Tillis Opposes Bill, Won’t Run Again

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., announced Sunday that he will not seek reelection in 2026, citing frustration with partisan gridlock and his desire to prioritize family. “It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election,” he said.

The announcement follows President Trump calling him out for voting against advancing his “Big Beautiful Bill” on Saturday. It was a “BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina,” Trump said, adding that by voting no, Tillis “is giving them a 68% tax increase.”

Trump also vowed in a separate Truth Social post to meet with “numerous people” who want to run in the primary against Tillis.

Senate Republicans ended up voting 51-49 late Saturday night to clear a key procedural step for the bill, which packages tax breaks, spending cuts, and increased funding for immigration enforcement. 

NC Bill Prevents Disaster Aid Discrimination

Democratic Gov. Josh Stein signed House Bill 251 on Thursday, making it a Class I felony to discriminate based on political affiliation or speech when distributing disaster aid.

Introduced in February by Rep. Kelly Hastings, R-Gaston, HB251 ensures no U.S. citizen or qualified alien is denied aid due to political beliefs.

Stein stated, “North Carolina does not discriminate based on political affiliation or political speech, including when providing disaster recovery assistance. This bill ensures that will remain the case.”

The legislation comes after a FEMA worker in Florida was fired last fall for allegedly directing staff to avoid hurricane-damaged homes displaying support for President Trump.

Record-Breaking Travel Expected This Week

AAA predicts a record-breaking 2.3 million North Carolinians will travel 50 miles or more during the Independence Day period from June 28 to July 6.

That’s 1% more than last year in a state with a population of about 11 million.

Of those Tar Heel travelers, more than 2 million will drive, up 69,000 from last year. About 160,000 will fly, up 2,450, and more than 100,000 will take buses, trains, or cruises, an increase of 7,400.

AAA booking data reveals the top domestic travel destinations include Orlando, Seattle, New York, Anchorage, and Fort Lauderdale, while the top international destinations include Vancouver, Rome, Paris, London, and Barcelona.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles is now accepting walk-in customers all day, rather than only after noon at 82 of 115 driver license offices. (More)

➤ Gaston County: NCDOT will expand I-85 from three to four lanes in each direction. Completion of the first segment, which will extend from McAdenville Road to the U.S. 321 interchange, is expected in late 2028. (See Details)

➤ Buncombe County: FEMA and the state of North Carolina jointly decided to end in-person operations at the county’s community resource center due to a decline in the number of visitors seeking disaster assistance. (More)

➤ Durham’s visitor and tourism division is designing a “Welcome to Durham” sign featuring 30 landmarks to be displayed in Terminal 2 at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, which currently only highlights Raleigh. (See Design)

➤ Fort Bragg soldier Anthony Rivera and his ex-wife Danielle Kennedy are behind bars after being charged with murdering their two adopted children, aged 3 and 2, who died 61 days apart in 2017-18. A court date is set for September. (More)

➤ Charlotte: WFAE public radio is projecting a $1 million annual deficit due to rising costs and a drop in community contributions. The station plans to cut expenses and boost fundraising to close the gap. (More)

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➤ The Charlotte Hornets have announced the dates and times for their 2025 Summer League games. (More)

➤ A Carolina Panthers insider hinted at the team’s interest in bringing in All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, a free agent after a strong run with the Broncos and a 2024 stint with the Falcons. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes made a big move on Day 2 of the NHL draft Saturday, trading up to select Russian defenseman Kurban Limatov at No. 67. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | Soccer | WNBA | F1 | PGA | LPGA

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➤ Wells Fargo’s Winston-Salem branch notified around 194 employees that they would be laid off between April 1 and June 24, with over 150 informed on June 24. All layoffs take effect by the end of August. (More)

➤ Triad mayors and local business leaders discussed economic growth and what one businessman called “Triad envy” at a recent panel discussion, following the announcement of JetZero’s 14,500-job project at Piedmont Triad International Airport. (More)

➤ Brickworks, a future mixed-use community in Durham, will transform a former brick and tile manufacturer into 1,900 residential units and nearly 50,000 square feet of commercial space. (More)

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This tech company grew 32,481%…

No, it’s not Nvidia… It’s Mode Mobile, 2023’s fastest-growing software company according to Deloitte.⁴

Just as Uber turned vehicles into income-generating assets, Mode is turning smartphones into an easy passive income source, already helping 45M+ users earn $325M+ through simple, everyday use.

They’ve just been granted their stock ticker by the Nasdaq, and you can still invest in their pre-IPO¹ offering at just $0.30/share.⁵

➤ Warren Poirier of Charles City, Virginia, caught a 56-pound, 4.8-ounce Almaco Jack off North Carolina’s Outer Banks on June 7, breaking the previous record by nearly 23 pounds. (See Photo)

➤ The National Weather Service reported that Wrightsville Beach lifeguards rescued 10 swimmers caught in rip currents by 3 p.m. Saturday. (More)

➤ Lego Con returned to the Raleigh Convention Center this past weekend for the 11th year, featuring a record number of local exhibitors and a Lego maze-building experience. Over 10,000 Lego lovers, nicknamed “brickheads” and “clickers,” were expected to attend. (More)

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Do you plan vacations for the week of July 4th?

1. Always
2. Never
3. Only if necessary

Yesterday’s Results:

Which MLB team do you follow?

1. Not a baseball fan: 46%
2. Other: 29%
3. Atlanta Braves: 17%
4. Washington Nationals: 4%
5. Cincinnati Reds: 4%

What economists did Thomas Sowell study under while earning his doctorate at the University of Chicago?

Show me the answer