Hurricanes One Win from Stanley Cup

The Carolina Hurricanes are one win away from their first Stanley Cup since 2006. A 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 5 on Thursday night sends the Canes to T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas for Game 6 tonight.

Andrei Svechnikov was the offensive catalyst, scoring twice on the power play to give Carolina control early. Jordan Staal extended his goal-scoring streak, adding to the Hurricanes’ dominant night at Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

The puck drops for Game 6 tonight in Las Vegas with North Carolina hockey history on the line. A Hurricanes win would be the franchise’s second championship and its first since Rod Brind’Amour captained the 2006 squad to the Cup.

The Canes hold home-ice advantage if it goes to Game 7, but the mission is clear tonight: close it out in Vegas and bring the Cup back to Raleigh.

Record Number of Schools Defy Calendar Law

A record number of North Carolina school districts plan to start the 2026-27 school year before Aug. 24, setting up a familiar fight between educators and tourism businesses.

State law requires public schools to begin no earlier than the Monday closest to Aug. 26, a rule backed by beach towns and mountain resorts that rely on late-summer revenue. Hotels, rental companies, and other coastal businesses argue an early school start strips away their most profitable weeks of the year.

School administrators see it differently. Educators say starting later forces them to cram instruction into fewer days, compress testing windows, and shortchange student performance ahead of state assessments. The law has been challenged repeatedly over the years, but the number of districts seeking exemptions this cycle is higher than ever before.

Applications go before the State Board of Education, which can grant waivers on a district-by-district basis. Whether this year’s record pushback tips the political balance remains to be seen.

Senate OKs Teen Social Media Ban

The North Carolina Senate voted unanimously June 10 to pass legislation banning children under 14 from creating accounts on social media platforms.

The bill would require platforms like Instagram and TikTok to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent before a minor can register.

Sen. Dana Jones (R-Forsyth), the bill’s primary Republican carrier, guided it through the chamber. Sen. Sydney Batch (D-Wake), the minority leader, sought a stricter age cutoff during floor debate.

Several amendments to tighten the ban were rejected along party lines, and the bill returns to the House for a vote on Senate changes.

Paying Too Much for Car Insurance? It Might Be Time to Compare Rates

Auto insurance premiums have climbed significantly over the past few years, and many drivers are paying more than they realize simply because they haven’t shopped around recently.

Insurify makes it easy to compare personalized quotes from multiple insurance companies in one place. Instead of visiting insurer websites one by one, you can quickly see competing rates side-by-side and find coverage options that fit your needs and budget.

For many households, even modest savings on auto insurance can add up to hundreds of dollars per year. In just a few minutes, you can see whether you’re overpaying and explore alternatives that may offer better value.

See how much you could save with Insurify today.

➤ Hyde County: A wildfire near the North Carolina coast has burned more than 600 acres and remains largely uncontained, 10 days after igniting, state officials said Friday. (More)

➤ New Bern: The Sudan Shriners Temple in downtown New Bern was demolished Friday. The site will be redeveloped as a 200-plus-space parking lot. (More)

➤ Charlotte: The Charlotte Metropolitan Transit Commission is cracking down on fare evasion and ending cash payments across the system. The new rules also require Gold Line riders to pay fares for the first time. (More)

➤ Asheville: Mayor Esther Manheimer says the proposed West Asheville Costco is back on track after she met directly with company representatives to address transportation concerns that had stalled the project. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Neese’s Country Sausage, the beloved Triad breakfast staple that had disappeared from store shelves for months, has been acquired by Raleigh-based Jesse Jones Brand, which plans to revive the original recipe. (More)

➤ Wilmington: Novant Health and UNC Health are both seeking state approval to build new hospital beds in New Hanover County, after regulators determined the area needs 225 additional beds. (More)

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

➤ No. 5 UNC baseball took down Ole Miss 6-2 on Friday in its first men’s College World Series game, setting up a matchup with No. 16 West Virginia today at 7 p.m. A victory would put the Tar Heels one win away from the championship. (More)

➤ Wake Forest junior track and field runner Rocky Hansen finished as the national runner-up in the men’s 5,000-meter event at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday night with a time of 13:39.91. (More)

➤ Wake Forest hitting coach Bill Cilento has announced he is leaving the organization to join South Carolina and new Gamecocks head coach Kevin Schnall. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | NBA | MLB | College World Series | WNBA | Golf 

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Why Hair Loss Really Happens (It’s Not Just Genetics) Whether you’re starting early or trying to reverse years of Thinning, Regrowing your hair has never been more achievable. Trusted by thousands, PeterMD offers proven, physician-guided hair loss treatment delivered discreetly to your door. Learn More

A Simple Financial Checkup That Could Pay Off

Most people review subscriptions, phone plans, and streaming services when looking to save money—but insurance is often one of the biggest monthly expenses that gets overlooked.

Insurify gives you a fast way to compare your options and potentially lower your costs without a lengthy shopping process. Whether your policy is coming up for renewal or you simply want to see what’s available, it’s an easy place to start.

Compare quotes and find out if a better rate is available for you.

➤ The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and six western mountain counties announced a “solar bee” microgrid network on Friday, designed to keep community hubs powered when hurricanes knock out the grid. (See Solar Bees)

➤ Uptown watch party venues are filling fast in Charlotte as the 2026 FIFA World Cup brings excitement to the area. (See Video)

➤ World Atlas released a list of nine old-timey general stores in North Carolina. (See List)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Hearing persistent ringing, buzzing, or hissing in your ears? While many people blame hearing damage, experts say hidden factors may be making tinnitus worse. By identifying these underlying triggers, some people are finding ways to reduce the noise and enjoy greater peace and quiet. Learn more about what may be causing your tinnitus.

Do you fly a flag at your home?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Sometimes

Yesterday’s Results:

What’s your favorite cherry-flavored soda?

1. Not a cherry soda fan: 34%
2. Cheerwine: 28%
3. Cherry Coke: 14%
4. Pepsi Wild Cherry: 9%
5. Other: 8%
6. 7Up Cherry: 7%

Who’s the most decorated baseball player from North Carolina?

Show me the answer