SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1792, the University of North Carolina Board of Trustees decided not to fix an exact site for the new university but instead to ballot for a central point, allowing buildings to be erected within 15 miles of that location, advancing the search for the campus.

Some teenagers in foster care in Wake County are living in an office building rather than a home or residential facility due to a lack of placement options. Learn more in Around North Carolina.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla tackled the science behind what your dreams are actually made of. Researchers just wrapped one of the largest dream studies ever conducted, and it turns out the coworker from years ago and the worry that spun into a full storyline are not random at all. Ayla broke down the five things the study uncovered, including one detail that has been hiding in people's dreams for years without them noticing. So, what is your own routine for writing for tonight's episode? Tune in here!

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Home Insurance Up Nearly 47%

North Carolina homeowners now pay an average of $2,566 a year for home insurance, up 46.9% since 2020, according to a new LendingTree report.

That's 7.1% above the national average of $2,395, and premiums rose another 6.2% over the past year. Base rate increases from a January 2025 settlement between the state Department of Insurance and the North Carolina Rate Bureau are still rolling out.

On the beaches from Atlantic Beach south, where the Rate Bureau had sought 99.4%, base rates rose 16% last year and 15.9% this year. Raleigh and Durham saw 7.5% in each of two years, Charlotte 9.3% then 9.2%.

Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey called the settlement "a big win for both homeowners and North Carolina." Donna Creef of the Outer Banks Association of Realtors said coastal base rates were already substantially higher than in much of the state.

New Audit Faults A&T Aid Oversight

State Auditor Dave Boliek's office reported Friday that North Carolina A&T in Greensboro awarded $747,649 to 196 students without documented criteria in the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2025.

The money came from administrative recovery funds, which are fees students pay for housing, dining and parking. Auditors found the university's governance didn't detect or prevent the unearned awards.

Friday's report follows an April investigation that found the Division of Business and Finance improperly directed more than $5 million in those fees over eight years, including more than $780,000 to students connected to university employees. Boliek referred that matter to the State Bureau of Investigation.

A&T found the problem in its own audit, and Chancellor James R. Martin II said he called Boliek because "full transparency demands nothing less." The university agrees with the findings, has ended the practice, and is seeking restitution from the employees responsible.

County Credits Helene Playbook after Tornado

Madison County says the playbook it built after Hurricane Helene is what carried it through the tornado that touched down July 28.

County Manager Rod Honeycutt said lessons and best practices from Helene, which devastated Western North Carolina in September 2024, "guided the County's whole of local government response." Primary and secondary roads and most utilities were back within 24 hours.

Emergency management coordinator Patrick Ward posted weather updates, called public safety agencies and staged equipment before the storm arrived. The county thanked the crews, utility workers and volunteers who cleared downed trees and blocked roads.

The National Weather Service confirmed the EF0 tornado on July 30, two days after it cut a 1.1-mile path through the Allegheny community with peak winds of 80 mph. No one was hurt, and structural damage was minimal.

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➤ Charlotte: The State Bureau of Investigation arrested a Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officer on July 29. Warrants say he ran an undercover Watauga County deputy's license plate through Flock and CJLEADS for a college friend under drug investigation. (See Details)

➤ Asheville: Homebuyer demand in the four-county metro reached its highest level since May 2023, climbing past pre-Helene levels in May and June, according to Canopy MLS. June's median sales price held steady at $460,000. (See Report)

➤ Wake County: The county is housing foster teenagers in an office building because it can't find enough foster homes or residential placements, officials said, and the county is recruiting families. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: Northeastern North Carolina and the Outer Banks are out of drought for the first time since last August, following a wetter-than-normal July and heavy rain last week. (More)

➤ Leland: The city celebrated the grand opening of Founders Park on Friday, capping years of planning, construction, and delays with the park's final major feature, a new amphitheater. (More)

➤ Marion County: The county will get $4,561,928 from the State Revolving Fund for three Helene-related projects, including $1.44 million to bury an elevated sewer line over the Catawba River. (See Details)

➤ Wilmington: The Midtown YMCA broke ground on a $15 million expansion that will nearly triple the size of its campus, adding aquatics, fitness, and childcare facilities. (More)

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➤ UNC general manager Michael Lombardi, who is on administrative leave following “private personnel allegations,” recently broke his silence on the issue, saying that he looks forward to the opportunity to clear his name. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers held a scrimmage in front of 40,000 fans on Friday night, their first appearance at Bank of America Stadium since the playoffs last season. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets tried to trade up to the 11th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, according to a new report from league insider Anthony Slater. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Golf | Soccer

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➤ Southport Police freed an alligator that had been trapped under a car at a bank drive-thru on Thursday. The animal did not appear to be badly injured. (See Photo)

➤ A husband and wife team opened a nonprofit donkey sanctuary in Brunswick County last September, starting with a donkey named Buckwheat. Visitors come for meet-and-greets and what the founder calls "donkey therapy." (Read Story)

➤ The Texas doughnut chain Shipley Do-Nuts expects to open its first Raleigh store in 2027. (More)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ The U.S. and Israel are reportedly preparing to bombard Iran's energy infrastructure this weekend, though no final order has been given. (Hear More)

➤ Police arrested a man who stole a running car in Atlanta with a 2-year-old in the back seat while her mother made a delivery. (Listen Now)

➤ Savannah Guthrie on Saturday pleaded again for answers after Arizona officials released the ransom notes sent following her mother's disappearance six months ago. (Podcast Available)