MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2025

Good morning! On this day in 1964, Martin Luther King Jr. journeyed to Black Mountain for a retreat during which he and his colleagues charted a path for the Civil Rights Movement.

A number of events across the state will honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day today. Are you attending one? Hit reply and let us know.

We're also focused on Inauguration Day and another round of winter weather heading our way. Check out our Top Stories to learn more.

We're flying today with Energous, be sure to check them out in today's edition.

Trump Executive Actions Impact on NC

Soon after President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as our nation's 47th president today, he'll take over 100 executive actions that will impact states across the country, including North Carolina.

Trump seeks to seal the border, expand deportation operations, and end birthright citizenship. Of 501,000 non-citizens living in North Carolina, about 325,000 are unauthorized.

Trump aims to enact tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, and Canada, which could result in product price increases. He also plans to roll back incentives for North Carolina manufacturers that make energy-efficient home appliances, solar panels, and other similar products.

He has also promised to pardon more than 1,500 people charged with federal crimes related to the Jan. 6 protests. Nearly 40 have ties to North Carolina.

Arctic Blast Brings Frigid Temps and Snow

North Carolinians woke up to an arctic blast with below-freezing temperatures that could last through Thursday and bring snow to much of North Carolina Tuesday evening.

The greatest chance for snow is along the coast, where the National Weather Service forecasts 1-2 inches of accumulation by Wednesday morning. The Weather Channel forecasts 3-5 inches. Sleet and freezing rain are also possible.

The rest of the state has a low chance of snow beginning Tuesday evening.

NCDOT is applying brine to roads, with a focus on highways and busier roads and Duke Energy is preparing for scattered power outages.

Homeowners' Insurance Rates to Go Up by 15%

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey announced Friday that homeowners' insurance rates will increase by an average of 15% statewide over the next two years, with 7.5% average increases taking effect on June 1, 2025, and June 1, 2026.

The agreement with the North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB), which represents homeowners' insurance companies across the state, reflects a significant decrease from the 42.2% overall average increase it requested in January 2024.

Causey, an elected official who began his third term earlier this month, formally rejected the NCRB's request last year after a multitude of homeowners and others voiced concerns about the proposed increase.

You can view the new rates here.

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

Flying together with our sponsor

Say Goodbye to the Power Cord

Nikola Tesla said powering the world without wires was of "all-surpassing importance." This technology wasn't possible in Tesla's time, but one company is helping to make it a reality today—and you can invest for a limited time.

Their patented technology is like Wi-Fi for power. It transmits power to devices through the air, eliminating the need for cables and batteries and providing a constant, reliable energy source for IoT devices that track and deliver data in real-time.

It's such a powerful innovation that it earned "IoT Innovation of the Year" honors.

Data is the oil that keeps retail, manufacturing, and logistics operations running smoothly. And thanks to these wireless power network transmitters, all of these industries could get a 24/7 flow of data without depending on batteries or cords—it's potentially a combined $650B market opportunity.

That's why this company has already landed a contract to supply wireless power network solutions to a Fortune 10 multinational retailer, opening them up to 4,700 retail locations across the U.S.

You now have a unique opportunity to invest in Energous by purchasing investment units that include 1 convertible preferred share (convertible into 2 common shares on Nasdaq: WATT) and 3 warrants to purchase additional common shares at a fixed price.

Sounds like it's time to cut the cord and become an Energous shareholder as they work to scale nationwide.

➤ Statewide: As of Jan. 11, there have been 40 flu-related fatalities in North Carolina after a post-holiday surge of the virus. (More)

➤ Statewide: A new program called Energy Saver North Carolina launched Friday to provide over $208 million in federal funding for rebates aimed at making home energy costs more affordable. (See Details)

➤ Western NC: Gov. Josh Stein has asked FEMA for a six-month Transitional Sheltering Assistance Program extension, which would reset the deadline for residents displaced by Hurricane Helene to Sept. 30. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Coquette executive chef George Colom died from self-inflicted gunshot injuries after opening fire inside the restaurant Friday morning, first killing a manager and injuring a server before he turned the gun on himself. (More)

➤ Charlotte-Mecklenburg's police chief announced a 3% decrease in overall crime during 2024—despite a 3% rise in violent crime. (More)

➤ Bat Cave: Precision Grading owner Jake Jarvis has completed thousands of dollars' worth of construction and demolition work for free to help residents impacted by Hurricane Helene. (See Photos)

➤ Cooper Flagg is continuing his strong freshman season with the Duke Blue Devils, scoring 28 points to help lead the team to a dominant 88-63 win over Boston College on Saturday and improving the Blue Devils' ACC record to 8-0. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets announced that star forward Brandon Miller is out indefinitely with a ligament tear in his wrist. (More)

➤ Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Frederik Andersen was activated from injured reserve after missing extensive time due to an ankle surgery. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

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➤ Charlotte-based Bank of America exceeded fourth-quarter profit projections by 5 cents on an adjusted basis to reach a total of 82 cents a share. The company's $25.3 billion revenue also topped estimates. (More)

➤ Spinoso Real Estate Group will sell Charlotte's Northlake Mall for $39 million to a trio of Georgia-based businesses working together as Hull Property Group. (More)

➤ A U.S. Court of Appeals fined the former owner of Charlotte-based BK Racing $31 million following his 2023 indictment for deliberately avoiding payroll taxes. (More)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ The Lightbulb That Protects Your Home – Introducing Sight Bulb™, the revolutionary security camera that easily screws into any socket like a lightbulb! It's perfect for homeowners, parents, pet owners, and businesses. (See It Here)

Flying together with our sponsor

Charge Up Your Portfolio with This Tech Investment

What if our technologies could charge IoT devices wirelessly, just like we connect devices to Wi-Fi? One company is helping make this a reality for enterprises as we speak. Their patented wireless power network technology eliminates cables and battery replacements by sending energy through the air.

Between retail, manufacturing, and logistics industries, this company is looking at $650 billion in market potential. But what they've created could also revolutionize fields like health care, transportation, and the food industry—anywhere using trackers or sensors to collect data for the Internet of Things.

They've already been recognized as the "IoT Innovation of the Year" and landed a contract with a Fortune 10, multinational retailer, opening them up to 4,700 U.S. retail locations. Learn how to become an Energous shareholder today.

This is a paid advertisement for Energous' Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.energous.com for additional information on the company and the risks factors to the offering.

➤ A new map reveals a tie between pizza and chili for North Carolina's favorite junk food. It also shows each state's favorite fast food, sweet food, and sweet takeout food. (See Map)

➤ The Raleigh-Cary area was collectively named one of 15 up-and-coming U.S. cities to visit during 2025 thanks to the area's tech-driven economy and diverse attractions. (See List)

➤ Meanwhile, HGTV named Ocracoke Island one of the 50 Most Charming Small Towns in America due to its scenic harbor, historic British cemetery, lighthouse, Blackbeard folklore, and ghost walks. (See List)

Flying together with our sponsor

➤ Keep your private information secure. Omni DataSafe is a revolutionary new encrypted USB drive that uses unbreakable AES-256 military-grade encryption and a physical keypad to keep your sensitive data 100% safe and secure. Now, anyone can protect their data & identity from hackers, thieves, and snoops! (See It Here)