NC State Grad Selected for Artemis II Mission

Astronaut Christina Koch, a North Carolina State University graduate who earned three degrees there and grew up in Jacksonville, will make history as the first woman to travel beyond low Earth orbit on NASA’s Artemis II mission, which could launch as early as April 1, with opportunities running through April 6.

Koch, who earned bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering and physics plus a master’s degree in electrical engineering at NC State, will serve as mission specialist on the four-person crew alongside commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

The crew arrived at Kennedy Space Center on March 27, ahead of the planned launch aboard the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft.

Artemis II will send them on an approximately 10-day journey looping around the Moon’s far side in the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years, testing systems for future Artemis landings.

NC Burn Ban Extended 

North Carolina officials have extended a statewide burn ban across all 100 counties due to persistent dry conditions, ongoing drought, and elevated wildfire risk. Violations can result in fines and liability for firefighting costs.

The ban prohibits the open burning of leaves, branches, and yard debris, and the use of fire pits and burn barrels until further notice. All previously issued burn permits have been canceled. A Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service was also issued.

Several Western North Carolina wildfires continued burning on Saturday in parts of the Great Smoky Mountains and Clay, Mitchell, McDowell, and Haywood counties.

In Eastern North Carolina, a separate fire in Robeson County prompted evacuations on Saturday, and fires were burning in Hyde and Onslow counties on Sunday. 

View the location and status of all fires here.

New Evidence Reshapes Lost Colony Story

New archaeological evidence from Hatteras Island is reshaping America’s oldest colonial mystery with excavations by the Croatoan Archaeological Society uncovering a European musket ball, blacksmithing scraps, bar iron, and animal remains suggesting blended English and Native American hunting practices.

These findings, presented March 26 at the Coastal Studies Institute, were analyzed through stable isotope testing, radiocarbon dating, and forensic examination, and indicate that the 1587 English colonists relocated to Hatteras and integrated with the Croatoan people.

The artifacts show blended Indigenous and European hunting, diet, and metalworking practices during the stressful conditions of the Little Ice Age.

Experts describe the process as “peaceful assimilation,” in which settlers established a survivors’ camp and formed relationships with local communities. The findings support the “CROATOAN” carving and suggest cooperation rather than disappearance.

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➤ Statewide: A federal judge upheld a North Carolina law eliminating the second verification card for same-day voter registration, ruling it constitutional and serving legitimate interests in election integrity and administration. (More)

➤ Rockingham County: Michele Hundley Smith, who vanished in 2001 while Christmas shopping, tearfully reunited with her daughter outside a county courthouse before appearing in court on an outstanding DWI charge. (More)

➤ Nash County: Local police joined a multi-agency undercover operation in Nashville where officers posed as minors online, leading to the arrest of 16 men on child exploitation and sexual predator charges during Operation Cursed Cupid in February. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: At the 2026 American Shore and Beach Preservation Association Coastal Summit in Washington, D.C., last week, Hatteras and Ocracoke Island advocates presented severe erosion challenges, infrastructure threats, and access issues, seeking federal support for vulnerable barrier island communities. (More)

➤ Elm City: A report by State Auditor Dave Boliek revealed widespread financial mismanagement by former officials, including undocumented reimbursements, improper P-card use, unauthorized bonuses, and conflict-of-interest violations. (More)

➤ Holly Springs: Officials approved $135 million in revenue bonds to upgrade a water treatment plant to support rapid population growth, which has nearly doubled from 25,000 to 49,000 residents since 2010. (More)

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➤ The No. 1-seed Duke men’s basketball team fell to UConn 73-72 in a heartbreaking Elite Eight loss on Sunday, after Duke turned the ball over in the final seconds, allowing UConn to hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets blew a 15-point third-quarter lead to Philadelphia on Saturday, eventually falling 118-114. A win would’ve helped the Hornets’ playoff seeding, as they sit two games behind the 76ers. (More)

➤ No. 13 UNC baseball swept its Saturday doubleheader against No. 23 Notre Dame to take a 2-0 series lead. UNC pitcher Jason DeCaro set a career high and a Tar Heels season-high with nine strikeouts. (More)

➤ No. 3 seed Duke women’s basketball led top-seeded UCLA 39-31 at halftime, but the Bruins responded by outscoring the Blue Devils 20-8 in the third quarter and pulled away for a 70-58 win in the NCAA Women’s Elite Eight. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: NBA | MLB | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | PGA | LPGA | Tennis | FI | NASCAR

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➤ Charlotte-based Lucid Bots raised $20 million in Series B funding to expand manufacturing, accelerate deployment of its window-washing drones and autonomous cleaning robots, and grow its contractor subscription platform. (More)

➤ Los Angeles-based Capital Group will invest $60 million to establish an East Coast operations hub in Charlotte, creating 600 jobs and injecting $116 million in annual payroll into the region. (More)

➤ North Carolina Republican Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd opposed the bipartisan 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which would restrict large investors from purchasing single-family homes. Notably, Tillis received $468,916 and Budd received $83,525 from such investors in the 2024 election cycle. (More)

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The Next $435B Energy Empire Is Being Minted

In today’s dollars, John D. Rockefeller would be worth $435 billion. But “oil money” is old news, and what’s next might surprise investors in 2026: a $2.1 Trillion opportunity in “clean” coal. 

Now is the “Rockefeller” moment for Frontieras as they reform coal into hydrogen, diesel, and other valuable commodities (just as Rockefeller did with oil). With a White House that favors domestic energy, the NASDAQ ticker FASF reserved, and land officially purchased for their flagship coal reformation plant, Frontieras is positioned for potential valuation impact. 

➤ The U.S. Forest Service authorized the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to gather non-timber forest products and dead firewood in Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests without permits for cultural use. (More)

➤ Charlotte’s 2026 Fight For Air Climb drew over 150 participants who raised nearly $80,000 for lung disease research by climbing The VUE, the Carolinas’ tallest residential building at 51 stories. (More)

➤ Charlotte-based Krispy Kreme launched a limited-edition Artemis II-themed doughnut, featuring blue vanilla icing, Oreo crunch, star sprinkles, cookies-and-creme buttercream, and a NASA-inspired red chevron. It will be available from March 31 to April 2. (See Doughnut)

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Will you watch the Artemis II launch this week?

1. Yes
2. No
3. I’ll try

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you changed your closet from winter to spring clothing?

1. I don’t bother: 47%
2. No: 30%
3. Yes: 23%

What selective North Carolina high school did astronaut Christina Koch attend?

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