North Carolina News & Current Events

The least tern is among nearly 500 species under threat of decline in North Carolina. (Don Henise/Flickr)

Monday, September 27, 2021

NC Senators Sponsor Bipartisan Wildlife Protection Bill

RALEIGH, N.C. - A bipartisan bill to protect wildlife species before they're imperiled has gained the support of North Carolina's senators. It's the …

FEMA program will reimburse families for funeral expenses of multiple COVID victims, up to a limit of $35,500 per applicant. (Victor Moussa/Adobestock)

FEMA Program Will Pay $9K in Funeral Costs for COVID Victims

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Did you know the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has a program to reimburse funeral expenses up to $9,000 dollars when …

Food prices are rising nationwide, and the cost of a grocery store trip is up 3.5% from a year ago, according to a USDA report. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Groups Work to Boost Food Access, Help Farmers

RALEIGH, N.C. -- More than $1 million in COVID-19 relief grants are helping rural organizations increase their focus on locally sourced food relief…

In the last fiscal quarter before the pandemic, the top 1% of higher-income Americans held $15.10 trillion in stock and mutual funds, according to the North Carolina Justice Center. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — In the last fiscal quarter before the pandemic, the top 1% of higher-income Americans held $15.10 trillion in stock and mutual funds, according to the North Carolina Justice Center. (Adobe Stock)

Corporate Leaders, Wealthy Individuals Call for Increased Taxes

RALEIGH, N.C. -- It is not every day people ask for higher taxes, but that is the gist of a letter just sent to Congress, signed by more than 200 …

Michael Watkins of Raleigh spent six months in prison for felony breaking and entering in 1988 and the next three decades getting his life on track. He earned a bachelor's degree last year at Campbell University in Buies Creek, N.C. (Michael Watkins)

Formerly Incarcerated Face Barriers to Normalcy

By Herbert L. White, Reporting for the the Charlotte Post Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Michael …

Industrial consumers, environmental advocates and residential ratepayers in North Carolina have voiced concerns over a new energy bill critics say was created with outsized input from Duke Energy. (Adobe Stock)

NC Energy Bill Gets Criticism for Cost, Climate-Change Effectiveness

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Critics of an energy bill moving through the North Carolina General Assembly say it would cost several hundred-million dollars over …

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends schools have at least one full-time registered nurse available for students' health needs. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic, State Regulations Create Obstacles for NC School Nurses

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- As the school year gets underway, some school nurses are facing hurdles addressing students' health-care needs. Diane Parker…

PM2.5 readings from PurpleAir monitors across North Carolina on the evening of July 4. Emissions from grills, fireworks and other household sources increase PM2.5 levels. (CleanAIRE NC)

EPA Using Low-Cost NC Sensors to Collect Air-Quality Data

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Environmental Protection Agency is now including data from a network of low-cost air sensors in North Carolina in its official …

More than two-thirds of all Medicaid beneficiaries nationwide receive care from managed-care organizations that contract with state Medicaid programs. (Adobe Stock)

NC Medicaid Beneficiaries Urged to Find Plans Under New Managed Care

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina residents who rely on Medicaid have until Sep. 30 to switch healthcare plans under the state's new managed care …

Saichelle McNeill of Charlotte (right, with daughter J'Nai) served 27 months in federal prison. Upon release, she endured rejection when she applied for jobs in laundry services, before launching Washroom Laundry. (Courtesy Saichelle McNeill/The Charlotte Post)

Formerly Incarcerated NC Woman Built Her Own Small Business

By Ashley Mahoney, Reporting for the the Charlotte Post Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan, Public News Service CHARLOTTE, N.C. - When Saichelle …

More than 25% of high school students in a recent Kaiser Family Foundation study reported worsening emotional and cognitive health. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Meeting Kids' Social, Emotional Needs This Fall

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The school year is fast approaching, and many North Carolina students will be headed back to the classroom for the first time in a …

The number of moms with health coverage participating in the Magnolia Mother's Trust, a guaranteed-income program, went up by a quarter during the program. (Sarah Stripp/Springboard to Opportunities)

A Push for Permanent Policies to Support Lower-Income Families

MS. MAGAZINE COLLABORATION By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for North Carolina News Service/Public News …

While 19.9% of litter on land comes from unsecured items in the back of trucks or trash receptacles, the vast majority originates intentionally. (Adobe Stock)

“Trees4Trash Challenge” Urges Residents to Pick Up Litter

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The North Carolina Wildlife Federation wants residents to pick up trash in their neighborhood, and swap out the litter for trees…

Many North Carolina small-business owners say feel financially squeezed by the high cost of health coverage for employees. (Adobe Stock)

NC Business Leaders Say Boosting Health Coverage is Key to Economic Stability

RALEIGH, N.C. - As the Delta variant continues to spread and vaccination rates stagnate, small businesses are advocating for efforts to expand health-…

Nearly all students have experienced some challenges to their mental health and well-being during the pandemic and many have lost access to school-based services and supports, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)

In Rural NC, Push for Mental-Health Resources as Kids Head Back to School

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Across the state, teachers and staff expect more kids will need mental-health resources as they return to in-person school…

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Groups Say Opioid Settlement Money Should Go Toward Community Resources

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Faith leaders and support groups across the state are calling on lawmakers to commit to spending the approximately $750 million …

Research increasingly points to early childhood, the period from birth through age seven, as the most critical time in a child's life. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Research increasingly points to early childhood, the period from birth through age seven, as the most critical time in a child's life. (Adobe Stock)

NC Grants Focus on Easing Racial Disparities in Early Learning

RALEIGH, N.C. - In some North Carolina counties, high poverty levels mean kids and parents lack access to quality pre-K learning. Some groups are …

According to the CDC, vaccine-preventable diseases have a costly impact, resulting in doctor's visits, hospitalizations and premature deaths, all of which could be avoided. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — According to the CDC, vaccine-preventable diseases have a costly impact, resulting in doctor's visits, hospitalizations and premature deaths, all of which could be avoided. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Missed Well Visits Put Kids at Risk for Communicable Diseases

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Parents should catch their kids up on missed doctor visits, and in some cases, vaccinations, to protect themselves and their …

Over the past six decades, there has been a steady increase in the number of fires in the western United States, according to NASA. (Adobe Stock)

Western Wildfire Smoke Poses Health Hazard for NC Residents

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Massive wildfires in the Western U.S. and Canada have triggered poor air quality in North Carolina over the past few weeks, and …

According to FBI data, U.S. law enforcement agencies made an estimated 1,558,862 drug related arrests in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

NC Faith Leaders Call Out "Failed" Drug Policy

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. - As activists mark more than 100 days of protest since the April 21 death of Andrew Brown Junior - killed outside his Elizabeth …

Health Departments in North Carolina increasingly rely on nurse practitioners and other non-physician health professionals to provide health-care services. (Adobe Stock)

NC Health Depts. "Burdened" by Doctor Supervision Contracts

GREENSBORO, N.C. - Local health departments that rely heavily on Advanced Practice Registered Nurses say the costly contract requirement that they be …

Resource Institute and partners recently restored a portion of Big Elkin Creek in Surry County to improve habitat and downstream water quality.(Resource Institute)

NC Community Tackles Erosion, Sediment Issues in Water Supply

ELKIN, N.C. -- Surry and Wilkes County residents will have cleaner water with less pollution and less sediment, thanks to a recently completed stream …

Thirty-three percent of U.S. adults have experienced identity theft, more than twice the global average. (Adobe Stock)

As North Carolinians Resume Travel, Experts Urge Protecting Sensitive Info

RALEIGH, N.C. -- As more North Carolinians resume travel and take vacations this summer, most will be relying on their debit and credit cards…

Trawl nets are responsible for the majority of fish and shrimp catches worldwide. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Trawl nets are responsible for the majority of fish and shrimp catches worldwide. (Adobe Stock)

Commission Set to Change Rules on Shrimp Trawling

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The North Carolina Marine Fisheries Commission is expected to vote at its August meeting on a new amendment pertaining to shrimp …

North Carolina activist Kathy Greggs was arrested at the state's General Assembly for attempting to make a public comment on the state budget. (Steven Whitsitt)

After NC Activist is Denied Attorney, Calls for Wake County Magistrate Reforms

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Protestors are raising concerns about how they're being treated by Wake County magistrates after a member of the North Carolina …

Seven in ten North Carolina voters believe climate impacts like erratic weather and stronger storms will have costly effects on residents, according to a poll by the Environmental Defense Action Fund. (Adobe Stock)

Environmentalists Say State Must Focus on “Interconnected” Climate Solutions

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The state's Environmental Management Commission this week green-lighted a plan to cut carbon emissions from power plants. The …

Since 2007, 11 states raised the age of criminal responsibility to age 18, a nationwide reform initiative referred to as "raise the age." (Adobe Stock)

Report: NC’s ‘Raise the Age’ Law Led to Fewer Youths Charged as Adults

RALEIGH, N.C. -- In 2019, North Carolina stopped charging most 16- and 17-year-olds as adults, and a new report looks at the law's effects on the …

North Carolina's registered voters overwhelmingly support land and water conservation, according to a 2017 statewide poll by the group Land for Tomorrow. (Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups Give Thumbs Up on NC Senate Budget

RALEIGH, N.C. - Conservation groups are praising Senate lawmakers' recent budget proposal, which provides more than $100 million toward the state's …

The number of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses who are prepared as primary care providers has spiked in recent years, both in rural and non-rural regions. (Adobe Stock)

NC Physicians Voice Support for Full-Practice APRNs

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Some doctors in North Carolina are voicing their support for legislation to cut red tape for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (…

Around 600,000 employees of North Carolina's small businesses have no health insurance, according to the North Carolina Justice Center. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Around 600,000 employees of North Carolina's small businesses have no health insurance, according to the North Carolina Justice Center. (Adobe Stock)

NC Small Business Owners Feel "Crushed" by Healthcare System

DURHAM, N.C. -- Small-business owners across the state say the pandemic has highlighted their struggles with the current healthcare system, and many …

North Carolina ranks 34th among states for children's well-being in the 2021 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, although the state improved on many individual measures in the report. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic-Relief Measures Can Help More NC Kids

RALEIGH, N.C. -- New survey data offer a clear picture of how North Carolina kids and families are faring, both before and after the pandemic…

North Carolina could join the 11 states that make up the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a market-based collective to cap and reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from the power sector. (Adobe Stock)

NC Steps Closer to Joining States Committed to Reducing Carbon Emissions

RALEIGH, N.C. -- A state environmental committee is considering a proposal to set a process in motion to reduce carbon emissions from power plants…

Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order with an 8,000-megawatt target for offshore wind-energy generation by 2040. (agrarmotive/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Expanding Offshore Wind Capacity Good for NC Economy

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Groups advocating for clean energy say Gov. Roy Cooper's recent commitment to expand North Carolina's offshore wind capacity will …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know "a little bit" or "nothing at all" about Juneteenth, the date that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. (DoDEA.edu)

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

In a 2016 poll by the group Defenders of Wildlife, 73% of North Carolinians said they support red wolf recovery. (Wildlands Network)

Research Shows Red Wolves Coexist with Deer, Other Game Species

EAST LAKE, N.C. - There are plenty of deer, wild turkey and other game species in eastern North Carolina's red wolf recovery area, according to new …

WIC provides breastfeeding support, nutritious food, information on healthy eating and referrals to health care for pregnant women and those with young children. (Nappy Studio)

Report: COVID Changes to Nutrition Program Benefit NC Moms, Kids

RALEIGH, NC -- Barriers to accessing a federal nutrition program for moms and babies persist in North Carolina, but new research shows loosening the …

The American Heart Association estimates that 100,000 to 200,000 lives nationwide could be saved each year if CPR were performed promptly during cardiac arrest. (Adobe Stock)

Hands-Only CPR Training Could Save More Latino Lives

DURHAM, N.C. - This week is National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Week, and in North Carolina community groups are working to boost hands-only CPR …

The confluence of California, Paint Fork and Little Ivy creeks in Mars Hill, immediately after undergoing stream restoration.(Paula Worden)

NC Community Repairs Watershed Damaged by Highway Construction

MARS HILL, N.C. -- Residents of Mars Hill, along with several community partners, recently restored a major watershed with the goal of protecting the …

In Roxboro, N.C., Miracles Barbershop owner Derrick Pettiford says training barbers on heart health could help save clients' lives. (Derrick Pettiford)

After Client’s Heart Attack, NC Barber Advocates Heart Health

ROXBORO, N.C. -- Barbers in North Carolina are helping clients check their blood pressure and pass along the heart-health information they need to …

According to a 2017 National Renewable Energy Lab report, North Carolina's coast has more offshore wind potential than any other state along the Atlantic coast. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — According to a 2017 National Renewable Energy Lab report, North Carolina's coast has more offshore wind potential than any other state along the Atlantic coast. (Adobe Stock)

Biden Administration Greenlights Offshore Wind in NC

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina is ramping up plans to lease offshore wind-energy areas to developers, as the Biden administration expresses support …

At least 102 state legislators are backing a North Carolina bill that would allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to practice independently, without physician oversight. (Adobe Stock)

Support Grows for NC Advanced Practice Nurses Operating Independently

RALEIGH, N.C. - As many Advanced Practice Registered Nurses inch closer to retirement, they're unsure who will fill their shoes. They point to North …

More than three million North Carolinians are now fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock) <br /> — More than three million North Carolinians are now fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Experts Urge Vaccinations Before Summer Travel

RALEIGH, N.C. - As the weather warms up, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced people who are fully vaccinated can go out and …

Volunteers stock shelves at SHARE Cooperative in Winston-Salem. (Facebook)<br /> — Volunteers stock shelves at SHARE Cooperative in Winston-Salem. (Facebook)

Black-Led Nonprofits Supporting NC Communities During Pandemic

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Black-led nonprofits in Winston-Salem are working to help residents with food scarcity, internet access and other issues …

A 2020 poll by Interfaith Power and Light found voters of faith, including evangelical and mainline Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, and religiously unaffiliated voters, overwhelmingly believe climate change is happening and are worried about it. (Adobe Stock)

Greening Our Faith Summit Brings NC Congregations Together on Climate

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Faith leaders are gathering virtually next week to talk about how congregations across the state can play a role in fighting …

Salt marshes have disappeared over the past two decades along the Eastern Seaboard and other coastlines because of development, polluted runoff and rising seas. (Adobe Stock)

Military, Government Groups Endorse NC Salt-Marsh Protection Plan

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- A group of military and government leaders has endorsed an initiative to protect the one million acres of salt marsh that …

Hurricane Florence lands on North Carolina's coast in 2018. Statewide, the storm caused 39 deaths and billions of dollars in damage. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — Hurricane Florence lands on North Carolina's coast in 2018. Statewide, the storm caused 39 deaths and billions of dollars in damage. (Adobe Stock)

NC Groups Sign On to Renewed National Focus on Curbing Climate Change

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Biden administration has its sights set on creating more jobs, with an ambitious plan centered on clean energy and climate policy…

More than 30 million workers nationwide, including 67% of low-wage workers, do not have access to a single paid sick day from their employers. (Adobe Stock)

More NC Employers See Public Health Benefits of Paid Leave

RALEIGH, N.C. -- More North Carolina employers have changed their "time off" policies to include sick leave related to COVID-19, but low-income …

North Carolina's commercial oyster landings rake in millions of dollars in revenue each year. (Adobe Stock)

Ambitious Vision for NC’s Oysters Outlined in New 5-Year Plan

MOREHEAD CITY, N.C. -- Restoring oysters can boost water quality and offer shoreline protection from storms, and this week the North Carolina Coastal …

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PNS Daily Newscast - September 27, 2021

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