Fires Prompt State of Emergency, Evacuations

A wildfire known as the Sam Davis Road Fire in Swain County had burned 350 acres and was at 0% containment as of Monday morning, prompting local officials to declare a state of emergency. West Elementary was closed on Monday and about 30 homes were evacuated, but so far, no structures have been lost, with 20 fire departments fighting the blaze.

The Haoe Lead Fire west of Robbinsville, located in the Joyce Kilmer-Slickrock Wilderness, was estimated at 2,436 acres and 12% contained as of Monday morning. 

Meanwhile, the Bee Rock Creek Fire near Armstrong State Fish Hatchery in McDowell County had grown to 1,397 acres and was at 27% containment Monday morning. A total of 159 personnel from federal, state, and local agencies are working to contain the blaze.

In eastern North Carolina, a 450-acre fire prompted mandatory evacuations for parts of Rocky Point in Pender County over the weekend, but the fire was 95% contained as of 6 p.m. Saturday.

DAVE Act Targets Vacant State Jobs

The Division of Accountability, Value, and Efficiency (DAVE) Act—modeled after the federal government’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—would cut 785.5 vacant state government positions and scrutinize thousands more. 

New Hanover Republican Sen. Michael Lee said 22,144 vacant positions would remain after the initial cuts, some unfilled for more than 900 days. As of March, about 14,200 state jobs were vacant—roughly one in five.

The DAVE Act plays a prominent role in the two-year, $65.9 billion budget proposal passed by Senate Republicans last week that goes to the House for approval this week. The proposal also grants new authority to State Auditor Dave Boliek, a Republican, to evaluate and recommend further cuts across state agencies.

The Cost of Retirement in NC

A new study estimates it costs $469,895 to fund a 20-year retirement in North Carolina when factoring in income from Social Security, based on a middle-class income range of $46,603 to $139,808. The cost increases to $932,053 without Social Security.

Another analysis from the same firm estimates that a retirement savings of $2 million will last about 56 years in North Carolina at an annual cost of $35,495 after accounting for Social Security payments.

Which state’s residents are setting themselves up best for retirement by keeping the most cash in the bank? Bureau of Labor Statistics data ranks Hawaii No. 1 with a median bank balance of $43,599.

North Carolina came in at No. 18 with $12,229, and Mississippi scored the lowest ranking at $2,000. 

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➤ Wake County: A woman arrested after a 2020 ReOpenNC protest against the COVID-19 shutdown appeared in court Monday asking a judge to allow her constitutional lawsuit against state and local officials to proceed. (More)

➤ Raleigh: The 18.5-acre Gipson Play Plaza will open this spring at Dorothea Dix Park. Features include Slide Valley, Fountain Plaza, Sensory Maze, Watermill Mountain, and others. An official opening date has not yet been announced. (See Photo)

➤ Winston-Salem: NCDOT has completed two sections of the Winston-Salem Beltway from US-421 to University Parkway, and from University Parkway to US-52. Crews now turn their focus to the beltway’s northern and southern ends. (More)

➤ Durham: Duke University is advising international students not to leave the country this summer “due to increased risks involved in re-entering” the United States. (More)

➤ Chapel Hill: Demolition of a gas station that displayed a mural of late UNC basketball coach Dean Smith is underway. A new location for a similar mural has yet to be determined. (See Photos)

➤ Avon Property Owners Association plans to replace all 22 beach boardwalks located at the end of the town’s oceanside roads. Three of the 22 are already completed. (More)

➤ The UNC women’s tennis team beat Virginia to secure the program’s 13th ACC championship ever—and second in a row. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes forward Logan Stankoven scored two goals in his playoff debut against the Devils this weekend. The teams will face off again tonight as Carolina looks to extend their 1-0 series lead. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers are reportedly considering a trade up to the No. 3 pick in the NFL Draft, a selection currently held by the New York Giants. The two teams previously struck a deal last spring when Carolina traded edge rusher Brian Burns to New York. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: MLB | NBA | NHL | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer 

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➤ Los Angeles-based Lee & Associates’ Raleigh office acquired Cary-based Lundy Management Group this month, resulting in the Triangle’s largest locally owned property and facility management company. (More)

➤ Dave’s Hot Chicken will open its sixth North Carolina location on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro this Friday. The chain, known for its Nashville-style hot chicken, already operates restaurants in Charlotte, Holly Springs, Wake Forest, and Wilmington. (More)

➤ Dave & Buster’s will open its first Wilmington location on May 26 and plans to hire for more than 80 positions, including servers, bartenders, hosts, line cooks, and game techs. (More)

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Rosé can have more sugar than donuts?

No wonder 38% of adults prefer health-conscious beverages. 

Meanwhile, companies like AMASS Brands are raking in sales by tapping into this trend, creating a huge opportunity for investors.

AMASS earned $33M in 2023 alone thanks to products like their top-selling zero-sugar Summer Water rosé (it’s tariff-free, too). That’s just one of the 15+ diverse brands in their portfolio—already distributed across 40,000+ retail locations, including Whole Foods, Erewhon, and more. 

It’s only the beginning. They have another new product announcement just around the corner. And by 2028, AMASS plans to ~3X their retail footprint. Celebs like Adam Levine and Derek Jeter have already invested.

You can, too. But their round ends (and share price increases) soon. Lock in your stake while you can.

➤ North Carolina’s House voted 96-14 last week to pass a bill that would make The Andy Griffith Show the state’s official TV show, honoring Mount Airy native Andy Griffith. (More)

➤ A rehabilitated American bald eagle was released back into the wild at Angus Barn in Raleigh on Saturday, coinciding with the iconic restaurant’s 65th anniversary. (Watch Release)

➤ A Rainbow Bridge memorial will be installed in Carolina Beach as a tribute to beloved pets, with $150 securing a personalized wooden plank and $25 purchasing a nameplate. (More)

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What are your retirement plans?

1. Stay put
2. Tighten my budget
3. Buy a vacation home
4. Move to a cheaper state
5. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever encountered an alligator?

1. Yes: 49%
2. No: 30%
3. Only in a zoo: 21%

What’s the leading cause of wildfires in North Carolina?

Show me the answer