Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1942, Harlem Globetrotter Frederick “Curly” Neal was born in Greensboro. Known for his magical dribbling and shooting, Neal played 22 seasons—wearing No. 22—from 1963 to 1985, appearing in over 6,000 games across 97 countries.

Do you know how to play Crokinole? Read about this 1800s tabletop game in Et Cetera, then test your knowledge of what it is by answering today’s Trivia question.

Could one of the most common foods in your kitchen actually help guard your brain against Alzheimer’s? Two major studies published in The Journal of Nutrition uncovered a fascinating connection that researchers believe points to one key nutrient in this everyday food. On The Flyover Podcast, Ayla Brown unpacks the science behind the findings and what this could mean for your daily routine. Listen here.

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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.

Online Charter Schools on the Rise in NC

Recent changes to North Carolina’s charter school laws are fueling a surge in fully online charter schools.

Following Senate Bill 254, passed over Gov. Josh Stein’s veto in 2025, the Charter Schools Review Board gained expanded authority to approve applications and grant expedited stand-alone charters to remote academies enrolling 250 or more students.

Henderson County’s Mountain Community Online School and other new virtual academies, such as Pine Springs Preparatory Virtual Academy, exemplify the trend. These schools partner with platforms like Edmentum for live instruction while emphasizing personalized coaching and hands-on projects. Proponents cite growing demand for flexibility, especially post-COVID.

A 2024 report from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction highlighted over 85,000 students on charter waitlists statewide, underscoring parent interest in alternatives.

Elections Board Seeks Comments on Rules

The North Carolina State Board of Elections is accepting public comments on four sets of proposed administrative rules covering absentee voting, photo ID requirements, recounts, and voting sites. The comment period opened on Friday and runs through July 14.

Public input can be submitted online through dedicated portals, by email to rulemaking.sboe@ncsbe.gov, or by mail to the Rulemaking Coordinator at P.O. Box 27255, Raleigh, North Carolina 27611-7255.

In-person hearings in Raleigh will focus on recount rules on June 8, photo ID rules on June 9, absentee voting rules on June 22, and voting site rules on June 29.

The rules address procedures like absentee ballot deficiencies, electioneering at sites, and photo ID processes for provisional ballots. The board will review feedback before final adoption and submission to the Rules Review Commission.

NC Towns Make Big Impressions

Small towns across North Carolina are gaining attention for their charming downtowns, affordable housing, and high quality of life.

A new WorldAtlas report highlights Windsor, Creedmoor, Dallas, Cherryville, Princeton, Rockwell, Winterville, Spencer, and Mocksville for median home prices that range from $192,000 to $370,000—well below national averages. It also notes that the towns offer walkable communities, parks, festivals, and proximity to major job centers in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Greenville.

TheTravel labels Highlands in the Blue Ridge Mountains “North Carolina’s Scotland,” describing it as “underrated but immensely scenic” with misty peaks, waterfalls, outdoor adventures, stone cottages, and European-like charm reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands.

Meanwhile, Travel + Leisure showcased the capital city of Raleigh for its museum offerings, historic hotels, and award-winning culinary scene.

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➤ Halifax County: A land, water, and air search continues for a missing kayaker on Roanoke Rapids Lake using sonar, divers, drones, and K9s after rescuers pulled his companion from the water near a dam Thursday night. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The city council is considering a new vote to reverse its 6-5 decision rescinding support for the controversial I-77 toll lanes expansion, after a member who represents the city’s transportation planning organization called Monday's action a “mistake” that risks billions in investment. (More)

➤ Wake Forest: Town Commissioner Haseeb Fatmi has been tapped by Democrats in Granville and Wake counties to fill the North Carolina Senate District 18 vacancy left by Terence Everitt, who resigned May 1 to focus on voting advocacy. (More)

➤ Elon: The Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence, released by Elon University, the American Association of Colleges and Universities, and The Princeton Review, stresses human strengths like critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and creativity to help students thoughtfully engage with AI tools. (More)

➤ Smoky Mountains: Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is home to approximately 1,900 black bears spanning North Carolina and Tennessee, closed multiple trails after several aggressive black bear encounters in recent weeks. (More)

➤ Western NC: The Pisgah Conservancy launched its Bridge Adventure Challenge, inviting hikers and bikers to document visits to five restored bridges in the Pisgah National Forest by Aug. 15. Those who complete the challenge will earn a “small prize” and an invitation to a September celebration. (More)

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➤ Duke men’s lacrosse routed Georgetown 16-6 to reach the NCAA semifinals, extending an improbable run that started with a season-saving upset of UNC in the regular-season finale. The Blue Devils will face top-seeded Princeton next weekend in Charlottesville. (More)

➤ UNC football will wear 1980 throwback uniforms for a game this fall to celebrate the 100th season of Kenan Stadium. The look features the retro stairstep UNC logo on the helmet, honoring the Lawrence Taylor-led team that went 11-1 and won the program’s last ACC championship. (See Uniforms)

➤ The Carolina Panthers open the 2026 season as 2.5-point home underdogs to the Bears in Week 1. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NHL | MLB | NCAAB | Soccer

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➤ North Carolina’s House advanced House Bill 1029, the NC Digital Asset and Stablecoin Act, which would modernize banking rules, license stablecoin issuers with strict reserve requirements, and position the state as a leader in crypto regulation. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill’s Board of Trustees selected Ayers Saint Gross, the firm behind its 2019 campus master plan, to design the land-use vision for its 228-acre mixed-use Carolina North campus, to be located on the former Horace Williams Airport site. (More)

➤ Charlotte-based OrthoCarolina will more than double its ambulatory surgery center capacity over the next 18 months by expanding facilities in Matthews and Steele Creek, while also adding operating rooms to reach 10 total. The Mallard Creek facility will likely be expanded later. (More)

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➤ Central North Carolina high school students competed live Sunday at Durham Performing Arts Center’s 2026 Rising Star Awards, with Best Actor Gabriel Emory from Wake Forest High School and Best Actress Mollie Reeves from Cardinal Gibbons High School advancing to the national Jimmy Awards competition in New York City. (More)

➤ Asheville hosted its first Crokinole tournament at Highland Brewing on May 16, drawing players statewide for the fast-growing Canadian tabletop, dexterity-based game from the 1800s. (See Photos)

➤ The Colombian Hot Dog Grill food truck in Raleigh is winning over locals with Colombian-style hot dogs, known as perros calientes, which are loaded with coleslaw, crushed potato chips, crumbled cheese, salsa rosada, and sweet pineapple jam. (See Photo)

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