Monday, September 28, 2026

Flyover North Carolina

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1959, Southern Power Company—now Duke Energy—broke ground on Cowan’s Ford Dam along the Catawba River, beginning the project that created Lake Norman, North Carolina’s largest human-made body of water.

An honest stranger was caught in the act in Delco, where a porch camera recorded a young man returning a lost wallet with everything still inside. An online search uncovered his identity, and the good deed earned him a finder’s fee. Catch the happy ending in Et Cetera.

Some of the smartest financial decisions you’ll make as you near retirement are on things that save you money, time, or trouble down the road. The catch is that the window to buy them can close before you realize it was open. Why do so few retirees claim Social Security at the right time? What $150 scan can catch a silent problem before it lands you in the hospital? In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down 10 purchases that are worth every penny, starting with the easy wins and ending with the ones you can’t undo if you wait. (Tune in here)

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Emergency Ferries Reconnect Hatteras Island

The N.C. Ferry Division began emergency service between Stumpy Point and Rodanthe at 11 a.m. Sunday after the nor’easter damaged about 500 feet of N.C. 12 on Pea Island.

Crews plan to build a temporary road, but no reopening date has been set. The two-hour ferry crossing has limited space, and travelers should expect long waits.

People may leave Hatteras Island without restriction, but island entry is limited to essential personnel, permanent residents, and critical-business workers. Starting Monday, ferries will make 10 daily departures from each terminal, beginning at 2 a.m.

Jackson Presses Congress for AI Rules

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson and a bipartisan coalition of 25 other attorneys general asked Congress Friday to establish federal AI regulations and safety protocols.

The letter cites a July cyberattack on Hugging Face. OpenAI said its agents escaped a testing environment and infiltrated the platform using stolen credentials. Anthropic and Meta reported similar incidents.

The coalition wants federal oversight of safety testing, government-led investigations, mandatory safety systems, and protection for state AI laws. “AI technology is developing fast, and we can’t let it go unchecked,” Jackson said.

Jackson co-leads the bipartisan AI task force with Utah Attorney General Derek Brown.

Wilmington Sandwich Makes National List

A Wilmington deli operating from a cargo container made USA TODAY’s national roundup of sandwiches worth a road trip or detour.

The Rachel at Mibby’s Deli combines a third-pound of smoked peppered turkey with Swiss cheese, house-made slaw, “rushback” sauce, and grilled sourdough. Owner Matthew Byrne cures and smokes the meat and makes the shop’s signature sauces.

Mibby’s began as a pop-up before securing a long-term lease at End of Days Distillery’s onsite kitchen in late 2025.

The full menu also includes pastrami, Reubens, and other deli favorites, along with garlic potato salad.

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➤ Raleigh: Fights in the stands and parking lot forced police to clear a sold-out Millbrook High stadium Friday night. The Millbrook-Rolesville game resumed without fans but was suspended at 10-10 before overtime. (See Suspension)

➤ Eastover: A woman hit a tree and flipped her car before crashing into a house on Dobbin Holmes Road around 3 a.m. Sunday. First responders freed her and airlifted her to a hospital. At least two people inside the house were unhurt. (See Crash)

➤ Greensboro: A sinkhole closed South Cedar Street between Spring Garden and West McGee streets. Water crews responded, and officials did not say when the road would reopen. (See Closure)

➤ Wilmington: The Front Street Bridge between Hanover and Red Cross streets closes Monday for about six months while crews replace its deck and repair its pedestals. Drivers are being directed to alternate routes. (See Repairs)

➤ Avon: Rough surf from the nor’easter split the Avon Fishing Pier’s bridge in two, closing the pier until further notice. The pier house remains open with limited hours. (See Damage)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers lost a back-and-forth battle against the Cleveland Browns yesterday after a wild fourth quarter with four lead changes resulted in a 21-18 loss. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to terms on a trade that will send veteran guard Buddy Hield to the Chicago Bulls in exchange for third-year guard Rob Dillingham. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes have announced multiple cuts as the team trims down to its final roster ahead of their season-opening game at home against the Florida Panthers tomorrow. (More)

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➤ Some things are worth paying more for as you get older, because waiting on them can cost you far more later. (Tune in here)

In the latest episode of Flyover Focus, we count down 10 things actually worth spending more money on as you near retirement. We get into the Social Security decision most retirees get wrong, the box of memories in your basement that may be running out of time, and the purchases that buy you something more important than money. Plus, the number-one item on the list becomes irreversible if you wait too long. (Watch Now)

In case you missed it, last week on Flyover Focus, we broke down what drives your cost of living, so tune in here.

➤ A new children’s center is planned for Rutherfordton after WNCSource received a construction grant. The nonprofit provides Head Start, Early Head Start, and NC Pre-K programs across four western North Carolina counties. (More)

➤ Chimney Rock businesses are reopening with help from a $5.5 million state grant awarded last year to rebuild downtown after Helene. Gov. Josh Stein visited Saturday to unveil a long-term economic recovery plan; statewide, more than $105 million in grants and loans have gone to nearly 3,000 small businesses, helping retain nearly 15,000 jobs. (More)

➤ Higher diesel prices are raising the cost of running equipment and hauling crops for Triad farmers as the fall harvest begins. Growers say drought losses and pricier fertilizer have already narrowed their margins, leaving them to absorb much of the increase. (More)

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➤ A porch camera in Dacious Dukes, North Carolina, caught a young man returning Larry Freeman’s lost wallet with everything inside. Freeman posted the footage hoping to identify him; Dacius Dukes saw it, contacted Freeman, and received a finder’s fee. (Watch Footage)

➤ A mortgage-free home with more than 40 accessibility adaptations went to Marine Cpl. Dominic Davila and his wife, Krista, in Wilmington. Davila lost his right leg below the knee after his vehicle drove over an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2009. (See Home)

➤ Pumpkin-picking season is underway around Charlotte, with a guide to 10 area farms and patches offering hayrides and apple cider. (Find Patch)

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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.

➤ Ukraine airdropped kamikaze ground robots behind Russian lines and says they took out 3,000 troops. The general in charge calls it a world first. (Hear Details)

➤ A sweet tooth in the first two years of life may follow you into adulthood in a way researchers didn’t expect. (Listen Now)

➤ Alina Habba, President Trump’s former lawyer, married a 29-year-old Turkish billionaire at the Waldorf Astoria. (Hear More)