ILM Lands $3 Million Expansion Grant

Wilmington International Airport secured a $3 million federal grant to improve its aircraft apron, the paved area where planes park, load, unload, and turn around.

The money comes through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program. ILM is one of four airports nationwide receiving funding in the latest grant round.

The award comes as ILM continues a $130 million expansion aimed at keeping pace with growing travel demand. Transportation officials said the federal investments will help make airport facilities more reliable and resilient.

Court Allows Citizenship Checks for Now

The U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 Friday to let the Trump administration resume using SAVE, a revised federal database North Carolina uses to check voter citizenship and maintain its rolls.

State elections director Sam Hayes said SAVE helped identify 35,000 deceased registrants. The board also flagged nearly 1,600 voters as possible noncitizens in July, but Hayes said no one will be removed automatically.

The order pauses a June ruling that struck down the database changes. Federal law bars systematic voter removals within 90 days of an election, though individualized reviews may continue. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan.

Community College DEI Rules Start Thursday

New rules barring DEI offices at North Carolina’s 58 community colleges take effect Thursday.

Colleges may not maintain offices named DEI, employ staff to promote “divisive concepts,” or generally require courses focused on them. Schools must certify compliance annually, although presidents may approve relevant courses for specific degree programs.

The rules implement a state law enacted June 24 after House Republicans overrode Gov. Josh Stein’s veto 71-47. They protect First Amendment speech and permit classroom discussion when colleges make clear they do not endorse the concepts.

Sampson Community College President Bill Starling expects little change because the school had no DEI office or affected programs.

A Note from Cole, CEO of The Flyover

Dear Reader,

Buried in the official editorial guidelines of one of the world’s largest news organizations—on the books for decades, published for anyone to read—is a remarkable sentence. It says the word terrorist “can be a barrier rather than an aid to understanding.”

The written policy is that the plainest true word for an act of terror gets in the way of understanding it.

That’s not one outlet’s quirk. It’s mainstream media doctrine. And last month, you got to see where doctrine like that leads. Ahead of the 25th anniversary of September 11, reporters at another major news organization, a national public broadcaster, received a memo from the standards office: “Do not refer to the Sept. 11 attacks as terrorist attacks.”

The approved language for the deadliest terrorist attack in American history, in which nearly 3,000 people were murdered, was “hijackings that led to plane crashes.”

The memo leaked. Two days of daylight later, the broadcaster backed down. Sort of. They carved out an exception for 9/11, and only 9/11. The rule stands.

And their defense was telling. They didn’t argue that the rule is right. They argued that it’s the industry standard and that newsrooms everywhere follow the same practice.

The worst part is, they’re right. It is the standard. That’s the problem.

You know why we exist. The truth isn’t a barrier to understanding. It’s the only road there. The facts arrive the way we found them, in plain words, and you decide what they mean. That’s your job, and we’d never dream of doing it for you.

We call things what they are.

We keep the spin out and trust you with the facts.

And The Flyover stays free.

A terrorist attack is a terrorist attack. We’d print that sentence any day of the week. No memo required.

So today I’m asking: if news that calls things what they are is something you want to see thrive, will you stand behind it?

Support the news in plain words. Free, every morning.

Make a generous donation to support The Flyover.

Give $25
Give $50
Give $100
Give $250

Our promise: we answer to you.

Help us keep it.

— Cole
 CEO, The Flyover

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Charlotte: Natasha Gibbs, 42, was arrested in Dallas Monday after authorities accused her of illegally buying the gun Terry Hughes Jr. used to kill four law enforcement officers on Galway Drive in 2024. She faces up to 10 years in prison. (See Charges)

➤ Durham: Jury selection began Monday in the murder trial of Miguel Salguero-Olivares, charged in the 2012 beating death of UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth. DNA evidence led to his 2021 arrest, and the trial is expected to last several weeks. (Read Timeline)

➤ Apex: Patriot Guard Riders escorted the remains of Pfc. Ethan Brewer, 20, from RDU to Apex Funeral Home Monday. Brewer, an Army medic, died Sept. 14 when a military ambulance rolled over during training at Fort Hood. (See Escort)

➤ Western NC: Duke Energy was selected for up to $50 million in federal funding to increase the capacity of existing power lines in Henderson and Polk counties and parts of South Carolina. Duke plans to invest another $151 million, but the federal award remains subject to final negotiations. (See Project)

➤ Raleigh: The Carolina Hurricanes unveiled their 2026 Stanley Cup championship rings at a private ceremony Sunday. Each ring features nearly 900 diamonds and rubies, a removable puck, players’ signatures, and a hidden Stormy mascot. (See Rings)

Enjoy reading Flyover North Carolina? Click here to share with your friends and family. ✈️

➤ Two-time NBA champion Lamar Odom will speak Wednesday at Coastal Horizons’ annual fundraising luncheon at the Wilmington Convention Center. The former Lakers star will discuss his career, personal losses, substance use, near-fatal medical crisis, and continuing recovery. (See Details)

➤ Duke volleyball split its opening ACC road matches, beating Wake Forest 3-2 Friday before falling 3-1 to N.C. State Sunday. Nataly Moravec recorded 21 kills against the Wolfpack as Duke moved to 9-3 overall. (See Recap)

➤ Two North Carolina minor league teams ended their seasons as champions. Fayetteville swept Charleston to win the Carolina League title, ending the city’s 70-year championship drought, while Winston-Salem swept Greensboro to claim its first South Atlantic League crown. (See Champions)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | Soccer

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Your hands are full enough. Meta’s AI glasses let you take calls, snap photos, get directions, and ask questions, all without pulling out your phone. Built for real life, not just tech demos: the job site, the trail, the kitchen while dinner’s on the stove. See the full lineup and find your fit.

➤ Huntington National Bank will add its illuminated green signs atop the 40-story One South tower in uptown Charlotte and double its regional headquarters there from two floors to four. The Ohio-based bank plans approximately 55 branches across the Carolinas by 2027. (See Sign)

➤ Cato Corporation, the Charlotte-based company behind Cato Fashions, plans to close approximately 120 underperforming stores in fiscal 2026—more than 10% of its locations. The company said the stores have leases expiring this year. (See Closures)

➤ CVS customers who used the chain’s app may qualify for part of a $20.5 million digital privacy settlement. (Check Eligibility)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Forget SpaceX… THIS is the REAL #1 IPO of 2026. SpaceX lost $4 billion in one quarter. This company is projecting $559 million! Google, Amazon, and Nvidia already loaded up on shares. Here’s a secret backdoor in for regular investors. (TICKER REVEALED)

Flying together with our sponsor

Five Minutes Could Save You Hundreds

Insurify estimates drivers who switch through its marketplace can save up to $1,100 per year, simply by comparing offers from multiple insurers side by side. The service is free, there are no hidden fees, and you’ll see real quotes from trusted insurance companies based on your information.

If it’s been more than a year since you last shopped for insurance, now is a smart time to check.

See how much you could save with Insurify today.

➤ The Carolina Classic Fair opens Oct. 2 in Winston-Salem and runs through Oct. 11. Organizers have posted parking, ticket, and entry rules ahead of opening day. (Check Rules)

➤ A 50-meter pool is planned for the Nir Family YMCA in Wilmington. The roughly $16 million project would add year-round swimming space in the region. (See Plans)

➤ An aquatics center in Gaston County opens in October and will serve as the permanent home of the Gaston Aquatics swim program. (See Center)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Most collagen products are a waste of money—and some contain toxins that can harm your skin, heart, and brain. The secret is knowing the 5 Collagen Warnings that separate clean, effective formulas from dangerous ones. Don’t waste your money on “dirty collagen.” Learn which products actually work.

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. 

➤ Scientists ranked the seven pets linked to longer lives, and No. 1 isn’t a golden retriever. (Hear List)

➤ Every household in a Pennsylvania town was offered $10,000 by a data center developer, but residents are pushing back. (Hear Details)

➤ Experts say Spirit Halloween’s real estate strategy quietly signals something about the shopping centers it moves into. (Listen Now)

What’s your favorite part of a fall fair?

1. The rides
2. The fair food
3. The live entertainment
4. The exhibits and animals
5. People-watching

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever had a lost wallet returned to you?

1. I’ve never lost one: 57%
2. Yes, fully intact: 20%
3. No, it vanished: 15%
4. Yes, missing something: 8%

What amenities did luxury steamboats, aka “floating palaces,” offer passengers?

Show me the answer