Construction Conference Opens in Wilmington

The Southeast Region Federal Construction, Infrastructure and Environmental Summit opened today at the Wilmington Convention Center, drawing contractors, design firms, and suppliers from across the Southeast to pursue billions in federal defense and infrastructure projects.

Organized by the North Carolina Military Business Center, the April 14-16 event features high-level dialogues with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Marine Corps Installations East, and other agencies.

Sessions cover procurement opportunities, energy and environmental topics, lessons from recent hurricane-response contracting, and strategies to accelerate federal projects.

With the Department of Defense contributing $79.7 billion annually—which makes up 12.8% of the state’s gross domestic product—to North Carolina’s economy, the summit aims to connect local businesses with prime contracting and subcontracting opportunities at military installations across the region.

Special Forces Boats Spotted in Nags Head

Three high-tech Combatant Craft Assault (CCA) boats, used by U.S. Naval Special Warfare in support of Navy SEALs and other joint special operations forces, were spotted at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center in Nags Head on April 4.

Local fishing captain Raymond Pugh photographed the 41-foot composite-hull vessels, painted in two-tone digital gray camouflage and equipped with machine guns and grenade launchers. One boat was seen being towed on a trailer with military personnel present.

The stealthy, air-transportable craft—capable of parachute drops from C-17 planes and high-speed maritime interdiction—are operated by Special Warfare Combat Crewmen for inserting and extracting special operations teams. Watch a demo here.

No official explanation was released for the boats’ presence. The sighting comes as the Department of War continues investing in advanced special operations platforms, with recent contracts awarded for additional CCA deliveries.

Impostors Target NC Catholic Charities

Scammers are impersonating Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh to defraud immigrants in North Carolina seeking immigration legal assistance.

Using fake Facebook pages and WhatsApp accounts with official logos and staff names, fraudsters are promising pro bono services before demanding upfront payments via apps like Venmo or Cash App, then disappearing.

Consuelo Kwee, director of immigration legal services for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Raleigh said the scam is “very hurtful” and has prompted numerous calls from people who believe the organization holds their cases.

The organization does not communicate via WhatsApp or request peer-to-peer payments, and urges verification through official channels and watching for red flags, such as virtual-only meetings or immediate payment demands.

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➤ Guilford County: Elections director Charlie Collicutt stated that Senate Leader Phil Berger’s claim that eight eligible voters received ballots missing the District 26 contest is “highly unlikely,” citing barcode safeguards and successful reconciliations. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Marine veteran Raymond Dick, who served in Vietnam and later had his discharge upgraded from a bad-conduct discharge to an honorable discharge after decades of denied benefits due to PTSD and racism, was posthumously honored with full military honors Friday in Greensboro. (More)

➤ Sampson County: Deputies arrested 29-year-old Franklin “Frankie” Paul Faircloth Monday morning after he allegedly forced his way into a Roseboro home Saturday night, doused his 36-year-old girlfriend with gasoline, and set her on fire, causing burns on over two-thirds of her body. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Officials have begun demolishing four buildings—Adams, Ashby, Kirby, and Williams—at Dorothea Dix Park as part of an ongoing transformation project to create more green space, trails, and natural features on the former hospital campus. (More)

➤ Lake Norman: Nearly 80 first responders from 10 North Carolina departments trained last week on Lake Norman in boat operations, water rescue, sonar, and the use of remotely operated vehicles for drowning scenarios ahead of the busy boating season. (More)

➤ Smoky Mountains: The National Park Service is seeking public comments by April 22 on proposed improvements to the 1.6-mile Oconaluftee River Trail that include better accessibility, durable surfacing, riverbank restoration, footbridge repairs, and a new connection to Saunooke Bridge Road. (More)

➤ Pisgah Forest: The Cradle of Forestry has reopened for its 2026 season, featuring a new dock after pond dredging, landscaping upgrades, a refreshed discovery center, and raised beds on the historic 6,500-acre campus, and is open daily through fall. (See Photos)

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➤ Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel finished the regular season with 273 made three-pointers, the most of any player in the NBA. He’s the first player to ever lead the league in three-pointers during his first season. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, the Hornets play the Miami Heat tonight in the Eastern Conference play-in game. If they lose, their season is over. (More)

➤ North Carolina A&T defensive lineman Kelvin Level Broadhurst Jr. died this weekend in a motorcycle crash on I-40 in Greensboro. He was 20. (More)

➤ No. 6 UNC baseball beat Clemson 12-5 on Sunday to take the series, their first road series win over the Tigers since 2012. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NHL | MLB | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ NC TECH announced its 2026 Next Tech Award winners on April 9, honoring 30 rising stars across tech innovation, professional services, and sales/marketing categories at North Carolina tech and tech-enabled companies for their exceptional contributions. (See Winners)

➤ Amid North Carolina’s ongoing drought, vendors at Raleigh’s State Farmers Market are innovating with mycorrhizal fungi for drought-tolerant roots, pond water recycling, drought-resistant crops like sweet potatoes and okra, and long-term planning to maintain steady sales. (More)

➤ The rights to “Free Comic Book Day” were sold to Universal Distribution, which is bringing the event back on May 2, with Triad shops like Acme Comics and Ssalefish Comics participating. On the same day, Penguin Random House will launch a rival event called “Comics Giveaway Day.” (More)

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➤ Raleigh ranks seventh and Winston-Salem ranks 19th among the 100 most challenging U.S. cities for seasonal pollen allergy sufferers, according to a 2026 Allergy Capitals report, which cites high pollen levels, medication use, and limited access to board-certified allergists. (See List)

➤ American Airlines hosted an “It’s Cool to Fly American” program Saturday at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, giving nearly 50 families with children who have special needs or autism a mock flight experience to reduce travel anxiety. (More)

➤ Outer Banks fisherman Hunter Hicks called a 212-pound, 70-inch bluefin tuna the “hardest fish I’ve ever caught” after fighting it solo from his jet ski off Oregon Inlet on Easter Sunday, then towing it nearly 10 miles back to shore without a fighting belt or GPS. (See Photos)

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Do you, or did you once, read comic books?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Can’t remember

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you been to MerleFest?

1. Not interested: 41%
2. Not yet: 29%
3. Once or twice: 16%
4. I go every year: 14%

What was the name of the first forestry school in the United States, which was located in North Carolina?

Show me the answer