Federal Payment Delays Frustrate NC Farmers

North Carolina farmers in disaster areas say they haven’t received expected federal payments for recovery from drought and flooding, or emergency loans as part of a wide range of payments frozen by the Trump administration in January. 

Farm Service Agencies report receiving numerous emails and phone calls from farmers frustrated by the delays.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins said in late February that $20 million connected to conservation programs had been released to honor contracts that were already made directly with farmers, but other funds connected to conservation programs funded by former President Joe Biden remain frozen.

The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, which oversees most conservation programs, has 4,162 agreements with farmers this year that include 46 contracts worth $4 million in North Carolina.

Bill Requires Reporting Lost or Stolen Guns

A new Senate bill called The Jenesis Firearm Accountability Act would require gun owners to report lost or stolen guns within 48 hours or face fines and additional penalties if the gun is used in a crime.

Gun owners would receive a warning for a first offense, then be fined $500 for a second offense and $1,000 for subsequent offenses.

If the stolen gun is used to commit a felony or misdemeanor, the person who failed to report it missing or stolen would be charged with the same crimes as the suspect unless the gun’s owner could prove in court a “reasonable inability” to comply with the law. 

The bill is named after an 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed in Fayetteville in 2023. Investigators say an 11-year-old pulled the trigger after taking a relative’s gun. 

Men’s ACC Basketball Tournament Tips Off

The 2025 T. Rowe Price ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament tips off today in Charlotte’s Spectrum Center, with No. 12 seed Notre Dame taking on No. 13 Pitt at 2 p.m. No. 5 seed UNC plays the winner of that matchup Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.

The top four seeds won’t play until the quarterfinals, which start at noon on Thursday when No. 1 seed Duke—which ended their regular season as No. 1 in the AP top 25—plays the winner of Game 4. No. 4 seed Wake Forest will take on the winner of Game 5 at 2:30 p.m.

Semifinal games are Friday, March 14 at 7 and 9:30 p.m., and the championship is Saturday, March 15 at 8:30 p.m.

More than 60,000 fans are expected to attend the tournament, according to the City of Charlotte.

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

➤ Kinston: A UNC-Chapel Hill dentistry professor is conducting a four-year study to determine if fluoridated water is better at preventing cavities in the town’s children than water without fluoride. (More)

➤ Wilmington: Work on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge has been temporarily paused due to a federal funding freeze that impacts a previously awarded $242 million grant. (More)

➤ Durham: The Durham Bulls announced the team’s new bat dog is 2-year-old Champ, an American Black Lab and younger brother of Ripken the bat dog, who died in January. (See Photos)

➤ Charlotte: Queens University recognized Carolina Panthers President and Tepper Sports CEO Kristi Coleman as the Charlotte Businesswoman of the Year. (See Details)

➤ Raleigh native Jaden Lucas Miller, a 2024 graduate of Cardinal Gibbons High School who enrolled last fall at North Carolina A&T State University, has landed a role on CBS’ new soap opera, Beyond the Gates. (More)

➤ Fayetteville boxing coach Edward Fonteneaux has been named USA Boxing’s National Youth and Junior Coach. Fonteneaux started boxing after joining the military in the late 1990s. (More)

➤ Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry has accepted a role as assistant general manager for his alma mater Davidson College’s basketball program, becoming the first active player in U.S. major professional sports to take an administrative job with an NCAA team. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers have made star cornerback Jaycee Horn the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history, signing him to a four-year, $100 million contract extension. (More)

➤ NC State fired men’s basketball head coach Kevin Keatts just one year after he helped lead the Wolfpack to their first Final Four appearance since 1983. (More)

➤ North Carolina sports bettors have reportedly wagered over $6 billion in the past year. Sports betting was fully legalized in the state on March 11, 2024. (More)

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

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Enhance your nighttime driving safety with Drive Bright glasses, featuring advanced “GlareCut” technology to reduce glare from LED headlights and improve visibility in low-light conditions. Designed for comfort, these lightweight, wraparound glasses fit seamlessly over prescription eyewear, ensuring clear vision during nighttime journeys. Join over 300,000 satisfied drivers who trust Drive Bright for a safer driving experience. 

➤ CSX Rail began work Monday on more than 20 railroad crossings in Southwest Wake County. All crossings, except for those providing the only way to or from an area, will be closed for several days. (More)

➤ Norfolk Southern announced it is assessing whether to rebuild the Old Fort Loops, a historic set of railroad tracks that have long served as the only rail line connecting Asheville to the rest of North Carolina for freight and passenger travel.(More) 

➤ Elon Musk proposed privatizing Amtrak passenger train services as part of his Department of Government Efficiency efforts. Amtrak operates 16 stations in North Carolina, making it a significant hub for rail travel in the Southeast. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Experience cleaner, fresher air effortlessly with Ionize Pro. This compact, filter-free device plugs into any outlet, eliminating odors, allergens, and airborne pathogens without harmful chemicals. Enjoy ultra-fresh, healthy air in minutes—safe for your family and pets. Order now and get up to 50% off!

Flying together with our sponsor

RYSE’s patented retrofit technology allows users to automate their window shades in minutes, controlled via smartphone or voice. With 200% year-over-year growth, demand is skyrocketing.

Now, RYSE’s public offering is live at just $1.90/share and you can earn up to 25% in bonus shares.

Find Out More

➤ USA Today ranked the Raleigh Beer Garden No. 4 and the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten in Charlotte No. 7 on its list of the 10 best beer gardens in the country. (See List)

➤ Raleigh-based Black & White Coffee Roasters hosted the 2025 U.S. Barista Championship over the weekend. Kay Cheon of Dune Coffee Roasters in Santa Barbara, CA, took home the title and will represent the U.S. at the World Barista Championship in Milan, Italy. (More)

➤ Former UNC football coach Mack Brown has listed his 9,913-square-foot, five-bedroom, nine-bathroom mansion in Chapel Hill for $6.6 million. (See Photos)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Be prepared for any roadside emergency with the 4Patriots All-in-One Emergency Car Kit. This comprehensive kit includes 95 essential items, such as emergency food and water, a powerful jump-starter, tire inflator, first aid supplies, and signaling tools. Compact and portable, it ensures you’re ready for unexpected situations on the road. (See It Here)

Should fluoride be added to drinking water?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Only if it isn’t naturally there
4. Not sure

Yesterday’s Results:

Who will win this year’s ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament?

1. Duke: 31%
2. Louisville: 15%
3. Clemson: 14%
4. Wake Forest: 14%
5. UNC: 13%
6. Other: 13%

What was North Carolina’s first railroad?

Show me the answer