Lucas Thomae/Carolina Public Press In 1971, North Carolina passed its first certificate-of-need law. Copying a model which started in 1960s New York, the program would require medical providers to seek permission from the government before expanding or developing new services. The idea behind the policy was that it would prevent unnecessary spending by hospitals, which […]
Greg Lacour/WFAE Radio After months of debate and an earlier vote that appeared to end the project, the contentious Interstate 77 toll lanes from uptown to South Carolina may move forward after all. That appeared to be the case after Monday, when Charlotte City Council members discussed what to do next about the largest highway […]
Benjamin Schachtman/WHQR There’s significant momentum behind the plans for a tolled replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, which are nearing the point of no return. Serious questions remain about the plans’ impact, and some are asking if there are any alternatives. Here’s a look at how we got here and what could come next. […]
Shirleen Guerra/The Center Square Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy are offering Virginia customers more bill relief and promising new jobs and investment as they seek approval for their proposed merger. The companies announced Monday they want to extend $10 monthly residential bill credits from two years to four years. They also added commitments for low-income […]
John Boyle/Asheville Watchdog Nearly seven months after withdrawing its application for a store in the Enka Commerce Park, Costco has submitted new plans with the City of Asheville. Costco withdrew its application for a highly anticipated new store in February, citing requests for on- and off-site improvements that had “increased the project’s overall scope, timeline […]
Mark Jurkowitz/Outer Banks Voice The Kill Devil Hills Commissioners discussed some options for regulating E-Bikes in the Town at their Sept. 14 meeting—and the consensus that emerged is that there’s no easy and quick solution. “There’s a lot to think about here and we have time, given that the law doesn’t go into effect until […]
Katie Myers & Frida Garza/BPR News & Grist On Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, a small band of activists marched past the gates of a sprawling plant nursery in Leicester, North Carolina, outside of Asheville. The sun beat down on rows of steamy greenhouses where workers moved through aisles of houseplants ready for sale. […]
Frank Daniels IV/The Southern Pines Pilot With many students settling into the school year, continued bus driver shortages remain a barrier for dozens of students and provide ongoing consternation for Moore County Schools transportation personnel. A raise to driver pay has bolstered interest in the position, but training times and state staffing shortages means it […]
Brenna Flanagan/Port City Daily The Wilmington police chief is coming up on his one-year anniversary this month, a year marked by building up the ranks of officers while also fielding public scrutiny over several violent incidents in the city. Chief Ryan Zuidema sat down with Port City Daily for an interview reflecting on this past […]
Dasia Williams/CityView The Cumberland County Board of Education has taken the first step toward eliminating formal contracting goals for businesses owned by women, minorities, and disabled people after state lawmakers dismantled the framework supporting those requirements. The board voted unanimously September 8 to approve the first readings of proposals to rescind two policies—“Participation by Historically […]
Laura Hackett/BPR News On Tuesday, Asheville City Council unanimously voted for a new ordinance that aims to strengthen protections for renters who are living in unsafe housing conditions. Dubbed the “No Rent for Slumlords” ordinance by local organizers, the policy makes it unlawful for landlords to collect rent on a unit that has structural issues, […]
Josh Funk/The Associated Press The cargo airline that flew the plane that ran off the end of a Miami runway over Labor Day weekend and killed five people lost one of its biggest customers when Amazon suspended its partnership with 21 Air, and it’s not yet clear if the company will lose more business while […]
Emma Dill/WilmingtonBiz For Aswani Volety, chancellor of the University of North Carolina Wilmington, each project in the university’s campus master plan plays a unique role in supporting UNCW’s mission. The proposed projects range from a welcome center and new residence hall to a hotel and conference center, along with renovations to several academic buildings and […]
Lucas Thomae/Carolina Public Press In 2022, North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services approved new hospital beds to be built in Western North Carolina for the first time in more than a decade. According to the formula the state uses annually to determine which areas require expanded medical services, Buncombe and its neighboring counties […]
Rachel Crumpler/NC Health News Jennifer McCord, who became disabled in 2021 after a drunk driver crashed into her car, relies on $994 in Social Security disability income each month. Nearly $700 goes toward rent for a studio apartment in Asheboro. Then she pays her phone, internet and car bills. Typically, she said, she has $30 […]
