Month: March 2024

6. NC House members consider the health challenges from an animal sedative mixed with fentanyl

Jacksonville Police Captain Richard Kellum asked state legislators to consider adding a powerful animal sedative that’s frequently mixed with fentanyl to the state list of controlled substances. Xylazine is not approved for human use. Called “tranq,” xylazine is used to cut other street drugs, including the synthetic opioid fentanyl. “Xylazine depresses the heart rate, slows […]

Written by on March 14, 2024

9. Quiet western Primaries signal November’s partisan battles, voter frustration

While the March 5 Primary Election was relatively quiet in the west — with few races and even fewer competitive races — results from state and national contests not only solidified partisan matchups for November’s General Election but also highlighted growing dissatisfaction with major party candidates. Statewide, voter turnout was down substantially from the last […]

Written by on March 14, 2024

10. HPU lands $20M donation

Local businessman and philanthropist Doug Witcher was recognized Wednesday for donating $20 million to High Point University by having the School of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences named after him, but he almost didn’t make it to what he called one of the most important events of his life. On Wednesday morning Witcher banged his head […]

Written by on March 14, 2024

1. Jerome Powell just revealed a hidden reason why inflation is staying high: The economy is increasingly uninsurable

Troublesomely high inflation rates may have an overlooked metric at their source: soaring insurance costs. But don’t take our word for it, just listen to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Several types of insurance, including home and car insurance, have surged over the past few years, and it’s hurting the Fed’s effort to get interest […]

Written by on March 13, 2024

4. State health leaders hope lawmakers can widen Medicaid access to pricey drugs like Wegovy

North Carolina’s top health official hopes the state can expand Medicaid access to Wegovy — the blockbuster weight-loss drug recently approved as a treatment for cardiovascular disease by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration — without breaking the bank. On Tuesday, Kody Kinsley, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, gave lawmakers […]

Written by on March 13, 2024

5. GE Aerospace to invest $22M locally as part of increased production goals

General Electric Aerospace will make a $650 million investment in its manufacturing facilities and supply chain in 2024, with multi-millions coming to its local facility on Castle Hayne Road. The money will fund increased production to support its commercial and defense customers. A spokesperson for GE Aerospace said it’s to help ramp up demand after […]

Written by on March 13, 2024

6. North Carolina gambles on sports betting

For many college students, the timing of North Carolina’s legalization of sports betting had a storybook feel. After Gov. Roy Cooper signed House Bill 347 into law last June, the State Lottery Commission made January 8 the target date for going live. But logistical hurdles pushed the start date back to March 11—the day before […]

Written by on March 13, 2024

7. Guilford County mulls over its water and wastewater strategy

Guilford County government currently plays only a minor role in matters related to water systems – that service has always been one provided by towns and cities. However, that could change in a big way as Guilford County government is now considering the ways in which it could play a much larger part in that […]

Written by on March 13, 2024

8. Voters aren’t ecstatic about Robinson or Stein. But one candidate is viewed more unfavorably, WRAL News poll shows

Major political parties’ nominees for governor, Democrat Josh Stein and Republican Mark Robinson, are viewed favorably by just 37% of likely voters statewide. But Robinson faces far more critics than Stein, according to a new WRAL News poll. Twenty-eight percent of likely voters say they hold an unfavorable view of Robinson, compared to 18% for […]

Written by on March 13, 2024

10. Eye in the sky: IOMAX debuts another border patrol plane

The plane is a Cessna Caravan 208B EX, and is loaded with the latest technology. Jamie Bishop, IOMAX vice president of engineering, said, “The aircraft is equipped with a variety of state-of-the-art equipment such as the high definition L3 Wescan MX-15 EO/IR sensor and Thales I-master radar. These devices are managed and controlled via the […]

Written by on March 13, 2024