Monday, February 16, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1872, Lumbee leader Henry Berry Lowrie and his infamous Robeson County Lowrie Gang committed their last robbery, ending seven years of revenge-fueled robberies and killings after Lowrie's father and brother were executed in 1865. Lowrie, who first formed the gang during the Civil War to resist forced labor imposed on free people of color, mysteriously vanished after the major 1872 heist.

Did you have a particularly special Valentine's Day? Hit reply to share the details, and check out Business to learn what Novant Health did for 30,000 patients and staff in honor of the occasion.

Today's sponsor, United States Tungsten Corp is offering investors a chance to get in early on America's largest past-producing tungsten mine as the U.S. looks to secure its supply amid rising prices and new restrictions on Chinese imports.

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NCSBE Probes Fake Election Workers

The North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE) has launched an investigation into reports of people posing as state or county election officials during voter registration drives in at least seven counties: Brunswick, Buncombe, Chowan, Haywood, Nash, Scotland, and Wake.

Complaints highlight door-to-door impersonators misleading voters by claiming they must re-register regardless of circumstances. Investigators also report incomplete or falsified forms—some bearing names like Jay-Z and Mickey Mouse—and note that falsifying a voter registration form is a Class I felony.

The board urges residents to verify solicitors' identities, submit forms directly to county boards, and report suspicions immediately.

In a separate effort to enhance voter roll accuracy, the NCSBE mailed letters to more than 241,000 registered voters whose driver's licenses or Social Security numbers could not be validated against government databases, encouraging voluntary corrections at early voting sites or online. Officials stressed that this routine update does not affect eligibility or voting rights.

NC Schools Get $11M for Mental Health

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has received more than $11 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Education to expand school-based mental health services.

The awards include $4.8 million over four years for the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Grant and $6.4 million over four years through the School-Based Mental Health Services Grant, part of a nationwide $208 million allocation.

The funds will support school psychology training, recruitment, and retention, with a focus on high-need and rural districts.

Initiatives include the NC School Psychology Internship Program, salary and housing stipends for interns, supervision, professional development for preventative and intensive interventions, and efforts to train current educators as school psychologists.

23XI's Reddick Wins Daytona 500

After 200 laps around Daytona International Speedway's 2.5-mile track, Tyler Reddick won the Daytona 500 in the 68th running. Reddick drives for 23XI Racing, a North Carolina-based racing team co-owned by NBA legend and former Charlotte Hornets majority owner Michael Jordan.

The race, which opened the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, started an hour early because of threatening weather and strong winds. Multiple cautions kept the field tightly packed, leading to a chaotic sprint to the finish.

Zane Smith claimed the Stage 1 win just ahead of Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney, while Stage 2 ended with a huge multi-car wreck that eliminated several top contenders. A late multi-vehicle accident set up a frantic finish, and Reddick made his move to pass then-race leader Chase Elliott in the closing moments.

The win marks the first Daytona 500 victory for both Reddick and 23XI Racing.

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Tungsten Price Up 200%: Invest in America's Largest Mine Before Operations Begin

Tungsten prices surged 200% last year after China halted exports. That's because China currently controls 84% of the global tungsten supply, and it's one of the most important metals on earth.

Since the U.S. military relies on tungsten for everything from armor-piercing rounds to jet engines, they're racing to find a way of sourcing tungsten without relying on China.

This is a huge opportunity for United States Tungsten. They hold the lease to the "Tungsten Queen," once America's largest tungsten mine. It's a massive asset containing 1 million tons of minerals worth an estimated $450 million.

And as the U.S. moves to ban mineral imports from China in 2027, it's expected to only get more valuable.

Plus, the White House just proposed raising the military budget to $1.5 trillion next year. A bigger budget means more spending on the hardware that requires tungsten. As new laws require that money be spent on American-mined minerals first, United States Tungsten is positioned to become a supplier for one of the world's most reliable customers.

They're already in talks with the U.S. Government.

You can get a piece of this 1-million-ton mine right before they start digging.

It's the final day for up to 21% bonus shares….

Become a United States Tungsten shareholder by midnight.

➤ NC Schools: The annual North Carolina Department of Public Instruction crime report shows that reportable crimes dropped from 11,962 in 2023-24 to 11,168 in 2024-25, but assaults causing serious injury increased from 37 to 90 over the same period. (More)

➤ Cary: Police records newly released this month show former Town Manager Sean Stegall's vehicle was spotted at a motel tied to a 2016 drug investigation, though he was never charged. A former councilwoman alleges he misled officials by claiming he was there to help someone, amid ongoing scrutiny over his resignation and spending issues. (More)

➤ Asheville and Buncombe County officials defended their diversity, equity, and inclusion practices before a House committee on Feb. 11, denying the use of race-based criteria and emphasizing that resources are allocated based on need in underserved communities. (More)

➤ Moore County: Two people were found dead inside a Woodlake home Saturday morning after a reported shooting. The victims were identified as 28-year-old Matthew Wade and 21-year-old Katerina Tovmash. Suspect Caleb Hayden Fosnaugh, 25, was arrested later that day in Ohio on warrants for breaking and entering and two counts of murder. (More)

➤ Sparta: A minor 2.2-magnitude earthquake struck the area Friday, marking the second quake of the week and the third this month in North Carolina. No damage was reported. (More)

➤ Dare County: Unaffiliated voters now lead the county in voter registrations at 14,586, surpassing Republicans at 11,421 and Democrats at 6,247. Unaffiliated growth has outpaced both major parties ahead of the March 3 primary. (More)

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➤ Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel earned a place in the final round of the NBA's three-point contest Saturday night, but finished third behind multiple-time All-Stars Devin Booker and Damian Lillard. (More)

➤ No. 11 UNC baseball started its season with a three-game sweep of Indiana, capped off by a walk-off home run from junior catcher Macon Winslow on Saturday night. (Watch Video)

➤ NC State men's basketball fell 77-76 to Miami on Saturday after conceding the game's final eight points in the closing seconds. (More)

➤ No. 11 Duke women's basketball beat No. 21 North Carolina 72-68 yesterday, with Ashlon Jackson and Taina Mair scoring 14 points each to extend the Blue Devils' winning streak to 16. (More)

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➤ The U.S. Department of Energy announced it will invest $175 million to upgrade six coal-fired power plants nationwide, including Duke Energy's Belews Creek Steam Station in Stokes County. The funding is intended to modernize facilities, improve efficiency, extend operating life, strengthen grid reliability, and help keep electricity affordable. (More)

➤ Novant Health's board approved up to a $1 billion expansion in New Hanover County on Feb. 12, including a new heart and vascular tower, expanded outpatient facilities, and a rehabilitation hospital. Meanwhile, its foundation distributed 30,000 Valentine's Day flower bouquets, donated by Food Lion, to patients and staff across its Carolinas facilities. (More on Expansion and Foundation)

➤ Boyd Corp., which manufactures sealing supplies, announced plans to close its Monroe plant in Union County by Sept. 1, cutting 63 jobs starting as early as April 13. (More)

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The Only Crew with Access to a $450 Million 'Gold Rush.'

Decades of combined experience working with finance leaders like Goldman Sachs is a business advantage. Add that to operating America's largest tungsten mine, and it's a massive opportunity. Now, United States Tungsten is sharing access to 1 million untapped tons of precious metals with investors.

The amount of tungsten-bearing minerals in the "Tungsten Queen" is estimated to be worth $450 million at today's prices. That's because the metal is in urgent need for military tanks, aircraft, missiles, and more.

Don't miss this chance to back the company that holds the lease.

You have just hours left to invest in United States Tungsten and get up to 21% bonus shares.

This is a paid advertisement for United States Tungsten Company's Regulation CF offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.unitedstatestungsten.com/

➤ Wilmington is listed among the five best cities to retire on the Atlantic Coast, according to WorldAtlas, due to its mild weather, lower cost of living, tax-friendly policies, beach access, walkable historic downtown, golf courses, and outdoor activities. (See List)

➤ Asheville's River Arts District along the French Broad River is a finalist in USA TODAY's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards for Best Arts District. Voting ends today at noon. (See Finalists)

➤ A GoFundMe for the widow and children of Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek, who died Feb. 11 after a battle with cancer, has raised more than $2.5 million—surpassing its $1.5 million goal to cover medical debts, living expenses, and education costs. (More)

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