WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1795, the University of North Carolina became the first state university to open its doors to students. The UNC Board of Trustees had already chosen the area around New Hope Chapel, now known as Chapel Hill, for the university's central location.

Today, we mourn the loss of Leafa, a beautiful red panda born in 2009 who came to the WNC Nature Center in 2018.

How do you like Flyover North Carolina's coverage so far? Hit reply and let us know.

If you have outrageous medical bills that are confusing or have been denied a claim, it helps to have someone in your corner to advocate for you. That is what today's sponsor Healthlock is here to do for you.

NCDOT Receives $250M for Road Repairs

NCDOT will receive $250 million in emergency funding from the Federal Highway Administration to repair roads and bridges damaged by Hurricane Helene.

Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service will receive $7.6 million, the National Park Service $25 million, and Tennessee DOT $70 million through the department's "quick release" process, which expedites disaster aid. In total, the total package comes to $352.6 million.

Much of NCDOT's funding will go toward the repair of I-40, several portions of which collapsed into the Pigeon River in the aftermath of Helene.

The U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service will use their aid to remove debris and downed trees, and to repair guardrails and damaged sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

FEMA Extends Housing Aid to Jan. 25

FEMA has extended Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) from Jan. 14 to Jan. 25 for over 3,000 eligible people, according to a FEMA Region 4 X post.

The agency also stated families checking out of TSA-funded hotels and motels on Jan. 14 were returning to "habitable homes or withdrew from FEMA assistance."

TSA funds temporary housing for those displaced by Hurricane Helene in hotel or motel rooms, allowing them time to acquire alternative housing solutions or repair existing homes.

Over 10,000 households accepted temporary TSA shelters following Hurricane Helene, but most have since moved on to longer-term housing.

You can read answers to questions about how TSA works here.

Carolinas Split Cost of Saluda Grade Rail Trail

North and South Carolina will split the cost of a multipurpose trail that follows the famously steep Saluda Grade rail line through 15.6 miles in South Carolina and 15.9 miles in North Carolina.

The $31.5 million purchase of the Saluda Grade Rail Trail is expected to be made through the Saluda Grade Trails Conservancy by the end of July. Part of the funding will come from the sale of train track steel.

The conservancy consists of PAL (Play. Advocate. Live Well.), Upstate Forever on the South Carolina side, and Conserving Carolina on the North Carolina side.

The trail winds through rural scenery, small towns, historic landmarks, nature preserves, lakes, and waterfalls.

Do you have any friends or family who would like to receive Flyover North Carolina? Feel free to refer us to them!

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➤ Zebulon: A manhunt ended with the arrest of two men who were charged with kidnapping and attempted first-degree murder after attacking a woman with a "metal blunt object and machete." (More)

➤ Statewide: A North Carolina Superior Court judge rejected a request from the RNC, NCGOP, Wake County GOP, and two voters to review and potentially toss out 60,000 ballots cast in November 2024 statewide races. (More)

➤ Statewide: Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) is one of several incumbents who could face primary challenges next year due to friction between establishment party wings and MAGA supporters. (More)

➤ Asheville: The WNC Nature Center is mourning the loss of Leafa, a red panda who had experienced declining health for several months. Leafa and her male counterpart, Phoenix, were the center's first red pandas. (See Photos)

➤ Winston-Salem: Multiple suspects, including three juveniles, have been arrested for the Dec. 10 shooting at RJ Reynolds High School. (See Details)

➤ Fayetteville: The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the federal conviction of Charles Pittman, who admitted to setting fire to Fayetteville's downtown Market House in 2020. (More)

➤ UNC men's basketball hosts Cal tonight and NC State tips off at Virginia Tech. Both games start at 7 p.m. Meanwhile, No. 3 Duke hosted Miami last night. (See Score)

➤ The NC State Icepack won the Carolina Hurricanes alumni game 7-6 Monday, defeating former players such as Cam Ward, Eric Staal, and current head coach Rod Brind'Amore. (More)

➤ NASCAR disqualified Mike Wallace from attempting to race in February's Daytona 500. The 65-year-old was scheduled to qualify as a driver for Statesville-based MBM Motorsports. (More)

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➤ Charlotte's Corridors of Opportunity program will receive federal grants that include $1.3 million for the Albemarle Cultural Trail, $1.4 million for the Rozzelles Ferry Bike Path, $25 million for the Freedom Drive Mobility Corridor, and $3.7 million for the Orr Road rail crossing closure. (More)

➤ Duke Energy announced that its new CEO will be Harry Sideris, who has been with the company for 30 years. Sideris replaces current CEO Lynn Good upon her April 1 retirement. (More)

➤ MACOM Technology Solutions, a semiconductor supplier with a location in Morrisville, will receive $70 million in federal funding from the federal CHIPS and Science Act. (More)

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➤ Olive Gordon, an ambitious Charlotte Girl Scout who sold 12,801 boxes of Girl Scout cookies last year and hopes to one day become a Supreme Court justice, plans to shatter her record this year. (More)

➤ North Carolina added 32,355 new apartment units during 2024, making it the fourth-highest state in apartment construction growth nationwide. (More)

➤ The Big Air, a benchmark competition for skiers and snowboarders hosted by App Terrain Park at Appalachian Ski Mountain, is scheduled for Jan. 26. (See Details)

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