Thursday, April 30, 2026

THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1945, Beaufort native and NASA astronaut Michael J. Smith was born. A U.S. Navy captain and Vietnam veteran with more than 4,800 flight hours, he was selected by NASA in 1980 and later served as pilot of the Challenger mission, dying with the crew when the shuttle exploded on Jan. 28, 1986.

The UNC System is considering the implementation of three-year degree programs. What do you think of that? Learn more in Top Stories and answer today’s Poll to share your opinion.

Jimmy Kimmel and President Trump are feuding again. But how far back does this actually go and how did it start? What happened when Trump was first booked on Kimmel’s show? And what roles are ABC, the FCC and major news affiliate playing? It’s a story nearly a decade in the making, and host Ayla Brown breaks down the entire feud, what started it, what they have said and where it stands in today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast. Listen here.

Our 2026 Mother’s Day Gift Guide has great picks for every mom on your list, and a few you’ll want to keep for yourself. No judgment.

Car repairs are one of the most unpredictable expenses drivers face, and they rarely come at a convenient time. That’s why today’s sponsor, CarShield, is here to help. As vehicles age, even minor issues can turn into major, costly fixes. That’s why more drivers are turning to options like CarShield to plan ahead and avoid surprise repair bills.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Comey, Indicted in NC, to Surrender in VA

Former FBI Director James Comey appeared in court on Wednesday after surrendering in Virginia following a North Carolina indictment, and a judge released him without conditions after he declined to enter a plea.

The charges stem from a May 2025 Instagram post in which he displayed seashells arranged as “86 47” on a beach while in the Eastern District of North Carolina. Prosecutors say the post was a threat against President Trump, the 47th president, as “86” is slang for “get rid of” or “to kill.”

The indictment charges Comey with two felony counts: threatening to kill or harm the president and transmitting the threat via social media. Each count carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Comey later deleted the post, claiming it was meant as a political message and that he opposes violence. This is his second indictment during Trump’s second term.

UNC System Pushes for 3-Year Degrees

The UNC System is exploring the feasibility of offering accelerated three-year bachelor’s degrees by reducing required credit hours from the traditional 120 to 90.

UNC System President Peter Hans told The Assembly he believes the initiative will increase access and affordability for nontraditional students, working adults, and older learners who didn’t enroll in college right after high school. Community colleges have also expressed interest in participating.

Eight of the system’s 16 campuses have already submitted proposals for 18 accelerated programs. The system is offering planning grants of up to $20,000 per selected program.

Statewide, the system provides 75% of all bachelor’s and higher degrees in areas such as nursing, engineering, and education. Officials emphasize that the shorter degrees must preserve intellectual depth, general education outcomes, and alignment with North Carolina’s workforce needs.

NC Tennis Star Wins $2M NCAA Settlement

UNC tennis star Reese Brantmeier reached a proposed settlement with the NCAA, likely ending a two-year legal fight and dismantling one of college sports’ last remaining amateurism restrictions.

The settlement has two primary components: The NCAA agreed to pay out $2.02 million in damages, as well as lift prize money restrictions for athletes in all sports, not just tennis.

Brantmeier first sued after being forced to forfeit $40,000 of the $50,000 she earned as a high schooler in the 2021 U.S. Open. NCAA rules capped tennis players at just $10,000 per year, or else they’d lose their college eligibility.

Five years later, Brantmeier recovered a portion of the winnings she’d lost. Her attorneys called the settlement “an extraordinary outcome” that “will positively impact future generations of student-athletes.”

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➤ Statewide: Lawmakers approved a $319 million bipartisan plan Tuesday to fully fund Medicaid for more than 3 million residents, adding stricter work requirements and eligibility checks to avert a May shortfall. (More)

➤ NC State: A Pinehurst man arrested last week faces a felony charge after allegedly posting social media threats to shoot Duke Energy CEO Harry Sideris during NC State’s upcoming commencement ceremony. (More)

➤ Fort Bragg: An Army Special Forces soldier pleaded not guilty in New York on Tuesday after allegedly using classified intelligence on a Nicolás Maduro raid to place bets that netted over $400,000. (More)

➤ Apex: A multimillion-dollar streetscape project has paused for electrical design changes, while downtown businesses report declining foot traffic and sales during ongoing construction disruptions. (More)

➤ Mooresville: New search warrants in the January burglary of NASCAR driver Greg Biffle’s home reveal thieves stole more than $30,000 in cash and two firearms and appeared familiar with the layout. (More)

➤ Charlotte: DJ Jones, known as the city’s “Batman,” walks the streets in costume to inspire resilience and empathy after overcoming homelessness, greeting strangers, shaking hands, and posing for selfies. (See Batman)

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➤ UNC landed 7-footer Sayon Keita, who committed this week over Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, and Duke after playing professionally for FC Barcelona last season. (More)

➤ Charlotte FC was knocked out of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday, losing 2-0 at home to Atlanta United. (More)

➤ Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks was medically cleared to participate in the team’s offseason program after tearing his ACL twice in 13 months. The former second-round pick has played in just three NFL games since being drafted in 2024. (More)

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➤ Charlotte Douglas International Airport will open its fourth parallel runway next year with 2,000 embedded sensors under its northern end to collect real-time data and improve safety and performance. (More)

➤ North Carolina will pay Kyndryl $84.8 million to modernize DMV systems, aiming to cut wait times, expand online services, and replace decades-old technology with a cloud-based platform. (See Details)

➤ Charlotte-based Lucid Bots launched a partnership with Davidson College to create a fellowship program offering graduates hands-on experience in robotics and artificial intelligence, building a pipeline into the growing industry. (More)

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➤ Meteorologists on Tuesday said unusual wave-like, layered clouds over central North Carolina were caused by turbulent air and storm-driven temperature contrasts, producing undulatus asperatus and shelf clouds. (See Photos)

➤ Authorities and volunteers responded to reports of two aggressive stray dogs along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Jackson County, prompting safety concerns, trapping efforts, and an online petition calling for the dogs to be rescued. (See Photo)

➤ Four North Carolina restaurants made OpenTable’s 2026 list of the top 100 brunch spots: Afternoon Tea at the O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, Herons in Cary, JOLO Winery & Vineyards’ EndPosts Restaurant on Pilot Mountain, and Seabird in Wilmington. (See List)

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