North Carolina
North Carolina Drone Photographer Seeks Supreme Court Support for First Amendment Rights
Michael Jones asks the court to uphold his right to provide aerial information to clients.
Michael Jones asks the court to uphold his right to provide aerial information to clients.Yesterday, the Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a petition with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Michael Jones, a drone photographer in North Carolina. The case brings forward an important question: does providing data and information through aerial photographs qualify as speech that the First Amendment fully protects, or do state licensing boards have the authority to censor it?
For several years, North Carolina’s land-surveying board has targeted small drone operators, including Michael Jones, claiming that their aerial maps amount to illegal land surveying. Unlike many states, North Carolina classifies even basic aerial mapping as surveying. This requires operators to hold a full surveyor’s license, which demands years of education and experience. The state has enforced this law rigorously, threatening drone businesses with severe penalties.
Jones’ Legal Battle
Michael Jones, based in Goldsboro, North Carolina, is an FAA-licensed drone operator who sought to build an aerial-mapping business. His goal was to provide landowners with aerial perspectives, which they often find useful without needing a full land survey. He wanted to use his drone to capture images and create maps or 3D models using publicly available tools.
However, in 2019, the North Carolina surveying board issued a cease-and-desist letter. The board ordered Michael to shut down his operations or face civil and criminal penalties. In response, Michael sued the board, arguing that his maps and photographs are forms of speech protected by the First Amendment.
“I’ve always been clear what I’m doing isn’t setting property lines. It’s simply providing pictures and information,” said Michael. “I even included a big red disclaimer on my website saying I’m not a licensed surveyor, but the board shut me down anyway. I don’t know of any surveying company that was using drones like I was.”
The Fourth Circuit Court Decision
In May, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Michael’s case. Although visual information and images have long received First Amendment protection, the court ruled that Michael’s creation of maps was “conduct” and not speech. The court’s reasoning was partly based on the fact that Michael’s work takes place on private property, which it claimed gives the government more leeway to regulate.
IJ Senior Attorney Sam Gedge criticized the ruling, stating, “Drone technology may be new, but the principles at stake in Michael’s case are as old as the nation itself. Taking photos and providing information to willing clients is speech, and it’s fully protected by the First Amendment. Only by badly misapplying the First Amendment could the Fourth Circuit hold differently.”
The Fourth Circuit’s ruling conflicts with decisions made in other federal courts. The Fifth Circuit, covering Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and the Eleventh Circuit, covering Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, have issued rulings that favor the protection of such activities under the First Amendment.
A Call for Supreme Court Intervention
With the split between the circuits, Michael is now asking the Supreme Court to take up his case. His petition argues that if the government can stop someone from communicating aerial photographs simply because they contain specific information, First Amendment rights are at risk. “When a government agency sends a cease-and-desist letter telling you to stop communicating photographs containing specific types of ‘data’ and ‘information,’ that’s a red flag that serious First Amendment interests are in play,” said IJ Attorney James Knight.
This is not the first time the Institute for Justice has faced such a challenge. IJ has successfully defended similar cases, including a mapping company in Mississippi that faced similar accusations of unlicensed practice. Michael’s case joins others, including a map maker in California.
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to hear Michael’s case could have far-reaching implications for First Amendment rights, particularly in an era when technology like drones is rapidly evolving. The outcome may determine whether state licensing boards can regulate new technologies in ways that limit both entrepreneurship and free speech.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
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The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Saturday, May 30, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 30 drawing
01-27-35-44-52, Powerball: 12, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 30 drawing
Day: 4-3-5, Fireball: 5
Evening: 8-3-5, Fireball: 6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 30 drawing
Day: 6-6-7-3, Fireball: 6
Evening: 4-1-0-7, Fireball: 3
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 5 numbers from May 30 drawing
04-05-07-31-39
Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Double Play numbers from May 30 drawing
02-05-28-37-42
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 30 drawing
05-14-22-28-30, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.
For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.
To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:
- Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
- Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
- Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.
When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.
North Carolina has landed what is seemingly the final major piece of its frontcourt for the 2026-27 season, multiple sources have confirmed. Alexandros Samodurov announced his commitment to the Tar Heels on Saturday by way of Jonathan Givony of Draft Express.
The 6-foot-11 Greek native will bring international experience and an advanced skillset to a UNC program that was still looking to add a starting-worthy big man to its rotation. He’ll join 18-year-old 7-footer Sayon Keita, who committed to UNC a month ago, to man most of the minutes in the middle.
Now 21 years old, Samodurov plays for Panathinaikos in Greece’s top pro league, and also in EuroLeague. This is the same professional club as fellow Greece national team standout and UNC transfer commitment Neoklis Avdalas.
Samodurov earned All-Star honors with the Greece U20 National Team last summer, averaging 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.4 blocks at the FIBA U20 Eurobasket. He also averaged 4.9 points and 4.6 rebounds playing for the Greece Senior National Team last year.
>>> Expert Analysis: Samodurov Addition All About Stretch Big Skill Set for UNC
“The Panathinaikos forward has always been an intriguing prospect with his combination of elite size, ball-handling ability and flashes of passing, shooting and defensive playmaking,” said a FIBA report from the Eurobasket event.
Samodurov declared for the NBA Draft but the league announced on May 28 that he had withdrawn his name. He was ranked the No. 41 draft prospect in The Athletic’s Mock Draft and is No. 72 on ESPN’s Big Board.
New coach Michael Malone has been tasked over the past two months with overhauling the roster. Samodurov marks the seventh program acquisition, joining two previously committed high schoolers, and three returning players to form the 2026-27 roster.
Whether Samodurov or Keita start at center remains to be seen, but the other members of the starting lineup when UNC’s season opens in six months on Nov. 2 are expected to be Utah transfer Terrence Brown, NC State transfer Matt Able, Virginia Tech transfer Avdalas and returning forward Jarin Stevenson.
CHEROKEE COUNTY, N.C. — A Murphy, North Carolina man with prior felony convictions was sentenced this week after authorities say he was caught with a large cache of illegal drugs and firearms.
44-year-old John Anthony Barreiro of Murphy was sentenced Thursday to 22 years in prison and ordered to serve five years of supervised release, according to an announcement from Russ Ferguson, U.S. attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
Authorities say Barreiro illegally possessed 15 firearms along with more than 1,600 fentanyl pills and more than 800 grams of methamphetamine and cocaine.
According to court documents, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop of Barreiro’s vehicle on Dec. 4th, 2023.
Authorities say Barreiro fled instead of stopping, leading to a vehicle pursuit.
Court documents show that during the chase, Barreiro threw a Glock 9mm pistol out of the passenger-side window.
Authorities say he later threw a bag out of the same window containing more than 300 grams of methamphetamine, fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder and cocaine.
Law enforcement later recovered the firearm and the drugs, according to court records.
After throwing the gun and drugs from the vehicle, authorities say Barreiro pulled over and was arrested.
Investigators say they found additional clear baggies with suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine in the vehicle and on Barreiro.
Authorities also say Barreiro had $7,840 in cash, marijuana, a loaded Glock 30-round capacity magazine and a bag containing multiple loose rounds of 9mm ammunition in the vehicle.
Later the same day, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a Murphy home where Barreiro was known to reside.
Law enforcement seized 14 firearms, 1,450 fentanyl tablets, fentanyl powder, cocaine and almost 500 grams of methamphetamine, authorities say.
Barreiro had prior convictions that prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Barreiro pleaded guilty on Sept. 26th to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, methamphetamine and cocaine, and possession of a firearm by a felon.
He was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison on Thursday.
Barreiro remains in federal custody until he is transferred to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
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