Sunday, May 3, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1775, Revolutionary patriot John Harvey of Perquimans County died from a fall off his horse. A fierce opponent of British taxes, the speaker of the Colonial Assembly and moderator of the Provincial Congress helped organize resistance and earned the title “Father of the American Revolution in North Carolina.”

It’s officially strawberry season in North Carolina! From festivals and pick-your-own farms, see what’s happening across the state—one of the nation’s top producers of the sweet produce. Learn more in Top Stories.

In case you missed it, this week on The Flyover Podcast, host Ayla Brown breaks down the long-running feud between Jimmy Kimmel and President Trump. What started as a late-night appearance years ago has turned into a nearly decade-long back-and-forth involving media giants, political power, and plenty of sharp words. How did it all begin, and where does it stand today? Listen here.

Today’s sponsor, the knēNest Pillow, is designed to relieve nighttime pain and improve sleep by keeping your body properly aligned for deeper, more restorative rest.

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.

Health Systems Announce $2B Merger

Atrium Health and WakeMed, two of North Carolina’s largest health systems, announced Friday a proposed merger that would place WakeMed under Atrium’s control, pending a Wake County Board of Commissioners vote scheduled for Monday.

The deal includes a $2 billion investment in Wake County, more than 3,300 new health care jobs, expanded services for 1 million North Carolinians, and the state’s largest nonprofit mental health network.

Atrium, part of Advocate Health, would gain a foothold in the Triangle market, while WakeMed could better compete with UNC Health and Duke Health. Wake County would still appoint eight of WakeMed’s 14 board members.

State Treasurer Brad Briner urged the attorney general and Federal Trade Commission to scrutinize the deal, warning consolidation tends to raise prices. Attorney General Jeff Jackson said his office would review the proposal carefully.

Tar Heels Chase ACC Lacrosse Crown

No. 2-ranked UNC faces Virginia today at 12 p.m. ET in the ACC Men’s Lacrosse Championship at American Legion Memorial Stadium in Charlotte.

The Tar Heels beat No. 3 Syracuse in Friday’s semifinal to reach the title game, while Virginia knocked out Notre Dame to set up a marquee matchup between the No.1 and No.2 seeds.

UNC owns five national lacrosse championships, and a win today would add another conference title to one of college lacrosse’s most decorated programs.

The game airs on ACC Network and gives Charlotte a rare chance to host a national-caliber college lacrosse showcase.

NC Strawberry Festival Season is Here

North Carolina strawberry season 2026 is in full swing. Ranking third in the U.S. for strawberry production, based on value of the crop harvested, the state is home to a harvest rolling from the Coastal Plain in April all the way through the western mountains in early May. Several regional festivals celebrate one of the Southeast’s top strawberry producers.

The Carolina Strawberry Festival in Wallace and Vanceboro’s own Strawberry Festival both kicked off this weekend. If you missed those, mark your calendar for the upcoming 2nd Annual Strawberry Festival in Benson on May 23. Enjoy live music, food trucks, plant sales, local artisans, and of course sweet strawberries at this free, family-friendly event.

If you’re interested in picking your own strawberries, you can find a list of farms near you through the North Carolina Strawberry Association. Whether you’re hitting a festival near you or picking your own at a local farm, the berries are fresh, the season is short, and it doesn’t get more Carolina than this.

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Cumberland County: Search warrants unsealed on Friday name NC State Highway Patrol Sgt. Nekime Oxendine as the suspect in the killing of Sheriff’s Capt. Adam Bean, with a witness telling investigators Oxendine shot Bean. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: Night driving at Cape Hatteras National Seashore’s off-road vehicle ramps is now restricted through July 31 to protect nesting sea turtles. Ramps close at 9 p.m. and reopen at sunrise. (More)

➤ Western North Carolina: Rep. Chuck Edwards, who represents the 11th Congressional District, is reportedly under investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee. No details about the nature of the alleged investigation have been disclosed. (More)

➤ Currituck County: All 10 Currituck County Schools have earned 2025-26 Purple Star Award recognition from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for their support of military-connected students and families. (More)

➤ Charlotte Motor Speedway: NASCAR and Coca-Cola will honor the military community while celebrating America’s 250th anniversary this Memorial Day weekend (May 24), with NASCAR launching a Heroes Pass military tribute program ahead of the 67th running of the crown jewel race. (More)

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➤ Former Wake Forest football player and coach Warren Belin has passed away after battling pancreatic cancer. (More)

➤ NC State men’s basketball guard Paul McNeil Jr. has announced he will return to the team for his junior season next school year. McNeil had previously entered the transfer portal and was ranked as the No. 3 shooting guard in this year’s cycle. (More)

➤ NC boys volleyball is booming statewide but still waiting—North Carolina remains one of the last states without NC High School Athletic Association sanctioning, leaving players without state championships or official protections even as participation surges. (More)

➤ NC State men’s tennis rolled past Middle Tennessee State in the NCAA Tournament Round of 64, advancing to the next round. (More)

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Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ The second annual Asheville Improv Comedy Festival kicks off May 6 at multiple venues including the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts and the Orange Peel, spotlighting regional improv and sketch performers. (More)

➤ Coastal erosion is forcing homeowners in the Outer Banks to literally roll their houses inland—dozens of Hatteras Island properties have already been lost to the Atlantic. (See Video)

➤ One of the East Coast’s largest fossil events, the North Carolina Fossil Festival, returns this month on May 23 and 24, to Aurora in Beaufort County, drawing thousands of visitors for fossil digs, exhibits, and natural history displays. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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