wilmington—offering six daily trips and ending lengthy bus transfers. Additional connections approved for review include Raleigh to Fayetteville, Raleigh to Winston-Salem, Charlotte to Kings Mountain, Charlotte to Atlanta, Charlotte to Washington, D.C., and Salisbury to Asheville.

Ridership on existing services has surged by 59% since 2019. State officials say the expansion responds to community demand for better connectivity, with the federal program potentially covering up to 80% of costs.

Projects remain in early planning stages, with no construction timelines set and full funding still needed.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Republican Party and Republican National Committee settled their 2024 lawsuit against the state elections board over removing noncitizens identified through jury questionnaires from voting rolls, with two Democratic-aligned groups opposing the deal. (More)

➤ NC Coast: Officials are warning the public not to touch or interact with dead sharks washing ashore, as many species are protected even after death. (More)

➤ Western NC: North Carolina’s black bear population has quadrupled to about 20,000 over two decades, increasing human encounters as development and habitat loss push bears into urban areas. (More)

➤ Anson County: The Board of Elections has petitioned the State Board of Elections to remove Director Sherry Melton, citing years of mismanagement, including ballot security failures, unlawful voter assistance, interference with board duties, and other violations. (More)

➤ Cleveland County: Eight people were arrested following a multi-week drug operation with charges including possession and trafficking of methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, heroin/opium, and other controlled substances. (More)

➤ Chapel Hill: Former UNC provost Chris Clemens dismissed his lawsuit against UNC-Chapel Hill with prejudice after reaching a settlement, ending claims over alleged open meetings and public records violations. (More)

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➤ Michael Malone’s six-year, $50 million contract with UNC will make him the second-highest paid public university basketball coach in the country, trailing only Kansas’ Bill Self. (More)

➤ Former Wake Forest athletic director Gene Hooks died on Monday at 98. Hooks served as the Deacons’ AD for 28 years and oversaw three national championships and 21 ACC titles during his tenure. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes clinched the Metropolitan Division title Tuesday night with a 6-5 overtime win over the Bruins. It’s Carolina’s fourth division title in six seasons under coach Rod Brind’Amour. (More)

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➤ Japanese banking giant SMBC selected Charlotte for a $50 million U.S. expansion, announcing plans to create 2,000 new jobs over the next six years. (More)

➤ Six West Charlotte nonprofits received $6 million in Wells Fargo grants on Tuesday to boost economic growth, support affordable housing, expand workforce development, and strengthen small businesses. (More)

➤ Raleigh businessman Bob Luddy, owner of CaptiveAire Systems, urged North Carolina senators in a letter this week to reject casino legislation, arguing casinos would strain law enforcement and social services. (More)

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➤ North Carolina's income tax cut from 5.8% to 4.25% and corporate rate elimination added 448,900 private-sector jobs since 2020, outpacing Massachusetts, which lost 18,000 jobs after imposing a millionaire's surtax, according to a new study. (More)

➤ Hendersonville will honor Sgt. Walter H. Bryson, a decorated Buffalo Soldier who served with the 9th Cavalry and as a West Point instructor, with a historic marker at his grave in Oakdale Cemetery. (More)

➤ Phone-free policies are gaining traction in North Carolina establishments like Charlotte cocktail bar Antagonist, which locks customers’ phones in pouches for two hours, encouraging genuine connection and screen-free experiences. (More)

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