Month: June 2025

2. Nearly a third of PBS NC’s budget in jeopardy amid state, federal cuts

Colin Campbell/WUNC Radio In addition to the potential federal funding cuts that public broadcasters across the country are facing, PBS North Carolina could also lose a big chunk of its state funding this year. The Senate budget would slash $4 million of the roughly $10 million the TV network receives from the state. The House […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

3. Looting and fraud that didn’t happen. Warnings seem to have stopped many crooks after Helene.

Lucas Thomae/Carolina Public Press In April, Attorney General Jeff Jackson stood shoulder to shoulder with local law enforcement outside the Haywood County courthouse to launch Safe to Rebuild, an effort to fight looting of property and contractor fraud amid Tropical Storm Helene reconstruction. The gesture, Jackson told Carolina Public Press, was to give Western North […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

4. North Carolina car insurance rates increasing by average of 5%

WRAL News North Carolina’s car insurance rates will increase by an average of 5% statewide, according to the Department of Insurance. The increase will take effect on new and renewed policies on and after Oct. 1, according to the state. The 5% increase is far less — 17.6% — than a nearly 23% increase requested […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

5. More pay raises under consideration in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

James Farrell/WFAE Radio Thousands of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools employees could see a pay raise in July. The proposal would be funded by recently approved Mecklenburg County funding. The proposed raise is the second phase of an overhaul in CMS’ compensation for nonteaching staff such as bus drivers, custodians, maintenance workers and others. Phase I was implemented […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

6. North Carolina tax proceeds via sports wagering rocket up in May

Alan Wooten/The Center Square  Only five months since inception and three this fiscal year topped the tax proceeds from sports wagering in May, the North Carolina State Lottery Commission reported Monday morning. Eight licensed sports books produced $11,740,881 for state coffers. Sports wagering since inception has averaged $347,921 per day. This fiscal year, it’s $316,410. […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

7. Dare Commissioners unite in opposing offshore drilling

Kip Tabb/Outer Banks Voice Dare County Health and Human Services Director Sheila Davies introduced the resolution opposing offshore drilling. After learning that the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is considering opening the waters of the East Coast to offshore drilling for gas and oil, the Dare County Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution opposing “the […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

8. Proposed Lake budget would raise property tax rate 36%

Diana Matthews/The (Whiteville) News Reporter The Lake Waccamaw Town Council could vote Tuesday on a budget that would raise residents’ property tax rate 36% from what they are now paying. It would be the second hike in the rate since 2023. Water and sewer rates would rise as well. Citing “inflationary pressures, coupled with increased […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

10. Ocean City’s culinary traditions a beacon in turbulent past

Liz Biro/Coastal Review Online Every summer, the women of Ocean City Beach organized crabbing trips to Topsail Island’s north end. On a waxing moon, when the tide was exactly right, moms and their kids skimmed the saltwater shallows hunting blue crabs, as many as they could carry. The fat jimmies and sooks were the promise […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

Trump wants over-land supersonic flights legalized

You’ll recall that back on May 14, North Carolina U.S. Sens. Ted Budd and Thom Tillis joined colleagues from Utah and Montana in introducing a bill that would order the FAA to rewrite that rules that bar supersonic flight over the U.S. It’s since been overtaken by events. On Friday, President Trump issued an executive order directing the agency […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

Peebles Corp. projects stumble in Durham and Charlotte amid rising costs, delays

Local government leaders in both Durham and Charlotte are trying to figure out how to get a couple of long-stalled public-private redevelopment projects moving again. The common thread in both is the involvement of Florida-based Peebles Corp.. Charlotte officials have been working with Peebles since 2016 on the Brooklyn Village project, which targets a chunk of the city’s […]

Written by on June 9, 2025

1. Hunger already an issue in post-Helene Western NC. Signs it could get much worse.

Jane Winik Sartwell/Carolina Public Press Hunger and a lack of access to healthy food continues to plague parts of Western North Carolina, eight months since Tropical Storm Helene tore through the mountains. The storm ripped apart bridges, roads and farmland. Even now, some cannot easily access grocery stores — the ones that are open, that […]

Written by on June 8, 2025

2. Recovery Failure: Why we struggle to rebuild for the next storm

Laura Sullivan/WFAE Radio When Shalana Jordan finally arrived at her parents’ trailer home in Swannanoa, N.C., alongside the river, she paused and let out a long sigh. The building was ripped open on one end, all the furniture was smashed up against the other end and a black pickup truck was wedged against one of […]

Written by on June 8, 2025

3. Stay or go? More flood victims opting for buyout third time around

Becky Johnson/The (Waynesville) Mountaineer So far, 71 flood victims in Haywood County are seeking a buyout of their damaged homes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, leaving a patchwork of vacant property across the county in Helene’s wake. The number doesn’t include dozens more contemplating a buyout but still deciding. Buyout interest is greater than […]

Written by on June 8, 2025

4. Speakers chastise Matheny at meeting

Kevin Griffin/The (Greensboro) News & Record Greensboro Councilman Zack Matheny received support from his colleagues as he faced insults and claims of conflict of interests and ethical violations at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Matheny has long been the subject of scrutiny over his dual role as both an elected official and the president of Downtown […]

Written by on June 8, 2025