Thursday, November 12, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1836, 26-year-old P.T. Barnum rolled into Rocky Mount Falls on the first recorded stop of his own small traveling troupe, made up of acts he had lured away from Aaron Turner’s circus. He didn’t put on a show, but preached a sermon to a crowd of about 300.

Every family hands down the same urban myths, the rules parents swore by and nobody ever questioned. Wait 30 minutes after eating before you swim. Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. Turn the car off at the gas pump, or else... Now researchers have put the seven most famous rules to the test and found clear verdicts for all of them. So which rules did Grandma get right, and will your car really blow up at the pump? Ayla has the full story on today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

Later today, you'll receive a special email from Fisher Investments featuring The 15-Minute Retirement Plan, a free guide designed to help you build or review your retirement strategy.

Today’s sponsor, Dr. Steven Gundry, shares his perspective on why some “healthy” foods may leave you bloated or tired and introduces a 60-second morning routine to explore.

Budd Pushes for Autonomous Warfare Command

Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, and 10 members of the state’s House delegation want the Pentagon to base the military’s planned Autonomous Warfare Command in North Carolina.

In a letter to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth released Nov. 2, the lawmakers argued the state’s bases, defense firms, and research universities make it the right home for the four-star command. Democrats Don Davis and Deborah Ross signed alongside Budd and eight House Republicans.

Known as AUTOWARCOM, the command would unify the military’s drone and robotics programs, now scattered across the services. Hegseth announced the plan Sept. 30 at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.

The delegation pointed to Fort Bragg and Camp Lejeune, where units already test unmanned aircraft and train on attack drones.

No site has been named. The Pentagon is targeting Oct. 1, 2027, to stand up the command, which still needs congressional approval.

Stein Hosts Council at Tryon Palace

Gov. Josh Stein convened the monthly Council of State meeting Tuesday at historic Tryon Palace in New Bern, marking a departure from the group’s usual Raleigh sessions.

The 10-member council, which includes statewide elected officials from both parties, handles key executive functions such as approving state contracts and property transfers.

Stein linked the location to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, noting New Bern and Tryon Palace’s central role in colonial government and the nation’s founding. “We’re an old state; we’re one of the original 13,” he said, emphasizing the site’s historical significance.

Coming one week after the midterm elections, Stein urged bipartisan cooperation on affordability, education, and public safety, saying voters want leaders focused on everyday needs. Officials later toured the palace.

UNC Holds 600+ Native American Remains

UNC-Chapel Hill holds more than 600 Native American remains it has not returned, decades after a federal law required their repatriation.

A ProPublica database ranked the university’s collection the 31st largest in the country as of early 2025. Of its 1,000-plus reported remains, 41% had been cleared for return.

The 1990 Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) requires federally funded institutions to return remains and funerary objects to tribes. UNC-Chapel Hill hired its first NAGPRA coordinator in January 2026 to lead the effort.

UNC is building on longstanding partnerships with the Catawba and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and has invited the Lumbee, federally recognized in late 2025, into the talks.

Not everyone backs the expanded rule. UNC archaeologist Vincas Steponaitis, who played a role in the original law’s passage, argues the update went beyond what Congress intended.

Flying together with our sponsor

Eating “healthy” is backfiring on millions of Americans (here’s why)

A discovery is exposing a massive lie about the food in grocery stores that could explain why eating “healthy” foods leaves you bloated, tired, and frustrated.

It has nothing to do with GMOs, gluten, or processed foods.

It’s a stealthy problem affecting the produce aisle over the last 60 years.

There’s a 60-second morning method you can do from your kitchen.

Thousands are reporting smoother digestion, all-day energy, and a slimmer waistline.

Watch this video =>

➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a separation-of-powers fight between Democrat Gov. Josh Stein and Republican legislative leaders over laws that curb Stein’s power to fill judicial vacancies and appoint board members. (More)

➤ Southeastern NC: Republican state Sen. Danny Britt held his lead over Democrat Catina Hamm in Senate District 24 after provisional ballots were counted, and is now 228 votes ahead. If the margin survives certification and any recount, Republicans keep a 26-24 state Senate majority. (More)

➤ Northwestern NC: Democrat Chuck Hubbard widened his lead over 11-term Republican Rep. Virginia Foxx to 335 votes in the 5th Congressional District after provisional ballots were tallied. The race is within recount range, and the Associated Press has not called it. (More)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill: The university’s board of trustees is reviewing a proposed 10% tuition increase of about $4,700 for out-of-state undergraduates for 2027-28, while in-state rates remain flat amid possible fee, housing, and meal plan hikes. (More)

➤ Burke County: The body of Justin Lobdell, missing since Oct. 31, was found Tuesday about a quarter-mile from the Pine Gap Trailhead in Linville Gorge in Pisgah National Forest. An off-duty deputy spotted his car at the trailhead Sunday, prompting the search. No foul play is suspected. (More)

➤ Lenoir: Asheville’s HAZMAT team identified a white powder that sickened 22 workers at a Lenoir recycling plant as urea, a chemical commonly used in fertilizers and diesel fuel system cleaners, after workers opened boxes and released it into the air Monday. (More)

Enjoy reading Flyover North Carolina? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ The Carolina Panthers have lost three straight to fall to 3-5, yet they lead the NFC South. Every team in the division has three wins or fewer through nine weeks, a pattern not seen since the 2020 NFC East. (More)

➤ No. 7 seed UNC and No. 11 seed NC State meet in the ACC men’s soccer semifinals today at 5:30 p.m. in Cary. SMU and Syracuse play in the other semifinal. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes landed in Helsinki and held their first practice at Veikkaus Arena ahead of the 2026 NHL Global Series Finland, where they face the Seattle Kraken today at noon ET and Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. (See Video and Projected Lineup)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Darker evenings and less motivation to workout? Us too. That’s why Tai Chi Walking is a global sensation for weight loss. This gentle 30-minute routine can help burn calories and calm your mind more effectively than walking. Take the quick quiz for your personalized plan, plus weight loss coaching, workouts, and nutrition advice.

➤ The Charlotte City Council voted Monday to ban selling merchandise on city streets and sidewalks without a permit or outside designated areas. Violators face fines and possible permit revocation, though the council declined to attach criminal penalties for now. (More)

➤ Raleigh is one of three cities, along with Tampa and Chicago, where Chick-fil-A will test four new waffle breakfast sandwiches starting Nov. 16, as its nationwide Chicken & Waffles Sandwich leaves menus after Nov. 14. (See Details)

➤ Winston-Salem-based Lowes Foods is piloting the Flashfood app at five stores in the Columbia, South Carolina, market, letting shoppers buy surplus meat, produce, and other fresh food nearing its best-by date at up to 60% off. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Earn A $200 Bonus And Pay No Interest Until 2028. You could be paying $0 in interest on your credit card until 2028. One of the best low intro APR cards right now also comes with a $200 bonus, unlimited cash back on everyday spending, and no annual fee — and our experts just picked it as a top card worth checking out. If you’re still paying interest every month, this is your sign. Click here to learn more.

Flying together with our sponsor

Whistleblowing Doctor Links Common Health Issues to Widespread “Grocery Scam”

One of America’s top doctors is hoping you’ll read this before you set foot in another grocery store.

Renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Steven Gundry has found an “invisible problem” affecting almost everything we eat. But almost nobody knows it’s happening, except the big food companies responsible for it.

And Dr. Gundry’s research shows it could be the true cause of low energy, digestive issues, and unwanted weight gain in millions of Americans over 35.

Click here to see Dr. Gundry's report.

➤ Researchers spotted a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale off Nags Head, a sighting one witness described as “akin to seeing a unicorn.” Fewer than 400 of the whales remain. (More)

➤ The Asheville City Council approved a 15-year, $1-a-year lease letting the nonprofit RiverLink turn the vacant former ice house site in the River Arts District into a riverfront nature preserve with public art. (See Photo)

➤ Coyotes are “here to stay” on Outer Banks barrier islands, according to a peer-reviewed study by NC State researchers who analyzed scat DNA across seven islands. They estimate 45 to 60 coyotes persist despite removals, threatening nesting shorebirds and sea turtles. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Dry Eyes? Here are 5 reasons drops aren’t working. Are you wasting your money on eye drops? Here are 5 reasons drops won’t work for dry eyes and why you should be doing THIS instead. PS - If you really care about your eye health…⇒ Read this short article before you spend another penny on eye drops… (You are probably being misled).

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes.

➤ Those old family rules about swimming, sugar, and knuckle cracking are finally getting scientific verdicts. (See List)

➤ In his only interview before a new memoir, former President Joe Biden is downplaying the debate that ended his 2024 campaign. (Listen Now)

➤ Migraines hold a hidden connection to women’s health, and a leading neurologist is breaking down why women suffer from them more than men. (Hear Details)

Which of the four new Chick-fil-A waffle breakfast sandwiches being tested in Raleigh would you order?

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you have a passport?

Yes, it’s up-to-date: 72%
Yes, it’s expired: 15%
Plan to get one: 3%
No need for one: 10%

What was Tryon Palace modeled after?

Show me the answer

If you’re a fan of our Trivia section, you’ll love our new book, The Flyover Book of Trivia 2027, an illustrated collection of 100 of our favorite questions and answers. (Buy It Now)