THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1934, R&B guitarist and singer Sonny Forriest was born in Pendleton. A Korean War Air Force veteran, Forrest played with The Coasters from 1959 to 1961, toured with Ray Charles, and released several jazz albums as a solo artist.

The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management has formally assumed management of a popular, undeveloped area of Topsail Island. Learn more in Top Stories, then reply to let us know if you’ve been there.

Still trying to figure out what to get Dad this year? We pulled together some of our favorite Father’s Day gift ideas to help make it easy. From practical everyday upgrades to fun finds he’ll actually use, these are gifts built for dads of all kinds. Check out the full Father’s Day Gift Guide here.

Could a single phone call or email wipe out a lifetime of savings in your family? The FBI says these three scams are responsible for billions in losses, and they're hitting older Americans harder than ever, with average victims losing $83,000. On The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown unpacks how each scam works, why they're so effective, and what families can do right now to protect the people they love. Tune in here!

Today’s edition is brought to you by BIOptimizers, makers of Magnesium Breakthrough, the best-selling magnesium complex with all seven forms your body actually needs. For Memorial Day, BIOptimizers is offering 25% off sitewide through May 27.

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.

House Passes Amendment to Elect Board of Ed

The North Carolina House Education Committee advanced House Bill 144 on Tuesday, a proposed constitutional amendment that would make the elected superintendent of public instruction the voting chair of the State Board of Education and replace most governor-appointed members with elected ones.

Under the measure, voters would elect 14 board members from districts drawn by the legislature, likely aligning with congressional boundaries.

Supporters, led by Rep. Hugh Blackwell, R-Burke, argue the change increases accountability and voter control amid concerns over student performance. Democrats warned it would inject more partisanship into education policy.

If approved by three-fifths majorities in both chambers, the amendment goes to voters on the November 2026 ballot. Changes would take effect in 2029 if ratified. The bill now heads to the House Rules Committee.

Topsail Nature Preserve Transferred to State

Topsail Nature Preserve, known locally as “The Point,” was officially transferred from the N.C. Coastal Land Trust to the state’s Division of Coastal Management following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday. The transfer ensures that it will remain open to the public and protected from construction.

Spanning roughly 150 acres at the south end of Topsail Island, the tract was purchased by the Land Trust for $8 million in April 2025 with support from nearly 800 donors and grant funding, and is one of the last privately owned, undeveloped barrier island parcels in the state.

It accommodates a mix of beach, dunes, wetlands, and scrub forest that serves as a habitat for coastal flora and fauna, nesting sea turtles, and shorebirds.

The Coastal Land Trust is now seeking volunteers to help remove litter and assist with other protection efforts. Learn more about that here.

NC Towns Named Top Places to Live

Several North Carolina towns earned national recognition in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-27 250 Best Places to Live rankings, which evaluate quality of life, job market, affordability, desirability, and healthcare.

In the Triangle, Cary ranked No. 11 and Apex No. 20 nationally, thanks to strong employment options, short commutes, and family-friendly environments.

Huntersville (Mecklenburg County), near Lake Norman, ranked No. 36 and was praised for offering a higher quality of life than similarly sized cities.

North Carolina also placed four towns in SmartAsset’s 2026 rankings of America’s 75 safest midsize cities: Chapel Hill at No. 24, Concord at No. 46, Mooresville at No. 66, and Cary at No. 73. The study assessed violent crime, property crime, traffic fatalities, and natural disaster risk.

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➤ Statewide: Gov. Josh Stein appointed Janneke Ratcliffe as senior housing policy advisor on Tuesday and issued an executive order aimed at expanding coordination and construction of affordable housing amid a growing shortage. (More)

➤ NC Schools: House Republicans on the Education K-12 Committee questioned state student achievement data last week, arguing graduation rates and proficiency metrics exaggerate college and career readiness compared with ACT results. (More)

➤ Mecklenburg County: The Sheriff’s Office will reopen Jail North in early August to relieve “historic overcrowding” at the central detention center, where the inmate population reached 2,084 as arrests increased. (More)

➤ Asheville: Police used pepperballs to clear a crowd spilling into Banks Avenue early Sunday after repeated warnings over safety concerns in the downtown nightlife district, where no arrests were made. (More)

➤ Rowan County: Police arrested a “volatile” parent on Tuesday after he allegedly assaulted two teachers and two students during field day at China Grove Elementary, prompting a roughly hour-long lockdown. (More)

➤ NC Lakes: Officials may close boat ramps at Lakes Norman, High Rock, Jocassee, Falls, Jordan, and Fontana this Memorial Day weekend as drought conditions keep water levels critically low. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Hurricanes open the NHL Eastern Conference Finals tonight against the Montreal Canadiens. Carolina is 8-0 in the playoffs, and the first team since the 1985 Oilers to start a postseason with eight straight wins. (More)

➤ Charlotte’s NASCAR Hall of Fame will induct Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Larry Phillips into its Class of 2027 in January. (More)

➤ Mallard Creek High School’s controversial disqualification at the state track championship is headed to a state appeals board for review. (More)

➤ Carolina Panthers defensive lineman Tershawn Wharton underwent neck surgery and will open training camp on the physically unable to perform list. Coach Dave Canales said he’s recovering well, but gave no timeline for his return. (More)

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➤ WakeMed held its first public hearing on the proposed merger with Atrium Health on Tuesday, a day after county commissioners voted to delay the decision by at least 90 days to allow more time for review. (More)

➤ Off the Hook will rebrand as NextBoat this week, changing its ticker from OTH to NXB as the Wilmington-based company shifts toward an AI-powered marine marketplace platform. (More)

➤ The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals allowed construction of a 55-mile natural gas pipeline serving Duke Energy customers in North Carolina and Virginia to continue, rejecting environmental groups’ request to halt the project. (More)

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BIOptimizers Memorial Day Sale Is Live

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👉 Shop before the Memorial Day Sale ends May 27

➤ The 82nd Airborne Division Chorus performed Toby Keith’s American Soldier at Raleigh’s Angus Barn, prompting Keith’s son to say the family was “incredibly grateful” and that “dad would have loved it.” (More and Watch Performance)

➤ The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences will reopen its immersive Butterfly Room on Saturday, featuring up to 200 live butterflies, a two-toed sloth, a tropical milk snake, a tarantula, and five wood turtles. (More)

➤ The Secotan Alliance will host its third annual In the Spirit of Wingina 3: Seeds of Wisdom and Sustenance event May 29-30 in Manteo and Nags Head, exploring Indigenous history, Chief Wingina’s legacy, and sustainable coastal futures. (More)

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