TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2024

Merry Christmas Eve! On this day in 1864, Union naval forces bombarded Fort Fisher to clear the way for an infantry assault as part of a plan to capture the stronghold. Admiral David Dixon Porter and General Benjamin Butler commanded the expedition.

Yesterday we covered popular Christmas desserts. Today we turn our focus to the sides. Check out Top Stories for a rundown of North Carolina's favorite Christmas dinner side dishes to put on your menu.

As we approach Christmas Day and the start of Hanukkah, we'll send out abbreviated versions of Flyover North Carolina so we can enjoy the holidays with our families. We'll resume sending normal editions on Monday, Dec. 30.

Do you love North Carolina? So do our 60,000+ readers. Advertise in Flyover North Carolina and connect your business with passionate locals. Learn more.

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Belichick Taps Son for UNC Defensive Coordinator

UNC's new head coach, Bill Belichick, will hire his son, Steve Belichick, to be the team's defensive coordinator, according to CBS Sports and 247Sports.

The 37-year-old Belichick is currently defensive coordinator for the University of Washington and previously served as a defensive assistant for 12 seasons with the New England Patriots—most recently in charge of playcalling.

Under Washington head coach Jedd Fisch, the younger Belichick elevated the program's defense to one of the nation's best, moving it from 99th to 26th in yards allowed per game. The passing defense became the Big Ten's second-best after surrendering just 166.8 yards per game.

Fight Breaks Out at Raleigh Psychiatric Hospital

A large fight broke out Sunday evening at Holly Hill Hospital in Raleigh that involved roughly 20 juveniles. Six youths were taken to WakeMed hospital for possible injuries, but none were reported and no arrests were made.

Several staff members intervened to break up the fight.

Holly Hill, an inpatient and outpatient psychiatric and addictive disease hospital, released a statement Sunday thanking the Raleigh Police Department for their swift response and stating that all staff and patients are safe.

Tar Heel Christmas Dinner Sides

Yesterday's edition of Flyover North Carolina included dessert ideas for your holiday dinner. Today we focus on the sides.

North Carolina is one of the nation's top sweet potato producers, so sweet potato souffle often lands on the table. Also, Southerners prefer cornbread dressing, while our northern friends serve white bread stuffing.

Some Southerners go all out with a full-blown green bean casserole, while others enhance their green beans with bacon. Another southern green bean dish blends in lemon juice, butter, and parmesan.

Don't forget the yeast rolls. We also recommend Carteret County light rolls.

In case you're tempted to throw out leftovers, here are 25 ways to use them. Worried you might burn your turkey? Select restaurants and grocery stores are open in Asheville, Raleigh, Charlotte, Greensboro, Wilmington, and the Outer Banks.

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➤ Statewide: President-elect Donald Trump tapped 29-year-old Charlotte native Bo Hines to be executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. (More)

➤ Central NC: Forecasters predict a light glaze of ice Tuesday morning between 1 and 7 a.m. that will likely impact elevated surfaces such as bridges and overpasses. Major highways were brined Monday. (More)

➤ Uptown Charlotte: Truist Field will host the Queen City's New Year's Eve celebration for the first time, combining festivities with the Charlotte Knights' Light the Knights festival. A $10 admission fee will be charged. (More)

➤ South Charlotte: Chabad of Charlotte is offering a free Chanukah festival at Symphony Park at 4:30 p.m. tomorrow. The event features family entertainment, donuts, latkes, music, and more. (See Details)

➤ Dunn: One person was injured Sunday evening following a shooting on I-95 in the northbound lanes near Exit 70. The victim was taken to Betsy Johnson Hospital. (More)

➤ Durham: Duke Health researchers have discovered a link between immune responses and ADHD-like behavior in mice with a gene mutation, revealing potential insights for treating neurological disorders. (See Details)

➤ Carolina Panthers starting quarterback Bryce Young and Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Kyler Murray combined for the shortest starting quarterback matchup since 1956 on Sunday. (More)

➤ Charlotte Hornets superstar LaMelo Ball has returned to action after missing extended time with injury. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov made 22 saves in the Canes' 3-1 win over the New York Rangers on Sunday. Kochetkov also added two assists, which he said was his first two-point game at any level of hockey. (More)

➤ Yesterday's results: NFL | NCAAF | NBA | NHL | NCAAM

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➤ Eastern North Carolina's Barnes Family Farms Corp., one of the nation's largest sweet potato growers, is now being led by a court-appointed receiver after defaulting on $40 million in loans. (See Details)

➤ The Holiday Pop-Up Shop in Asheville's Ideation Lab, which provides space for 100-plus vendors, is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today for last-minute shopping. (More)

➤ A Dare County Tourism Board analysis of October 2024 occupancy and meal collections data reveals a 5% drop from October 2023. (More)

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➤ The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has released the first draft of how the conference realignment from four to eight classifications will look beginning next year. (See Draft)

➤ The 11 most-loved tourist attractions in North Carolina include Grandfather Mountain, Cape Lookout, Biltmore Estate, and Battleship North Carolina, among others, according to World Atlas. (See List)

➤ Speaking of Biltmore, the estate is open for daytime tours today and through 2 p.m. tomorrow, but there are no candlelight evening tours tonight or tomorrow. If you're already in the area, downtown Asheville is offering free parking Dec. 23-25. (See Details)

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