Monday, June 15, 2026

MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1970, the Land of Oz theme park opened on Beech Mountain in Avery County. Created by Grover Robbins, it featured a yellow brick road and Oz characters. A 1975 fire led to its decline and closure in 1980, but by the late 1990s, the landowner had restored the property, and former employees launched what became an annual Autumn of Oz festival.

Sunday was a great day for North Carolina sports! The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2006, and UNC’s baseball team sits one win away from making the Men’s College World Series finals. Learn more in Top Stories and Sports.

Today’s sponsor, Tinnitus Talk, is sharing new insights into the hidden factors that may contribute to persistent ringing, buzzing, and hissing in the ears—and why understanding these triggers could be the key to finding relief.

Take The Flyover with you. Busy day? Listen to our daily 15-minute podcast while commuting, cooking, or walking the dog—your Flyover fix, anywhere.

Hurricanes Win the Stanley Cup

The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 last night in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals to earn their first Stanley Cup since 2006. Carolina wrapped up the series on a three-game winning streak after suffering a gut-wrenching double-overtime loss in Game 3.

Carolina goalie Brandon Bussi, a 27-year-old undrafted rookie, was 3-0 in his starts in the series and was perfect in Game 6, stopping all 22 shots he faced. Bussi’s shutout was just the ninth such performance in a Stanley Cup clinching game in the last 50 years.

Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal, who became just the fifth player in NHL history to open the Stanley Cup Finals on a five-game goal streak, also became the oldest player in history to win the Conn Smythe trophy, given to the most valuable player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Dept of Ed Investigates Cabarrus Schools

The U.S. Department of Education has opened a federal Title IX investigation into Cabarrus County Public Schools, alleging the district allowed male students into girls-only restrooms and locker rooms.

The department’s Office for Civil Rights announced the probe on June 1, citing complaints filed in April and May. Multiple female students reported being required to dress and undress in the presence of males, and that district officials dismissed their concerns, with one former principal allegedly telling students they “can go somewhere else” if they felt uncomfortable.

The investigation followed a letter from North Carolina Rep. Mark Harris (R-Indian Trail) urging federal action, as well as a press conference where three female students from Mt. Pleasant High School shared similar accounts.

Cabarrus County Schools said it is fully cooperating with the investigation.

NC Senate Race Shifts toward Democrats

The University of Virginia’s Center for Politics has upgraded North Carolina‘s 2026 U.S. Senate race from “toss-up” to “lean Democrat.”

Democrat Roy Cooper, the former two-term governor, faces Republican Michael Whatley for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis. A May poll showed Cooper leading Whatley 49.8% to 38.7%—an 11-point advantage among 600 likely voters.

Cooper also holds a significant fundraising edge, pulling in $13.8 million in the first quarter compared to Whatley’s $5 million. Whatley has raised approximately $16 million total across all committees.

Republican strategists caution that North Carolina has repeatedly frustrated Democratic Senate hopes, with no Democrat having won a midterm Senate seat in the state since John Edwards in 1998.

Flying together with our sponsor

Do you know what the root cause of tinnitus is?

If you’re hearing ringing, buzzing, or hissing sounds that won’t go away, you may be dealing with tinnitus. Most people think it’s simply caused by hearing damage, but experts are discovering there may be hidden triggers behind the noise.

These underlying factors can make the ringing more frequent, more noticeable, and harder to ignore. But there’s good news.

By understanding what may be causing your tinnitus, many people are finding ways to reduce the ringing and regain peace and quiet. Click here to discover the hidden triggers behind tinnitus and learn how people are finally quieting the noise.

➤ National: A federal judge ruled that outside legal briefs will not be allowed in the case against former FBI Director James Comey, who faces charges over a social media post prosecutors called a presidential threat. Comey is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 30 in New Bern. (More)

➤ NC Schools: North Carolina’s youngest readers are still falling behind on national reading tests, even as other states post gains. New federal test data shows the state’s fourth-graders did not keep pace with national improvements. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Republican state Sen. Vickie Sawyer is circulating a bill that would force Charlotte and Mecklenburg County to reimburse NCDOT roughly $60 million spent on the cancelled I-77 South toll lane project they opposed. (More)

➤ Apex: Three Fort Bragg soldiers died and a fourth was critically injured in a single-car crash on U.S. 1 early Saturday, with speed a factor in the Infiniti overturning. Officials said there was no indication of impairment in the crash, pending an autopsy of the driver. (More)

➤ Gates County: A man died Saturday after his canoe overturned in a creek near the North Carolina-Virginia state line, prompting a multi-agency search and recovery effort. (More)

➤ Candler: Evening storms swept through Western North Carolina on Saturday, bringing hail and downing trees and power lines in the area. (See Photos)

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

➤ No. 5 UNC baseball now sits one win away from the Men’s College World Series finals after a 5-2 win over No. 16 West Virginia yesterday. Junior infielder Gavin Gallaher put the Tar Heels ahead in the seventh inning with a two-RBI triple. (See Highlight)

➤ A lawsuit seeking $3.75 million from Charlotte Hornets star guard LaMelo Ball was resolved over the weekend. (More)

➤ Former Wake Forest baseball pitcher Sean Sullivan made his MLB debut with the Colorado Rockies on Friday, tossing three scoreless innings before being removed from the game due to an illness. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Upgrade your daily routine with the Sonic Glow Toothbrush, a powerful electric toothbrush designed to help remove plaque, freshen breath, and support healthier-looking teeth and gums. Using advanced sonic technology, it delivers a deep clean while remaining gentle enough for everyday use. Discover why so many are making the switch. (LEARN MORE)

➤ S&P Dow Jones Indices will add Morrisville-based Liquidia Corporation to the S&P SmallCap 600 Index effective June 22, a milestone that could boost institutional interest and passive fund buying for the biotech firm. (More)

➤ Campbell’s Company has completed a $150 million expansion of its Maxton soup and broth manufacturing facility in Robeson County, adding a new processing line and space for future growth while training about 100 new workers. (More)

➤ Trader Joe’s striped summer mini canvas tote bags will hit North Carolina stores starting June 17, available in four pastel colors for $2.99 each while supplies last, delighting fans of the popular limited-edition accessory. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ 3 Symptoms Most Men Over 40 Ignore – Until it’s too late. It’s not you. It’s your hormones. Restore Your Vitality With Keeps TRT. $100 off for a limited time. Learn More

Flying together with our sponsor

Constant ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears can be frustrating and difficult to ignore. While many people assume tinnitus is simply a hearing issue, researchers are uncovering hidden factors that may be making the noise worse.

The good news? Identifying these triggers may help reduce symptoms and restore a greater sense of calm. Discover what could be contributing to your tinnitus and the steps others are taking to find relief.

➤ Animals like Cujo the chihuahua and Simba the cat are going viral with Stanley Cup Final predictions, charming fans with fun sports superstitions. (See Photos)

➤ A devoted Carolina Hurricanes fan known for her creative handmade signs at home games has become a local celebrity, embodying the community spirit powering Carolina’s run to the Stanley Cup Final. (More)

➤ A new analysis focuses on 10 North Carolina beach towns where rising housing costs are pricing out longtime residents as tourism-driven real estate reshapes working coastal communities. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ I live in a heatwave zone and haven’t used my AC in weeks thanks to this portable cooling device. Stop wasting thousands on bulky, slow AC units. Get fast, budget-friendly cooling with Vital Breeze AC. Learn More