Saturday, February 28, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1931, famed UNC men’s basketball coach Dean Smith was born in Emporia, Kansas. Smith coached at UNC from 1961 to 1997, compiling an 879-254 record and winning NCAA titles in 1982 and 1993. He died in 2015.

Chapel Hill does not hold the crown as North Carolina’s top revenue-producing collegiate program. See today’s Sports section to discover which school claims the title.

Are you worried about keeping your private information confidential on the Web? Later today, we’ll be sending you a message from our partner Incogni on ways to reduce your exposure to scams and identity theft by removing your personal information from data brokers and risky websites.

Today’s sponsor, Frontieras, is inviting investors to take part in America’s trillion-dollar energy comeback—transforming Appalachian coal into high-value fuels like hydrogen and diesel while advancing toward a planned Nasdaq listing.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

Poll Shows Whatley Favored, Trump Approved

A poll of Republican primary voters shows U.S. Senate candidate Michael Whatley leads with 38.3%, while 80.9% approve of President Trump.

Harper Polling, in conjunction with the Carolina Journal, surveyed 600 likely Republican voters and found Whatley leading ahead of next week’s primary, though 50.1% of respondents said they were undecided.

The study also asked participants to choose what news sources they trust most, with Fox News leading the way at 49.9%, followed by Newsmax (26.9%) and Joe Rogan (13%).

Early voting closes today, with primary voting set for March 3.

NC Walmart Drivers Receive $2M Settlement

Walmart will pay up to $2 million to North Carolina drivers as part of a $100 million multistate settlement over allegations the retailer withheld customer tips.

North Carolina will receive part of a $100 million settlement after Walmart Spark drivers alleged the company misrepresented pre-tip amounts, base pay, and incentives by splitting orders and failing to disclose full requirements.

“Walmart misled its drivers and its customers so that the company could keep tips and other money that belonged to drivers,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson, who was one of 11 attorneys general who were part of the suit.

Walmart will also pay out $10 million to delivery customers for tips that the retail chain kept.

Data Centers Could Cut Costs, Study Shows

A Duke University study found that shifting when data centers train and run artificial intelligence systems could reduce rising electricity costs.

Load flexibility, a process in which large data centers shift some computing to times when the grid is less stressed, could help the U.S. avoid up to $150 billion in power plant, fuel, and transmission costs over the next decade.

Utility systems are built to handle brief spikes in demand, yet consumers fund that infrastructure year-round. Load flexibility would shift data center operations to low-stress periods, lowering modeled electricity prices for operators and customers.

The study comes as Microsoft recently announced plans to move forward with a data center in Person County.

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Invest in America’s Trillion-Dollar Energy Comeback

Under a White House that favors energy production on our home soil, Frontieras North America could unlock up to $2.1 Trillion in energy potential. They have the power to reform coal into high-value commodities like hydrogen and diesel without burning it.

But that’s not even the best part. They’re doing it in what was once the heart of American industry: Appalachia. Their new land purchase in Mason County, West Virginia, has earned praise from the state’s Governor Morrisey for its potential to transform the region back into an energy powerhouse.

Here’s why you shouldn’t miss this chance to invest:

“FASF” ticker reserved on the NASDAQ
$850M flagship facility now being built
$10 million raised from investors so far

Reaching just 2% of the global coal market could mean a trillion-dollar valuation for Frontieras.

As a perfect storm of breakthroughs set up the company for potential valuation impact, you can become a Frontieras shareholder ahead of their planned NASDAQ listing.

➤ Statewide: A Canadian man pleaded guilty to two counts of illegally voting in North Carolina federal elections, with sentencing set for May 18, and remaining indictment charges to be dismissed at sentencing. (More)

➤ Concord: Protesters gathered on Friday outside Crescent Communities' Uptown Charlotte office over claims it may sell Concord land to DHS for an ICE detention center, which the company denies. (More)

➤ Durham: Crystal Mangum, who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke lacrosse players of rape, was released from prison after serving time for her boyfriend’s 2011 murder. (More)

➤ Robeson County: Michele Hundley Smith, a North Carolina woman who vanished in 2001 and was found this month, was arrested on a decades-old failure-to-appear order tied to a DWI charge. (More)

➤ Greenville: A suspected carbon monoxide leak at a solar plant factory hospitalized 18 people and prompted the evacuation of 200 employees, with all employees accounted for. Those affected reported mild symptoms. (More)

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➤ Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel set the NBA rookie record with his 207th 3-pointer in Thursday’s 133-109 win over Indiana, surpassing Keegan Murray’s 206 set in 2022-23. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers received mixed marks on NFLPA player report cards, with coach Dave Canales earning an A-minus, one of the league’s highest grades, and Bank of America Stadium receiving an F. (More)

➤ NC State football tops the list of North Carolina’s collegiate programs with $77.9 million in annual revenue, followed by Duke football, UNC football, Duke men’s basketball, and UNC men’s basketball. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Tampa Bay Lightning 5-4 in their first game back since the Olympic break. (More)

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The Next $435B Energy Empire Is Being Minted

In today’s dollars, John D. Rockefeller would be worth $435 billion. But “oil money” is old news, and what’s next might surprise investors in 2026: a $2.1 trillion opportunity in “clean” coal.

Now is the “Rockefeller” moment for Frontieras as they reform coal into hydrogen, diesel, and other valuable commodities (just like Rockefeller did with oil). With a White House that favors domestic energy, the NASDAQ ticker FASF reserved, and land officially purchased for their flagship coal reformation plant, Frontieras is positioned for potential valuation impact.

You can now invest in Frontieras as they unlock the Rockefeller moment for coal.

This is a paid advertisement for Frontieras’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at https://invest.frontieras.com/. Reservation of the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that we will be listed on the NASDAQ. Listing on the NASDAQ is subject to approval.

➤ Burlington police recovered Bluey, a 2-month-old French bulldog stolen on Jan. 2 during an apartment break-in, arresting one suspect on multiple charges. (See Bluey)

➤ A census of Charlotte’s music scene found abundant talent and energy, but musicians face limited venues, affordability challenges, and promotion gaps as local groups assess how to make the city a music destination. (More)

➤ Former NASCAR driver Regan Smith listed his nearly 11-acre Lake Norman property for $6.5 million, featuring a five-car garage, retractable screen porch, and golf simulator. (More)

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