Film/TV Industry Spends $185.5M in NC

Film and television productions generated an estimated $185.5 million in direct in-state spending across North Carolina in 2025—the fourth-highest annual total since the North Carolina Film and Entertainment Grant program launched in 2015.

The activity involved 38 productions filmed across 45 counties, supporting more than 7,000 jobs for crew members, talent, and background extras.

TV and streaming series included Beast Games Season 2, Blue Ridge: The Series Season 2, Top Chef Season 23, RJ Decker Season 1, and The Hunting Wives Season 2. Feature-length films included Bad Counselors, Driver’s Ed, May and the Woodsman, The Bard, and Widow. National commercials for brands such as Food Lion and AutoZone were also filmed in North Carolina.

Eleven rebate-preapproved projects alone accounted for over $179 million in spending. The program offers production companies up to 25% on qualified in-state expenses.

NC Man’s Neighbors React to Mar-a-Lago Killing

Moore County neighbors of Austin Tucker Martin, 21, whose security breach at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort early Sunday led to him being fatally shot, reacted with shock after learning of Martin’s actions.

Authorities said at 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Martin entered Mar-a-Lago’s north gate carrying a shotgun and gas can. When confronted by Secret Service agents and a deputy, he set down the gas can but raised the shotgun, prompting officers to fire and neutralize the threat.

Neighbors described Martin as quiet and nonviolent. His cousin, Braeden Fields, called him “a good kid,” noted his fear of guns, and mentioned the family’s support for Trump.

Martin had been working as a groundskeeper at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in Southern Pines and founded Fresh Sky Illustrations to sell his drawings of golf courses. The incident is under federal investigation, with authorities examining Martin’s background and possible motives.

Duke Ends Federal PhD Project Partnership

Duke University agreed on Feb. 19 to end its partnership with The Ph.D. Project, a nonprofit aimed at increasing doctoral representation from underrepresented racial groups.

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ investigation, which began in March 2025, revealed that 31 of the 45 institutions’ partnerships violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by unlawfully limiting eligibility based on race. The Trump administration’s push, including a February 2025 directive to eliminate race-conscious initiatives, prompted the probe.

To comply with Title VI, Duke must terminate ties with The Ph.D. Project and review other partnerships for compliance. U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon called it a step toward “restoring equality of opportunity on campuses across the nation.”

Duke is the only North Carolina school listed. The Office for Civil Rights is in ongoing negotiations with the remaining 14 schools.

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Cold Weather Drives Surge in Demand for Winter Must-Haves

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➤ Statewide: In his first year in office, North Carolina Labor Commissioner Luke Farley eliminated the elevator inspection backlog, which numbered in the thousands, fulfilling his “Make Elevators Great Again” promise. Farley now plans to focus on workplace safety. (More)

➤ Hertford County: One worker was killed and three others injured in an early-morning explosion and fire at the Perdue feed mill in Cofield on Saturday. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. (More)

➤ Swain County: The pre-trial hearing in the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians tribal court for former Sheriff Curtis Cochran, 73, who faces charges for alleged sex crimes against a tribal member, has been delayed to June 8 due to his “age and poor health.” (More)

➤ Raleigh: A group of Iranians held a car rally on Saturday, decorating vehicles with pre-1979 flags, to urge immediate U.S. action against the regime as American military assets have reportedly moved into place for possible strikes against the country. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers of Charlotte and Greensboro rallied along Park Road on Sunday, holding signs to advocate for more protection, better wages, and fair contracts. (More)

➤ Mecklenburg County: Shaheem Snype attacked Marion McKnight—accused of murdering Snype’s 16-year-old son Jamariyae Dixon—inside the county courthouse on Thursday during proceedings related to a motion to revoke McKnight’s existing $100,000 bond. Snype faces misdemeanor assault charges. (More)

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➤ Men’s Basketball AP Poll: Duke moved up to No. 1 in this week’s rankings, while UNC fell two spots to No. 18. (See Full Poll)

➤ No. 18 UNC men’s basketball defeated No. 24 Louisville 77-74 on Monday at the Dean E. Smith Center. Senior guard Seth Trimble led the Tar Heels with a career-high 30 points. (More)

➤ Four-star quarterback Gunner Rivers, son of N.C. State legend Philip Rivers, committed to the Wolfpack on Monday for the 2027 class, marking one of the program’s top historical recruits over offers from Auburn, Miami, Boston College, and South Carolina. (More)

➤ No. 4 Wake Forest men’s tennis took down No. 6 Baylor and Coastal Carolina in this weekend’s action. They’re now 36-0 at home since April 2024. (More)

➤ Hornets guard LaMelo Ball drilled 10 three-pointers—including four straight in the last 99 seconds—during Charlotte’s 129-112 win over the Washington Wizards. It ties a franchise record for three-pointers in a single game. (More)

Yesterday’s Results: NBA | NCAAM | NCAAW | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer

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➤ Over a dozen women’s business communities in Western North Carolina will unite for Hive Ambition’s inaugural Better Together networking social from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 10, at The Mule in Asheville. (See Details)

➤ Southeastern Container will invest $31 million to modernize and expand its Buncombe County headquarters and manufacturing operations in Enka-Candler, adding closure production, creating 12 high-tech jobs, and sustaining 150 existing positions. (More)

➤ Raleigh-based Cardinal Infrastructure Group’s shares surged more than 32% to a record $33 on Thursday after the company announced its first post-initial public offering acquisition: the $245.5 million purchase of Atlanta-area A.L. Grading Contractors. (More)

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➤ North Carolina ranks second nationally in job growth with a 1.5% increase during 2025, trailing only Missouri’s 1.7% increase, driven largely by nearly 5% construction gains from data center investments by Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta. (See Map)

➤ loveFOOD’s “definitive bucket-list” of restaurants in each state features Asheville’s Cúrate, a Spanish tapas eatery that received a James Beard Award for hospitality and has been featured in Food & Wine and Esquire magazines. (See List)

➤ A North Carolina Department of Transportation study estimates that the restoration of passenger rail service from Salisbury to Asheville along Norfolk Southern tracks, with potential stops in Statesville and Hickory, could create over 5,000 construction jobs and generate $1 billion in economic output. (More)

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Have you ever ridden on the NC By Train Amtrak line?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Not yet

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever lived in a state capital?

1. No: 41%
2. Yes: 35%
3. I live/lived in a suburb of one: 24%

How does the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ tribal court system enable the prosecution of non-Indians for certain domestic violence crimes?

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