Monday, March 2, 2026

Good Morning! On this day in 1781, Patriot forces led by Col. Henry Lee ambushed Lt. Col. Banastre Tarleton's Loyalist mounted cavalry, inflicting 21 British casualties while suffering eight of their own in a skirmish that preceded the Battle of Guilford Courthouse.

Speaking of the American Revolutionary War, plans and prep for North Carolina's America 250 celebrations continue, with some events already underway. Learn more in Top Stories.

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11 Counties Outperform U.S. in Economic Health

A new County Economic Vitality Index released by the North Carolina Department of Commerce shows that 11 counties outperformed the national average in economic health in 2024.

Primarily located in major metro areas—including the Triangle, Charlotte, and regions extending from Virginia Beach—the 11 counties earned composite scores above 100, indicating stronger performance than the U.S. benchmark. Wake County topped the list with a score of 117.1.

The index, developed by the department's Labor & Economic Analysis Division (LEAD), evaluates counties using four key metrics: median household income, average wages, unemployment rates, and educational attainment.

North Carolina's statewide score reached 98.4 in 2024, the highest since at least 2010, reflecting widespread but uneven improvement. Notably, 90 of the state's 100 counties have improved faster than the U.S. average since 2010, driven largely by lower unemployment and higher high school graduation rates.

UNC Overhauls Academic Freedom Policy

The UNC System's Board of Governors unanimously approved a new definition of academic freedom on Feb. 26 that protects faculty teaching and research while requiring compliance with disciplinary standards and university policies.

The policy clarifies protections for discussing controversial discipline-related ideas, but bars unrelated course content and political advocacy using university resources. It also allows administrators to intervene in hostile learning environments.

UNC System President Peter Hans said system universities should behave "not as an ungoverned, free-for-all, but as an educational institution with special obligations to elevate reason over reaction and thinking over feeling."

Critics, including members of North Carolina's American Association of University Professors chapter, worry the boundaries could chill discussions on race, gender, and politics. The group presented a petition with more than 1,300 signatures to the board rejecting the revised policy.

America 250 Prep Continues, Events Underway

North Carolina's America Semiquincentennial Committee is reporting growing momentum through youth involvement, fundraising, and event planning for commemorations celebrating the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.

A Betsy Ross flag modified to display "250" now flies at the North Carolina Judicial Center. The 250th anniversary of the Battle at Moores Creek Bridge concluded in Pender County with a weekend of reenactments, musket demonstrations, music, and a book signing.

Onslow County launched a county museum exhibit detailing local contributions to the American Revolution, featuring graphic novel-style panels on people, places, and events from the era.

Additional events include Dare County's A250 Faire, Halifax Days, the Overmountain Men traveling exhibit, parades, and concerts. Learn more about these and other upcoming events at America250.nc.gov.

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➤ Statewide: The North Carolina Education Corps, a nonprofit addressing post-pandemic literacy loss through high-impact K-3 tutoring, is asking state lawmakers for $5 million in recurring funding to restore operations after federal pandemic funds expired. (More)

➤ Charlotte: American Airlines employee Christian Cox, 25, was arrested at Charlotte Douglas International Airport after texting a coworker a false bomb threat, which he claimed was a joke. He was charged and released on $10,000 bail. (More)

➤ Cabarrus County: A federal lawsuit challenging solitary confinement practices at the Cabarrus Juvenile Detention Center has settled "in principle." The parties have notified the court they will finalize terms for approval, which would resolve claims for juveniles detained there. (More)

➤ Davidson College received $47 million from private donors to launch the Martin Institute for Public Good, aimed at promoting civic engagement and free expression. The announcement follows a $4 million U.S. Department of Education grant the college received to promote civil discourse. (More)

➤ Davidson County: Lexington residents Chris Elliott and his 17-year-old daughter Riley, who traveled to Israel for a religious pilgrimage, were sheltering in a Jerusalem bunker after strikes between Israel and Iran began. They plan to remain in place until conditions are safe for travel. (More)

➤ Macon County: The Town of Franklin signed over the deed to the sacred Noquisiyi Mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians on Feb. 26, 207 years after the tribe lost ownership of the historic burial site. (See Photos)

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➤ Tyler Reddick, the driver for Michael Jordan's Huntersville-based 23XI Racing, made NASCAR history yesterday by becoming the first driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to win the season's first three races after winning the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. (More)

➤ NC State men's basketball hosts No. 1 Duke tonight at 7 p.m. in a clash of in-state ACC rivals. The Blue Devils are 9-1 in their last 10 games, while the Wolfpack is 6-4 over its last 10. (More)

➤ The Charlotte Hornets extended their winning streak to four games on Saturday with a 109-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in newly acquired guard Coby White's home debut. White scored 20 points in the victory. (More)

➤ Charlotte native and former NC State and Texas A&M wide receiver KC Concepcion said he would "love to go back home" and play for the Carolina Panthers if drafted in the upcoming NFL Draft. (More)

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➤ Wilmington's dining scene features recent openings, including Salty Cow, Palouse, Biscuitville, The Half, and several new ramen and coffee spots. Meanwhile, closures include Platypus & Gnome, The Green House Restaurant, Edward Teach Brewing, and The Cove Restaurant. (More)

➤ The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians broke ground on Feb. 24 in Elawodi on The Boundary Bingo & Slots, a 35,000-square-foot Class II gaming facility. The project will feature bingo, electronic gaming machines, and concessions, with an expected summer 2027 opening. (More)

➤ An analysis of the hardest-working U.S. cities ranked Charlotte No. 34, Raleigh No. 40, Durham No. 52, Winston-Salem No. 99, and Greensboro No. 105 among 116 major cities. The rankings were based on metrics including employment rate, average weekly work hours, share of workers with multiple jobs, and other factors. (See Rankings)

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➤ A pickup truck fell into a large sinkhole at the intersection of Airline Street and Brown Street in Gastonia on Saturday. No one was inside the truck, which has been removed, and crews are repairing the road. (See Photos)

➤ North Carolina's adult obesity rate stands at 34.5%, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, slightly above the national average of 34.1%. (See All States)

➤ The Greensboro Police Department's social media manager, Patrick Soto, is infusing humor into the department's X posts, with examples like "If your meth dealer has all their teeth, it's the police" drawing millions of views. (See Posts)

➤ A total lunar eclipse will turn the full moon into a brownish-red blood moon for 58 minutes early Tuesday morning. East Coast viewers could also catch a rare selenelion, when the sun rises as the eclipsed moon sets. (More)

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