Monday, November 24, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 2018, in a thrilling overtime-rivalry clash, NC State edged UNC 34-28. Reggie Gallaspy II powered the Wolfpack with five rushing touchdowns.

This year’s big rivalry game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Carter-Finley Stadium. Last year, NC State beat UNC 35-30. Hit reply and give us your prediction for who you think will win this year.

A clinical trial being conducted in North Carolina and Virginia deploys drones to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during actual 911 calls for cardiac arrest. Learn more in Top Stories—and share our sister email publication, The Virginia Flyover, with friends and family who live there.

💬 Keep an eye on your inbox. We’re about to send an important message from our sponsor, GoldCo, about the financial risks exposed by the recent government shutdown and what Americans can do to protect their retirement savings.

If stubborn nail fungus has refused to go away, this surprising natural “purple soak” method from today’s sponsor, Pronail Complex, may be the simple, fast-acting solution you’ve been hoping for.

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.

NC Retirement Fund Hits $139B in Assets

North Carolina’s public retirement fund, which supports over 1 million active and retired state workers, reached $139 billion in assets as of Sept. 30. This marks a 10% increase from the previous year, fueled by an 11% investment return.

State Treasurer Brad Briner, in office since January, reinstated Kevin SigRist as chief investment officer and created a five-member Investment Authority, replacing the prior sole fiduciary model. The investment management staff grew from 24 to 36, and the division’s budget nearly doubled to $26 million.

Recent commitments include $2 billion in traditional energy continuation vehicles, $1.15 billion in commercial real estate mortgages, and increased exposure to private equity and derivatives.

A July report showed the fund was outperforming benchmarks, earning a 6.11% return in the first half of 2025—generating $7.7 billion in gains and reducing the system’s $16 billion deficit by roughly $3.6 billion.

Duke Energy Proposes 13% Rate Hike

Duke Energy has filed proposals with the North Carolina Utilities Commission for residential rate hikes exceeding 13% in 2027, followed by nearly 4% in 2028 across its Carolinas divisions. The increases stem from surging power demand and grid upgrades involving doubled material costs.

Bills for a typical Charlotte- or Triad-area household using 1,000 kilowatt-hours monthly would rise about $17 to $162 in 2027, then to $168.50 in 2028. In eastern North Carolina, Duke Energy residential customers face a $23 monthly increase to $187 in 2027, plus $6.59 more in 2028.

Commercial and industrial customers face hikes averaging 8.7% and 6.3% in 2027, respectively.

A recent survey of the cost of utility bills—including electricity, gas, waste, recycling, and water—puts North Carolina’s median monthly bill at $360, above the national median of $347.

Pilot Program Delivers AEDs by Drone

Duke Health has launched a clinical trial that deploys drones to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) during actual 911 calls for cardiac arrest.

Led by the Duke Clinical Research Institute, the program operates in partnership with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, whose drones autonomously fly to scenes and lower AEDs via winch, enabling bystanders to act swiftly under dispatcher guidance.

More than 350,000 Americans suffer cardiac arrest each year, with survival rates below 10% due to EMS response times of eight to 10 minutes. Researchers believe survival rates could reach 70% if AEDs arrive within two to three minutes.

Since most incidents occur at home, far from public devices, the trial—also being piloted in James City County, Virginia—aims to cut delivery times to under five minutes for more than half the local population.

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What if there was a natural way to get rid of nail fungus…

Much stronger and way more efficient than any OTC treatment?

It sounds too good to be true, right?

Well, I’m hoping you’ll keep an open mind while watching the short video below.

You’ll see how you can wipe out even the worst infection just by soaking your socks in this purple liquid and putting them on your feet for one minute. Before you know it, your nails and skin will be pink and healthy again!

Sounds too good to be true? See for yourself:

WATCH: Soak your socks in this and say goodbye to fungus.

➤ Statewide: North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls drew criticism for calling federal immigration operations a “political stunt,” with Associate Justice Phil Berger Jr. and Earls’ reelection opponent Rep. Sarah Stevens (R-Surry) urging her to remain neutral. (More)

➤ Huntersville: Mecklenburg County unveiled a plan to preserve 38 acres of farmland along Brown Mill Road, rejecting development in favor of an educational agriculture hub that will encompass market gardens, trails, and recreation areas. Phase 1 is scheduled to begin in early 2026. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The city committed $100,000 in emergency aid for households impacted by recent immigration raids, and is partnering with nonprofits to provide rent and utility assistance to families facing economic disruptions. (More)

➤ Goldsboro: FinanceBuzz ranked Goldsboro eighth on a list of 15 affordable Southern cities for retirement based on a cost of living 18% below the national average and a median monthly mortgage of $1,295. (See List)

➤ Durham: Rodney Rogers, a Durham native and Wake Forest basketball legend who won NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2000, died Friday at age 54 after being paralyzed from the shoulders down in a 2008 accident. (More)

➤ Nags Head: The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission unanimously voted Thursday to amend its description of Jockey’s Ridge State Park in another attempt to convince the Rules Review Commission to drop opposition to designating it as an Area of Environmental Concern. (More)

➤ Brevard: The Pisgah Conservancy officially named the new 20-mile trail connecting Pisgah National Forest, Bracken Preserve, and downtown Brevard as the Pisgah Passage, based on one of nearly 300 public suggestions. (See Photos)

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➤ The Carolina Panthers return to primetime tonight for the first time in two years, taking on the San Francisco 49ers at 8:15 p.m. on Monday Night Football. (See Preview)

➤ Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball shut down trade rumors Friday, telling reporters, “I love being here.” (More)

➤ After a 32-25 loss to Duke on Saturday, Bill Belichick’s first season as UNC head football coach will end with the Tar Heels missing a bowl for the first time since 2018. (More)

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➤ These cooling, bacteria-fighting sheets might be the last ones you ever buy. Sleep cool and fresh every night with Miracle Made sheets. Infused with silver to prevent 99.7% of bacteria growth, they stay cleaner and cooler—just like a fresh hotel bed at home.

➤ Novartis will invest $771 million to expand manufacturing in Durham and Wake Counties, creating 700 jobs with average salaries of $111,161 by the end of 2030. The expansion is backed by a state Job Development Investment Grant worth up to $7.56 million. (More)

➤ Fit Precast is investing $102 million in a new precast concrete facility in Gaston County, creating 125 jobs with average annual salaries of $102,168. (More)

➤ Australian-based VectorTex USA will invest over $6 million in a Bladen County facility to manufacture CPAP tubing and oyster floats for the aquaculture industry, creating 44 jobs with average salaries of $48,136. (More)

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➤ Genius Gadgets: The Ultimate Gift Guide. Stumped on gifts? These 37 gadgets are crowd-pleasers for a reason. Each one offers that “wow factor” while being incredibly practical, the kind of thing people use constantly and then thank you for. But they’re not just gift gold… they’re also perfect for treating yourself to upgrades that genuinely improve your daily life. From organizational wizards to tech innovations, these are the gadgets everyone wants. Just don’t wait too long, several are already in high demand with limited stock. Learn More.

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What if a natural method could eliminate nail fungus—stronger and more effectively than any OTC treatment? This short video reveals how soaking your socks in a simple purple liquid for one minute can clear even severe infections, restoring pink, healthy nails fast. Watch now and see for yourself.

➤ North Carolina ranks 35th for child-rearing costs in 2025, with an annual cost of $23,587—a 2.36% decrease from $24,157 in 2024—positioning it as a more affordable option than northeastern states like Massachusetts, which averages $44,221. (See Rankings)

➤ Researchers are calling the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season “screwball,” “crazy,” and “strange” due to three Category 5 storms, zero U.S. landfalls, a mid-season lull, and fewer but more intense hurricanes fueled by anomalously warm oceans and La Niña. (More)

➤ Gov. Josh Stein pardoned two 45-pound hens named Krispy and Kreme at the annual Turkey Pardon Ceremony in Raleigh, sparing them from Thanksgiving dinner and sending them to Naylor Family Farm, while highlighting North Carolina’s $39 billion poultry industry. (More)

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➤ My dog almost got euthanized… until I found this x-military trainer’s invention. Stella saved her German Shepherd from being put down using Barks No More, an ultrasonic trainer created by an ex-military expert that stops bad behavior instantly—no pain, shock, or $2,000 classes. One button, a week of training, and her dog transformed. Works on barking, aggression, and even cats. (LEARN MORE)