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Question: Thursday Island is located in the Torres Strait off the coast of what country?

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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Brunches is one of the local food places nominated by Cary Spotlight’s readers for our Discover Cary project. If you’ve had a chance to sample their food, feel free to share your opinion below.

Brunches in Cary’s Crossroads shopping center serves full breakfast and lunch menus every day, pairing Southern favorites like chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and crab cake Benedict with a long list of mimosas that includes flights for sampling several flavors.

Check out their menu on their website: Brunches

Address: 200 Crossroads Blvd, Ste 100, Cary, NC 27518 | Get Directions

North Carolina drivers are beginning to see lower gasoline prices after the state temporarily suspended its 41-cent-per-gallon gas tax. But the savings have not appeared at every station, and questions remain about how the state will replace lost revenue and whether retailers must pass the savings along.

The suspension is scheduled to run through the end of November 2026. State lawmakers have set aside $360 million to replace the transportation funding that would otherwise be lost.

Here's how the suspension works and what it means for drivers in Cary and across North Carolina.

North Carolina's gas tax is a major source of funding for the North Carolina Department of Transportation, accounting for nearly half of its revenue.

That money helps pay for road resurfacing, bridge repairs, highway construction and other transportation projects.

The temporary suspension is expected to reduce gas tax collections by approximately $360 million.

However, lawmakers have transferred the same amount from the state's Stabilization and Inflation Reserve fund to NCDOT, allowing the department to maintain its planned funding despite the suspension.

The reserve previously held approximately $1 billion and is intended to help the state address inflation-related expenses and economic instability.

After the transfer, the fund is expected to have approximately $500 million remaining. That could limit the state's ability to extend the gas tax suspension beyond November without identifying another funding source.

Although the state has suspended its 41-cent-per-gallon tax, drivers should not expect every station to immediately lower its price by exactly 41 cents.

One reason is that gas stations purchase fuel before selling it to customers.

A station may still have gasoline in its underground tanks that was purchased before the suspension, when the tax was included in the wholesale cost.

The law accounts for that situation by protecting retailers from having to immediately reduce prices on inventory purchased before the suspension took effect.

As stations replenish their supplies, the lower tax burden may become more apparent in retail prices.

Other factors, including wholesale fuel costs, transportation expenses and local competition, also influence prices.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has announced a consumer reporting initiative called NC Fuel Check.

The program allows drivers to report stations they suspect are retaining the financial benefit of the suspended gas tax instead of passing it along to customers.

The suspension law does not require retailers to reduce their prices by a specific amount.

However, the Attorney General's Office says it will investigate potential violations of North Carolina's unfair and deceptive trade practices laws.

Businesses found to have violated those laws could face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

Consumers can submit complaints through NC Fuel Check and include photographs or other information about gasoline prices.

A higher price alone does not necessarily establish wrongdoing, since stations may have different inventory costs and operating expenses.

Even stations located a few miles apart can charge different prices for gasoline.

Several factors contribute to those differences:

The suspension removes one component of the cost of gasoline, but it does not eliminate the other factors that determine pump prices.

Some residents have questioned whether direct financial assistance would provide more meaningful relief than temporarily suspending the gas tax.

One alternative would be a program offering prepaid gasoline cards to qualifying households.

Chicago used a similar approach in 2022 through its Chicago Moves program, which allocated $12.5 million for gasoline and public transit assistance.

The city distributed 50,000 gasoline cards worth $150 each, with eligibility restricted by income.

A comparable North Carolina program could target residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, commonly known as SNAP.

Using the figures in the report, providing $150 in assistance to approximately 1.5 million SNAP recipients would cost about $225 million if each recipient received a card. The source estimates approximately $216 million, but does not explain the difference.

That would be less than the $360 million allocated to replace lost gas tax revenue.

However, the two approaches would distribute relief differently. Gas cards could concentrate assistance among eligible recipients, while the gas tax suspension reduces the tax burden on gasoline purchases regardless of a driver's income.

North Carolina's gas tax suspension is currently scheduled to end after November 2026.

Extending it would require lawmakers to address the additional loss of transportation revenue.

The state's reserve fund has already been reduced by the $360 million transfer, leaving less money available for future economic needs.

For now, drivers may continue to see price adjustments as stations purchase new fuel and respond to changes in wholesale costs.

Read Full Report

Just curious…

Three North Carolina high school seniors, Toby Qin, Vrund Gurjar and Liam Griffin, founded Building Financial Futures of America to help younger students develop essential money management skills. The organization began as a high school club in 2025 and has since grown into a nationwide financial literacy initiative.

BFF of America has delivered educational programs to more than 6,500 students at over 100 schools. With more than 80 student chapters operating in approximately 20 states, the founders hope to expand their reach to all 50 states by the end of 2026.

The students' personal experiences helped shape their mission. Qin and Gurjar grew up in first-generation immigrant families, while Griffin was raised in a single-parent household after losing his father. They recognized that many younger students lacked basic financial knowledge, including an understanding of recurring expenses and everyday spending decisions.

In addition to providing educational programs, the founders are working with North Carolina lawmakers to introduce foundational economic concepts, including opportunity cost and scarcity, into eighth-grade instruction. Their broader goal is to make financial education more accessible while creating leadership opportunities for students across the country.

Learn more: Building Financial Futures of America

What’s faster than word of mouth? Cary Spotlight! Keeps you updated on what is going on locally and connects businesses to our vibrant community.

North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE)

Outdoor events may be changed due to weather, so click the links to see latest event information. Here are a few ideas for the week, so plan ahead:

• Thursday: Live at Lunch: Chris Overstreet 11:30AM-1:30PM
• Thursday: Zumba 6PM-7PM
• Thursday: Frightfully Beautiful Mini Frame 6:30PM-8:30PM
• Friday: ITA Carolina Regional Men's Tennis Championships All Day
• Friday: Cary Night Market 5PM-9PM
• Saturday: ITA Carolina Regional Men's Tennis Championships All Day
• Saturday: Good Hope Farm Monthly Workday 9AM-11AM
• Saturday: Cary Farmers Market 8AM-12PM
• Saturday: Blood Cancer United Light The Night Walk 5:30PM
• Saturday: CaryLIVE! Harvey Street 7:30PM-9:30PM
• Sunday: ITA Carolina Regional Men's Tennis Championships All Day
• Sunday: Tricks & Treats: Dog Training 2PM-3PM
• Sunday: Jazz’d Up Sundays: Kobie Watkins 6:30-8PM
• Sunday: Trampled by Turtles 6:30PM
• Monday: Drop-in Puzzling and Puzzle Swap Meet 1PM-7PM

But wait! There’s more. To save space in your inbox, we’ve moved the full list of events online — now you can plan ahead: See Full 2-Week Calendar