NC Offshore Wind Project Scrapped

The Trump administration has scrapped the Carolina Long Bay offshore wind project 22 miles south of Bald Head Island, canceling federal leases held by French energy giant TotalEnergies.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the decision on Monday, calling offshore wind “expensive, unreliable, and subsidy-dependent.” Gov. Josh Stein responded that it was a “terrible deal” for North Carolina and the country.

In exchange for canceling the leases, the federal government agreed to reimburse TotalEnergies nearly $1 billion in lease payments. The company will redirect approximately $1 billion into U.S. oil, natural gas, and LNG production instead.

The project would have generated about 1.3 gigawatts to power roughly 300,000 homes. Duke Energy had already withdrawn its own offshore wind plans last year after an independent review found the technology not cost-effective or reliable for the state’s grid.

NC Community College Enrollment Soars

North Carolina’s community colleges are experiencing an enrollment surge beyond pre-pandemic levels, with full-time equivalent enrollment growing 23%, outpacing the national average by four times.

Curriculum enrollment rose 12% since fall 2019, compared to just 3% nationally, with 53 of 58 colleges reporting gains in the most recent year.

Only 23% of curriculum FTE students are enrolled in traditional in-person classes, with the remaining 77% choosing online and hybrid instruction. Dual enrollment has increased 37% since 2019.

The rebound defies typical trends, occurring despite declining unemployment and exceeding the state’s 7% population growth. Officials highlight strong demand for workforce programs amid 71,000 annual job openings in key fields such as trades and transportation.

NC Beaches Make National Best Lists

North Carolina beaches are dominating the national rankings this summer. Ocracoke, Nags Head, and a dozen more NC shores landed on multiple major best-of lists, so your next vacation destination might be closer than you think.

Oak Island landed at No. 18 among Southern Living’s best beach getaways in the South, celebrated for 8 miles of shoreline, salt marsh creeks, a low-key vibe, fishing piers, and the Oak Island Lighthouse.

Finally, HomeToGo’s 2026 Beach Index ranked Indian Beach No. 10 nationally and credited Sunset, Kure, Kitty Hawk, Carova, Topsail, Holden, Wrightsville, Ocean Isle, and North Topsail beaches for their affordability, hidden-gem appeal, and high visitor satisfaction.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina State Board of Elections certified most 2026 primary results on Wednesday, including a razor-thin GOP state Senate win, but excluded several U.S. Senate and House races pending provisional ballot counts. (More)

➤Also statewide: Budget analysts forecast a sharp rise in state revenue, projecting $35.079 billion for fiscal year 2025-26 and $34.72 billion for fiscal year 2026-27, but lawmakers warn a billion-dollar Medicaid shortfall could erase the surplus and jeopardize planned tax cuts. (More)

➤ Wilmington: Officials advance a proposal for a billion-dollar toll bridge to replace the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, with a private firm leading design, construction, and operations pending state review. (More)

➤ Rockingham County: A woman who vanished from Eden in December 2001 after a domestic dispute and was found living in Robeson County will appear in court on Thursday on a 24-year-old DWI charge. (More)

➤ Wake County: The Clerk of Courts updated its phone message after scammers spoofed the courthouse number in fake violation texts, warning residents not to respond to messages containing QR codes. (More)

➤ Bat Cave: NCDOT will reopen U.S. 64 into Bat Cave this weekend in a temporary pattern after hurricane repairs, restoring access ahead of schedule with full completion expected by Memorial Day. (More)

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➤ LSU is set to rehire NC State’s Will Wade as its next men’s basketball coach after just one season with the Wolfpack. (More)

➤ The Hornets hit a franchise-record-tying 26 three-pointers in a 44-point blowout of the Kings, their fourth-largest margin of victory in team history. (More)

➤ Duke men’s basketball takes on St. John’s later today in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, Duke women’s basketball faces LSU late tonight, while UNC meets No. 1 seed UConn with Elite Eight berths on the line. (See Schedule)

➤ UNC head football coach Bill Belichick downplayed recent questions about his Pro Football Hall of Fame snub, saying his focus is entirely on building North Carolina’s program heading into next season. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | MLB | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | Golf | Tennis

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➤ Seniors: This Is Why You Struggle to Stand Up After 60. Harvard research recently uncovered a hidden condition that dries out your joints from the inside — a slow, invisible process called “joint drought” that gets worse each decade after 50. It’s not just cartilage loss or inflammation. Your joints are literally starving for the lubricating fluid they need to move freely. A Boston doctor’s targeted approach to reversing joint drought has already helped over 300,000 Americans move with less stiffness — without surgery or injections. [Read the Full Article →]

➤ The USDA is launching a voluntary “Product of USA” label for domestically sourced meat, poultry, and eggs starting Jan. 1, aiming to boost transparency for North Carolina’s $326 million cattle industry. (More)

➤ Lumentum Holdings will invest hundreds of millions in a Greensboro plant, creating more than 400 jobs and expanding semiconductor production to meet growing demand from AI and data center customers. (More)

➤ Duke University Health System named Dr. David Zaas, former president of Duke Raleigh Hospital and recent CEO of Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, as its new CEO effective on May 1, succeeding Craig Albanese. (More)

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China’s 60% Stranglehold on Lithium is Cracking

China dictates the flow of 60% of the world’s lithium. That’s about to change.

America already has the 5th-most lithium reserves in the world. Now, domestic innovators like EnergyX are preparing to ramp up production to unlock this untapped supply.

Their patented tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than traditional methods. That’s already earned investment from giants like General Motors. Even better, they already have rights to nearly 150,000 acres of lithium-rich land across the Americas. 

That includes up to 9.8M tons of lithium in Chile alone, a $1.1B/year revenue opportunity at projected market prices. As China’s lithium becomes more volatile, these assets only become more valuable.

➤ Country music star Darius Rucker joined NASCAR’s Legacy Motor Club, based in Statesville, as co-owner and investor, aiming to boost fan engagement and expand business and brand development initiatives. (More)

➤ Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association provide daily free lunches to TSA officers in Charlotte as the airport encourages food and fuel gift card donations during the government shutdown. (More)

➤ Ruby-throated hummingbirds will begin arriving in North Carolina in early April, possibly earlier with southwest breezes, kicking off a migration season that typically lasts nearly six months. (More)

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Have hummingbirds arrived where you live?

1. Yes
2. Not yet
3. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

How do you feel about tolled express lanes?

1. Rather we didn’t have them: 31%
2. Only when necessary: 30%
3. Other: 20%
4. I use them all the time: 19%

How did Indian Beach get its name?

Show me the answer