Durham Drought Escalates to Stage 2

Durham is escalating to mandatory Stage 2 water restrictions starting Monday as the Triangle reaches exceptional drought, the highest category on the U.S. Drought Monitor.

“It’s still the driest year on record,” meteorologist Aimee Wilmoth said. “We’ve had 16 days in a row with no measurable rain at Raleigh-Durham International Airport.“

Under Stage 2 rules effective Monday, spray irrigation and in-ground sprinklers are prohibited; hand watering and drip systems remain allowed. Car washing with city water is banned except at commercial car washes, and pressure-washing hard surfaces is also off-limits.

Exceptional drought now covers parts of the Triangle, including Durham, Orange and Granville counties, and while summer storms have arrived, officials say short rain events aren’t providing the sustained relief needed.

Charlotte May Be on Hook for I-77 Costs

A North Carolina state senator is circulating draft legislation that could force Charlotte and other Mecklenburg municipalities to repay the state for costs already incurred on the canceled I-77 toll project.

Sen. Vickie Sawyer (R-Iredell) is behind the draft, which would hold local governments accountable for the state’s sunk costs on the controversial managed-lanes project.

Years of opposition from commuters and local leaders eventually led to the state canceling the project, though costs already spent remain disputed. Sawyer’s legislation would require Charlotte and its Mecklenburg neighbors to absorb those costs—likely running into the millions.

Charlotte officials voted in May to rescind support for the project, a decision that eventually led to the planned toll road’s demise.

Order to Avoid Blackouts During Heat Wave

The U.S. Department of Energy issued an emergency order to help avoid blackouts on Friday in North Carolina as temperatures rose over 100 degrees in parts of the state, and a heat advisory was issued. 

Federal officials said that Duke Energy warned that its system “may not have sufficient generation available to meet this unusually high demand and [Duke Energy] may be forced to curtail load in order to maintain security and reliability of the grid.”

The emergency order impacts Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress, which is the coverage area of the former Progress Energy for the Raleigh area.

The heat wave was being felt across North Carolina. In Winston-Salem, public pools were closed Friday because of the extreme temperatures, while Mecklenburg County Emergency Medical Services responded to five heat-related calls on Thursday.

➤ Manteo: Dare County commissioners unanimously adopted a $145.6 million fiscal year 2026-27 budget with no property tax increase, also approving beach nourishment project financing and a five-year, $108 million capital improvements plan. (More)

➤ Granville: In a reversal that affects one of the state’s most competitive legislative races, State Rep. Bryan Cohn, D-Granville, says he will seek reelection after all. (More)

➤ Jacksonville: Marines at Camp Lejeune and Marine Corp. Air Station New River are running destructive weather exercises as the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season begins, with Marine Corps Installations East overseeing preparedness drills across both bases. (More)

➤ Statewide: Amazon and Corning announced a multibillion-dollar partnership to expand Corning’s North Carolina fiber optics manufacturing facilities, creating roughly 1,000 advanced-manufacturing jobs and hundreds of construction positions statewide. (More)

➤ Asheville: The N.C. State Bureau of Investigation’s Special Response Team arrested two men who escaped from the Vance County Detention Center after a multi-agency investigation traced them to an Asheville home. (More)

➤ Kannapolis: The former Stanley Black & Decker Inc. building in Kannapolis has inked a new lease, filling the large industrial vacancy left after the manufacturing giant exited the facility. (More)

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➤ The Panthers signed wide receiver Jalen Coker to a three-year, $35 million extension, locking up the former undrafted free agent through 2029. Coker had a breakout playoff performance last season with nine catches for 124 yards and a touchdown in Carolina’s wild-card loss to the Rams. (More)

➤ Duke’s Cameron Boozer landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated‘s 2026 NBA Draft Preview issue this week. The AP National Player of the Year is projected as a top-three pick. (More)

➤ NC State landed a commitment from three-star offensive lineman Jacob Burns. The 6-7, 295-pound recruit chose the Wolfpack over Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and South Carolina. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | NCAA World Series | WNBA | Golf

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Exxon Has an Unlikely New Competitor

Energy giants like Exxon have been buying land in America’s lithium hotspot. Now they’ve got a new neighbor. 

EnergyX acquired the rights to 35k gross acres of lithium-rich land right next door. It’s not just the acres turning heads, either. Their tech can recover up to 3X more lithium than usual methods.

Now they’re preparing to drill and unlock America’s next major lithium supply. General Motors and 50k+ everyday people already invested. Invest in EnergyX before their July 16 investment deadline.

➤ A century-old estate in Asheville modeled after George Mason’s Gunston Hall has hit the market for $9.8 million. (See Photos)

➤ A North Carolina State Wolfpack employee proved his hockey loyalty runs just as deep, turning his office into a full-on Carolina Hurricanes shrine, complete with jerseys and memorabilia. (See Video)

➤ Margaret Kerry, the Wilmington actress who served as the live-action model for Disney’s Tinker Bell in 1953, has died at 97. (More)

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What’s your favorite cherry-flavored soda?

1. Cheerwine
2. Cherry Coke
3. Pepsi Wild Cherry
4. 7Up Cherry
5. Other
6. Not a cherry soda fan

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you ready for Father’s Day?

1. No need to be: 43%
2. Absolutely: 28%
3. Gettin’ there: 15%
4. Not even close: 14%

What popular Southern meal is Cheerwine often accompanied by?

Show me the answer