UNC System First to Answer McMahon

The University of North Carolina System on Tuesday became the first to formally respond to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s national call to action, issuing a detailed letter on behalf of its 17 campuses.

The response, signed by UNC System President Peter Hans and Board of Governors Chair Kellie Hunt Blue, addresses McMahon’s seven questions on merit-based admissions, free speech, affordability, academic rigor, foreign influence, and prioritizing American interests.

Leaders highlighted recent reforms, including the elimination of race-based admissions practices, race-blind applications, a public syllabus policy, and strong free-speech protections. They also noted nine years of flat in-state tuition and efforts to safeguard research while affirming international collaboration is not inherently suspect.

The UNC System welcomed federal accountability that respects state governance and academic professionalism, positioning its policies as already aligned with the call issued earlier this month.

NC to Launch Optional Digital Driver’s License

North Carolina drivers will soon be able to carry a digital version of their driver’s license on their phones. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles plans to launch the free, optional Digital ID, also called a mobile driver’s license, in December through the North Carolina Wallet app.

State leaders say the credential is more secure than a simple photo of a physical license and describe it as a convenience similar to mobile payments, allowing users to tap their phones for identification.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport will be among the first places to accept it at TSA checkpoints, enabling faster, touchless identity verification with a phone and a facial scan.

Acceptance is expected to expand to law enforcement interactions, ABC store purchases, and age checks at businesses. Officials advise residents to keep carrying a physical license while the technology gains wider use.

Prosecutors Defend Comey Threat Charges

Federal prosecutors filed over 100 pages of documents Tuesday defending the prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey for a May 2025 Instagram post of seashells on the North Carolina coast spelling “86 47,” which they say could be read as a threat against President Trump.

They argued there is “no serious dispute” that an objective viewer could interpret it as a threat to the president, citing context including assassination plots and Comey’s upcoming novel about coded online messages inspiring violence.

The filings reject Comey’s claims of vindictive and selective prosecution, with U.S. Attorney Ellis Boyle stating he acted independently without pressure. Prosecutors also opposed efforts to dismiss the case, suppress evidence, or disclose grand jury details.

A federal judge postponed Comey’s arraignment to Sept. 30 in New Bern, with trial set to begin Oct. 21 if he pleads not guilty.

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Statewide: Surging demand for books is leaving North Carolina public libraries buried in waitlists, with hundreds or even thousands of patrons in line for popular titles in cities like Raleigh and Charlotte. (More)

➤ Coastal NC: A Wake County judge ruled this week that North Carolina has breached its constitutional and public-trust duty to protect coastal fisheries, citing decades of systemic management failures. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Leaders are weighing whether to pay a $60 million penalty tied to the I-77 South toll lanes project after Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and Matthews voted to rescind their support. The state has set an Oct. 5 deadline for the decision. (More)

➤ Lee County: An investigation that began in Lee County led detectives more than 2,000 miles away to Las Vegas, ending in 14 arrests in a sprawling child exploitation operation spanning North Carolina to Nevada. (More)

➤ Durham: Filmmaker Khedron “Hezter Boi” Mims premiered a documentary this week centered on redemption and transformation, spotlighting stories of personal turnaround from the Bull City. (More)

➤ Graham: Graham High School won’t field a varsity football team this season after only 18 players—mostly underclassmen—showed up for summer workouts. The school cited safety concerns and opted to field a junior varsity team instead. (More)

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

➤ UNC and NC State men’s basketball will meet in a neutral-site nonconference game in Greensboro on Dec. 15. The matchup ensures the rivals play twice this season after ACC scheduling changes dropped the guaranteed home-and-home. (More)

➤ Meanwhile, UNC and NC State will each receive about $3 million this year from state sports betting taxes to help fund their athletic programs. (More)

➤ Davidson and Charlotte will both play in a Thanksgiving week basketball tournament in Florida this November, where Charlotte will play Florida Gulf Coast and Northern Iowa, and Davidson will take on Northern Illinois and Tulane. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | Golf | Tennis | WNBA | Little League World Series

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Peptides are the newest breakthrough in anti-aging, longevity, weight loss, and muscle growth. But not every peptide works the same way for every person. Your DNA never changes, so you only have to test it once. The Pep Report analyzes more than 710,000 genetic markers against published research to show which peptides your biology actually supports—before you spend a dollar guessing. Flyover readers get 10% off automatically, no code needed. See Which Peptides Match Your DNA

➤ The 2026 North Carolina Wine Competition crowned top winners from 364 entries, awarding the Vinifera Cup to Sanctuary Vineyards’ Wildflowers Rosé, Muscadine Cup to Hinnant Family Vineyards’ Scuppernong, a Cider Cup tie to Noble Cider and Mill Camp Wines & Ciders, and the Mead Cup to Honeygirl Meadery’s Strawberry Guava Mead. (See Details)

➤ Charlotte-based Honeywell Technologies named Billal Hammoud president and CEO of Process Technology, effective Oct. 1, succeeding Ken West. Juan Picon will replace Hammoud as head of Building Automation. (More)

➤ Higher nightly rates failed to fully offset lower demand at Dare County hotels and vacation rentals in July, with short-term rental paid guest nights down 3.9% and hotel occupancy falling 3.3% year-over-year. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Cardiologist Warns: “Avoid Bottled Water at All Costs” Cardiologist reveals the hidden risks of this specific bottled water and a simple hydration switch worth knowing about (Click Here To Learn More)

Flying together with our sponsor

It only takes one piece of your data to find you.

Your phone number can lead to your address, relatives, workplace, and more.

That information is often sold online by data brokers, making it easier for scammers, stalkers, or strangers to know far more about you than they should.

Incogni helps remove your personal information from these databases and keeps removing it automatically.

Get 55% off with code FLYOVER

➤ The Northeast District of the North Carolina Patriot Guard Riders will host a 9/11 Patriot Day Memorial Ride on Sept. 11, starting at 9:02 a.m. at Dismal Swamp Canal State Park and ending at H2OBX Waterpark. (More)

➤ Production for season two of ABC’s RJ Decker is scheduled at Eden Village in Wilmington on Aug. 24 and 25, and Sept. 2, involving cast, crew, extras, and a small planned firework explosion. (More)

➤ Sen. Thom Tillis’ upcoming book, How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents, due in October, criticizes Trump advisers, including Pete Hegseth, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Kristi Noem, and Stephen Miller, as giving the president bad advice. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Who would have thought that a candy could save anyone struggling with tooth decay and inflamed gums? This natural, soft candy has stunned both scientists and people all around the world: simply let it melt in your mouth, after brushing your teeth, to get rid of cavities almost overnight. It will not only restore your teeth, but also rebuild your gums and eliminate bad breath. See here the amazing results of 34,788 people who have already tried this.

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:

➤ Two fishermen were found off the coast of Mexico after a shipwreck left them clinging to a large cooler for five days. (Hear Details)

➤ Is intermittent fasting overhyped, or does it really work? (Hear Episode)

➤ In sorority basements across the country, hidden teams are digging up dirt that can tank a recruit’s chances. (Full Story)

What’s the hottest temperature you’ve experienced?

1. 105 or higher
2. Between 100 and 104
3. High 90s
4. Other (reply to tell us)

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you like the idea of adding a “people mover” to Charlotte Douglas International Airport?

1. Yes: 49%
2. Not sure: 39%
3. No: 12%

What’s the name of North Carolina’s official state fruit, first noted by English colonists on Roanoke Island in the 1580s?

Show me the answer