WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1815, U.S. General Andrew Jackson, born in the backwoods settlement of Waxhaw near the present-day North Carolina-South Carolina border, defeated Great Britain in the Battle of New Orleans—the final engagement of the War of 1812. Jackson became our nation’s seventh president in 1829.

The names of 104 confirmed North Carolina deaths related to Hurricane Helene have been released. Learn more in Top Stories.

If you suffer from joint pain, be sure to check out today's sponsor NativePath.

State Releases Names of 104 Helene Victims

State officials released the names of 104 confirmed fatalities related to Hurricane Helene on Monday. The majority of deaths involved residents of Buncombe County.

The list doesn’t name victims who lived in North Carolina but were recovered in another state, such as those killed in landslides and discovered in Tennessee during search and rescue efforts.

Also excluded are those still missing or presumed dead, a number thought to be fewer than a dozen.

The list comes over three months after the storm hit. Prior to its release, news outlets had to rely on individual reports from family and friends to determine who had died.

Biden Bans Oil, Gas Leases off NC Coast

President Joe Biden permanently banned oil and natural gas leasing off the North Carolina coast Monday as part of an effort to prevent offshore fossil fuel development.

Biden withdrew a total of 625 million acres that included federal waters off the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico off Florida and part of Alabama, and the Pacific coast from California to Washington. It was the largest such action in U.S. history.

Biden's ban made permanent temporary protections off the North Carolina coast put in place by then-President Donald Trump prior to the 2020 election. At that time, Trump expanded existing protections and maintained a moratorium on new offshore drilling leases.

During a live press conference Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, Trump denounced Biden’s ban and vowed to “reverse it immediately” upon taking office.

Court Sends Case to State, Board Appeals

U.S. Chief District Judge Richard Myers sent Republican state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s Nov. 5 election complaint back to the North Carolina Supreme Court Monday.

However, on Tuesday, the N.C. State Board of Elections asked a federal Appeals Court to order Myers to take the case back.

The case currently sits with the North Carolina Supreme Court, which blocked certification of the election via a temporary stay Tuesday after Myers’ ruling paved the way for the 5-1 decision.

Griffin seeks to throw out 60,000 ballots based on concerns about how the voters who cast those ballots were registered.

If those ballots are excluded, it could change the vote count enough to put Griffin ahead of Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs, who currently maintains a slight lead.

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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Think your joint pain is just something you have to live with? Think again.

Scientists have uncovered something remarkable in the pristine waters of the Antarctic Ocean—a unique form of omega-3 that's showing unprecedented results for joint comfort.

Unlike typical fish oils, this rare marine source contains a specialized form of fatty acids that work differently in your body.

What’s really turning heads? How quickly people are reporting differences in their joint mobility and comfort.

Even more fascinating? This powerful compound works with your body’s natural systems in ways that ordinary supplements can't match.

While most joint solutions just mask the discomfort, this Antarctic discovery gets to the root cause of inflammation.

Ready to discover why the coldest waters on Earth might hold the key to your joint comfort?

What you're about to learn could change everything about how you move.

➤ Raleigh: An appeals court ruled Tuesday that a former NC State student can pursue his sexual abuse lawsuit accusing a university athletics staff member of assault. (More)

➤ Winston-Salem: A major city computer outage continues, but officials say it will not interrupt utility services or trigger late fees or penalties for those prevented from making online payments. (More)

➤ Mecklenburg County: Residents whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Helene can now apply for disaster relief through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. (See Details)

➤ Haywood County: Residents who received a “substantial damage” letter now have a 90-day extension to appeal the “determination of damage” to their homes from Helene. (More)

➤ Wake County: The school board is considering a new districtwide cell phone policy after a group of parents asked for phones to be banned in public schools. (More)

➤ Durham County: Public school officials held a special meeting Monday to discuss a plan for a full, five-day-a-week bus schedule involving “family responsibility zones” and express bus stops. (See Details)

➤ The Carolina Panthers' opponents for the 2025 NFL season have been finalized following the conclusion of the NFL’s regular season. (See Opponents)

➤ No. 14 Duke women’s basketball blew out Pittsburgh 69-31 on Sunday. Reigan Richardson led the team with 13 points, including her 1,000th career point. (More)

➤ No. 4 Duke men’s basketball remained the lone ACC team in this week’s AP Top 25 poll. (See Rankings)

➤ 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: NBA | NHL | NCAAM | NCAAW | Soccer

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➤ Duke Energy received approval to move forward with plans to build new natural gas plants in Person and Catawba counties as part of its transition away from coal technology. (More)

➤ North Carolina public universities received $17.3 million in tax dollars from sports betting taxes, representing 20% of the $98.6 million collected in tax revenue, as required by state law. (More)

➤ New Hanover County’s Board of Commissioners is considering accepting $29.1 million in state grants for Last Frontier infrastructure and $8.8 million for Blue Clay Business Park infrastructure. (More)

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Tired of Swollen Ankles? This Antarctic Discovery Changes Everything

Think those swollen ankles and tight shoes are just part of getting older? Think again.

Deep in the pristine waters of the Antarctic Ocean, scientists have discovered a unique marine nutrient that’s changing everything we thought we knew about fluid balance and swelling.

Unlike typical supplements, this rare compound works differently—helping your body maintain healthy circulation and fluid levels in ways that ordinary solutions can’t match.

What’s really catching researchers’ attention? How quickly people are reporting they can wear their favorite shoes again and stay comfortable all day long.

Ready to discover why the world’s coldest ocean might hold the key to ending your daily struggle with swollen feet and ankles?

What you’re about to learn could change everything about swelling and joint pain.

➤ NC State researchers helped create a soft robot inspired by manta ray fins that improves on a previous model by doubling its speed to 6.8 body lengths per second. (See Details)

➤ A newly published list of eight “bizarrely named” North Carolina towns includes Bat Cave, Lizard Lick, Whynot, Duck, Toast, Climax, Kill Devil Hills, and Big Lick. (See List)

➤ Carolina Tiger Rescue said “a tough goodbye” to an “incredibly spirited” tiger named Tasha after the removal of mammary tumors—that had potentially metastasized—triggered a series of wounds. (See Facebook Post)

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