Tuesday, February 25, 2025

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1820, U.S. Rep. Felix Walker of North Carolina began a rambling speech on behalf of his Buncombe County constituents during the Missouri Compromise debate, saying he was “speaking for Buncombe.” Soon after, the word “buncombe,” often misspelled as “bunkum,” came to refer to any sort of spurious or questionable statement.

Do you like old houses? Today we feature North Carolina’s most expensive old house listing in Et Cetera. It’s called Blue Fish Farm and can be yours for just under $20 million!

Did you know that the team that makes Flyover North Carolina also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

We’re sponsored today by FinanceBuzz. Be sure to check out their money-saving tips for everyday purchases that can help you save big.

USAID Layoffs Impact NC Universities

The Trump administration’s firing of 2,000 U.S. Agency for International Development employees took effect Sunday at midnight and immediately impacted employees at several North Carolina universities.

The University of North Carolina, which received $17.5 million from USAID last fiscal year, confirmed nine of its programs had been given stop-work orders, including one that helps track the spread of tuberculosis.

USAID also partners with NC State, NC A&T, Duke University, Fayetteville State University, state farmers, and nonprofits.

Remaining USAID staff members were put on administrative leave. Certain “mission-critical” and “core leadership” staff members were immune to the cuts.

The Trump administration ordered the firings after a federal judge ruled Friday it could move forward, ending another federal judge’s temporary pause on the process.

Apple Commits to NC Data Center Expansion

Apple announced plans to spend $500 billion and hire 20,000 people in the U.S. over the next four years, which includes expanding data center operations in North Carolina and four other states.

The company will build a 250,000-square-foot factory in Houston, Texas, for artificial intelligence server manufacturing, which will require the expansion of server capacity in North Carolina, Iowa, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada data centers.

Apple expects to complete construction of the Houston factory by 2026.

Apple announced “its largest-ever spend commitment” just days after President Trump met with Apple CEO Tim Cook, who stated the company is “bullish on the future of American innovation.”

Duke Advances Brain 3D Mapping

Duke University researchers have developed a 3D holographic brain mapping program that can help brain surgeons more precisely target blood vessels essential for treatment.

Professor of Biomedical Engineering Cameron McIntyre, PhD, and his team converted 2D MRI brain scans into interactive 3D visualizations that show different brain regions and map neural connections. The team is now exploring how to apply the technology, called HoloSNS, to the treatment of neurological disorders or tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy.

In another brain project, Duke Professor of Pharmacology Andrew West, PhD, worked with the University of New Mexico to analyze the discovery of minuscule microplastic particles in human brains.

The team studied the brains of organ donors and noticed a substantial increase in the concentration of the particles in brain tissue, with some containing an amount equal to a plastic spoon. West said the levels are “concerning enough that we need to understand them a little better.”

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➤ Statewide: The Trump administration announced plans to hire an additional 3,000 national park workers this season, bringing the total to 7,700. North Carolina has 12 national parks. (See Details and NC Parks)

➤ Charlotte: Charlotte Area Transit System launched CATS Micro in North Mecklenburg County on Monday, allowing CATS-Pass App users to order door-to-door minivan transportation for $2.20 per ride. (More)

➤ Scotland Neck: Police are searching for a highly aggressive pack of wild dogs responsible for attacking small pets. Police captured the pack leader on Monday and will use tranquilizers if necessary to capture the remaining dogs. (See Photo)

➤ Triangle: NC State alumnus and philanthropist Ross W. Lampe Jr. will invest $20 million in the Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, a collaboration between NC State’s College of Engineering and UNC’s School of Medicine. (More)

➤ Fort Fisher: The State Employees’ Credit Union Foundation awarded the North Carolina Aquarium Society a $2 million capital grant for renovations and the expansion of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher. (More)

➤ Uwharrie Mountains: Richland Creek Zipline Canopy Tours was showcased in a recent travel feature for its zipline course, which extends over a mile and a half in the geographic center of North Carolina. (See Details)

➤ The Carolina Panthers have informed longtime starting linebacker Shaq Thompson that they will not re-sign him for the 2025 NFL season. His 752 career tackles are the fourth-most in franchise history. (More)

➤ NC State baseball dropped out of the Top 25 after a rough 0-3 weekend at the Jax College Baseball Classic. (More)

➤ The Carolina Hurricanes’ top prospect Bradly Nadeau scored his 15th goal in his last 21 games to bring him to 20 on the season. Nadeau had a slow start but appears to have found his footing. (More)

➤ Want to stay up-to-date on everything related to name, image, and likeness in college sports? NIL Wire is just the place for you. Sign up here with one click!

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➤ Barrier Fencing Supply will establish its headquarters and manufacturing center in Columbus County, investing $15 million and creating 151 jobs. (More)

➤ Belk announced the opening of outlet stores this spring at Eastridge Mall in Gastonia and Triangle Town Center Mall in Raleigh. Both locations will operate traditional stores on the second floor and outlets on the first floor. (More)

➤ Wilmington-based Crofton’s Pretzels, which is owned by former U.S. Naval Academy roommates and specializes in an array of gourmet soft pretzels, will open a new shop in Raleigh this spring. (More)

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You do the normal money-saving things… you love a deal at the clearance rack. You don’t eat lunch out too much. And you meticulously selected the perfect combo of streaming services to watch your favs for as cheap as possible. But there are some tips you may not know (yet)—and that’s a good thing!

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➤ Tyler Perry’s Netflix film The Six Triple Eight, which debuted in December, features World War II veteran Elizabeth Bernice Barker Johnson of Elkin. Johnson served in “The Six Triple Eight”—an all-black female unit that made up the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. (More)

➤ The U.S. Coast Guard, Network for Endangered Sea Turtles, and North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island teamed up to release more than 25 rehabilitated cold-stunned sea turtles into the Gulf Stream. (See Photos)

➤ North Carolina’s most expensive old house listing, Blue Fish Farm in Brevard, was built in 1959 and is listed for $19.9 million. It covers 161 acres and includes a main house, two guest cottages, a tennis court, a pool, ponds, and miles of trails. (See Photos)

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