Sunday, May 24, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1775, Josiah Martin, North Carolina’s last royal governor, fled Tryon Palace in New Bern under cover of darkness in fear of an attack by Patriot militia. He moved to Fort Johnston, then sought refuge aboard the HMS Cruizer, where he governed for months.

One professor is working on a project to turn leftover sweet potatoes into milk. Learn more in Around North Carolina.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown highlighted new research on a kitchen staple that scientists say could play a surprising role in protecting brain health. Multiple long-term studies found people who ate it regularly had a significantly lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, adding to growing evidence that everyday diet choices may have a bigger impact on memory and cognition than once thought. Listen here.

If you’re ready to finally take control of your weight and your health, today’s sponsor, DirectMeds, makes it simple to start—with trusted GLP-1 treatments prescribed online and delivered straight to your door.

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.

Two Attorneys Shot at Raleigh Courthouse

A Raleigh woman is accused of shooting two attorneys outside the Wake County Courthouse on Friday after becoming belligerent during a hearing in her civil lawsuit against Rolesville police.

Gwendolyn White, 57, left the courtroom, retrieved a handgun from her car, and shot Fox Rothschild attorneys Mary Harris and Jeffrey Whitley in an alley outside. Officers took her into custody at the scene, and she was later taken to a local hospital for undisclosed reasons.

The hearing was scheduled to determine whether to reinstate a 2022 civil case White filed against the Rolesville Police Department over body camera footage from a 2021 incident; a judge dismissed the case in January. White claimed the footage was connected to her mother's death last year.

White faces two counts of attempted first-degree murder. Court records show she has filed more than a dozen civil suits since 2022.

NC Lawmakers Advance Hospital Oversight Bills

The North Carolina Senate is advancing two bills that would impose new accountability requirements on hospital systems, prompted by Atrium Health's proposed merger with Raleigh-based WakeMed.

Senate Bill 978 would give the state auditor, attorney general, and the state treasurer authority to review and challenge major hospital deals and cap nonprofit CEO pay at 400 times the lowest-paid worker's wage. Companion bill SB 961 would add four local elected officials to Atrium's board and require open-meetings compliance.

Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Angier) said Atrium enjoys public entity benefits like tax exemptions without sufficient accountability. Advocate Health CEO Gene Woods earned $25.8 million in 2024; the cap would limit that to roughly $15.7 million.

The North Carolina Healthcare Association warned the bills could hurt hospitals serving rural communities. Both measures face a difficult path through the House, which has historically sided with hospital interests.

Flags at Half-Staff for Kyle Busch

Governor Josh Stein ordered flags at half-staff through sunset today at all state facilities in honor of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, who died Thursday at age 41.

Sources said that Busch became unresponsive while testing the Chevrolet racing simulator Wednesday at the GM facility in Concord and was rushed to a Charlotte hospital.

His family confirmed Saturday that Busch died after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications.

The two-time Cup champion, who won 234 races across NASCAR's three national series, will be honored at Charlotte Motor Speedway during today's Coca-Cola 600, which proceeds as scheduled.

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➤ Lake Lure: A new AT&T cell site went live in the Rutherford County resort town Friday, with Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr attending the ribbon cutting. The new site includes band 14 spectrum for first-responder connectivity. (More)

➤ Asheboro: Randolph County is launching a new online food hub May 28, connecting shoppers with nearly 20 local farms for curbside pickup at the Randolph County Agricultural Center on U.S. 64 East. (More)

➤ Southport: The Board of Aldermen will hold a public hearing June 2 on a zoning proposal to create a local historic district covering 386 parcels, requiring property owners to get approval before making exterior changes. (More)

➤ Boone: An Appalachian State University professor landed a $1.8 million NCInnovation grant to convert surplus sweet potatoes into plant-based milk. Roughly 63 million pounds rot in state fields each year, costing farmers $13.2 million. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Samaritan’s Purse is airlifting more than 34 tons of Ebola treatment supplies to the Democratic Republic of Congo, deploying a full treatment center aboard a 767 cargo plane departing today. (More)

➤ Cherokee: Three people were federally indicted after allegedly luring a South Carolina man to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, then kidnapping, robbing, and fatally shooting him before burning his body. (More)

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➤ No. 2 UNC baseball racked up 13 runs on 22 hits to take down Pitt 13-5 and advance to the finals of the ACC tournament yesterday. (More)

➤ No. 12 Duke softball fell 10-2 to No. 5 Arkansas in a run-rule defeat in Game 2 of the Fayetteville Super Regional, ending their season just two games away from advancing to the Women's College World Series. (More)

➤ Duke lacrosse fell 14-7 to No. 1 Princeton yesterday in the semifinals of the men’s NCAA tournament. (More)

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Take control of your weight and health with DirectMeds. Their licensed providers prescribe trusted GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide—clinically proven to curb appetite, balance blood sugar, and promote lasting fat loss. Lower your risk of diabetes, boost energy, and feel confident again. Start today with a quick online consultation and 24-hour approval.

➤ Washburn’s General Store in Bostic has served Rutherford County since 1831, making it North Carolina’s oldest continually operated, family-owned business—now approaching its 200th year as America prepares for its 250th birthday. (More)

➤ Beast Games Season 3 tapes live tonight at ECU’s Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, with doors opening at 8 p.m. Free T-shirts await the first 6,000 fans, and MrBeast merch goes to the first 16,000. (More)

➤ Kennedy Ryan drew hundreds to NC A&T’s Harrison Auditorium in Greensboro on Friday for a signing and Q&A promoting her new novel Score, the second installment in her Harlem Renaissance series. (More)

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