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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...

By Ray Gronberg

October 10, 2024

Company police under scrutiny

A lawsuit spawned by October 2022’s mass shooting in Raleigh may put the state’s “company police” law — and one of the agencies licensed through it — under the microscope. The negligence complaint lists among its defendants a security firm called Capitol Special Police, its president and chief Roy Taylor,...

By Ray Gronberg

October 9, 2024

In court

Taylor hasn’t responded to an email asking for comment, and as of Tuesday afternoon the eCourts case file doesn’t list an attorney for him or any of the other defendants. It’s likely the judge who handles the case will have to address several potential defenses before the case ever reaches...

By Ray Gronberg

October 9, 2024

Port of Wilmington fares well in ranking

Wilmington continues to fare well in a worldwide ranking of container-port efficiency, albeit not as well in the latest version as it did a year ago. Issued in July and compiled with help from analysts at S&P Global Market Intelligence, the World Bank’s 2023 Container Port Performance Index pegged Wilmington...

By Ray Gronberg

October 8, 2024

Power restoration nears end in SC; western NC proving a harder nut to crack

Duke Energy is warning that some of its customers in Western North Carolina could be without electricity “for an extended period of time.” The utility says “the vast majority” of those “who can receive power” should get it back by midnight Tuesday. Others should see a restoration of service “within...

By Ray Gronberg

October 8, 2024

Bridge loans available for Helene-hit small business

The Mountain BizWorks nonprofit in Asheville is creating a small business lending program to assist recovery from Hurricane Helene, with $7.5 million funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation. The program entails bridge loans of as much as $100,000. They’re aimed at “providing critical relief to small businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene,” House Speaker...

By Ray Gronberg

October 8, 2024

Tillis weighs in on Helene rumors

Corbin isn’t the only prominent Republican speaking up. North Carolina U.S. Sen Thom Tillis, appearing Sunday on CBS’ Face the Nation, addressed the point head-on. In storm responses, “discipline is absolutely essential,” Tillis said. “Kevin is a friend of mine and he’s right to call out people. “Many of the...

By Ray Gronberg

October 7, 2024

Rumor control

Rumor control is usually a problem for officials at every level of government after a natural disaster, and Hurricane Helene’s proving no exception. Perhaps more exceptional is the sheer volume of Helene-related rumors, with the imminent election adding to them as candidates jockey for advantage. Things got to the point...

By Welcome

October 7, 2024

Toyota North Carolina update

Japan’s Nikkei Asia reported Thursday that Toyota is slowing some of its plans to build new EVs, but it’s not looking like that has any immediate fallout for the company’s $13.9 billion battery factory in Randolph County. “There is no impact to Toyota North Carolina’s production schedule,” said Emily Wilemon-Holland,...

By Ray Gronberg

October 4, 2024

Flying into the storm zone

On Monday evening, some random Reddit scrolling amid the second game of the Braves-Mets doubleheader called to my attention that a car-modding YouTuber who calls himself Cleetus McFarland was using his personal helicopter to fly supplies to Hurricane Helene victims near Asheville. By Tuesday, Cleetus — the nom de guerre of...

By Ray Gronberg

October 3, 2024

LGC sides with Cabarrus

Speaker Moore isn’t the only one taking shots at Folwell. The treasurer is having a tough go of things at the Local Government Commission, which he chairs. LGC members on Tuesday voted 6-3, over the treasurer’s dissent, to give Cabarrus County permission to borrow up to $85 million to pay...

By Ray Gronberg

October 3, 2024

Roads, food and water

The water-system failures are combining with road blockages of various sorts to throw the relief effort probably its biggest curveball, the need to bring in massive loads of supplies and get them distributed. An illustration of that came from the N.C. National Guard, which loaded 100,000 pounds of food and...

By Ray Gronberg

October 3, 2024

Power and communications

Meanwhile, Duke Energy says it expects to have the power back on for “the majority of customers” in western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina by Friday evening. As of the mid-afternoon on Monday the company was reporting about 308,000 customers in western North Carolina were without electricity. Another 438,000...

By Ray Gronberg

October 3, 2024

Water supplies and power

Water supplies and power remained the key deficits in western North Carolina on Monday as the region continues to pick up the pieces from Hurricane Helene. The water situation bears a closer look, given that one of the major logistics problems the state faces is the need to truck bottled...

By Ray Gronberg

October 3, 2024

Johnson & Johnson to build in Wilson

Finally, a bit of good non-Helene news. Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson plans a $2 billion investment at a plant in Wilson, about 50 miles east of Raleigh, the company and state announced Tuesday. Janssen Biotech, a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson would employ at least 420 people by 2031...

By Ray Gronberg

October 3, 2024