FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1966, American rock bassist Johnny Colt (born Charles Brandt) was born in Cherry Point. Colt played with the Black Crowes from 1989-1997 and opened NoDa Studios in Charlotte in 2007 with the help of Train tour manager Thomas O’Keefe.

A North Carolina House bill that would ban anyone under age 14 from having a social media account is making its way through the Senate. Learn more in Top Stories, and hit reply to let us know what you think of it.

One year ago, we hit “record” on something new, and it’s grown into something incredible. Today, The Flyover Podcast reaches more than 1.4 million listeners each month, delivering clear, direct, and unbiased coverage of the stories that matter most. What started as a simple idea is now part of daily routines across the country, and we couldn’t have done it without you. As we head into year two, we’re excited to bring you new content, new formats, and new ways to stay informed. We’re just getting started. Tune in to today’s Podcast Extra stories, featuring a new form of “genetic cholesterol” that could become the next big breakthrough in preventing heart attacks. Listen here.

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Public Threat Made Against Trump in Apex

A man made public threats against President Trump at Tidal Wave Auto Spa on Lake Pine Drive in Apex around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, prompting a swift law enforcement response.

Police confirmed that Daniel Rodney Swain, 41, of Charleston, South Carolina, was traveling to Washington, D.C., when he stopped in Apex. He was accused of making violent political threats while at the business.

Apex police, the State Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, the Secret Service, and a bomb squad responded to the scene and evacuated the carwash. Authorities used a robot to search Swain’s vehicle, which displayed political messages including “Tell Donald he is fired” on the rear window.

Swain was arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine, resisting a public officer, and having a fake license plate. He was held in the Wake County Detention Center without bond and scheduled to appear in court on Thursday.

Social Media Ban Bill Advances in Senate

A North Carolina bill that would ban children under 14 from having social media accounts is advancing in the state Senate. Lawmakers approved the measure in committee this week, moving it closer to a full Senate vote.

House Bill 301 would also require parental consent for users ages 14 and 15 to open an account. Platforms would be required to verify ages and enforce the restrictions, which may include account removal.

A civil penalty of up to $50,000 per violation could be imposed.

Supporters say the proposal protects children from online harm, while critics warn it raises privacy and free speech concerns. The bill passed the House 106-6 last year, with all six opposing votes coming from Democrats.

Officials Begin Work on NC 12 ‘SAND’ Plan

State transportation officials are developing a new effort to shape the future of North Carolina Highway 12 along the Outer Banks through the Solving Access for N.C. 12 in Dare County (SAND) plan.

The initiative focuses on long-term strategies to manage erosion, flooding, and storm damage that frequently threaten NC 12, aiming to improve resilience and maintain access along the vulnerable coastal corridor.

Officials from NCDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, and other state and local agencies gathered public input through a series of meetings in April and are continuing to conduct feedback through an online survey to help guide future decisions.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Josh Stein signed a $319 million Medicaid funding bill passed by the legislature to address rising health care costs and keeping the program operational through the end of June. (More)

➤ Greenville: Former FBI Director James Comey will appear in federal court in Greenville on May 11 after his indictment on charges of threatening President Trump with a social media post showing “86 47.” (More)

➤ Charlotte: UNC-Charlotte held a wreath-laying ceremony Thursday morning outside of the Kennedy Building to honor 21-year-old Riley Howell and 19-year-old Ellis Reed Parlier, the two students killed in a 2019 campus shooting. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Thousands of teachers and supporters will rally in Raleigh today, demanding a 25% pay raise, an end to corporate tax breaks and private school vouchers, and increased public school funding. (More)

➤ Monroe: Mayor Robert Burns filed paperwork to run for North Carolina governor in 2028 as a Republican, signaling a statewide bid ahead of formal candidate filing, which opens in 2027. (More)

➤ Granville County: State Sen. Terence Everitt, D-Granville County, will resign Friday to focus on voting rights advocacy, after a tenure that included a narrow 2024 election win and a dispute with then-House Speaker Tim Moore. (More)

➤ Greensboro: A public memorial service will be held on Saturday at World Victory Church for former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, 22, who died on Easter from an aggressive stomach cancer. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers officially exercised quarterback Bryce Young's fifth-year option this week, locking the former No. 1 overall pick into a guaranteed $25.9 million salary for 2027. (More)

➤ UNC-Charlotte men’s golf shot a program-record 22-under in the final round to win the ACC championship for the second straight year. Daniel Boone Jr. led the charge with a 62, 10 under par. (More)

➤ Duke and UConn’s men’s basketball programs are finalizing plans to play basketball in Las Vegas next season, a rematch of last month's Elite Eight game that the Blue Devils lost on a buzzer-beater. (More)

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➤ Tennessee-based trucking and logistics firm Averitt plans a major regional campus near Charlotte Douglas International Airport, creating 211 jobs by 2028 with an average salary of $81,769.(More)

➤ An appeals court rejected a bid to block construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline Southgate extension into Rockingham County, allowing the project to move forward. (More)

➤ The UNC System awarded over $6.4 million in grants to expand rural health care training programs across North Carolina, supporting interprofessional student education and new residency initiatives. (More)

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➤ North Carolina’s upper-middle class grew sharply from 2010 to 2024, with inflation-adjusted households earning at least $150,000 rising from about 535,000 to nearly 878,000, or 19.5% of households. (More)

➤ Jane Dwyer celebrated her 100th birthday by reconnecting with her love of horses, visiting a New Hill therapeutic riding center where she reminisced about her childhood and bonded with a horse named Colby. (See Jane and Colby)

➤ Super Bowl LII champion and former Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce was spotted dining at The Smoke Pit BBQ in Concord on April 14, where he was photographed in front of a spread of brisket, ribs, sausages, cornbread, and fried okra. (See Kelce)

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