NC Musician Arrested for AI Scheme

A Cornelius musician has been charged with using artificial intelligence to create hundreds of songs and stream them billions of times, collecting over $10 million in royalties.

Michael Smith allegedly created thousands of bot accounts on streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music to pull off the scheme. The indictment against him also states he was aided by the CEO of an AI music company and other co-conspirators.

He could face up to 60 years in prison.

Kennedy to Remain on NC Ballot

A North Carolina judge has ruled that Robert Kennedy Jr. will remain on the state’s presidential ballot in November, saying the “considerable costs and effort” to reprint ballots would delay the distribution of absentee ballots, set for today.

Wake County Judge Rebecca Holt granted Kennedy’s attorneys 24 hours to make their case to the state Court of Appeals, likely meaning mail-in ballots won’t go out this morning as planned.

Kennedy had sued to remove his name from the state ballot to avoid taking votes from Donald Trump.

NC Test Scores, Graduation Rates Rise

Last school year’s standardized testing results in North Carolina indicate improvement across the board, nearing pre-pandemic passing rates.

Graduation rates are also on the rise in the state, with Wake County reaching an all-time high of 91.3% last year.

The Department of Public Instruction officials say a full rebound in test scores could take up to 5 years. Temporary federal funds for learning recovery efforts runs out the end of this month.

Check out your school’s test scores here.

Do you have any friends or family who would like to receive Flyover North Carolina each morning? Feel free to refer us to them!

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➤ Sampson County: Fire Chief Alan Williams has spoken out about 9-1-1 call center issues that are sending first responders to the wrong locations. (More)

➤ Raleigh: City leaders officially approved the Cameron Park neighborhood changing its name to Forest Park, confirming a 2022 vote by residents. (See Details)

➤ Wake County: The Turnpike Authority has announced September 25 as the opening date for the 18-mile toll road known as N.C. 540 after weather forced a delay. (More)

➤ Durham: Former Republican Liz Cheney endorsed Vice President Harris in an appearance at Duke University. She became a vocal critic of former President Trump after the 2020 election. (See Details)

➤ Greenville: A late August poll conducted by East Carolina University indicates that former President Trump holds a 1-point advantage over Vice President Harris in North Carolina. (More)

➤ Asheville: A new report suggests that poor road conditions around Asheville could cost individual drivers an extra $428 annually in maintenance costs. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers have waived former first-round edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson. He signed a one-year deal with the Panthers early in free agency, but head coach Dave Canales said he wants to focus on getting younger players opportunities. (More)

➤ The North Carolina State Board of Education received a presentation on Wednesday on the possibility of introducing name, image, and likeness deals for high school athletes. (Watch video)

➤ UNC has created a list of six potential spots for a new basketball stadium. The sites include two off-campus locations. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NFL | MLB | WNBA | US Open | Paralympics 

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➤ A new study shows that about 117 people moved to the Charlotte area every day between July 2022 and July 2023, matching Atlanta’s growth over the same period. (More)

➤ Tech company HCL America announced a restructuring plan that includes laying off 57 Cary employees by January 6th. (See Details)

➤ Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas is partnering with an Outer Banks foundation to extend financial aid to families seeking child cancer treatment access. (More)

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➤ Blumenthal Arts is debuting “Space Explorers: THE INFINITE” this month, providing an immersive space experience inspired by missions to the International Space Station. (Watch Promo)

➤ The Republican Party has warned North Carolina election officials about a non-profit who they allege may be violating election laws to bolster Democratic candidates. (See Details)

➤ Duke has been awarded $7 million to create a bird flu vaccine. There have been 10 human cases of bird flu reported in the U.S. since April. (More)

Can you tell the difference between human-made music and AI-made music?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’d have to listen to AI music first
4. I may have already been duped!

Yesterday’s Results:

Has anyone stolen a package off your front porch or doorstep?

1. No: 51.2%
2. Yes: 18.3%
3. Not that I’m aware of: 30.4%

Which North Carolina native and NC State University graduate has been assigned to NASA’s Artemis II mission?

Show me the answer