SATURDAY, MAY 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1929, Shawnee rock guitarist Fred Lincoln, aka “Link,” Wray, was born in Dunn. He overcame childhood measles, which weakened his eyesight, and completed Army tours in Germany and Korea before creating—with the help of his brothers—the iconic power-chord sound in the 1958 instrumental hit Rumble.

It's been a wild week of news, and some of the biggest stories may have flown right under your radar. President Trump hinted that a major UFO file release is coming "in the near future," engineers are using sound waves to extinguish wildfires, and Saudi investors are pulling the plug on LIV Golf. Tune into The Flyover Podcast as Amy Hess takes an in-depth look at some of the most interesting stories of the week. Tune in here!

Mother's Day is right around the corner. If you haven't started shopping, start here: our 2026 Gift Guide has thoughtful, practical, and indulgent picks for every kind of mom.

Today’s sponsor, FinanceBuzz, is sharing 19 smart expenses to cut when money gets tight—practical tips that could help you save more, reduce stress, and take control of your finances faster.

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.

Novartis Picks Morrisville for New Factory

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis announced Thursday it will build a new active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility in Morrisville—the seventh and final site in its $23 billion U.S. expansion pledge.

The 56,200-square-foot plant will produce active ingredients for solid dosage tablets, capsules, and RNA therapeutics.

The Morrisville project is separate from a $771 million expansion already underway across Durham and Wake County sites, expected to add 700 jobs by 2030.

The move cements the Research Triangle's status as a pharma manufacturing hub and is the first time Novartis will build full end-to-end U.S. production across all its platforms.

Teachers March Shuts NC Schools

Thousands of North Carolina educators flooded Halifax Mall in Raleigh on Friday for the Kids Over Corporations rally, one of the largest teacher demonstrations in state history.

The march, organized by the NC Association of Educators, drew teachers statewide demanding a 25% pay raise, $20,000 in per-pupil spending by 2030, and higher taxes on corporations.

More than 20 school districts canceled classes, including the state's five largest.

Gov. Josh Stein has voiced support for educators as the budget standoff continues in Raleigh.

Charlotte Issues Mandatory Water Restrictions

Charlotte is imposing mandatory water-use restrictions beginning May 15 as "exceptional" drought grips the region for the first time since 2008.

Charlotte Water triggered Stage 2 of the regional low inflow protocol on Friday, affecting the Catawba-Wateree basin, which supplies drinking water to more than two million people across 24 counties. The goal is to cut overall water use by 5–10% to protect reservoir storage.

Outdoor watering is now capped at two days per week between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. Residents may not wash vehicles at home, fill pools, or run decorative water features, though drip irrigation and commercial car washes remain allowed.

Exceptional drought has been declared in Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Stanly, and Union Counties, part of a record-dry stretch across the Carolinas and Georgia since September 2025. Neighboring cities including Statesville are also moving to mandatory restrictions as conditions worsen.

Flying together with our sponsor

Money is tight, and with prices on the rise, deciding where to cut back can feel overwhelming. You don’t have to overhaul your entire life overnight to see a difference.

Here is how to start: Browse FinanceBuzz's list of money-saving strategies below and choose just one or two to try today. Even a single small change can create the breathing room you need to breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ Northeastern North Carolina: Dominion Energy has proposed raising monthly residential rates by $17, a move that still requires approval from the North Carolina Utilities Commission. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was posthumously awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, one of North Carolina's most prestigious honors, on Friday. (See Photo)

➤ Greenville: ECU Health has performed North Carolina's first single-port colorectal robotic surgery using the da Vinci SP system, marking a milestone for the state's surgical capabilities. (More)

➤ Burlington: Four people were exposed to a rabid cat on Wednesday near South Ashland Drive and Tyron Street, the Alamance County Health Department says. (More)

➤ Asheville: Buncombe County saw both home sales and active listings rise in March, another encouraging data point in the area's real estate recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. (Details)

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➤ The Carolina Hurricanes host the Philadelphia Flyers tonight at the Lenovo Center in Round 2 Game 1. Carolina swept Ottawa in four games and is making its eighth consecutive playoff appearance. (More)

➤ Moussa Diabaté of the Charlotte Hornets won the 2025-26 NBA Hustle Award, edging out Dyson Daniels and Draymond Green. The center posted career bests and became a fan favorite during the Hornets' resurgent season. (More)

➤ NASCAR drivers are hyping the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend—600 miles of racing with military tributes woven throughout the event. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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Flying together with our sponsor

Your money is getting tight. Prices are going up. And figuring out what to cut back on can feel overwhelming. Here's what you can do: Read FinanceBuzz's list of money-saving strategies below, and start with one or two today. Even doing just one can help you breathe a little easier.

LEARN MORE

➤ Raleigh-Durham's food truck season is officially kicking off, with new restaurant concepts and mobile vendors spinning up across the Research Triangle. (Details)

➤ Brevard's white squirrels are getting their national moment—Southern Living just spotlighted the mountain town as a must-visit destination, thanks in part to its famously pale, fluffy residents. (See Squirrel)

➤ The 2026 NC State Fair has locked in its dates and debuted a fresh new logo. (See Logo)

Flying together with our sponsor

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