Month: October 2024

8. Much of the River Arts District looks shattered, but many buildings can be salvaged, property owners, engineer say

John Boyle & Starr Sariego/Asheville Watchdog Sagging rooflines and toppled cinder block walls are the order of the day in the River Arts District right now, but a development team that owns 11 buildings in the district says nearly all of their buildings are salvageable. Standing near what was the Marquee art space, a 50,000-square-foot […]

Written by on October 10, 2024

9. Mental health needs rising in WNC after Helene. How can providers help?

Taylor Knopf/NC Health News After weathering the storm at home in the town of Marion, A.C. was without power and water and decided to make the 30 mile-trip to Asheville to get supplies. A.C. is the manager of a local restaurant and also wanted to check on her business and make sure her employees were […]

Written by on October 10, 2024

10. Mountain and coastal lawmakers push colleagues to confront climate change in wake of Helene

Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline As North Carolina legislators debated Wednesday afternoon how best to help western North Carolina recover and rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Rep. Caleb Rudow noticed two words that were going unsaid: climate change. Rudow and Rep. Deb Butler, both Democrats, urged colleagues in a news conference following the General Assembly […]

Written by on October 10, 2024

House and Senate pass $273 million hurricane relief bill

Senators and House members came together on Wednesday to pass a hurricane relief bill that represents a $273 million down payment on the state’s efforts to help Western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene. The bulk of the money, $250 million, will become the state match for federal disaster assistance. Part of that is also […]

Written by on October 10, 2024

Legislators helping legislators

It’s obvious to anyone who’s looked at a legislator’s social-media feed (or U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwards’ official website) that the legislative branches at both the state and federal levels are a key link in the response effort. Squeaky wheels and grease, as they say. What’s less obvious is that legislators, at least in the General […]

Written by on October 10, 2024

Water, power and roads

The day was one for mountain-county legislators to share their experiences and observations about the hurricane and its aftermath, and to thank colleagues who’d helped them cope with the situation’s demands. Senate Deputy President Pro Tem Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, teared up as he talked about the situation in the Spruce Pine area. The most serious […]

Written by on October 10, 2024

1. Duke Health CEO’s ‘significant concerns’ about UnitedHealthcare contract

Madeline Ashley/Becker’s Hospital Review Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Health System and UnitedHealthcare have been in contract negotiations over the last few weeks regarding around 172,000 Duke Health patients and their care access. Should the parties be unable to come to an agreement, Duke Health’s hospitals, facilities and physicians will be out of network, effective Nov. […]

Written by on October 9, 2024

2. Docs who ditched Atrium now partnering with private equity

Michelle Crouch/NC Health News & Charlotte Ledger Six years after breaking away from Atrium Health to build Charlotte’s largest independent physician practice, the doctors at Tryon Medical Partners are teaming up with a private equity firm in a move they say will help them reach more patients. The deal, finalized in September, gives San Francisco-based […]

Written by on October 9, 2024

3. As Siler City passes TriRiver Water merger, Chatham County weighs its own

Brighton McConnell/WCHL Chapelboro The Siler City local government became the latest to approve an interlocal agreement to merge its water and sewer utilities with the City of Sanford on Monday, as the town’s commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the change. It means – like Pittsboro did earlier this year – Siler City will transfer […]

Written by on October 9, 2024

4. After prolonged water outage, Maggie Valley’s taps are running again

Aarik Long/The (Waynesville) Mountaineer Water is now flowing in Maggie Valley and Jonathan Creek again, after nearly a week of no water for some residents following ruptured main lines in the Maggie Valley Sanitary District system. “The main roads have gotten their water back,” Town Manager Vickie Best said. “There are still areas scattered about, […]

Written by on October 9, 2024

5. CDC investigating potential ‘cancer cluster’ at NC State after hundreds of people who worked, studied in Poe Hall develop cancer

Keely Arthur/WRAL News A letter given exclusively to WRAL News revealed that federal officials will investigate a potential cancer cluster among workers at a once-busy North Carolina State University building—Poe Hall. “We are taking action to understand the occurrence of cancer among North Carolina State University employees who worked in the building,” wrote Jessica Rinsky, […]

Written by on October 9, 2024

6. Keeping democracy functioning in NC after devastation of Helene

Sarah Michels/Carolina Public Press In Western North Carolina, county elections officials need Porta Potties. Tropical Storm Helene caused catastrophic flooding in the region, which destroyed homes, buildings and roads; cut off communication lines, and killed at least 77 people in the state as of Oct. 8. But as Western North Carolinians come to terms with […]

Written by on October 9, 2024

7. Southport tallies damage post-storm, addresses FEMA, state of stormwater system

Brenna Flanagan/Port City Daily As the city recovers from Potential Tropical Cyclone #8, the Southport Board of Aldermen met Monday to discuss the storm’s toll on its stormwater system and federal assistance. Deputy Fire Marshal Brian Kolhoff reported the progress to gain financial assistance from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and FEMA; he […]

Written by on October 9, 2024