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A lo largo de una d�cada, Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust ha invertido $107,5 millones en diez condados de Carolina del Norte, incluidos Beaufort, McDowell, Halifax, Rockingham, Burke, Edgecombe, Nash, Bladen, Columbus y Robeson.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

Informe concluye que inversión a largo plazo en zonas rurales mejora los recursos

Un nuevo informe revela que invertir en zonas rurales puede mejorar los recursos esenciales para las personas que viven allí. A pesar de una …

According to Thrivent, FAFSA delays are expected to affect more than 17 million students trying to make plans for the 2024-2025 academic year. (Adobe Stock)

NC's college-bound students face FAFSA delays

The revamp of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - or FAFSA - was supposed to streamline the process for college hopefuls this fall…

About 30% of U.S. households, or 38.6 million households, are eligible for weatherization. Only about 0.2% of low-income households in the United States receive much-needed weatherization services each year, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. (Marina Gordejeva/Adobe Stock) About 30% of U.S. households, or 38.6 million households, are eligible for weatherization. This means that only about 0.2% of low-income households in the United States receive much-needed weatherization se

NC nonprofit helps families in need save on energy bills

By Elizabeth Ouzts for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism…

In the United States, more than 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Bill could help food banks across North Carolina

In a state where nearly 11% of households face food insecurity, North Carolina's food banks are grappling with an urgent problem. The nonprofit …

The latest America's Health Rankings report showed 11% of people avoided care because of a lack of insurance between 2021 and 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Depression rates on rise in North Carolina

Depression is on the rise in North Carolina, based on the latest America's Health Rankings data. Between 2018 and 2022, mental distress increased by …

MarketBoxx partners with universities and colleges food pantries to address food insecurity and combat 'food deserts,' which can affect the health and nutrition of college students on a budget. (Photo courtesy of MarketBoxx)

Nonprofit fights hunger on founders' former NC campus

Just in time for the holidays, two North Carolina A&T State University graduates are taking a stand against hunger among college students, and making …

KFF research suggests that Medicaid expansion has helped reduce disparities in coverage by income, age, marital status, disability status and, in some studies, race/ethnicity. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolinians gain greater access to health care with Medicaid expansion

Starting Friday, North Carolinians will have greater access to health care as the long-awaited Medicaid expansion is launched. Medicaid will …

A study by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice found basic needs insecurity, particularly food insecurity, is prevalent among many students of color, with 75% of Indigenous students and 70% of both Black and American Indian or Alaska Native students across two- and four-year institutions experiencing it. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina university works to fight food insecurity on campus

More than 1 million North Carolinians, including college students, are grappling with food insecurity. Recognizing the urgent need, schools like …

All types of college transfers, combined, dropped by 2.3% in 2022, resulting in an overall 6.9% decrease in transfer students since Fall 2020. (Aleksandr/Adobe Stock)

NC School Focuses on Boosting Transfer Student Success

As colleges gear up to welcome students for the fall semester, there is a growing focus on supporting students who transfer from one school to …

Statewide enrollment grew 36% during the pandemic, with more than 797,000 people newly qualifying for coverage from March 2020 until last April. (Adobe Stock)

Medicaid Redetermination in NC: Thousands at Risk of Losing Coverage

North Carolinians face a significant challenge as the federal provision preventing states from removing Medicaid participants from their coverage in t…

Between 2020 and 2022, the number of North Carolinians experiencing unsheltered homelessness rose from 2,558 to 3,625. (Adobe Stock)

NC Nonprofit Receives Grant to Fight Homelessness

In North Carolina, five nonprofit groups are receiving a much-needed financial boost to help them with projects aimed at enhancing people's financial …

The average annual cost of child care in North Carolina is $9,255 for an infant and $7,592 for a 4-year-old. (Adobe Stock)

Report Highlights NC Needs for More & Better Child Care

Families in North Carolina are in critical need of more and better child care options, according to the latest Kids Count Data Book, released today …

The North Carolina Office of State Budget and Management estimates Hurricane Florence caused $17 billion in damage. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Aims to Help Hurricane Survivors Build Homes Faster

A new bill aimed at the disaster-relief program Rebuild NC could help storm-displaced North Carolinians get back into their homes faster. Under …

The National Association of Federally Insured Credit Unions reports 122 million Americans are credit-union members. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

NC Credit Unions Position Themselves as Banking Alternatives

People who are nervous about where to put their money based on recent bank failures in the news are taking a closer look at credit unions. There …

Median operating margins among rural hospitals were higher in expansion than non-expansion states in 2019, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

NC Medicaid Expansion Agreement Could Bolster Rural Hospitals

North Carolina lawmakers recently reached a bipartisan agreement that paves the way for an additional 600,000 residents to gain access to health cover…

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction was recently awarded $17 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Education to help address student mental health needs. (Adobe Stock)

Foundation Funds Grassroots Efforts to Curb NC Racial Disparities

Following the example of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - honored today for his civil rights work - one organization in North Carolina is finding ways …

El Departamento de Instrucci�n P�blica de Carolina del Norte recibi� recientemente $17 millones en subvenciones del Departamento de Educaci�n de EE. UU. para ayudar a abordar las necesidades de salud mental de los estudiantes. (Adobe Stock)

Fundación apoya esfuerzos comunitarios para frenar disparidades raciales en NC

Una organización en Carolina del Norte encuentra maneras de ayudar a revertir las disparidades raciales en el estado, y sigue el ejemplo del Dr…

One in eight people in North Carolina faces hunger, according to Feeding America. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Food Justice Advocates, Faith Leaders ‘Come to the Table’ to Address Hunger

Food pantries run by rural churches are often a lifeline for older, retired residents or those living with a disability. Come to the Table is a …

The Four Leaf Clover Program is a small group making a big difference in Benson, N.C., where its volunteers organize summer day trips and provide lunches for local children. (Cleo McKinnon)<br />

Grassroots Group Offers Rural NC Kids Access to Summer Activities, Meals

Many rural North Carolina kids lack access to summer camps and consistent meals when school is out, but an organization in Benson is working to …

RAFI-USA launched the Fresh Bucks consumer incentive program in 2015, in partnership with the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust. The Double Bucks incentive program began in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

NC Farmers’ Markets Double Buying Power for Food-Insecure Households

People in North Carolina who need to stretch every dollar spent on food can get double the value of fresh produce and other goods through government a…

Healthcare provisions in The Build Back Better Act would increase Medicaid and CHIP coverage for people after a pregnancy, from 60 days to one year postpartum. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 'Build Back Better' Could Shrink NC Health Coverage Gap

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Many low-income North Carolinians without health insurance would quality for 'zero-dollar' out-of-pocket health coverage under a new …

Food prices are rising nationwide, and the cost of a grocery store trip is up 3.5% from a year ago, according to a USDA report. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Groups Work to Boost Food Access, Help Farmers

RALEIGH, N.C. -- More than $1 million in COVID-19 relief grants are helping rural organizations increase their focus on locally sourced food relief…

Los precios de los alimentos est�n aumentando en todo el pa�s y el costo de un viaje de compras ha aumentado un 3,5% con respecto al a�o anterior, seg�n un informe del USDA. (Adobe Stock)

Grupos rurales trabajan para impulsar acceso a alimentos y ayudar a agricultores

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Más de $1 millón en subvenciones para la COVID-19 están ayudando a organizaciones rurales a aumentar su enfoque en la …

Around 600,000 employees of North Carolina's small businesses have no health insurance, according to the North Carolina Justice Center. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Small Business Owners Feel "Crushed" by Healthcare System

DURHAM, N.C. -- Small-business owners across the state say the pandemic has highlighted their struggles with the current healthcare system, and many …

North Carolina ranks 34th among states for children's well-being in the 2021 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, although the state improved on many individual measures in the report. (Adobe Stock)

Pandemic-Relief Measures Can Help More NC Kids

RALEIGH, N.C. -- New survey data offer a clear picture of how North Carolina kids and families are faring, both before and after the pandemic…

Los voluntarios almacenan estantes en SHARE Cooperative en Winston-Salem. (Facebook)<br />

Organizaciones sin fines de lucro lideradas por negros apoyan a comunidades de NC durante pandemia

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- Organizaciones sin fines de lucro lideradas por negros en Winston-Salem están trabajando para ayudar a los residentes con …

Research shows when jobless workers receive too little wage replacement for too short of a time, it impacts their ability to pay rent, keep food on the table and keep local businesses open. (Adobe Stock)

Push for UI Reform Grows as NC Workers' Challenges Linger

RALEIGH, N.C. -- It's estimated more than 280,000 North Carolinians remain unemployed from jobs lost during the pandemic, and many more have stopped …

Abbott Park, a mobile home park in Lumberton, N.C. Researchers examining the health effects of rising temperatures in counties like Robeson are looking at how higher temperatures can affect residents and exacerbate social vulnerabilities. (Julia Wall/JWALL@NEWSOBSERVER.COM)

Heat Illness Hits Rural NC; Climate Change Means More Risk

Print version by Adam Wagner Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for The Raleigh News & Observer - North Carolina News Service collaborati…

Cobblestone Farmers Market is the only sustainable farmers market in Forsyth County, N.C., says founder Margaret Norfleet-Neff. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers Markets Rely on Tech to Serve Communities During Pandemic

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. -- North Carolina farmers markets increasingly are relying on technology to keep up access to fresh food during the pandemic…

Sellers, S.C., Mayor Barbara Hopkins shows homes damaged by repeated flooding and hurricanes on Feb. 13, 2020. Homeowners without clear titles on their property have faced challenges receiving disaster aid and are ineligible for some programs. (Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com)

Hurricanes Devastate SC Town, Leaving Mold Behind

Print version by Sammy Fretwell Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan Reporting for The Raleigh News & Observer - North Carolina News Service collabor…

North Carolina is one of the largest users of the H-2A guest worker program, employing between 14,000 and 17,000 H-2A migrant workers annually. (Adobe Stock)

Farm Workers' Union Calls for Suspension of Labor Contractors' Licenses

RALEIGH, N.C. - A farm workers' union wants the U.S. Department of Labor to suspend its H-2A Labor Contractor program. Farm labor contractors often …

Children with access to healthcare are more likely to succeed in school, graduate from high school, attend college, earn higher wages, and become healthy adults. (Adobe Stock)

Spike in Number of Uninsured NC Children Among Highest in Nation

RALEIGH, N.C. -- An estimated 142,000 North Carolina children were uninsured last year, according to a new report released by the Georgetown …

Since the state's eviction moratorium expired in June, thousands of North Carolina residents are at risk of losing their housing. (Adobe Stock)

NC Lawmakers Fail to Bring Relief to Struggling Residents

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina's economy is hurting, yet residents can expect little in the way of federal relief. U.S. Senate lawmakers have …

The coronavirus pandemic has prompted many North Carolina residents to start their own gardens.(Adobe Stock)

NC’s Rural Communities Finding Food Solutions Amid COVID-19

WASHINGTON, N.C. -- Rural communities across North Carolina are working to meet the rising needs of residents who are unable to access healthy food …

Exposure to particulate matter air pollution is associated with the increased use of asthma medication in children. (Adobe Stock)

Report: EPA Stance on Air Quality Ignores Scientific Evidence

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Environmental Protection Agency has said it plans to leave current air pollution standards for particulate matter unchanged…

Almost one in five North Carolina children faces hunger on a regular basis. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report Reveals Wide Childhood Disparities Among NC Counties

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Kids in Union County are faring better than those in other parts of the state, according to a new report that looks by county at …

Cars are among the largest contributor to greenhouse-gas emissions driving climate change. (Adobe Stock)

Weaker EPA Car Emissions Rule Puts Americans' Health at Risk

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a new rule that allows automakers to reduce car emissions by just 1.5% through 2026…

According to researchers at Duke University, more than 200,000 evictions have been filed in Durham County since 2000. (Adobe Stock)

Durham Housing Evictions Halted in COVID-19 Crisis

DURHAM, N.C. -- The chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court has halted all eviction proceedings for 30 days, as many North Carolina …

The North Carolina Department of Commerce projects around 380,000 new jobs will be added to the state by 2026. (Adobe Stock)

Employment Data: NC's Metro Areas on Up and Up

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Unemployment rates decreased in 92 of North Carolina's 100 counties last November, according to data released this month by the …

More than one in four adults ages 20-64 have untreated dental cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

New Rule Removes Barriers to Dental Care for Low-Income NC Residents

CARY, N.C. -- The State Board of Dental Examiners on Thursday is expected to approve a new rule that would loosen restrictions on dental hygienists…

Supreme Court, court of appeals and district court judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. (Adobe Stock)

Fast-Tracked Confirmations Reshaping Federal Judiciary

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Over the past few years, the U.S. Senate has confirmed 185 of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees, the majority of whom have …

North Carolina is the only state in the nation to rescind its state Earned Income Tax Credit for low-income families. A new report suggests it's time to bring it back. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Low-Income NC Workers Would Benefit from EITC

RALEIGH, N.C. - One in eight North Carolina workers earns poverty-level wages, and a new report says a state Earned Income Tax Credit could help …

Civil rights groups are challenging the judicial system's use of cash bail in Alamance County. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Three Plaintiffs, ACLU Challenge Cash Bail System in Alamance County

GRAHAM, N. C. - The American Civil Liberties Union and other civil rights groups have filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of three people being …

More than 100,000 children in North Carolina currently lack health coverage, according to the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Report: More NC Children Losing Health Coverage

RALEIGH, N.C. - Fifteen thousand North Carolina children lost health insurance coverage between 2016 and 2018, according to a report released today …

In North Carolina, 260,000 children currently live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty, according to The Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

New Data Snapshot: Fewer NC Children Living in Concentrated Poverty

RALEIGH, N.C. – The number of North Carolina children living in areas of concentrated poverty has fallen by 11%, according to a new report by …

About 44 million Americans collectively owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. (Adobe Stock)

NC Student Loan Debt Reaches Crisis Level

RALEIGH, N.C. – Student loan debt among North Carolina residents has ballooned in the past decade, according to the latest report from the …

North Carolina Asian Americans Together and other advocacy organizations have expressed opposition to the Trump administration's move to broaden who is considered to be a

NC’s Asian-American Community “On Edge” Amid Immigration Law Changes

RALEIGH, N.C. — Trepidation is rising in North Carolina's Asian-American community amid recent changes to federal immigration law slated to go …

The number of uninsured women of childbearing age in North Carolina is among the highest in the country, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)

Report: High Uninsured Rate Among NC Women of Childbearing Age

RALEIGH, N. C. – The number of women of childbearing age in North Carolina who do not have health insurance is among the highest in the country…

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NC: Poverty Issues