Saturday, January 10, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1881, Clarence Poe was born in Chatham County. With only a grade school education, he became editor of The Progressive Farmer at 18, bought it in 1903, and built it into the South’s leading agricultural magazine, championing rural reforms until his death in 1964.

Discover in today’s Top Stories how a former Wayne Correctional Center inmate bought the now-vacant prison and what he plans to do with it next.

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Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

DOT Audit Unveils Illegal CDLs

More than $48.75 million in federal highway funding for North Carolina faces risk after a Transportation Department audit found 54% of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) issued to foreign nationals were illegal.

The audit, whose findings were sent in a letter to state leaders, was prompted by a Trump administration executive order that sought to emphasize roadway safety. The focus of the audit was on the issuance of non-domiciled CDLs, licenses issued to non-residents authorized to work in the U.S.

Federal auditors found that 27 of 50 sampled CDLs were issued illegally. The letter states that North Carolina may lose federal funding and could lose the ability to issue CDLs if the state fails to comply.

Several other states, including California and Texas, were also found to be in noncompliance.

85 Counties in Drought Conditions

The North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council revealed that 85 out of 100 counties are in drought conditions, including all or parts of 32 central and western counties in severe drought.

Klaus Albertin, the chair of the council, says the region is in a La Niña pattern. These patterns often result in below-average rainfall. The period from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 ranks among the 10 driest three-month spans on record for the central and western counties.

From Dec. 1 to Jan. 7, Asheville has received 1.19 inches of rain, down from its typical 5.16 inches this time of year.

The council expects the impact of the drought to be minimal this time of year, but still recommends water systems find ways to reduce water usage.

Former Inmate Buys Old Prison

The Wayne Correctional Center in Goldsboro was purchased by former inmate Kerwin Pittman, marking the first time in American history that a previously incarcerated person has bought a prison.

Pittman, who served 11.5 years for conspiracy to commit murder, founded the nonprofit Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services Inc. after his release. The nonprofit bought the former prison for $275,000 last November. The prison had been vacant since 2013.

Plans for the site include workforce development programs, mental health services, dormitory housing, and a cafeteria, with four buildings slated for renovation.

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➤ Statewide: A federal appeals court upheld an injunction blocking National Institutes of Health grant cuts, as 22 states, including North Carolina, sue the Trump administration to stop the funding reductions. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Federal Transit Authority head Marcus J. Molinaro will visit next week to meet local leaders to discuss transit safety as Charlotte faces several recent high-profile light rail crimes. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Tepper Sports and Entertainment detailed a $1.3 billion Bank of America Stadium renovation, including new seating and mechanical and plumbing upgrades, with construction slated to begin this year. (More)

➤ Research Triangle Park: French agriculture biotechnology firm Meiogenix will move its U.S. headquarters from New York to Research Triangle Park, citing the region’s universities and talent pipeline. (More)

➤ Garner: Authorities turned to social media for new leads in a 2004 cold case involving the death of 16-year-old Joshua Davis, asking the public for information through a Facebook post. (More)

➤ Randolph County: The State Bureau of Investigation arrested Newton Grove Police Chief Greg Warren on seven felony charges involving a minor after an investigation that began with a January report. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers host the Los Angeles Rams in today’s NFL wild-card game after a 31-28 regular-season win, but enter the matchup as 10.5-point underdogs. (More)

➤ Charlotte FC sent midfielder Nikola Petkovic to Seattle Sounders FC on a one-year loan in exchange for up to $250,000 and a third-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft. (More)

➤ Wake Forest visits North Carolina tonight for an in-state ACC matchup at the Smith Center, where the Tar Heels seek a rebound as the Demon Deacons chase a resume-boosting road win. (More)

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➤ Maya, a Nash County police dog, found 22 pounds of cocaine worth $1 million in a suspected trafficker’s truck, leading to the county’s biggest drug bust on record. (Meet Maya)

➤ Pittsburgh Steeler and Wilmington native Alex Highsmith was nominated for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award—an award given for excellence off the field—for his efforts to help empower youth through his football camps and foundation. (More)

➤ The Carolina Museum of the Marine, set to open this spring, will showcase defining moments in U.S. Marine Corps history while highlighting service members who wore the uniform worldwide. (More)

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