Severe Weather Creates Outages, Floods Roads

Tornado watches, thunderstorm warnings, and wind advisories remained in place across North Carolina Wednesday evening as tornado warnings were issued in several counties and power outages impacted thousands.

The storm downed trees and flooded roads. Standing water blocked I-40 eastbound lanes in Johnston County, creating miles of backups.

As of 5 p.m. Wednesday, nearly 20,000 North Carolina customers were without power.

National Weather Service investigators were called to the Porter Ridge area of Unionville to determine whether a tornado had touched down. No injuries were reported.

The storm line also brought a chance for snow and wintry precipitation to the mountains Wednesday night, while the Charlotte area faced a chance for severe storms to redevelop.

DOGE Lease Terminations Impact NC Offices

Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) lease terminations are impacting federal offices in North Carolina.

They include a Natural Resources Conservation Service office lease in Greensboro valued at $731,294, a Social Security Administration office lease in Greenville valued at $374,170, an IRS office lease in Wilmington valued at $319,571, and an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission office lease in Raleigh valued at $306,333.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Farm Service Agency lease terminations in Wilkesboro and Hendersonville, and Natural Resources Conservation Service lease terminations in Greensboro and Goldsboro.

View a DOGE Agency Efficiency Leaderboard showing other nationwide savings here.

House Considers Splitting Large School Districts

The North Carolina House K-12 Education Committee considered a bill Tuesday sponsored by Rep. Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, that would study whether larger public school districts should be split into smaller ones.

House Bill 82 would create a commission to evaluate how district size impacts the quality of education provided to students. It would also look at resource allocation, student performance, and operational efficiencies in large and small districts, then make recommendations based on those findings.

Lambeth said nearly a third of North Carolina public school students attend the state’s five largest school districts, but lower-enrollment districts are higher performing.

Critics say potential recommendations could prompt significant restructuring without considering their impact on communities.

The state’s five largest school districts are located in Cumberland, Forsyth, Guilford, Mecklenburg, and Wake counties.

Do you have any friends or family who would like to receive Flyover North Carolina? Feel free to refer us to them!

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Cherokee County: Payton McNabb, a former Hiwassee Dam High School volleyball player who suffered a brain injury in 2022 after a trans opponent spiked a ball into her face, was one of President Trump’s guests during his address to Congress Tuesday. (More)

➤ Durham: Duke University announced that Grant Hill, who played for the Blue Devils from 1990 to 1994, will be the university’s 2025 spring commencement speaker. (More)

➤ Raleigh’s City Council is working to improve safety at nearly two dozen intersections NCDOT identified as dangerous, including one it calls the “most dangerous”—Buffaloe Road at New Hope Road. (More)

➤ Asheville: Design plans for a new Costco along the Enka Heritage Parkway were presented to the city’s Technical Review Committee on Wednesday. (More)

➤ Wake County: The school board declined to move forward with a letter supporting Attorney General Jeff Jackson’s investigation of a recent PowerSchool cybersecurity breach, stating it isn’t needed because Jackson is already taking action. (More)

➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force wants lawmakers to raise the age of tobacco sales from 18 to 21, citing a state report that found more than one in five high schoolers are vaping. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets lost their seventh consecutive game after falling 119-101 to the Golden State Warriors on Monday. The Hornets remained competitive through three quarters but allowed the Warriors to pull away in the fourth. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 Tuesday night. Jordan Martinook added two points to his season total, and Frederik Andersen made 24 saves to secure the victory. (More)

➤ ESPN’s College GameDay is headed to Chapel Hill for Saturday’s men’s basketball matchup between UNC and No. 2 Duke. It’s the final regular season game for both teams, and Duke could clinch the ACC regular season title with a win. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | ACC Tournament | NCAAB | Soccer 

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Enhance your home’s WiFi with the Omega WiFi Amp. This compact device boosts signal strength, eliminating dead zones and ensuring fast, reliable internet throughout your space. Easy to install and compatible with all devices, it supports WPA and WPA2 encryption for secure connections. Upgrade your internet experience today.

➤ A Piggly Wiggly scheduled to open in Greensboro on March 25 has been delayed. A new opening date has not yet been set. (More)

➤ Target confirmed it will open a new 128,000-square-foot store in Mebane on Trollingwood Road near the I-40/I-85 exchange. (More)

➤ Whataburger is coming to Mooresville on River Highway where an O’Charley’s restaurant was previously located. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ ​Experience five-star hotel luxury at home with the FluffCo Zen Pillow. Praised by Oprah, this down-alternative pillow offers exceptional comfort and support for all sleep positions. Its unique Fluff™ material ensures a restful night’s sleep, helping you wake up refreshed and pain-free. Enjoy 62% off and fast shipping today. (Shop Now)

Flying together with our sponsor

Prioritize your personal wellness with LMNT. Our zero-sugar, electrolyte-rich drink mix is crafted to support hydration, energy, and recovery. With the perfect balance of sodium, potassium, and magnesium, LMNT helps you feel your best anytime, anywhere. Stay balanced, stay energized, and stay well with LMNT.

Right now, get a FREE sample pack with any order to help you discover new flavors you’ll love. 

➤ A 27-year-old llama named Whitetop at Kyle Petty’s Victory Junction camp in Randleman has been crowned the world’s oldest llama in captivity by Guinness World Records. (See Photos)

➤ Eric LaRue, a movie directed in Wilmington by Oscar-nominated actor Michael Shannon, will be released into theaters on April 4 by Magnolia Pictures. (See Details and Trailer)

➤ North Carolina towns that rival European towns include New Bern, Blowing Rock, Highlands, Mount Airy, Beaufort, Davidson, Bath, and Tryon, thanks to their riverside promenades, historic architecture, and mountain vistas. (See Details)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Elevate your grilling with the Joyhnny Rolling Grill Basket. Its innovative rolling design ensures even, fast cooking without the hassle of flipping foods individually. Crafted from high-quality stainless steel, it’s durable, easy to clean, and perfect for meats, vegetables, and more. Enjoy healthier, perfectly grilled meals effortlessly.

Should school districts be countywide or contained within a city or town?

1. Countywide
2. Contained within a city or town
3. Do away with them altogether
4. No opinion

Yesterday’s Results:

Should North Carolina adopt daylight saving time year-round?

1. Yes: 57%
2. No: 22%
3. Keep it the way it is: 21%

What was the original name of Queens University of Charlotte?

Show me the answer