Stein Signs Six Bills into Law

Gov. Josh Stein signed six bills into law on Monday, addressing agriculture, housing, legal protections, worker safety, health care, and tourism.

Senate Bill 401, the NC Farm Act of 2026, strengthens water resource protections for agriculture and extends conservation tax credits through 2031 to preserve farmland and natural lands.

Senate Bill 695 incentivizes development finance districts to spur partnerships between local governments and private developers, and House Bill 315 makes North Carolina the first state to ban third-party litigation investment, barring outside financiers from funding civil lawsuits for profit.

House Bill 258 enacts the Worker Safety Act of 2026 to enhance workplace protections, and House Bill 536 modifies the Physical Therapy Practice Act to update health care regulations.

Lastly, Senate Bill 484 clarifies allowable uses of room occupancy tax proceeds for tourism-related expenditures.

Trump Warns 11 Hospitals about Pricing

The Trump administration has issued warnings to 11 North Carolina hospitals for failing to fully comply with federal hospital price transparency rules, part of a nationwide effort targeting over 500 facilities.

The requirements, stemming from a 2025 executive order, mandate clear public posting of prices for 300 common services to help patients comparison shop. Noncompliance could result in fines up to $2 million annually.

Affected hospitals include Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Catawba Valley Medical Center, ECU Health Beaufort Hospital, ECU Health Medical Center, FirstHealth Montgomery Memorial Hospital, FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Fry Regional Medical Center, Holly Hill Hospital, J. Arthur Dosher Memorial Hospital, Kernersville Medical Center, and Veritas Collaborative LLC.

Advocates say greater transparency will empower consumers and reduce health care costs, though critics note persistent regulatory barriers in the industry.

Boozer, Wilson Go No. 3 and 4 in NBA Draft

North Carolina’s basketball pipeline delivered again on NBA draft night, with Duke’s Cameron Boozer selected No. 3 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies and UNC’s Caleb Wilson taken No. 4 by the Chicago Bulls.

Boozer, the 6-foot-9 power forward and consensus National Player of the Year at Duke, averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds. He brings versatile frontcourt scoring and playmaking to the Grizzlies program.

Wilson, a 6-foot-10 forward who averaged 19.8 points and 9.4 rebounds in 24 games for the Tar Heels, gives the Bulls an uber-athletic big man with perimeter skills and rebounding prowess.

View the full list of first-round draft picks here.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina boasts some of the nation’s lowest gas prices despite ranking among the highest in fuel taxation, with averages at $3.54 per gallon for unleaded as holiday travel ramps up. (More)

➤ NC Schools: A state accountability task force is weighing initial reforms to school grading, proposing a weighted proficiency index over simple pass rates and adding a five-year graduation metric alongside the four-year rate. (More)

➤ Outer Banks: A new state audit reveals $61 million was spent over 30 years on the unbuilt Mid-Currituck Bridge with no dirt turned, as costs balloon past $1.2 billion amid ongoing funding shortfalls. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Attorney Robert Harrington, president of the North Carolina Bar Association, was selected by the Charlotte City Council as interim mayor, succeeding Vi Lyles after a runoff vote. He pledged to focus on affordable housing and public safety for the remainder of Lyles’ term. (More)

➤ Uptown Charlotte: Police arrested 24 people, mostly teens, and cited 13 parents during a large “teen takeover” at Romare Bearden Park on Saturday, seizing one gun amid various charges, including curfew and disorderly conduct violations. (More)

➤ Rocky Mount: State Sen. Lisa Barnes, R-11, embraced a viral video using AI and gospel music depicting Jesus endorsing her re-election, highlighting her Christian journey amid a competitive race against the Rev. James Gailliard. (More)

➤ Wake County: As the South Wake Landfill in Apex nears capacity, officials are engaging residents on options including a new site, waste export, or waste-to-energy facility amid odor complaints. (More)

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➤ The Charlotte Hornets selected Washington forward Hannes Steinbach with the No. 14 pick in last night’s NBA Draft, followed by Texas Tech guard Christian Anderson with pick No. 18. (See Full Draft)

➤ Duke head coach Jon Scheyer turned down the Dallas Mavericks multiple times before the team hired Michigan’s Dusty May as its next head coach. The Mavericks were reportedly drawn to Scheyer in part because of his relationship with former Blue Devil Cooper Flagg. (More)

➤ North Carolina’s push for an MLB expansion team is gaining momentum in Raleigh, with state Senate leader Phil Berger signaling the upcoming budget may include provisions to support a bid. Carolina Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon and billionaire NC Courage co-owner Marc Lasry have both expressed interest in bringing a franchise to the Triangle. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes legends Rod Brind’Amour and Eric Staal were both passed over in Monday’s Hockey Hall of Fame announcement. Brind’Amour has been eligible since 2013, whereas Staal was in his first year of eligibility. (More)

➤ Yesterday’s Results: World Cup | MLB | WNBA

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➤ Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced that Duke Energy reduced its proposed residential rate hike from 18% to 11.6% following objections from his office, public staff, and residents. (More)

➤ Charlotte faces a severe construction worker shortage amid a $20 billion building boom, prompting the city to invest millions in workforce programs as local firms like AEGJ Construction step up to fill gaps at major projects. (More)

➤ The Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst launched a $2 million renovation of its driving range and practice facilities, featuring expanded teeing areas, upgraded turf, and enhanced short-game spaces. The project should be completed within 10 weeks. (More)

➤ The N.C. Department of Labor fined Hildebrand Amusements and owner Harlan Blast $37,500 after a rider was injured on the Kamikaze ride at Carolina Beach when a lap restraint came loose due to operator error. The company failed to report the incident, which is required by law. (More)

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Musk: This Will Make Everyone Wealthier Than Me

After SpaceX’s history-making IPO, Elon Musk has become the world’s first trillionaire. But he says the forthcoming AI and robotics boom will make everyone wealthier than him.

Over 44,000 people are tapping into this boom by investing in a private robotics company: Miso Robotics.

Miso’s AI and robots are becoming fixtures across the $1T fast-food industry, serving customers at Cinnabon, Jersey Mike’s, Jamba, and many more. In fact, Miso’s Flippy Fry Station AI robot has already logged over 200,000 hours in real kitchens like White Castle. 

Now Miso’s scaling Flippy across a $4B/year US revenue opportunity.  And it’s only one piece of Miso’s growing platform.

This is your chance to tap into this growth as a Miso shareholder. Invest before Miso hits their $2.5M raise goal for June.

This is a paid advertisement for Miso Robotics’ Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.misorobotics.com

➤ A new study identifies tile-horned prionus beetle larvae as an emerging threat to North Carolina blueberry crops, with drought-stressed plants becoming vulnerable hosts for the root-feeding pests. (More)

➤ Four leatherback sea turtle nests have been identified at Cape Hatteras National Seashore so far this year, the highest annual total for the endangered species since monitoring began in the 1980s. (See Photos)

➤ The Strawberry Moon—the first full moon of summer 2026—will peak on Monday, June 29. Named for the ripening of strawberries rather than its appearance, the moon will offer prime viewing opportunities across the country. (More)

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➤ A Harvard scientist discovered a new “facelift protein” that smooths wrinkles, shrinks pores, and evens-out red blotchy skin in just 7 seconds a day. What surprised researchers the most wasn’t just the results…It was that women with higher levels of this “facelift protein” appeared to age dramatically better than their peers. Learn about this new discovery here.

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:

➤ Savannah Guthrie made a tearful on-air plea as new details emerge in her mother’s disappearance. (Listen Here)

➤ Should weight-loss drugs be banned in sports? Serena Williams reignited the debate. (Hear More)

➤ These are the 20 highest-paying jobs in America that aren’t doctors. (Tune In)

Do you have a favorite NBA team?

1. Yes (reply to tell us which one)
2. Not an NBA fan
3. Depends on who’s playing

Yesterday’s Results:

Have you ever met a professional athlete?

1. Yes: 59%
2. No: 22%
3. Not sure: 11%
4. Not yet: 8%

What makes leatherback sea turtles different from other sea turtles?

Show me the answer