Wednesday, November 11, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1949, North Carolina State University dedicated its Memorial Belltower in Raleigh, a tribute to the 34 Wolfpack alumni who died in World War I. Fittingly, the ceremony fell on Armistice Day, now Veterans Day.

Happy Veterans Day to those of you who served our country, and thank you for your service! See yesterday’s edition for a roundup of free meal deals at various restaurants available to you today, and check out Et Cetera below for a statewide roundup of ceremonies honoring your service.

Think about everything you do for your car. The oil changes, the premium gas, and the long warm-up on frosty mornings. Some of those habits keep you safe, and some just keep the service bay busy. Today we’re counting down the five car habits that truly protect you, and the five that only drain your wallet. One of them costs American drivers more than $2 billion a year. So which side is your routine on? All of that and more on The Flyover Podcast. Tune in here!

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NCDOT Plans $342.5M U.S. 64 Widening

The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold a public meeting Nov. 18 on its $342.5 million plan to widen U.S. 64 through Apex and Cary.

Plans call for widening the highway to six lanes from just west of Laura Duncan Road in Apex to U.S. 1 in Cary. New interchanges at Laura Duncan Road and Lake Pine Drive would carry both roads over U.S. 64.

Traffic already runs from more than 40,000 vehicles a day near Laura Duncan Road to over 56,000 at U.S. 1, and NCDOT expects volumes to climb more than 40% by 2040.

Before any widening, NCDOT will extend the CSX railroad bridge west of Laura Duncan Road under a separate contract, with that work expected to begin in 2028. Construction on U.S. 64 itself isn’t expected until 2031.

The drop-in meeting runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the John M. Brown Community Center, 53 Hunter St., in Apex. The public can comment through Dec. 18.

Charlotte Council Approves Airport Lease, 8-2

The Charlotte City Council voted 8-2 Monday to approve a new lease with American Airlines and the other carriers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, keeping American Airlines’ hub there for at least a decade.

The deal runs 10.5 years with an option for a five-year extension and locks in $2.1 billion in airport improvements.

The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance says the airport generates $40 billion in annual economic activity and supports nearly 185,000 jobs.

Council members Reneé Perkins Johnson and JD Mazuera Arias voted no, citing contract workers who clean planes and push wheelchairs, some of whom earn $12.50 an hour. Supporters said the city can protect the airport’s future while still pressing for workers’ rights.

Swannanoa’s $12M Beacon Park Takes Shape

A nearly $12 million outdoor recreation park rising on the site of Swannanoa’s old Beacon blanket mill is set to open in late spring 2027.

The 8.5-acre Beacon Park will feature a paved bike park billed as the largest of its kind in the Americas, plus climbing walls, a 1-mile walking loop, a playground, and an event lawn for concerts capable of accommodating up to 4,000 attendees.

The nonprofit Beacon Foundation is building on land vacant since a 2003 fire destroyed the Beacon Manufacturing plant, once among the world’s largest blanket makers. The project pressed on even after Hurricane Helene’s 2024 floods battered the Swannanoa Valley and delayed work.

A $4.5 million grant from the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority anchors the budget, and organizers plan pay-what-you-can pricing to keep the park affordable for families.

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➤ New Hanover County: Former dance instructor Elissa Edwards, 43, pleaded guilty Monday to one felony child abuse charge in a New Hanover County court. Other charges in the 2024 sex crimes case involving multiple North Carolina studios were dropped under the plea agreement. (More)

➤ Southeast NC: A federal judge sentenced Nejlai Mitchell, 48, who operated tax-prep offices in Lumberton and Hope Mills, to five years in prison and ordered a nearly $13.9 million forfeiture for a scheme seeking almost $24 million in fraudulent COVID-19 tax credits. (More)

➤ NC State: Attorneys for Robert Murphy Jr., NC State’s former director of sports medicine, asked a court to dismiss seven of the 32 sexual-abuse charges against him, all misdemeanors, arguing the statute of limitations has expired. Murphy faces nine felony counts and 23 misdemeanor counts. (More)

➤ Lenoir: Crews responding to a report of breathing trouble at Prime Recycling on Monday evaluated 22 people after exposure to an unknown white powder, and 14 were taken to UNC Caldwell. The substance remains unidentified. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Napoleon Ellerbe, 34, of Rockingham, was struck and killed Saturday night while riding his bike across U.S. 29 in north Greensboro, police said. The SUV driver stayed at the scene. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: Gov. Josh Stein helped deliver the eight millionth meal for the county’s Meals on Wheels program to 105-year-old Ben Briggs, a retired Winston-Salem teacher. (Watch Report)

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➤ Wake Forest climbed from No. 16 to No. 13 in the second College Football Playoff rankings, released last night, keeping the 8-1 Demon Deacons’ playoff hopes alive after Week 10. (More)

➤ No. 2 Duke men’s basketball fell 79-73 to No. 5 Michigan State in the Champions Classic at Chicago’s United Center last night, plagued by poor shooting and turnovers in a frustrating early-season setback. (More)

➤ The ACC Championship Game on Dec. 5 at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium will be the last, as the College Football Playoff expands to 24 teams and eliminates Power Four title games. Charlotte has hosted 15 of the last 16. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NCAAF | NBA | NCAAM | NCAAW | NHL

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➤ Have you checked which military discounts you could be missing? Veterans Savings rounds up offers for veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible family members, including shopping, travel, and household expenses. Explore the list, check each provider’s current terms, and see what fits your needs. Discover potential savings today.

➤ Duke University Health System has asked state regulators to approve a $575 million hospital at Research Triangle Park, filing a certificate-of-need application to move 50 acute-care beds from Duke University Hospital to the new campus, which would open in July 2031. (More)

➤ Grant-funded community health centers in rural North Carolina, including Blue Ridge Health in Lake Lure and Black River Health in Burgaw, are expanding prenatal and perinatal services to address maternity care shortages as hospitals close labor units. (More)

➤ The Western NC VA Health Care System’s primary-care clinical pharmacy team earned the Clinical Pharmacy PACT Platinum Practice Designation, a national recognition for excellence in primary care pharmacy services. (More)

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➤ From Asheville to the Outer Banks, communities across North Carolina are marking Veterans Day today with ceremonies. Many government offices and services are closed for the federal holiday. (See Western NC, Charlotte, Triad, Triangle, Outer Banks, and Wilmington Events)

➤ North Carolina has the nation’s second-worst drivers, according to a LendingTree analysis of auto-insurance inquiries from January through August, with 48.1 incidents per 1,000 drivers. Only New Jersey was worse, at 56.9. (See Report)

➤ Just under 44% of North Carolinians hold a passport, ranking the state 30th nationally and below the 53.1% U.S. average, according to an analysis of 2024 passport ownership data by state. (See Map)

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➤ 7 Warning Signs Your Muscles Are Aging Too Fast. Weak legs, flabby arms, and fatigue might seem like normal aging. After 50, changes in muscle strength and energy can make everyday activities harder. A Texas physical therapist shares seven overlooked signs, including one you may notice getting out of a chair, and a potential contributing factor. Learn more.

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

➤ There are five car-care habits that are important, and five that just bleed your time and bank account. (Hear List)

➤ A free and easy way to cut dementia risk by 17% only takes 42 minutes a day. (Listen Now)

➤ The U.S. is set to become the first country ever to refuse a U.N. human rights review, a process all 193 member states face. (Hear Why)

Do you have a passport?

Yesterday’s Results:

How many snow events do you think your area will experience this winter?

One or two: 58%
None: 17%
At least three: 13%
No clue: 12%

In which North Carolina county do the most veterans live?

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)