Burgum Expands Hunting Access in NC

U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has announced plans to expand hunting access to public lands in 11 states, including North Carolina.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed opening 16 National Wildlife Refuge System stations and one National Fish Hatchery System station, including the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge in Columbia near the North Carolina coast, where it will open big game hunting for Eastern black bear on 16,225 acres.

The openings are part of an overall plan to add 42 new hunting opportunities across more than 87,000 acres of federal wildlife refuges and hatcheries.

Hunting is a popular pastime in North Carolina. A state Wildlife Resources Commission study of North Carolina residents showed that in 2022, $5.3 billion was spent on freshwater fishing trips and equipment, and $1 billion was spent on hunting trips and equipment.

Dems Host ‘Funeral’ to Mourn Dead Bills

North Carolina House and Senate Democrats held a press conference at the state Legislative Building on Tuesday to mourn the loss of over 700 bills that didn’t make last week’s crossover deadline, rendering them “dead.”

“We are gathered here today to mourn the death of bills filed by Democratic legislators that have died in committee,” said Sen. Natalie Murdock, D-Durham.

The dead bills covered issues including health care, child care support, public safety, education, and state services.

House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, responded by sharing a cartoon on social media depicting a grave for Democratic bills about pickleball diversity, taxpayer money for illegal immigration, and sex changes for prisoners.

Museum Welcomes 3 New Red Wolf Pups

The Museum of Life and Science in Durham welcomed three new critically endangered male red wolf pups on May 3. All three were given a thorough examination and determined to be in good health.

The pups’ 7-year-old mother, Martha, and 11-year-old father, Oka, were identified as a valuable match in summer 2023 for maintaining genetic diversity within the red wolf population.

Officials are calling the birth a landmark in the species’ conservation, since fewer than 300 remain in the wild or human care.

The male pups’ birth marks the museum’s second consecutive successful red wolf breeding season, with previous litters born in 1993, 2002, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2024.

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➤ Statewide: The House is expected to vote on a bill this week that would give North Carolinians a two-year grace period to renew expired driver’s licenses as part of a solution for ongoing problems at the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. (More)

➤ Raleigh: A 48-year-old mother, her 23-year-old son, and a 51-year-old man who lives in their home were arrested on various charges in connection with a brawl that broke out at Big Ed’s restaurant on Mother’s Day. (See Details)

➤ Mecklenburg County: Charlotte’s interim city attorney confirmed an investigation is underway to identify who leaked details of a reported settlement involving a former council member who criticized the city’s police chief for not allowing officers to wear outer vests. (More)

➤ Charlotte: A 22-year-old man who shot a co-worker at a South Charlotte Popeyes in the groin and chest over “burnt biscuits” has been arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder. (More)

➤ Bat Cave: Crews are working to stabilize home foundations after heavy rains created up to 15 mudslides and landslides earlier this week in areas still recovering from landslides caused by Hurricane Helene. (See Photos)

➤ Edgecombe County: National Weather Service officials confirmed that three tornadoes touched down in the area—one in Princeville-Tarboro on Monday evening and two more in Macclesfield and near Pinetops early Tuesday, as severe weather moved through the area. (More)

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➤ UNC football coach Bill Belichick said his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, “doesn’t have anything to do with football” in a Tuesday interview. He also said he has addressed the controversy internally with the team. (More)

➤ The Holly Springs Salamanders have added Alexia Jorge to their roster, making her the first female player to suit up in the collegiate Coastal Plain summer baseball league. (More)

➤ UNC basketball legend Larry Miller died Sunday at the age of 79. He helped lead the Tar Heels to a 70-21 record from 1965–68 and remains one of the program’s all-time greats. (More)

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

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➤ Attorney General Jeff Jackson secured a nearly $4.7 million judgment from Steven Osbey, co-owner of Reign & Inspirations, LLC, after a multi-agency investigation found the company allegedly defrauded Medicaid by billing for fake home visits between 2017 and 2020. (More)

➤ An Onslow County judge granted a preliminary injunction blocking Jacksonville from enforcing food truck signage restrictions, and allowing food truck owners to challenge rules that ban electronic signs and limit sign size and proximity. (More)

➤ North Carolina tied with six other states for having the fourth-highest egg prices in the country at $5.14 a dozen—6% higher than the national average of $4.84. (More)

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No, it’s not Nvidia… It’s Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.⁴

Just as Uber turned vehicles into income-generating assets, Mode is turning smartphones into an easy passive income source, already helping 45M+ users earn $325M+ through simple, everyday use.

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➤ Bryson Battle of Harrisburg received a standing ovation from judges on NBC’s The Voice after singing Without You by Harry Nilsson during the semifinals, but was not chosen to advance to the next round. (More)

➤ Yelp’s Elite Squad ranked three North Carolina donut shops among its top 50 nationwide: HOLE Hot Doughnuts and Fresh Coffee in Asheville (No. 2), Dough Joe’s in Winston-Salem (No. 36), and OMG Donuts & Bakery in Concord (No. 45). (See List)

➤ Vintage photos from the summer of 1975 in Nags Head, taken by American artist-photographer Joel Sternfeld, showcase locals and holidaymakers in what was Sternfeld’s first body of work focused on a season. (See Photos)

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Which North Carolina-based fast-food restaurant makes the best biscuits?

1. Biscuitville
2. Bojangles
3. Hardees
4. Other

Yesterday’s Results:

Will you watch the PGA Championship in Charlotte this week?

1. Not planning to: 36%
2. I may catch some of it: 26%
3. Yes, every day: 21%
4. I’ll be there in person: 17%

What North Carolina New Deal project did Eleanor Roosevelt visit in 1937?

Show me the answer