THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1863, 13 veteran soldiers from the 3rd North Carolina Infantry slipped into the woods that night with rifles and cartridge belts after the Gettysburg defeat, a point of no return detailed by one of the deserters, John Futch, in his dictated letters.

A new analysis of federal data reveals that women are being admitted to UNC system colleges and universities at a higher rate than men. Learn more in Top Stories.

Have you ever done a home remodel and regretted it? Well, you aren't alone. 74% of homeowners who renovated in the last five years wish they'd done something differently, and the most regretted upgrades aren't what you'd expect. Some of the most popular design trends in America made the list. Today on The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down the 10 renovations homeowners regret most and shares the simple tricks that could save you from making the same mistakes. Tune in here!

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People Mover Studied for Charlotte Airport

Charlotte Douglas International Airport wants to connect its terminals to the city’s planned Silver Line light rail with a 1-mile automated “people mover.”

Under designs airport leaders released last week, travelers would ride the Silver Line to a new stop on Wilkinson Boulevard, then transfer to the people mover for a roughly 7-minute ride to the terminals. Officials said it could resemble a self-driving bus, train, or cable liner, with stops at parking lots and the rental car center.

Airport leaders said running light rail directly to the terminals isn’t realistic, citing construction challenges and the need to leave room for future terminals.

Construction on the people mover could begin in 2030 and be completed by 2032. The airport projects local passenger traffic will jump from 19.3 million flyers in 2025 to 35.7 million by 2050.

Feds Move to Lift Roadless Rule

The U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed rescinding the 25-year-old Roadless Rule, opening nearly 152,000 protected acres in the Pisgah and Nantahala national forests to potential roads and logging.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the 2001 rule locked forests away from treatments that reduce wildfire risk, and that rescinding it returns decisions to local forest managers. The department said the change does not mandate any logging or road building.

Conservation groups pushed back, with Will Harlan of the Center for Biological Diversity calling the move “the largest evisceration of public lands in American history,” and warning it threatens some of the wildest land in Western North Carolina.

Both sides will get their say: a public comment period runs from Aug. 19 to Sept. 21. The USDA said about 99% of comments in last fall’s earlier round opposed the change.

Women Admitted at Higher UNC Rates

Women were admitted at higher rates than men at 10 of 15 University of North Carolina System campuses in 2024, according to a new analysis of federal data.

The gap was widest at NC State, where 46% of female applicants were admitted versus 38% of male applicants, according to federal figures—a divide that has widened since 2016.

Analysts urged caution about the cause, saying the numbers can’t yet show whether the gap reflects women’s stronger applications or bias in admissions offices. They noted the underlying federal figures don’t include applicants’ GPAs or test scores.

The pattern fits a broader trend: women made up the majority of applicants at nearly every system school, while more men are choosing trade and vocational programs over four-year college.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Public Education held nearly two hours of its July 27 meeting in Zoom breakout rooms the public couldn't access, which open-government advocates say may have violated the state’s Open Meetings Law. (More)

➤ Coastal NC: Tolls are coming to every North Carolina ferry route starting Jan. 1, 2027, under a 2026 state law. NCDOT has launched a website outlining planned fares and a public-input process. (More and Submit Input)

➤ Western NC: President Trump endorsed state Rep. Jennifer Balkcom, R- Henderson, for North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District in an Aug. 17 Truth Social post. Republicans picked Balkcom to replace Rep. Chuck Edwards on the November ballot. (More)

➤ Statesville: Terrell Williams, 44, of Georgia, is charged with burglarizing the home of former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle after learning Biffle and his family died in a December plane crash. Authorities say he stole $30,000 in cash, firearms, NASCAR memorabilia, and coins. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Two co-defendants in the killing of off-duty Greensboro police Sgt. Philip Dale Nix were sentenced Monday. John Walter Morrison got 15 to 20 years for accessory after the fact, and Z'quriah Blackwell received 16-29 months. Gunman Jamere Foster was sentenced earlier to 25 to 32 years. (More)

➤ Duke University: The Department of War ordered the university—one of 30 institutions targeted—to audit its foreign ties or risk losing federal funding. Duke must identify all foreign collaborations, evaluate any links to “entities of concern,” and take steps to mitigate them. (More)

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➤ North Carolina football named Billy Edwards Jr. its starting quarterback for the season opener, ending a camp-long competition. Edwards won the job despite a rough weekend scrimmage that had raised questions about the position. (More)

➤ Charlotte ranked 16th out of 30 NFL markets in a new Nielsen fan passion index that tracked TV viewership, radio, merchandise, and five other metrics. Buffalo, Kansas City, and Green Bay topped the list. (More)

➤ UNC men's basketball coach Michael Malone said he turned down the job three times before conversations with Hall of Famer Roy Williams changed his mind. Malone called the UNC job the only college position he would consider. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Tennis | WNBA | Little League World Series | Soccer

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➤ Wyda Packaging USA, a Brazilian aluminum manufacturer, is preparing to expand in Charlotte, saying deals with new and existing clients could require it to triple its local output. Sales and marketing head Celeste Costa cited rising U.S. demand. (More)

➤ North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley said the state’s growing aviation reputation, highlighted by JetZero’s $4.7 billion Greensboro project, depends on developing shovel-ready sites and strengthening workforce training. (More)

➤ A Superior Court judge announced Tuesday that he will not compel former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to give sworn testimony in a lawsuit by bar owners challenging his COVID-era orders that kept bars closed longer than other alcohol-serving businesses. (More)

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➤ A bear attack in northern Buncombe County left one person injured and headed to the hospital Tuesday evening, with the Reems Creek Fire Department leading the response. (More)

➤ SCarowinds—Carowinds’ Halloween event—is adding eight new experiences this year, headlined by “Jason: Blood Reign,” a haunted maze drawn from the Friday the 13th films. SCarowinds runs select nights from Sept. 11 through Nov. 1. (More)

➤ Currituck County commissioners designated the Boswood-Morris House, built in 1901 on Caratoke Highway, a local historic landmark. The current owner, Rhonda Morris, is a 10th-generation Currituck native and a member of the fourth generation to live in the house. (See Photo)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Remodeling triggers regret in 74% of homeowners, with these 10 “upgrades” causing the most trouble. (Hear Details)

➤ American forces are reportedly running a secret nightly operation to move millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz. (Hear Episode)

➤ Russia has placed RFK Jr.'s son on its most wanted list over accusations that he fought for Ukraine. (Listen Now)