Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1775, residents of Mecklenburg County are said to have adopted the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence. According to the account, local patriots declared independence from Britain shortly after receiving news of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The document's authenticity remains historically debated.

On Monday, we asked if any of you had invented something. Ben wrote that he came up with an automatic coil spring with a spike in the center to deter vehicles in areas where they’re banned. Brenda created a board game that heads to market this fall, and Clay designed a kids’ camping trailer when he was 12 but never followed through “because he discovered girls.” We enjoyed all of your responses—thanks for sharing them!

Later today, you’ll receive a message from our partner, Fisher Investments, with a free guide on seven retirement income strategies for investors with $1 million or more. It’s a simple way to compare your options.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Amy Hess shared why researchers say two to three cups of coffee a day may quietly support one of the body’s hardest-working organs. Dietitians say growing evidence suggests coffee could help reduce inflammation and protect this vital organ from long-term damage. Listen here!

If you’re trying to be more thoughtful about the media you consume, social media probably isn’t the best place to get your news. Most platforms are designed to provoke reactions, not encourage perspective. That’s why some of us read The Pour Over. It delivers the news in a balanced, easy-to-read format while incorporating a Christian perspective that many readers appreciate.

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.

Inflation, Cost of Living Top Issues for NC Voters

Inflation and the cost of living dominate as the top concern for North Carolina voters ahead of the 2026 midterms, according to a new Carolina Journal/Harper Polling survey of likely voters conducted May 10-11.

Nearly 46% of likely voters cited it as their most important issue, ahead of the economy and jobs (18%), Social Security and Medicare (17%), and other topics.

The poll also shows former governor and Democrat Roy Cooper leading Republican Michael Whatley 50% to 39% in the U.S. Senate race to succeed Republican Sen. Thom Tillis.

A separate poll conducted May 4-8 by Carolina Forward and Change Research also gives Cooper the edge with 49% of likely voters saying they would vote for Cooper, versus 42% for Whatley.

Independents now make up nearly 40% of registered voters, with both major parties dipping just below 30%.

Buxton Races to Move Threatened Homes

Buxton homeowners and Dare County are racing against the ocean as rapid beach erosion threatens the Outer Banks community. Crews recently relocated a 141-ton, seven-bedroom house inland along Old Lighthouse Road, with multiple properties relocated or demolished ahead of hurricane season.

Dare County is purchasing and clearing oceanfront properties to make way for a major beach nourishment project starting in mid-June. One oceanfront home was proactively demolished after the county purchased it for $250,000.

The expanded effort will pump roughly 2 million cubic yards of sand along 2.9 miles of shoreline at a cost of about $42.2 million, funded locally with expected FEMA reimbursements.

Since September 2025, at least 20 homes have collapsed into the surf amid accelerated erosion. State lawmakers are considering ending North Carolina’s long-standing ban on coastal hard structures to give communities more tools against erosion.

10 Wild Mustangs Loose in Iredell County

Iredell County Animal Services, the Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol are searching for a herd of approximately 10 wild mustangs that escaped from a local property on May 11.

The horses have been spotted near Eufola Road, Lewis Ferry Road, I-40, and Highway 70, raising public safety concerns for motorists. Community members have set out hay to lure the animals and are using drones in recovery efforts.

Two owners face misdemeanor charges for allowing livestock to run at large and for failing to cooperate with containment. People working to help capture the mustangs believe they were likely purchased through a Bureau of Land Management adoption event in Monroe.

Authorities urge the public not to approach or chase the horses, as it could scatter the herd into traffic or hazardous areas. Residents spotting the mustangs should immediately report locations to Iredell County Animal Services or law enforcement.

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➤ Wilmington: Christopher James Hill, 32, was federally indicted for posting a threat to kill President Trump on Facebook in October 2025, violating federal law. He faces arraignment and trial in the federal court term, which begins June 16. (More)

➤ Raleigh: The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation broke ground yesterday on its new headquarters campus on Garner Road, the first phase of a multi-year project to consolidate operations into a modern facility expected to open in early 2028. (See Rendering)

➤ Davie County: The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Monday that attempted armed bank robbery qualifies as a “crime of violence” under federal law, upholding its use for enhanced sentencing in a case involving a 2009 Davie County Bank of America armed robbery attempt. (More)

➤ Cary: The town has spent nearly $85,000 since 2016 to send senior officials to elite executive programs at Harvard, Vanderbilt, the University of Virginia, and other schools, at the direction of former town manager Sean Stegall. (More)

➤ Beaufort: North Carolina sailor Josh Kali returned to Beaufort after becoming the first American to circumnavigate the globe in a homemade 19-foot boat, completing the world voyage from Carteret County in just over 223 days. (See Photos)

➤ Rodanthe: Historic surf rescue reenactments return to the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station tomorrow, kicking off the 2026 season and long-running tradition of offering visitors a firsthand look at how U.S. Life-Saving crews once conducted ocean rescues along the Outer Banks. (More)

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➤ Charlotte was ranked the No. 4 sports business city in the country in Sports Business Journal’s 2026 annual rankings. Atlanta, New York City, and Indianapolis took the top three spots. (More)

➤ Charlotte is requesting state incentives from North Carolina’s events fund as part of its bid to host the WTA Finals at Spectrum Center next year. (More)

➤ Mallard Creek High School was disqualified from the North Carolina state track meet for unsportsmanlike conduct after a runner celebrated before crossing the finish line of the 4x400 relay. The ruling cost the school what would have been its third straight state title. (More)

Yesterday's Results: NBA | MLB | NCAAB | Soccer | WNBA

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➤ NextEra Energy’s $67 billion acquisition of Dominion Energy, which serves northeast North Carolina, is expected to lower borrowing costs and increase scale for infrastructure investment in the state, while delivering about $67.5 million in ratepayer give-backs. (More)

➤ TikTok urged the North Carolina Supreme Court on Monday to dismiss Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s lawsuit over its addictive algorithms, warning that the state’s “market exploitation” jurisdiction theory could expose North Carolina businesses with any online presence to lawsuits across the country. (More)

➤ The Fertilizer Institute’s CEO warned North Carolina business leaders that global conflicts and export restrictions by China and Iran are disrupting fertilizer supply chains and driving up costs, and urged strengthening domestic production to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. (More)

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➤ Emergency crews evacuated part of a Long Creek neighborhood in Albemarle after a homeowner discovered a suspected Civil War-era explosive device at a Hickory Avenue home. Authorities safely removed the item, but have not shared additional details. (More)

➤ Duke alumna Sophi Balerdi, who placed second on Survivor Season 49, told The Chronicle she is cheering for her close ally Rizo Velovic in tonight’s Season 50 finale and also reflected on her own journey from the “disaster tribe” to runner-up. (More)

➤ Business Insider named the Skylight Inn in Ayden as North Carolina’s most iconic barbecue spot, adding that the Food Network named it one of the top five barbecue restaurants in the U.S. and highlighted its chopped pork sandwich. (More)

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