WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024

Good morning! On this day in 1776, North Carolina's Fifth Provincial Congress ratified the state's first constitution. You can read it here.

What do the F.W. Woolworth building and Blue Ridge Parkway have in common? Find the answer in Et Cetera!

In Monday's edition, we explained that the Berlin Airlift dropped survival supplies to U.S. troops, but neglected to mention that the mission's purpose was to provide food and fuel to the Berliners from Allied airbases in western Germany. Learn more about those missions here.

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Stein Taps Cabinet Picks

Governor-elect Josh Stein announced cabinet picks this week that include holdovers from Gov. Roy Cooper's administration and several new picks, pending approval by the Republican-led state Senate.

Eddie Buffaloe, secretary of the Department of Public Safety under Cooper, will stay in his position.

Reid Wilson, who currently leads the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, will take over the Department of Environmental Quality. Stein would then move Pam Cashwell, currently secretary of the Department of Administration, to Wilson's former position.

Stein tapped Lee Lilley, a lobbyist for Cooper who also led the state's post-pandemic recovery efforts, for Commerce secretary. See the full list of appointees here.

Boom Supersonic Attracts Tech Investors

Boom Supersonic, a Colorado startup that opened America's first supersonic aircraft factory in Greensboro this past June, netted $100 million from some of the country's most prominent technology investors to help pay for development of its bespoke aircraft engine.

In a post on X, CEO Blake Scholl identified Paul Graham, Reid Hoffman, Michael Moritz, and OpenAI founder Sam Altman as "major investors" in the project.

The bespoke engine, optimized for supersonic flight, is designed to deliver 25% more time "on wing" and provide 10% operating cost savings to airline customers.

Boom Supersonic completed its first test flight last March at California's Mojave Air & Space Port and hopes to be certified to transport passengers by 2029.

Scientists Find 1450s OBX Tree Stumps

Nearly 48 still-rooted tree stumps in the Outer Banks have been radiocarbon-dated to be between between 224 and 574 years old.

Scientists believe 28 of the stumps are red cedar or oak, and that all 48 were part of "former forests devoured by the sea." One group of trees appeared to form between 1450 and 1500, and the second group on Hatteras Island likely formed between 1650 and 1800.

National Park Service scientist Michael Flynn noticed the stumps along the water's edge at Cape Hatteras National Seashore in June 2022 while inspecting conditions in Rodanthe.

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➤ Statewide: North Carolina spends an average of $11,777 per public school student—30% below the national average, according to U.S. Census data. (More)

➤ Western NC: U.S. Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, introduced bills to cut government regulation and expedite disaster relief for residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. (More)

➤ Wake County: A Behavioral Health Department was launched to address mental health and substance-use challenges, which rose 40% over the past five years in related emergency room visits. (More)

➤ Johnston County: Seven dirt bikes and one four-wheeler worth a total of $30,000 were stolen from MJ Powersports, three weeks after a neighbor reported a stolen dirt bike. (More)

➤ Gastonia: Meanwhile, the Walmart on East Franklin Boulevard reported the theft of more than $4,000 worth of LEGO sets over the course of several days. (More)

➤ Charlotte: Two sets of identical twins were born to the same mother Dec. 2 at 31 weeks. The quad's parents, who already have three sons, set up a GoFundMe to purchase a van that can transport the entire family. (See Video)

➤ NFL insider David Newton says the Carolina Panthers will look to take a pass rusher in the upcoming NFL Draft—not a quarterback, as most fans would have expected before the resurgence of Bryce Young. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets had their starting five together for the first time all season Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers, but it was short-lived as Brandon Miller ended up leaving the game with an ankle injury and the team fell 121-108. (More)

➤ Bill Belichick landed his first-ever transfer portal commitment on Monday, with Holy Cross offensive lineman Christo Kelly committing to play for the Tar Heels. (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!

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

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➤ Duke University Health System received an anonymous $50 million donation to help pay for developing a proton beam therapy center. It's the largest philanthropic gift the system has ever received. (More)

➤ Over 600,000 people enrolled in the state's new Medicaid coverage for low-income adults a year after the program was expanded, reaching the state's enrollment goal in half the projected time. (More)

➤ Caesars Virginia casino, located less than 3 miles from the North Carolina border, held its grand opening Tuesday, featuring fireworks, a drone show, and other festivities. (More)

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➤ Officials have proposed that the eastern hellbender, a once-common salamander living in western North Carolina rivers and streams, be placed on the endangered species list. (See Photo)

➤ Wrapping your vehicle in holiday lights technically violates state law, but it's considered a "minor infraction" and up to the responding officer's discretion. (See Details)

➤ The F.W. Woolworth building in Greensboro and the Blue Ridge Parkway were named National Historic Landmarks by the National Park Service on Monday. (More)

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➤ Why Some Women Never Worry About Bladder Control (Their Secret Revealed) What if those embarrassing "just in case" bathroom trips weren't just a normal part of aging? Scientists have discovered something fascinating about the way our bladders function after 50—and it has nothing to do with what your doctor typically recommends. This unexpected combination of natural compounds is helping women regain the confidence they thought was gone forever. (Learn More)