MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1961, Chris Chavis was born in Pembroke. Known as Tatanka in the WWE, the proud Lumbee Native American wrestler debuted in the early 1990s, gaining fame for his high-energy style and memorable feuds.

A new study ranks North Carolina at No. 10 for road rage. Learn more in Top Stories, then answer our Poll to let us know if you’ve ever experienced a case of it.

Today’s sponsor, Blood Sugar Rising, highlights emerging research on how certain everyday foods may affect blood sugar health and energy levels—and reveals one common item that experts say could be contributing to early warning signs associated with Type 2 diabetes.

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.

Lawmakers Agree to Raise Sports Betting Tax

North Carolina lawmakers have struck a deal to raise taxes on sports gambling operators as part of ongoing state budget negotiations, according to WRAL.

Officials settled on a rate at the lower end of a 20% to 30% range, up from the current 18%. The Senate had proposed doubling the rate to 36%, while the House kept it at 18% in its own budget proposal.

The state collected more than $287 million from eight licensed operators since online sports betting launched in March 2024, far exceeding early projections.

As part of the negotiations, lawmakers also agreed to direct a share of the revenue to UNC and NC State a year ago. They’ve also discussed additional gambling and state lottery revenue options, though those details remain unsettled ahead of final budget talks.

NC Ranks 10th for Road Rage

North Carolina ranks as the 10th worst state for road rage, according to a new ConsumerAffairs study, with Arkansas, New Mexico, and Louisiana earning the top three spots.

The study tied aggressive or careless driving to 1,509 fatal crashes and 1,619 traffic deaths in North Carolina—representing 24% of all fatal crashes and 24% of all traffic fatalities statewide, the highest raw totals among the 10 worst-ranked states. Speeding and aggressive-driving violations surged 88% from the previous year.

North Carolina improved from seventh to 10th this year, though researchers note the state’s large population drives higher overall totals, even as its per-capita rates trail other states in the top 10.

North Carolina lawmakers are already responding: a bill before the General Assembly would require AI-assisted speed-limiting technology for drivers convicted of dangerous driving offenses.

Where to Beat the NC Heat This Summer

North Carolina is sweating through July-like heat that arrived weeks ahead of schedule, with upper-80s and low-90s statewide, and humidity driving feel-like temperatures even higher.

The Triangle offers relief at every price point—from free splash pads at Raleigh’s Gipson Play Plaza to Kerr Lake, a reservoir about an hour north offering sandy beaches and multiple swimming areas. A summer cool-off guide pulls together even more options across the region.

Charlotte’s options include Ray's Splash Planet, public pools across Mecklenburg County, and Ebenezer Park's public beach on Lake Wylie, where the circular pier offers swimming with no admission fee, though lifeguards aren’t on duty.

Jackson County in Western North Carolina typically sits 10 to 20 degrees cooler than the Piedmont all summer long. The county’s mountain towns of Cashiers, Sylva, and Dillsboro offer river tubing, waterfall hikes, and natural swimming holes for heat-weary visitors.

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Do you always feel tired… What if 1 common food in your diet is quietly contributing to low energy and blood sugar problems?

Researchers have linked it to pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction, an early warning sign associated with Type 2 diabetes. Do you know which food it is? [View Full List]

➤ Charlotte: NCDOT is launching a $5 million project to upgrade entrance and exit ramps at five I-77 interchanges in north Mecklenburg and south Iredell counties. The work could begin by late June and be completed by spring 2027. (More)

➤ Halifax County: Crews recovered the body of Angel Martinez, a kayaker who went missing May 14 on Roanoke Rapids Lake after his tandem kayak began to take on water. The weeks-long search involved around 20 state and local agencies. (More)

➤ Lumberton: Anthony Ray McDonald, 37, has been charged with murder and kidnapping in the death of 68-year-old Nancy Lowery, a missing Lumberton woman found deceased, following a joint investigation by the Robeson County Sheriff's Office and Lumberton Police Department. (More)

➤ Concord: Two former Duke Energy employees face charges of stealing nearly $600,000 worth of electricity by tapping a substation near Charlotte Motor Speedway to provide unauthorized power to a nearby campground. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Education leaders noted North Carolina ranks last in the U.S. for public school open enrollment—which allows families to apply for their students to attend a different school than the one they were assigned—despite a poll showing majority support for expanding the program. (More)

➤ Biltmore Forest: New Gunston Hall, an 11-acre estate inspired by Founding Father George Mason’s Virginia home, is listed at $9.75 million through Premier Sotheby’s International Realty in Asheville. (See Photos)

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➤ No. 5 UNC baseball advanced to the Men‘s College World Series yesterday after junior outfielder Owen Hull hit a two-RBI ninth-inning double to give the Tar Heels a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Southern Cal. (Watch Video)

➤ Duke Howell, father of former UNC quarterback Sam Howell, has been hired as the next head football coach of Myers Park High School in Charlotte. (More)

➤ NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin took home career win No. 63 at the FireKeepers Casino 400 yesterday at Michigan International Speedway, tying him with Kyle Busch for No. 9 all-time in NASCAR Cup Series career wins. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers reportedly see third-year running back Jonathon Brooks, who has seen limited playing time in his NFL career due to injury, as someone who can “define” their offense, according to NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe. (More)

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➤ The $100 Billion IPO Everyone Is Watching. Elon Musk’s Starlink project could become one of the biggest IPOs in history, and investor James Altucher says there may still be a way for regular investors to position early for less than $100. He’s even revealing the free ticker behind his top pick. (More)

➤ The Trump administration awarded Duke Energy $28.4 million to upgrade North Carolina’s largest coal-fired power plant in Roxboro, as part of a $425 million national coal plant modernization plan. (More)

➤ The Raleigh Convention Center could be renamed the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center under a 15-year deal the city council is weighing. The Richmond-based bank would pay $525,000 annually for naming rights. (More)

➤ The Winkler Organization, a Boone-based family hospitality group, opens the Windmoor Hotel on June 12, adding to a boutique lodging network it has expanded across the High Country over nearly six decades. (More)

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Many people are shocked to discover that this everyday food may be one of the biggest contributors to early diabetes warning signs. Research suggests you avoid this at all costs… Learn which food to avoid here.

➤ North Carolina ranks 12th nationally for total forested acreage, with nearly 61% of the state blanketed by trees, according to World Population Review data. (See Data)

➤ Samantha Busch, widow of NASCAR champion Kyle Busch, who died May 21 at 41 from pneumonia and sepsis, spoke out for the first time via Instagram, thanking supporters for carrying her family through their grief. (See Post)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes announced a $50,000 grant to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina during their Stanley Cup Finals run, helping to provide 150,000 meals through the Stop Summer Hunger initiative. (More)

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