Saturday, November 7, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1994, WXYC (89.3 FM) in Chapel Hill became the first traditional radio station to begin internet broadcasts, streaming via an FM radio linked to SunSite systems running Cornell’s CU-SeeMe software after earlier tests.

Do you still listen to the radio? Take our Poll to let us know, then check out our radio-themed meme and Trivia question in today’s edition.

Is there a right day to run your errands? Gas is cheapest on the day you’d least expect, the DMV has two days you’ll want to avoid, and airlines, car dealers, and grocery stores each have a sweet spot of their own. We’re counting down what the data says about all seven, saving the biggest surprise for last. Amy has the full story on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

If you have $1 million or more, you may be asking how to create a retirement plan that fits your goals and situation. Download the guide from todays sponsor Fisher Investments, and discover the fundamental retirement questions, then schedule a conversation with a financial professional.

Extreme Drought Grips Central North Carolina

Extreme drought has returned to parts of central North Carolina, leaving Johnston County wheat farmers waiting on rain before they can plant.

RDU hasn't recorded measurable rain since Oct. 17. Extreme drought now covers more of the state than at any point since July.

Many areas east of I-85 just logged one of their five driest August-to-October stretches, with rainfall 6 to 10 inches below normal, according to the state Drought Management Advisory Council. As of Nov. 2, Falls Lake sat about 6 feet low and Kerr Lake was down 9.7 feet.

Parts of the western Piedmont and the mountains, by contrast, remain drought-free.

Forecasters expect spotty showers and storms, but totals of an inch or less won't do much to ease conditions. Council Chair Klaus Albertin said average rainfall may not return until late November.

Charlotte Airport Lease Heads to Vote

Charlotte City Council votes Monday on a new airline lease that would fund $2.1 billion in upgrades at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

The 10½-year deal would expand Concourse C and add new gates and a tunnel. Airlines would pay more in rent and fees.

Business leaders rallied behind the lease Thursday, saying it protects Charlotte's American Airlines hub and the airport's $40 billion annual economic impact. SREE Hotels' Vinay Patel called the airport the region's "largest economic development engine."

A union representing contracted workers who push wheelchairs and clean planes wants better pay and protections. Robert Dawkins of Action NC said the airport's growth is coming "on the backs of Charlotteans."

Lease supporters say wage talks are separate from the deal. Council member Malcolm Graham sees room for both: "It's not either-or that we extend the lease or fight for workers."

School Building Needs Hit $18B

North Carolina school districts say they need nearly $18 billion for new buildings, additions, and renovations over the next five years, up from about $13 billion in 2021.

Construction costs drove most of the jump, with the state's per-square-foot baseline rising from $250 to $350. Renovations account for almost $10 billion, including about $2 billion for HVAC.

Two-thirds of the state's 6,200-plus school buildings are more than 30 years old, and 30% are older than 60.

State Board of Education Vice Chairman Alan Duncan noted that only eight of 100 counties passed school bonds in the last five years. "So there's a real issue in terms of where the money is going to come from," he said.

Duncan added that the property tax cap voters approved Nov. 3 could make bonds even harder to pass. Counties are legally responsible for school buildings, and the last statewide school bond passed in 1996.

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The 15-Minute Retirement Plan

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Download the guide for advice on creating a strategy that’s cohesive, current and aligned with your full financial picture. Then schedule a conversation with a financial professional to discuss ways to bring your retirement plan to life.

➤ Asheville: Crews have finished about 15% of the initial drilled shafts for the I-26 Connector's new bridges, six months after groundbreaking, NCDOT says. Bridge work dominates the next 18 months as crews prepare to move I-26 traffic off the Bowen Bridges, with completion still set for late 2031. (See Details)

➤ Mooresville: Coddle Creek Elementary will close Monday and Tuesday for a deep cleaning of its air ducts and air handlers, with students learning online. Iredell-Statesville Schools cited mold and air-quality concerns, pointing to broken HVAC units across the building as the primary culprit. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Anonymous donors will help Discovery Place repay Mecklenburg County under a tentative deal that would let the unopened Charlotte Museum of Nature open. Discovery Place would repay $13 million over five years and lease the site for $1 a year for 35 years; commissioners vote later this month. (See Details)

➤ Winston-Salem: The Winston-Salem Transit Authority will stop taking cash on its buses in January 2027, moving to a fully electronic fare system. Officials say the change will make the system more efficient. (More)

➤ Asheboro: The North Carolina Zoo evacuated about 1,200 visitors Thursday afternoon after a bomb threat that Asheboro police determined was a swatting call. No one was hurt, and the investigation is ongoing. (More)

➤ New Hanover County: Copper Builders is suing County Manager Chris Coudriet, alleging he illegally blocked its 1,800-home Hilton Bluffs development in Sledge Forest by demanding a second entrance. (See Details)

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➤ Duke (6-2) visits NC State (4-4) at 12:30 p.m. today at Carter-Finley Stadium on The CW. Duke tailback Nate Sheppard ranks No. 5 nationally with 972 rushing yards, while the Wolfpack play their second game under interim coach Todd Goebbel. (See Details)

➤ Patrick Ngongba II posted a career-high 28 points and nine rebounds as No. 2 Duke routed Coastal Carolina 113-52 Thursday in Durham. The Blue Devils (2-0) opened on a 16-0 run and shot 61.3%; they face No. 6 Michigan State Tuesday in Chicago. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes' William Carrier backhanded a rebound home with 5:08 left to break a 3-3 tie, and the Canes beat the Islanders 5-3 Thursday on Long Island. Jackson Blake extended his career-best point streak to eight games, and Carolina (13-3-2) has won five of six. (More)

➤ Athletics director Boo Corrigan and other Wolfpack officials met Wednesday with former NC State quarterback Philip Rivers in Fairhope, Alabama, about the head-coaching job vacated by Dave Doeren's Oct. 24 firing. (See Details)

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➤ Dermatologist Begs Women With Thin Hair To Use This Household Item. An Austin hairstylist's 7-year client file revealed why thinning hair products fail after 50. The fix starts in your medicine cabinet. Learn More

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More accounts, managers and investment choices do not always add up to a cohesive wealth strategy. Investors with $1 million or more may benefit from considering how each decision fits their goals, time frame and full financial picture.

The 15-Minute Retirement Plan examines risk, inflation, withdrawals and how long you need your wealth to last. Download the guide and schedule a conversation with a financial professional to talk about your plan.

➤ The first 500 travelers arriving at Asheville Regional Airport on Thursday each got a free wooden airplane ornament made from trees Helene brought down from nonprofit Echoes of the Forest. The group’s proceeds support local artists and others still recovering from the storm. (See Details)

➤ After seven years on dialysis for kidney failure, a 26-year-old UNCW student got the call Sept. 27 that a kidney was waiting for her in Chapel Hill. She now plans to earn a social work degree and advocate for other kidney patients. "God's timing was perfect," she said. (Read Story)

➤ Winston-Salem State University's Powerhouse of Red and White cheer squad keeps going viral, and major brands are starting to take notice. (Read Story)

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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.

➤ Most people run errands on the wrong days, and it’s costing us time and money. (Watch Breakdown)

➤ Social Security has set a new earnings limit that could temporarily cost some working seniors nearly $1,000 in benefits. (Listen Now)

➤ More young homebuyers are putting parents on their mortgages, with the practice surging in some of America’s priciest cities. (Podcast Available)