Property Taxes in 10 Counties Exceed Norms

A new analysis by the John Locke Foundation shows North Carolina’s 10 largest counties collected $2.7 billion more in property taxes over the past decade than justified by inflation and population growth.

Those counties include Cabarrus, Wake, Durham, Buncombe, Guilford, Forsyth, Gaston, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, and Cumberland, where revenues rose an average 63%, surpassing the 51% benchmark. Nine exceeded the limit, led by Cabarrus at 111% growth and Wake at 103%. Only Cumberland stayed below its cap, collecting $28.4 million less than allowed.

Last month, state lawmakers discussed potential levy limits, which cap annual growth in total property tax revenue from existing properties.

Lawmakers are also considering ways to revamp senior property tax relief programs by raising income limits, adding area median income eligibility, and eliminating circuit breaker tax deferrals to ease burdens on fixed-income homeowners.

Bank of America Reaches Epstein Suit Settlement

Charlotte-based Bank of America has reached a proposed settlement in a class-action lawsuit accusing the bank of facilitating disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.

Announced in court records on Tuesday, the agreement resolves claims that the institution ignored suspicious transactions, failed to alert authorities, and provided financial support that lent Epstein legitimacy despite red flags.

The lawsuit, filed in October by Epstein victims, alleged that Bank of America prioritized profit over victim protection. The bank previously denied wrongdoing, arguing it offered routine services and opposed trafficking, and has declined to comment on the settlement. Attorneys for the victims called the resolution a significant step toward justice.

Terms of the settlement remain undisclosed and are non-binding until approved by U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff. A hearing is set for April 2 in a New York federal court.

NC State Tops Nation in DOE Nuclear Awards

NC State’s College of Engineering has topped the nation in the latest U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear energy awards after receiving more than $5 million in funding for seven projects focused on driving innovation for safer, more sustainable nuclear energy.

Five of the seven projects will be led by NC State researchers, while the remaining two will include NC State researchers as team participants.

The funds awarded to NC State make up the largest share of the $52.8 million announced by DOE on March 3. In total, the funding will support 43 projects through the Nuclear Energy University Program and Nuclear Science User Facilities programs, along with three awards through the Distinguished Early Career Program.

NC State’s projects focus on improving reactor safety, efficiency, advanced materials, sensors, and modeling for next-generation nuclear systems.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina’s average gas price has surged 80 cents in the past month to $3.52 per gallon, driven by the war with Iran. GasBuddy experts predict prices to jump another 10 cents by the end of the week. (More)

➤ NC State: Robert Murphy, NC State’s former director of sports medicine, is the last of nine defendants to seek dismissal of a sex-abuse lawsuit filed by 31 former athletes, citing expired statutes of limitations. An April 27 hearing is scheduled for discussion of the motions. (More)

➤ Statewide: Public school funding rose $150 million to $12.75 billion for 2025-26, despite a 0.3% enrollment decline of 4,674 students, pushing spending up by nearly 27% per pupil since 2018-19—from $6,548 to $8,312. (More)

➤ Rockingham County: Sen. Phil Berger’s campaign is alleging voter intimidation and some residents receiving the wrong ballot in the state’s tight Senate District 26 Republican primary, demanding a recount and investigation after trailing Sam Page by just 23 votes. Page denies the allegations. (More)

➤ Davidson: A math model by Davidson College professor Tim Chartier, simulating 5,000 games, predicts Duke will win the 2026 NCAA men’s March Madness title over Arizona, with the two remaining Final Four teams being Florida and Michigan. (More)

➤ Forsyth County: Hundreds gathered Monday at Woodland Baptist Church in Winston-Salem to honor fallen Forsyth County Sheriff’s Deputy Kaleb Mitchell, killed March 7 when a wrong-way driver struck his patrol vehicle. (More)

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➤ NC State men’s basketball lost to Texas 68-66 last night on a buzzer-beating shot. The Wolfpack’s season is officially over. (See Shot)

➤ NC State wide receiver Teddy Hoffmann tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and will be suspended for the entire 2026 college football season. (More)

➤ A deposition took place yesterday concerning Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball, who’s being sued for running over a child’s foot in his car when leaving the Spectrum Center. (More)

➤ The Carolina Panthers re-signed punter Sam Martin, an Appalachian State product, to a two-year deal. (More)

Yesterday‘s Results: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAB | NCAASB | Soccer | World Baseball Classic | Tennis

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➤ Charlotte Douglas International Airport canceled 163 flights and delayed 1,260 more over the weekend due to TSA staffing shortages from the ongoing partial government shutdown. (More)

➤ Piedmont Triad Airport Authority and Charlotte Douglas International Airport are providing gift cards, pantry items, and meal vouchers to support unpaid TSA workers during the ongoing partial government shutdown. (More)

➤ VinFast plans to restart construction of its scaled-down Chatham County electric vehicle plant as early as next month, with plans to launch production in 2028 and employ 1,400 at the site—a reduction from the original 7,500-employee plan. (More)

➤ Hendrick Motorsports has filed a rezoning request to expand its campus along the Mecklenburg-Cabarrus County line by adding 22 acres, changing the land from residential to manufacturing and logistics use. (More)

➤ Three years ago, The Flyover launched with 47 readers and a simple idea: deliver the news straight, without the spin. If that mission matters to you, would you make a contribution today to help us keep building it?

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➤ The Stamp Defiance Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution will dedicate an America 250 plaque honoring Forgotten Patriots of the American Revolution on March 20 at Battleship Park in Wilmington as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary commemoration. (More)

➤ Southern Living’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards named The Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville the South’s top resort, praised for its mountain views, spa, fine dining, winery access, and exclusive Biltmore Estate grounds. (More)

➤ North Carolina households need at least $49,300 annually to qualify as middle class, defined as two-thirds to double the state’s median income, according to newly released SmartAsset data. The state ranks 36th nationally. (More)

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Do you live in one of the 10 counties mentioned in our top story that has a high property tax rate?

1. Yes
2. No
3. Don‘t care

Yesterday’s Results:

Are you filling out an NCAA men’s or women’s bracket?

1. Neither: 43%
2. Men’s: 20%
3. Both: 13%
4. Women’s: 12%
5. Someone does it for me: 12%

Where are the colonial and state records of North Carolina’s history preserved?

Show me the answer