Sunday, November 23, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1862, Union Lt. William Cushing steered the USS Ellis up the New River to Jacksonville, where his crew seized Wilmington-bound mail, hoisted the U.S. flag at the courthouse, captured two schooners, confiscated public arms, and freed enslaved people. The raid ended a few days later when the Ellis ran aground under Confederate fire. Cushing and his men escaped on one of the schooners.

On Friday, we reported on a bizarre accident involving a bald eagle dropping a cat through a moving car’s windshield. Find more details on that story today in Around North Carolina.

🎄Good news! The Flyover Christmas Gift Guide is almost here, and it’s full of smart, practical gifts for everyone on your list. From home upgrades to stocking stuffers, we’ve found the best so you don’t have to. Join the early-release list to get the guide first and shop the season’s top picks before anyone else. Click here and we’ll add you automatically.

If you want to protect your future health and finances, now is the perfect time to understand what Medicare won’t cover and why exploring long-term care insurance through today’s sponsor, Money.com, could save you from massive out-of-pocket costs later.

Don’t feel like reading the national edition of The Flyover? Tune in to The Flyover Podcast! New episodes drop daily—watch on YouTube or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, all in under 15 minutes.

3 Charged in Concord Tree Lighting Shooting

Gunfire ended Concord’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony early Friday evening, when shots were fired near Union Street South and Corban Avenue around 7:30 p.m., injuring four people.

Police say the incident stemmed from a dispute among acquaintances. Two of the individuals identified as shooters—18-year-old Nasir Ahmad Bostic and a juvenile male—were themselves wounded and remain in critical condition. A third suspect, 17-year-old Keyvyonn Rayshaund Bostic, was not injured and will be charged as an adult for accessory after the fact and inciting a riot.

Two 17-year-old victims were also shot. One has been released from the hospital, while the other is still receiving treatment.

Once released from the hospital, Bostic and the juvenile will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury with intent to kill, and inciting a riot. The juvenile will also be charged with two counts of discharging into an occupied property inflicting serious injury.

Stein Demands Answers from DHS

In a Nov. 21 letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Gov. Josh Stein requested detailed information regarding Operation Charlotte’s Web, which was launched by U.S. Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on Nov. 15.

Stein raised concerns about federal tactics endangering public safety and outlined 12 questions seeking data on detainees’ identities, statuses, and criminal records, along with operational plans.

Approximately 370 illegal immigrants—primarily with criminal histories—have been arrested so far. Reports described incidents including the alleged detention of U.S. citizens, a vehicle chase, and a school evacuation due to a bomb threat during a protest.

DHS has stated that the operation continues, despite local reports from officials such as Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and the Mecklenburg County Sheriff that the CBP phase has concluded, while ICE enforcement remains active.

NC No. 4 in Inbound U.S. Moves

North Carolina is the No. 4 state for inbound U.S. moves and No. 7 for total moves—attracting around 300,000 new residents from other states, according to new data from Point2Homes, a digital platform for renters.

Florida is No. 1 and Texas is No. 2 for inbound moves, with each attracting over half a million new residents from other states. California comes in third with over 400,000 new residents from other states.

Texas, California, Florida, New York, Georgia, and Ohio took the top six spots for total moves, respectively.

The Point2Homes rankings follow an October report from moveBuddha showing North Carolina ranks No. 2 in inbound moves—just behind South Carolina—based on inbound vs. outbound ratios from 2020 through Oct. 1, 2025. Idaho, Alaska, and Tennessee round out the top five, respectively, in that report.

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➤ Statewide: The NAACP and Williams plaintiffs defended their federal lawsuit against legislative leaders’ motion to dismiss, arguing the Senate Bill 249 congressional map retaliates against their advocacy and violates their First Amendment rights. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Genetic genealogy has solved the 2013 disappearance of Kenneth McCarthy, a New Jersey information technology professional who vanished while on a Charlotte work trip. His remains, discovered in 2016, were identified as his via DNA databases. (More)

➤ Asheville: Douglas Michael Stroupe, 32, was apprehended by police near Biltmore Village and charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault, and burglary connected to the fatal stabbing of Jennifer Rose Gerard, 45, on Thursday. (More)

➤ Wake County: Scammers are using AI to clone a former deputy’s voice, spoofing sheriff’s numbers, and demanding money for fake arrests. Officials advise potential victims to hang up and verify calls directly, adding that legitimate agencies never request payments over the phone. (More)

➤ Cary: Town Manager Sean Stegall, who has held the position since 2016, was placed on paid administrative leave following a closed council session on Thursday, with officials declining to disclose the reason. (More)

➤ Swain County: A bald eagle carrying a dead cat caused a bizarre crash Wednesday morning when it dropped the animal onto a moving vehicle’s windshield on US-74, shattering the glass and spraying debris inside 28-year-old Melissa Schlarb’s vehicle. Schlarb was unharmed and safely pulled over. (See Photos)

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➤ Duke running back Anderson Castle’s third rushing touchdown of the day with 2:18 remaining sealed the Blue Devils’ 32-25 win over rival North Carolina to secure bowl eligibility. (Highlights)

➤ Wake Forest quarterback Robby Ashford threw three touchdown passes and ran for another score in a 52-14 win against Delaware. (Highlights)

➤ Appalachian State’s Dominic De Freitas kicked a go-ahead field goal with 2:02 left to beat Marshall 26-24; East Carolina lost 58-24 to UTSA; and Charlotte fell 35-3 at No. 4 Georgia. (See Scores)

➤ Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was given his first-ever NFC Offensive Player of the Week award this week after torching the Atlanta Falcons’ defense for 448 yards and three touchdowns last week. (More)

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Long-term care isn’t always fully covered by Medicare.

Almost half of Americans over 65 will eventually need some form of long-term care, but Medicare and Medigap typically don’t cover these costs unless linked to medical treatment. That means you could face out-of-pocket expenses for in-home care or nursing facilities, which can quickly add up. As Medicare’s annual enrollment period for 2026 approaches (ending Dec. 7), it’s a good time to review your coverage and explore long-term care insurance options that can help safeguard your health and your finances.

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➤ North Carolina ranks second in U.S. Christmas tree production, with Ashe County the nation’s top-producing county. The state harvests 4 million Fraser firs annually, thanks to cool mountain temperatures, high elevations, ample rainfall, and rich, well-drained soils. (More)

➤ The Sunset Beach Police Department released three rehabilitated pelicans into the wild at the local fishing pier on Friday, thanks to support from a local animal control officer and the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter. (See Photos)

➤ A report on Triangle-based grocery stores reveals that Food Lion offers the cheapest prices for foods making up a Thanksgiving meal at $26.14, beating out Walmart at $27.29. Whole Foods prices are the highest, at $55.47. (More)

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