Friday, July 25, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1729, North Carolina became a royal colony when the Lords Proprietors sold the colony to King George II. This occurred 10 years after South Carolina had become a royal colony, setting the stage for North Carolina to follow suit.

Do you love all things Burt Reynolds? If so, you could own his former mountain home in Highlands for around $3.7 million. Learn more in Et Cetera and tell us your favorite Burt Reynolds movie by answering today’s Poll. If we left your favorite out of the choices, hit reply and tell us what it is.

Today’s sponsor is Worksport, a new battery and solar mobile charging technology available for investment now.

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NC ICE Arrests Up by 162%

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests in North Carolina have surged 162% since President Trump’s second term began in January. There have been 1,580 arrests, double the number during the same period in 2024, according to the Deportation Data Project. Mecklenburg and Wake counties lead with 436 and 98 arrests, respectively.

Some detainees lack criminal records, drawing criticism despite ICE’s claim that 70% of arrests nationally involve illegal migrants convicted of or charged with crimes.

The Department of Homeland Security announced Wednesday the North Carolina arrests of Alfredo Leon-Palma, 42, from Mexico, convicted of first-degree rape and child sex offense, and Oscar Ramos, 42, from El Salvador, convicted of indecent liberties with a child.

Last month, Gov. Josh Stein vetoed two bills aimed at enhancing ICE cooperation and curbing sanctuary policies, but the Republican-dominated legislature will attempt to override those vetoes on July 29.

State to Pay Family of Slain UNC Professor

The state of North Carolina will pay $750,000 to settle a wrongful death claim filed by the family of UNC-Chapel Hill professor Dr. Zijie Yan, who was killed by student Tailei Qi in a 2023 campus shooting.

The claim cited the university’s partial responsibility, noting the shooter’s severe mental illnesses, including schizophrenia, and prior threats against Yan.

Qi was arrested after the August 2023 shooting at Caudill Laboratories, which led to a campus lockdown. Documents show he and Yan were overheard arguing before five gunshots rang out around 1 p.m.

Qi was deemed unfit for trial due to untreated schizophrenia and is receiving psychological treatment. Evidence gathered from his apartment included logins for two different firearm website forums used for selling and discussing guns.

Cooper’s Senate Run Decision Coming Soon

Former North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper is just days away from announcing whether he’ll run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis, according to a representative of the two-term governor.

Tillis announced he would not seek a third term on June 29, one day after drawing Trump’s ire for opposing his One Big Beautiful Bill.

Speculation mounted that Cooper would run after he sent a fundraising email on July 17 criticizing Republicans for supporting Trump’s bill, which Cooper said would eliminate Medicaid coverage for more than 650,000 North Carolinians.

Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel is the only Democrat currently in the race for Tillis’ seat, but Cooper is considered the Democrats’ best chance for turning the seat blue.

On the GOP side, Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley is reportedly planning a 2026 Senate run with support from the White House, following Lara Trump’s decision not to enter the race.

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Analysts Project This Stock Could Reach $10 a Share. You Can Still Invest for $3.25 Per Unit.

Worksport’s stock recently hit $4.29 on the Nasdaq.

Some Wall Street analysts say it could reach $10.33 within a year—140% higher.

But you can still purchase units for $3.25.

It’s through an offer you won’t find on the Nasdaq.

Right now, they’re giving investors the chance to buy investment units at a fixed price of $3.25.

Each unit gives you one convertible preferred share (with an 8% dividend) and one warrant to purchase another common share.

That’s up to two shares.

And yes, you can buy the units at $3.25, immediately convert your preferred share, and then sell the converted common share.

The company has already made a name for itself selling truck covers. Every 100 dealers they sign represents millions of dollars in potential revenue, and their truck tonneau cover business has already signed more than 400 dealers, up 4X since the start of 2025.

They just announced a 50% production increase and 2X margin growth in the last five months.

Up next, a potential $13 billion market opportunity—that’s why we believe it’s an exciting moment for investors to invest.

Worksport is combining their solar truck covers with battery systems to launch a flagship mobile power system later this year. It can power everything from emergency response to construction sites to camping.

Learn more about this opportunity and invest in Worksport’s next chapter.

➤ Statewide: A new law allows a two-year grace period for Class C driver’s licenses expiring on or after July 1, 2025. The licenses will remain valid for in-state driving until two years from their expiration date or Dec. 31, 2027, whichever comes first. (More and Press Release)

➤ Asheville: The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 for Asheville, reversing a block on a noise ordinance that a protester, Zachary Hebb, claimed violated his First and 14th Amendment rights. (More)

➤ Jackson County voted to exit the Fontana Regional Library system it shares with Macon and Swain counties, effective July 2026, after public complaints about LGBTQ+ materials in children’s sections. (More)

➤ Charlotte: A U.S. district court judge sentenced a Charlotte flight attendant accused of secretly recording young girls using the airplane bathroom to 18.5 years in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. (More)

➤ Mooresville: A former Classy Critters Pet Resort and Spa employee under investigation for mistreating dogs faces four counts of animal cruelty. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Piedmont Triad International Airport is planning major concourse upgrades—possibly a complete rebuild—to modernize outdated facilities. Construction could start early next year. (More)

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➤ UNC football has completely sold out of home game tickets for the 2025 season, Bill Belichick’s first as head coach. (More)

➤ Former Wake Forest basketball player Davin Cosby Jr. survived a three-car crash on Interstate 85 in Franklin County, Georgia, earlier this month, when his car flipped over and he was thrown from it. (More)

➤ While driving, Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young reportedly saw his former head coach Frank Reich walking on the street in Charlotte this week and pulled over to have a friendly conversation with him. (More)

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➤ Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced a $202 million settlement with Gilead Sciences for paying doctors kickbacks to promote HIV drugs, resulting in false claims. North Carolina’s Medicaid program will receive $760,106 from the settlement. (More)

➤ Mission Health is urging the North Carolina Supreme Court to clarify Certificate of Need (CON) rulings after state regulators awarded 67 new hospital beds to rival AdventHealth. (More)

➤ Charlotte-based Krispy Kreme and Crocs have partnered to create limited-edition, glazed doughnut-inspired Classic Clogs slated for an Aug. 5 release. Each pair will cost $90 and comes with customizable icing and sprinkle toe caps. (See Photos)

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➤ Launching your venture in North Carolina? LegalZoom simplifies LLC formation, so you can protect personal assets and give your business a professional edge. Start your NC LLC in minutes.

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Why Some Wall Street Analysts Rate This Stock a ‘Strong Buy’

Some Wall Street analysts give this stock a 140% one-year growth target—projecting a $10.33 share price from the recent $4.29.

But right now, you can invest in Worksport for $3.25 per unit.

For $3.25, you get one preferred share convertible into one share of common stock and a warrant. That means you’re buying in at a discount from the recent share price, with a warrant to purchase an additional share on top.

Worksport’s truck tonneau cover business is on track for over $20 million in revenue and 30% margins by year-end. Revenue is up 455% year over year.

Next up: the launch of their flagship solar + battery system. It has the potential to power everything from camping to construction sites, creating a $13 billion market opportunity.

With cash flow positivity in sight, the next 6 months could be pivotal.

Invest now at $3.25 per unit.

This is a paid advertisement for Worksport Regulation A Offering. Please read the offering circular at http://invest.worksport.com/.

➤ Chimney Rock State Park will shift from weekend hours to opening seven days a week starting July 28, about a month after reopening for the first time since Hurricane Helene devastated the area. (More)

➤ Sophie Laurenceau-Breton, a rising senior at Cary High School, earned a perfect ACT composite score of 36, the average of scores in four sections: English, math, reading, and science. (More)

➤ Burt Reynolds’ former treehouse-inspired mountain home in Highlands, which was designed by modernist architect Jim Fox and has traded hands several times since the actor sold it during the 1990s, is back on the market for $3.699 million. (See Photos)

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Even our Flyover podcast host Ayla is a fan—see her talk about it here!