Thursday, October 15, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1951, President Harry S. Truman broke ground on Wake Forest College’s new Winston-Salem campus. The ceremony kicked off the school’s move west from its original home in Wake County.

The North Carolina State Fair opens today following rigorous ride testing. Learn more in Top Stories, then take our Poll to let us know if you plan to attend.

Your 2027 Social Security raise is official. But a raise is never just a raise. The COLA ripples into what you pay, what you owe, and what you actually keep, and most retirees don’t see the full picture until the January check arrives. Deadlines are in play too, including a window that opens this very week. So how much of your raise is actually yours? On today’s episode of The Flyover Podcast, Ayla counts down the five things that decide what your 2027 check really looks like. Tune in here!

Later today, watch for a message from our partner, Insurify, about an easy way to compare rates from more than 120 insurers and potentially save.

Today’s sponsor, Dr. Steven Gundry MD, is revealing a surprising everyday ingredient that may help visibly reduce stubborn age spots and restore a more youthful-looking complexion.

NC Banks Face Scrutiny Over Debanking

Bank of America, which is based in Charlotte, and Wells Fargo—one of North Carolina’s largest employers—are among nine large banks cited in a new Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) report.

The banks were cited for restricting accounts and credit based on customers’ political or religious views or lawful business activities between 2020 and September 2025.

The OCC reviewed nearly 100,000 complaints and about 50,000 internal bank documents. It found Bank of America cut ties with private-prison firms over “changing policymaker attitudes,” then tried to restore one account months into the Trump administration.

Wells Fargo pressured a payment processor to drop a religious nonprofit over its opposition to same-sex marriage and refused loans to two firearms businesses, citing feared Biden administration pressure and activist criticism.

The report, released Wednesday, also documents restrictions on “MAGA” merchants, pro-life groups, and religious organizations.

NC Scores F on Open Enrollment

North Carolina earned an F on the free-market Reason Foundation’s 2026 ranking of state open enrollment laws, tying for last for the third year in a row.

Open enrollment allows students to attend a public school outside their assigned one when seats are available. North Carolina has no statewide law, so districts set their own transfer rules, and many require families to show a hardship.

The ranking’s largest measure—whether a state requires districts to accept transfers from elsewhere—is worth 60 of 100 points. North Carolina earned no points in any category.

A few districts, including Union County and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County, run their own programs, and lawmakers have ordered a study of within-district transfers due by June 1, 2027. A January Carolina Journal poll found 79% of likely voters back letting students transfer within their home district.

Jackson Launches Gas Tax Savings Tracker

Attorney General Jeff Jackson launched a website Tuesday called NC Fuel Check, through which drivers can report gas stations that haven’t dropped prices after the state suspended its 41-cent fuel tax, the highest rate on record.

Gov. Josh Stein signed the Relief at the Pump Act on Oct. 9. The Republican-led measure passed with near-unanimous bipartisan support and suspends the tax through Nov. 30.

House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, has said savings will likely land closer to 30 cents a gallon. The drop could also take a week or more, since stations can sell off fuel they already taxed before cutting prices.

Hall credits years of responsible budgeting for allowing relief without cutting road funding. Senate Minority Leader Sydney Batch, D-Wake, counters that nothing in the law forces stations to pass the savings along. Jackson says he reads the law as requiring it.

Flying together with our sponsor

Visibly reduce dark spots with 1 ingredient? Doctor reveals how

One of America’s leading heart surgeons believes he just solved the aging dark spots mystery…

And it’s all thanks to his wife, Penny.

You see, for years, Penny had been struggling with stubborn dark spots around her face and neck.

And after failed attempts despite trying expensive creams and treatments…

Dr. Steven Gundry discovered what’s really causing those spots to appear…

And more importantly, how to help visibly reduce them.

The breakthrough?

One common ingredient found in everyday foods >>

➤ Eastern NC: More than $4.5 million in Department of Justice grants will fund violence prevention, victim services, and law enforcement equipment for agencies and nonprofits across the 44-county Eastern District, with the State Bureau of Investigation receiving the largest share. (More)

➤ Greenville: President Trump will hold a campaign rally on Oct. 20 to boost North Carolina Republicans before the Nov. 3 election. As of Tuesday, organizers hadn’t released a venue or address, but past rallies were held at Minges Coliseum. (More)

➤ Raleigh: State Labor Department inspectors raced this week to certify all 94 rides at the North Carolina State Fair before today’s opening. Scrutiny is heightened after a man died Monday in a fall from a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. (More)

➤ Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools: Speakers confronted the district’s board Tuesday over its 5-4 vote on Sept. 22 to fire Superintendent Crystal Hill, with some demanding that board members resign instead. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: Seasonal Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) routes in front of Hatteras Island villages and Ocracoke Campground reopen today for the lower-traffic winter season after summer pedestrian closures. (More)

➤ Lenoir: Students were praised for alerting authorities after spotting two young men carrying what looked like handguns at a Hibriten High School chorus concert held at Lenoir Presbyterian Church. Police detained the pair, who were actually carrying BB pistols. (More)

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➤ Carolina Panthers right tackle Taylor Moton returned to practice Tuesday after recovering from blood clots in his lung, boosting an injury-hit team as he prepares for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes veteran forward Taylor Hall left Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Washington Capitals with an upper-body injury, and coach Rod Brind’Amour said afterward that it “doesn’t look good.” (More)

➤ UNC football makes the short trip to Durham on Saturday to face rival Duke for the Victory Bell at Wallace Wade Stadium. Duke has held the trophy the past two seasons. (See Preview)

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➤ Stay fresh wherever life takes you with the BumBum Portable Bidet. Compact and travel-friendly, it delivers a gentle water cleanse without relying on rough toilet paper or irritating wipes. Its rechargeable design and simple operation make cleaner bathroom breaks easy at home, work, while traveling, or anywhere you need them. (LEARN MORE)

➤ A business court judge denied the State Health Plan’s request to block Atrium’s new Affordability Protection Program, which would lower members’ out-of-pocket costs starting Jan. 1. (See Details)

➤ Salisbury-based Food Lion’s website and mobile app went offline Tuesday after a cybersecurity network issue; stores remain open, online orders will be refunded, and shoppers can still order via Instacart, DoorDash, or Uber Eats. (More)

➤ Wegmans opened its first Charlotte-area store Wednesday in Ballantyne, and die-hard fans started lining up to check it out the afternoon before. (See Video)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Get a Cleaner, Fresher Smile with Sonic Glow Water Pick! Brushing alone can miss food particles and buildup between your teeth. The Sonic Glow Water Pick uses targeted water pressure to help flush away debris, clean hard-to-reach areas, and support healthier gums. Upgrade your oral care routine today!

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Try this age spot trick (it will shock you)

If you think age spots are caused by aging or even sun damage, think again.

In his latest exposé, former chief of surgery Dr. Steven Gundry is launching a crusade against the skincare industry to reveal the biggest lie it has ever told women.

His research points to an everyday kitchen item that can help “eat” these blemishes.

This free presentation is a must-watch.

Click here to watch now before it’s taken down >>

➤ Hattie Leeper, a Charlotte broadcaster known as “Chatty Hatty” and North Carolina’s first black female radio announcer, died Tuesday at age 98. She promoted artists like James Brown and Aretha Franklin and later taught journalism at Johnson C. Smith University. (More)

➤ A new WalletHub analysis ranks Duke No. 14 and UNC-Chapel Hill at No. 22 on its list of best U.S. universities for 2027. (See Rankings)

➤ UNC-Chapel Hill’s new AI minor is drawing students from nursing to political science majors. The program focuses on using AI responsibly and understanding its limits. (More)

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➤ Dry Eyes? Here are 5 reasons drops aren’t working Are you wasting your money on eye drops? Here are 5 reasons drops won’t work for dry eyes and why you should be doing THIS instead. PS – If you really care about your eye health… ⇒ Read this short article before you spend another penny on eye drops… (You are probably being misled).

The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes.

➤ Five things are quietly reshaping your 2027 Social Security check, and most retirees only catch one. (Listen Now)

➤ Global health researchers have linked roughly one in eight new cancer cases worldwide to a dozen common infections, some preventable. (Hear Details)

➤ Federal regulators have accused nine of the nation’s largest banks of closing accounts over customers’ political and religious beliefs. (Listen Now)