Historic Flooding Slams Mount Airy

The Ararat River surged more than 15 feet overnight Sunday, cresting near 29 feet and swamping Mount Airy and surrounding Surry County in the worst flooding the area has seen in nearly five decades.

Both Mount Airy and Surry County declared states of emergency after as much as 10 inches of rain fell within hours late Saturday. Crews performed multiple water rescues from stranded vehicles, and at least four homes flooded.

The deluge ruined the city’s public works building, which took on a foot of water, and washed out roads. “It’s been 47 years since this area last flooded to this extent,” said public works director Mitch Williams.

The storm also damaged Mount Airy Middle School’s ballfields. Officials warned that garbage pickup and other city services could be disrupted this week.

NC Lawmakers Split on Education Overhaul

A U.S. House committee advanced 10 bills to break up the Department of Education, and three North Carolina members sit on the panel that wrote them.

The House Education and Workforce Committee approved the package in July, aiming to shift the department’s functions permanently to the Labor, Treasury, and Health and Human Services departments. It would codify President Trump’s order to wind the agency down.

Republicans Virginia Foxx and Mark Harris both serve on the committee, and Harris wrote two of the bills, sending K-12 and higher-education programs to the Labor Department. Democrat Alma Adams also serves on the committee.

Supporters say the bills return education to the states and cut bureaucracy. Democrats, led by ranking member Bobby Scott of Virginia, counter that splitting programs among agencies would sow confusion, and the plan faces long odds in the Senate.

Charlotte Voters Warm to I-77 Tolls

A new poll found 52% of Charlotte voters want the stalled I-77 South toll-lane project to move ahead now, versus 38% opposed.

The survey of 370 registered voters was taken July 15–18. It lands as the state tries to revive the 11-mile toll project from uptown to the South Carolina line, weeks after the regional planning board pulled its support.

To win over skeptics, NCDOT has offered up to $300 million in community benefits, from greenways and parks to a cap over part of the highway and two grocery stores on the west side. It may ask the toll operators to put up that money.

Charlotte City Councilmember Ed Driggs called the written commitments a step toward accountability. Charlotte could owe roughly $40 million if the region holds out.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina’s cyclosporiasis outbreak has climbed to 718 cases with 24 hospitalizations, prompting state health officials to launch a public dashboard tracking the parasitic stomach illness. (See Details and Dashboard)

➤ Raleigh: The Carolina Hurricanes will hold their annual team yard sale Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Lenovo Center, with jerseys, apparel and memorabilia marked 50% to 80% off. Season-ticket members get in from 8 to 11 a.m., and the public can attend from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (More)

➤ Chapel Hill: More than 13 years after UNC student Faith Hedgepeth was found killed in her off-campus apartment, a judge will hear pretrial motions this week that could shape what evidence is allowed at the September trial. (More)

➤ Greensboro: Nine people, including four minors, were shot early Sunday at the Royal Banquet Hall on West Gate City Boulevard in what police called a targeted attack. Two men were taken into custody at the scene. (More)

➤ New Bern: Cypress Hall Kitchen + Bar chef Ben Real has earned a spot in the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association Chef Showdown Grand Finale, the state’s marquee culinary competition, set for Sept. 2 at Bay 7 in Durham. (More)

➤ Holden Beach: Two adults drowned Sunday morning after being pulled from the ocean, police said, despite emergency crews responding to the reported distress in the water. (More)

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➤ North Carolina A&T’s homecoming football game against Elon sold out within five minutes after tickets went on sale yesterday, underscoring the demand for the 100th edition of the “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.” (More)

➤ Meanwhile, North Carolina A&T is expected to name UAB deputy athletic director Katreshia Louis-Verrett as its next athletic director. Louis-Verrett previously spent six years at NC A&T as senior woman administrator and will succeed Earl Hilton, who led the department for 15 years. (More)

➤ North Carolina’s inaugural sanctioned high school girls flag football season begins with Wakefield High, Cardinal Gibbons, and Willow Spring atop USA TODAY’s preseason state rankings. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: MLB | WNBA | Tennis | Little League Softball World Series

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➤ North Carolina will collect more than $700,000 from a $29.6 million multistate settlement resolving claims that Glenmark Pharmaceuticals fixed prices on generic drugs between 2009 and 2019. The company must also adopt compliance measures and cooperate with ongoing cases. (More)

➤ Crescent Communities, the Charlotte developer behind the River District project, laid off 15% of its staff, blaming a slower development market. (More)

➤ Charlotte economist Mark Vitner called Hickory and Catawba County one of the Southeast’s most important industrial stories, as fiber-optic makers Corning and CommScope expand to meet data-center demand. (More)

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➤ Southern Living named laid-back Ocean Isle Beach one of the six best Southern beach towns for year-round living, praising its slower pace, pastel beach houses, and strong sense of community. (More)

➤ A 14-foot hammerhead shark washed ashore dead on Carolina Beach on Sunday afternoon, drawing a crowd to the rare sight along the coastline. (See Photos)

➤ The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission opened a public comment period Monday on a proposed rule that would cap Atlantic bonito catches at five fish per angler. (See Details)

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The following stories are featured exclusively on The Flyover Podcast—a daily show that gives you the most important headlines in under 15 minutes. Clicking the links will take you directly to these stories:

➤ Hidden ultra-processed ingredients lurk in over half your diet, but there are six simple swaps to fight back. (Hear Details)

➤ The first deaths have been reported in the nationwide cyclosporiasis outbreak, with two victims confirmed in Michigan. (Hear Episode)

➤ New Yorkers can finally camp overnight in Central Park, but scoring a free spot means winning a coveted citywide lottery. (Listen Now)

Would you have liked having a flag football team at your high school?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever dined at a Culver’s?

1. Yes: 49%
2. No: 40%
3. Not yet: 11%

What fictional hometown featured in a 1960s TV sitcom is Mount Airy regarded as the real-life inspiration for?

Show me the answer