FRIDAY, MAY 23, 2025

Good Morning! On this day in 1924, American baseball player Clyde King was born in Goldsboro. King was a pitcher, scout, pitching coach, manager, and general manager for more than a dozen teams. He played with Jackie Robinson, coached Bob Gibson, managed Willie Mays, and even fired Yogi Berra.

An 18-wheeler actually "lost its marbles" on I-85 early Thursday morning. Learn more in Top Stories.

Did you know that the team that makes Flyover North Carolina also produces a national publication called The Flyover? Click here to subscribe and stay up to date with the latest national headlines—without the bias of legacy media outlets.

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House Budget Draws Bipartisan Support

The North Carolina House budget gained bipartisan support Wednesday after Gov. Josh Stein praised it. Lawmakers gave preliminary approval in a 93-20 vote to a $32.6 billion budget for the next fiscal year and $33.3 billion for the following year, matching the Senate's total spending but diverging sharply on policy.

The House favors bigger raises, more job cuts, and tax reforms like a tip exemption and a back-to-school sales tax holiday aimed at helping lower-income residents.

They oppose the Senate's deeper income tax cuts, citing revenue concerns, and propose stricter thresholds for future reductions. Despite conservative criticism, House Republicans argue the plan is fiscally responsible while still cutting taxes.

A final vote was expected Thursday, setting the stage for negotiations with the Senate.

Semi Spills Marble Across I-85 Bridge

A semi-truck traveling southbound on I-85 near the Durham-Granville county line experienced a tire blowout Thursday morning, causing it to crash into the guardrail on the Falls Lake bridge and spill tens of thousands of pounds of marble across both directions of the highway. The truck's cab also caught fire.

The incident led to the closure of all lanes for over four hours, resulting in significant traffic congestion.

During the standstill, a separate accident occurred on the northbound side when a speeding, intoxicated driver caused a four-vehicle pileup involving another 18-wheeler. Three individuals sustained minor injuries and were transported to the hospital.

Cleanup crews used large trucks and skid steers to remove the spilled marble from the roadway. All lanes of I-85 have since reopened. Watch a video report showing footage of the incident here.

OBX Hosts Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular

The 53rd Annual Hang Gliding Spectacular, the world's longest-running hang gliding competition, was held May 15-18 at Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head and the Cotton Gin site in Jarvisburg.

Hosted by Kitty Hawk Kites, the event drew nearly 50 pilots from across the U.S. for dune and aerotow competitions.

Spectators enjoyed free access to a variety of activities, including glider demos, social gatherings, and the Woody Jones Memorial Street Dance. The event also honored aviation pioneers with the Rogallo Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Set against the backdrop of the East Coast's tallest sand dunes, the festival celebrated the spirit of flight and community. Check out the scores here.

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➤ Statewide: The FDA is investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to Florida-grown cucumbers, affecting 26 people in 15 states, including North Carolina. The recalled cucumbers may still be on store shelves through this week. (More)

➤ Fort Bragg: Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited Fort Bragg in Fayetteville Thursday to deliver remarks during the 82nd Airborne Division's All American Week Review. He also toured Army Special Operations Units and the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. (More)

➤ Burke County: The North Carolina Court of Appeals dismissed a lawsuit by Legal Impact for Chickens, siding with Case Farms in a dispute over alleged cruelty to baby chickens in its daily operations. (More)

➤ NC Schools: Nineteen-year-old Massachusetts college student Matthew Lane has been charged with hacking PowerSchool's system, causing a 2024 data breach that potentially exposed private information of millions of North Carolina teachers, students, and parents. (More)

➤ Chatham County deputies tried to serve an involuntary commitment order in Bear Creek when a man opened fire, sparking a nine-hour standoff. After hundreds of shots, the man was shot, hospitalized, and taken into custody. No deputies were injured. (More)

➤ Raleigh: Two North Carolina State Troopers, Garrett Macario and Matthew Morrison, will not face charges after providing false information about a fatal 2024 crash that killed Tyrone Mason. Their actions led to nearly 200 case dismissals and placed both troopers on administrative leave. (More)

➤ Harrisburg: Christopher Brownstead faces 30 charges for allegedly creating child sex abuse material and secretly filming guests at his Airbnb. Authorities found spy gear, hidden cameras, and footage from parks, revealing years of illicit surveillance and exploitation. (More)

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➤ The Carolina Hurricanes were held to 17 shots in a 5–0 home loss to Florida last night, falling behind 2–0 in the Eastern Conference Final. (See Score)

➤ Wake Forest was upset by Cal in the ACC tournament on Wednesday in a wild game featuring 23 walks and seven hit batters. (More)

➤ Coastal Christian's Hannah Grace is the best girls pole vaulter in North Carolina history, winning four straight titles and setting multiple state records. (Read Her Story)

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➤ Wolfspeed, a Durham-based semiconductor firm, plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after its main backer rejected out-of-court debt restructuring efforts. (More)

➤ A Consumer Reports investigation found Kroger stores overcharged customers on sale items at 26 locations in 14 states, including North Carolina, with over 150 pricing errors averaging $1.70 per item. (More)

➤ Durham-based RTI International is cutting 170 more U.S. jobs, including 76 in North Carolina, marking a 35% workforce reduction this year due to decreased federal funding. Total layoffs are now at 736, with 314 in-state. (More)

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➤ Gold panning near Asheville is possible thanks to Western North Carolina's rich mining history. The first U.S. gold rush began in the state in the early 1800s, and nearby areas still offer opportunities for modern-day prospectors. (View Locations)

➤ A UNC-Wilmington and Duke University study found that humpback whales have poor vision and can detect only large shapes from a distance. To see finer details, they must be within three to four body lengths. (More)

➤ Experience live cannon demonstrations and learn historical artillery techniques during Cannon Day at Fort Macon State Park on Saturday, with sessions scheduled for 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. (More)

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