SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1813, a British fleet under Adm. Sir George Cockburn reached Ocracoke around 9 p.m., capturing Ocracoke, Portsmouth, and Shell Castle. They seized two privateers but were thwarted from mainland attacks. The British looted until July 16 before withdrawing.

A foaming fountain led to felony charges in Mocksville. Get all the details in Et Cetera.

Slowing how fast you age sounds like it should take a punishing diet or a shelf of supplements. New research out of Japan says otherwise. Scientists found that one small daily habit, paired with another, slowed the body's biological aging about as much as cutting your calorie intake by a quarter. In today's Flyover Podcast, Amy shares exactly what the study found, why it surprised the researchers, and what those two simple habits are. Tune in here to learn more.

Car insurance has quietly become one of those monthly bills that keeps creeping higher. Today's sponsor, Insurify, makes it easy to see if you're paying more than you need to. In just a few minutes, you can compare quotes from multiple insurers in one place and potentially save money without changing your coverage.

Drought Deepens to the Worst Levels in Decades

North Carolina's drought has intensified sharply, with 43.6% of the state now classified in extreme drought and 6% in the most severe "exceptional" category, according to Thursday's U.S. Drought Monitor update.

State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler told Gov. Josh Stein and the Council of State this week that crops statewide are running below average, with eastern tobacco farmers reporting yellowed leaves and stunted growth. Farmers are also draining the irrigation ponds they depend on during the hottest stretch of summer.

The strain is showing in cities, too. Falls Lake, Raleigh's main water source, sits at 62% of capacity and keeps dropping 2-3% a week even after recent rain, prompting the city council to fast-track its authority to impose stricter restrictions.

Farther south, parts of Brunswick and Columbus counties have reached the region's worst drought level of this century, and utilities there are urging residents to cut back as reservoirs shrink.

Stein Launches Council To Grow Defense Economy

Gov. Josh Stein and the N.C. Department of Commerce launched a new advisory council this week aimed at strengthening the state's role in defense research, advanced manufacturing and emerging technology.

The council, called NC ALIGN, will bring together leaders from industry, universities, state government, and national security organizations to help attract federal research funding and expand technology commercialization. It will operate only in an advisory capacity and won't administer grants or funding itself.

Its first-year priorities include assessing the state's technology capabilities and building federal partnerships, leveraging North Carolina's military installations and research universities. The effort is meant to complement, not duplicate, existing groups like the N.C. Military Business Center.

Stein said the initiative reflects the state's need to connect its research, talent and industry to emerging national-security opportunities as competition for federal defense investment grows.

NC Secures Up to $165M Cash App Settlement

North Carolina will receive a share of up to $165 million in a 47-state settlement with Block, Inc., the owner of Cash App, over allegations the company misrepresented the app's safety while making fraud easier, Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced this week.

Jackson's office alleged Block offered little identity verification to stop scammers from opening accounts and, for years, had no phone support, leaving defrauded users to find fake numbers run by scammers instead. Investigators said the company knew of the risks but told users the app was safe anyway.

Under the deal, Block will complete a previously promised payout of $75 million to $120 million to consumers nationwide and pay $45 million to participating states, with North Carolina receiving close to $1 million. The company must also maintain round-the-clock fraud support going forward.

"Block told users Cash App was safe, but made it easier for fraud to occur," Jackson said in a statement.

Why Are So Many Drivers Suddenly Paying More for Car Insurance?

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➤ Statewide: The House advanced a bill to repeal the state's 4.75% sales tax on tampons and diapers, sending House Bill 1200 to the Senate ahead of a possible signature from Gov. Josh Stein. (More)

➤ Asheville: FEMA awarded $1.1 million to Cathedral of All Souls to reimburse cleanup after Hurricane Helene flooded the historic church with mud. (See Photos)

➤ Elizabeth City: The Coast Guard broke ground this week on a $32 million runway reconstruction, joined by elected officials and industry partners. (More)

➤ Wake County: The Wake County Animal Center on Thursday was caring for 653 animals and said it has reached capacity. (See Photo)

➤ Charlotte: The Pearl innovation district reported an estimated $224 million economic impact in its first year, according to Atrium Health and Wexford Science & Technology. (See Details)

➤ New Hanover County: A developer has proposed 236 new townhomes in Castle Hayne, aiming to ease the county's growing workforce housing shortage. (See Rendering)

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➤ Gov. Josh Stein signed an updated Winter Sports Safety Act into law this week, the first overhaul of the state's ski area regulations in years. The new law makes it a misdemeanor to leave the scene of an on-hill collision without providing contact information and criminalizes misuse of lift tickets and season passes. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers will open the NFL preseason against the Cardinals in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Aug. 6 in Canton, coinciding with the enshrinement of former Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Panthers’ left tackle Ikem Ekwonu could miss the entire 2026 season as he recovers from the ruptured knee tendon he suffered in the team’s playoff loss. (More)

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A Few Minutes Could Save You Hundreds This Year

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➤ Soap was poured into a newly installed roundabout fountain in Mocksville, causing it to foam over, and two people are now facing charges for the incident. (See Details)

➤ The decommissioned Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower, a former Coast Guard lighthouse sitting 32 miles off the North Carolina coast, has sold to a new private owner. (See Photo)

➤ A rare, blue-glowing firefly found in a Mecklenburg County park could be an entirely new species, and an N.C. State University expert is now examining it. (See Photo)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Coffee vs Hot Cacao vs Green Tea: Which of these hot drinks was proven in a study boost stem cells by 220% in 30 days? Billionaires drop 6 figures on stem cell therapy, but this hot drink costs 50 cents a day and boosts anti-aging stem cells improving heart health, blood pressure, and longevity.

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:

➤ Researchers found that these daily habits can slow the body's aging rate about as much as cutting your calorie intake by a quarter. (Hear More)

➤ Tyler Robinson declined to take the stand at the preliminary hearing in the Charlie Kirk murder case, and the next move rests with the judge. (Listen Now)

➤ China has announced plans for a space-and-ground network to spot dangerous asteroids before they reach Earth. (Podcast Available)