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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Report Card: Unhealthy State Could Create Unhealthy Economy in NC

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Thursday, March 5, 2015   

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – North Carolina isn't making the grade when it comes to the health of its citizens, according to the 2015 North Carolina Prevention Report Card released by the health advocacy group Prevention Partners.

The evaluation gave the state failing marks when it comes to nutrition and obesity.

Rachel Zucker, a research fellow for the Chapel Hill-based Prevention Partners, says the state's overall health could ultimately impact its economic development as out-of-state companies evaluate whether to locate or expand in the state.

"We could really start to see North Carolina losing out on opportunities for economic development if companies are seeing, 'Oh, North Carolina is not doing so well in health,’” she points out. “’Do we really want to locate there and pay a bunch more in employee health care costs?’”

According to the report, slightly more than 12 percent of the population eats the recommended serving of at least five fruits and vegetables every day, and two out of every three North Carolina adults are overweight or obese.

Together with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, Center for Health North Carolina and the North Carolina Hospital Association, Prevention Partners is coordinating the Healthy Together NC initiative, which is working in all 100 of the state's counties to meet specified health goals by 2025.

Zucker says programs such as Healthy Together NC are working with policy makers, employers, health care providers and schools to increase the availability of healthy food and means for exercise.

"If we put those policies into place where we can create tobacco-free spaces, where we can create cheaper foods that are healthy, that's where we can start to see the change is really at that policy level of change," she states.

Zucker says individuals should set a goal of 30 minutes a day for physical activity to improve their health. That time can even be broken down into shorter increments to make it easier to make it a part of your daily routine.





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