Report: Most Businesses Not Using AI

New U.S. Census Bureau survey data show that only about 19% of North Carolina businesses currently use artificial intelligence in at least one business function, closely tracking the national figure of 18%.

Roughly 23% of businesses said their employees use AI tools, a gap suggesting some workers are reaching for the technology before their employers have formally built it into operations.

Among companies that do use AI, 46% said it supplements employee tasks while just 10% said it replaces them, and about 97% reported no effect at all on overall employment.

For businesses with no plans to adopt AI in the next six months, the leading obstacle is not price: about 63% said the technology simply does not apply to their operations, versus 7% citing cost.

Rain Brings Relief, Floods

A weekend of heavy rain brought relief to a state where all 100 counties are in drought, but it fell fast enough to flood roads from the Cape Fear region to the Outer Banks.

Forecasters expected up to 6 inches in the Cape Fear region, where Wilmington sits roughly 10 to 11 inches below normal rainfall and Brunswick County remains in exceptional drought.

State drought officials cautioned that hardened ground sheds water instead of absorbing it, and that one wet weekend will not undo months of deficit. Conservation measures still apply.

Search Continues for Missing Woman

Elizabeth “Liz” Waddell, a 44-year-old Cary physical therapist and mother, has been missing in Grenada since Wednesday, when police say she was last seen near Grand Anse Beach in St. George’s.

A friend traveling with her found Waddell’s towel left on a pier after she put on a swimsuit and stepped outside their Airbnb, family friend Amanda Romano-Harmon told reporters.

Her husband, Cailen Waddell—the Town of Cary’s parks, recreation, and cultural resources operations manager—flew to the island Friday with their daughter to join the search.

The Royal Grenada Police Force has asked fishermen, boat operators, and residents along the southern coastline to come forward, and the family says no detail is too small.

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➤ Statewide: A new state budget provision makes North Carolina’s highway license plate reader pilot program permanent. Thirty-two agencies took part in the pilot, and Cabarrus County alone logged more than 3 million reads. (More)

➤ Hickory: The city discharged an estimated 11,305 gallons of untreated wastewater into the Henry Fork River on Thursday after heavy rain, and the state Division of Water Resources is reviewing the incident. (More)

➤ Greensboro: The Triad Teacher Supply Warehouse drew 250 Guilford County Schools educators in its first week, letting teachers stock up on classroom essentials for free before the new school year. (More)

➤ Matthews: Jersey Shore star Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino and his wife, Lauren, opened Archangel Centers on Siskey Parkway on Friday, their first North Carolina addiction recovery center. (More)

➤ Durham County: A judge dismissed both sides’ claims in the two-year fight over Castle Mont Rouge, the hand-built castle sculptor Robert Mihaly has raised on Red Mountain, ending the trial before it reached a jury. (More)

➤ Warren County: A lucky $2 ticket worth $1 million was purchased at the Tobacco Plus on East Macon Street. (More)

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➤ The NFLPA is investigating the injury of Carolina Panthers linebacker Nic Scourton to ensure that he was not taking part in any activities that the league’s collective bargaining agreement prohibits at this stage of the offseason. (More)

➤ North Carolina resident Jackson Koivun finished 25-under par at the 3M Open yesterday to win the 3M Open by three strokes for his first career PGA Tour victory. (More)

➤ UNC men’s basketball is reportedly the favorite to land five-star recruit CJ Rosser after he visited the university over the weekend. (More)

➤ Wake Forest baseball is reportedly close to hiring Houston Astros director of hitting Dan Hennigan as its next hitting coach. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | NASCAR | F1 | Golf | Soccer

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➤ Lenovo cut the ribbon Friday on a doubled North Carolina Smart Campus in Whitsett, scaling up U.S. server production. The company says the expansion will create about 1,000 jobs, with more than 400 already filled. (More)

➤ Durham-based American Efficient filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy while facing more than $1 billion in federal fines and repayments over claims it defrauded electric grid operators. It lists $1.4 billion in liabilities. (More)

➤ The State Board of Community Colleges picked Monty Sullivan, who led Louisiana’s system for 12 years, to run North Carolina’s 58 colleges. He is acting president until the General Assembly votes on confirming him. (More)

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➤ Two escaped parrots turned up safe over the weekend after separate getaways in Monroe and Matthews, and both birds were returned to their owners. (More)

➤ Durham’s Museum of Life and Science named its five new red wolf pups Cane, Champ, Puck, Stormy, and Whaler, honoring the Carolina Hurricanes’ 2026 Stanley Cup championship. (More)

➤ A dog that fell into an abandoned mine shaft in Yancey County was hoisted out safely on Thursday, authorities said, sharing photos of the rescue. (See Photos)

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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. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Here are three overlooked flaws in a decades-old retirement formula that could quietly drain financial flexibility. (Hear Details)

➤ Should you be polite to ChatGPT? Researchers finally have an answer. (Listen Now)

➤ A five-minute daily habit can sharpen focus, may lower dementia risk, and is fun. (Hear What)

If you could excel at an instrument, what would it be?

1. Guitar
2. Piano/keyboard
3. Strings instrument
4. Other
5. I already excel at one (reply to share which instrument)

Yesterday’s Results:

Which supervillain do you equate with maximum Southern heat?

1. Heatmeiser: 21%
2. Hades: 20%
3. Sauron: 17%
4. Other: 16%
5. Darth Vader: 15%
6. Vecna: 11%

What historic park and attraction in Windsor features animals like buffalo, alpacas, llamas, emus, and peacocks?

Show me the answer