Stein Signs Tax Relief Bill

Gov. Josh Stein signed a law Friday temporarily barring a handful of North Carolina counties from applying their 2026 reappraisals to property tax bills.

Senate Bill 889 applies to counties of 15,000 or more that reappraised effective Jan. 1. Senate leader Phil Berger, who proposed it, has called it a one-year pause while lawmakers weigh broader property tax changes.

County leaders and local Democrats oppose the freeze, warning it could force cuts to rural fire districts and public schools.

Stein noted the relief reaches only a few counties and urged lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 474 to shield Buncombe County and other Helene-hit areas. “The cost of living is too high,” he said.

UNC Baseball Falls in MCWS Finals Opener

Despite an early start time due to inclement weather, No. 5 UNC baseball got off to a hot start in Game 1 of the Men’s College World Series finals yesterday, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 3-2 lead over Oklahoma.

However, the Tar Heels were held scoreless for the remainder of the contest, resulting in a 9-3 loss.

UNC junior starting pitcher and 2026 Golden Spikes Award semifinalist Jason DeCaro was chased from the game early after allowing seven earned runs in just 3 2/3 innings — four more than he had allowed in any of his previous 18 starts this season.

The Tar Heels will look to even the series today at 2:30 p.m. ET. A win would force a winner-take-all Game 3, while a loss would end the Tar Heels’ season.

Asheville Weighs Pause on Data Centers

Asheville’s City Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday on a proposed one-year moratorium that would pause new data center development while the city writes rules for it.

A council committee voted unanimously June 16 to send the measure forward. The city has no definition for data centers in its development code and wants standards set before any developer applies.

Supporters point to the heavy strain data centers put on water and an electric grid still being rebuilt after Helene, plus noise and land use. No company has yet applied in Asheville, and demand is largely driven by artificial intelligence.

Asheville joins a wider Western North Carolina push; Weaverville has blocked data centers, and Boone, Canton, and Woodfin adopted one-year pauses. The June 23 agenda also takes up Helene recovery items on funding, infrastructure, and housing.

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➤ Asheville: The Goodwill Career Center is launching two week-long summer camps aimed at helping teens and young adults, ages 16 to 22, explore and jump-start their future careers. (More)

➤ Flat Rock: More than 100 school resource officers and school administrators from across Western North Carolina trained to respond to active shooter situations at Blue Ridge Community College on Friday. (More)

➤ Catawba County: Homeowners in the Magnolia Cove subdivision say they are facing steep homeowners association increases, with monthly dues jumping from $350 to $1,250, along with a $10,000 special assessment. (More)

➤ Wilmington: Gov. Josh Stein signed House Bill 1123 into law on Friday, which authorizes over $20 million for a parking deck at The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, among other projects. (More)

➤ Greensboro: The city is activating an overnight Orange Flag cooling center today due to extreme heat expected. (Details)

➤ Columbus County: An investigation is underway after a medical helicopter crew reported a blue laser was pointed at their aircraft, forcing them to end the flight early on Thursday. (More)

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➤ Denny Hamlin, a North Carolina native and a top NASCAR driver, addressed retirement rumors in a recent interview, saying his goal is to “end on top.” Hamlin races today in the Anduril 250 at a Naval base in Coronado, California. (More)

➤ Wake Forest baseball star freshman catcher Andrew Costello announced Friday that he is entering the NCAA transfer portal and committing to South Carolina. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes held their championship parade yesterday in the streets of Raleigh to celebrate the team’s 2026 Stanley Cup championship. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | College World Series | U.S. Open | WNBA

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➤ Invasive armadillos are moving into Western North Carolina, according to the N.C. Cooperative Extension Office in Henderson County. (Details)

➤ MC Sha-Rock, a Wilmington native known as the first lady of hip-hop, will be inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame later this year. (See Video)

➤ Carolina Kitty Con’s final day is today, blending rescue advocacy and education with entertainment and shopping in a celebration of cats at the NC State Fairgrounds in Raleigh. (Details)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes, straight from the heart of the country. Clicking the link will take you directly to these stories:

➤ A strong market helped retirement savers reach a major milestone. (Hear More)

➤ Washington launched a new UFO task force and promised more answers. (Listen Now)

➤  JD Vance revealed the wardrobe expectations inside President Trump’s White House. (Podcast Available)

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