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As of 2022, West Marion had a population of about 916, according to DataUSA. (Kristina Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Local investment empowers rural NC communities

Rural areas often lack essential resources but one North Carolina community is proving how local action and investment can make a difference…

According to Jonathan Tyndall, about 30% to 40% of farm produce goes to waste and doesn't get used. He says Ripe for Revival is working to make those numbers smaller. (Courtesy of Joe Mecca/Coastal Credit Union)

New mobile market tackles food deserts in North Carolina

A new mobile market is tackling food deserts in North Carolina, where 1.4 million people struggle to find healthy food. Ripe for Revival, a nonprofit …

Revolution Mill is a former textile factory, spanning 45 acres about two miles outside downtown Greensboro. The 800,000-square-foot development features shops, offices, restaurants and apartments, and 2005 Revolution Mill, a $38 million mixed-use commercial and residential project. (Adobe Stock)

Federal program helps transform NC communities, boost economies

Federal New Market Tax Credits are helping transform abandoned areas and boost local communities in North Carolina and across the nation. In …

According to the East Coast Greenway Alliance, 50 million bike rides, runs and walks occur every year along the project's existing route. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina Greenways: A Path to Health, Happiness, and Economic Growth

By Ashira Morris for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalis…

Union County averaged 1.3 high ozone days giving them a

NC Air Report Highlights Needs for Emission Reduction, Rural Air Monitoring

A new study emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced air quality monitoring in rural regions, while drawing attention to the efforts required to …

The Volkswagen Settlement will fund 161 new school buses across the state, the majority of which will be electric. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Clean School Bus Program Awards Five Districts in North Carolina

Five school districts in North Carolina have been awarded more than $12 million in funding for cleaner school buses. The Environmental Protection …

Electric-car sales reached a record 3 million in 2020, up 40% from 2019, according to the International Energy Agency. (Adobe Stock)

NC Pushes for Electric Trucks, School Buses to Cut Carbon Emissions

North Carolina businesses and advocacy groups want Gov. Roy Cooper to adopt new heavy-duty electric-vehicle rules by the end of next year. They say …

Hurricane Florence lands on North Carolina's coast in 2018. Statewide, the storm caused 39 deaths and billions of dollars in damage. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NC Groups Sign On to Renewed National Focus on Curbing Climate Change

RALEIGH, N.C. - The Biden administration has its sights set on creating more jobs, with an ambitious plan centered on clean energy and climate policy…

Research shows cities that plan and install protected lanes for cyclists have fewer bike and pedestrian fatalities than those that do not. (Adobe Stock)

Protected Bike Lanes Offer Safer Routes for Walkers, Wheelchairs

DURHAM, N.C. - People in Durham who prefer two-wheeled transportation say bike lanes with physical barriers reduce road fatalities, and they're …

North Carolina's population is projected to grow by 44% by 2040, and experts say cities must boost their public transportation options to handle this surge. (Adobe Stock)

NC Cities Fight for Public Transit, Despite Pandemic Setbacks

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Public-transit ridership has plummeted to historic lows across the U.S., but some North Carolina cities are pushing to sustain …

The city of Mount Airy, N.C., has undertaken a major stream-restoration project. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Towns Do Needed Restoration Work, Despite Pandemic

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. -- Small towns across the state are focusing efforts on environmental restoration and creating equitable access to green spaces …

In 2019, the city of Brevard received $1 million from the state of North Carolina to undertake a stream-restoration project aimed at preventing the city's water treatment plant from being damaged by high levels of sediment. (Adobe Stock)

Rural Water Infrastructure at Risk as More Budget Cuts Loom

BREVARD, N.C. -- Water systems across North Carolina are in need of repair, yet local government budgets are shrinking amid the economic fallout from …

Gov. Roy Cooper's Clean Energy Plan calls on North Carolina utilities to reduce carbon emissions by 70% by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Duke Energy Plans to Add Wind Power to Cut Carbon Emissions

RALEIGH, N.C. -- For the first time, Duke Energy is including wind power in its Integrated Resource Plan, an outline of how the state's largest …

Hurricane Florence hits the east coast of the United States in September 2018. (NASA/Adobe Stock)

New Report Looks at NC's Emergency Funds for Natural Disasters

RALEIGH, N. C. -- North Carolina saves on average $6.43 in recovery efforts for every dollar spent on natural-disaster mitigation. That's slightly …

In 2018, 108 million Americans lived in neighborhoods that experienced more than 100 days of degraded air quality, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Report: In 2018, NC Cities Hit Nearly 100 High Air-Pollution Days

RALEIGH, N.C. -- City-dwellers in North Carolina spent several months breathing elevated levels of air pollution in 2018, according to a new report …

Coastal US military bases are increasingly vulnerable to flooding from climate change-induced extreme weather. (Adobe Stock)

Military Faces Risks from Rising Seas, Climate Change

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The U.S. Senate soon is expected to consider the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed in the House last week. For the …

The Clean Air Act aims to curb nationwide air pollution and sets caps on the levels of ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides and other airborne particulates. (Adobe Stock)

NC Hosts EPA Meeting on Changing Air-Pollution Standards

CARY, N.C. - Scientists meet this week in Cary to debate whether the Environmental Protection Agency's current standards for particulate matter and …

A planned six-lane loop highway construction project in the Raleigh area now will have to protect surrounding water and air quality and wildlife habitats as part of a recent settlement agreement. (Adobe Stock)

Settlement Requires NC Highway Project to Include Environmental Protections

RALEIGH, N.C. – A major highway project in Raleigh will have to incorporate environmental protections as part of a legal settlement between the …

Roughly 1,200 North Carolina roads were flooded by Hurricane Florence in 2018. (North Carolina National Guard)

North Carolina Leaders Call for Flood-Ready Infrastructure

RALEIGH, N.C. — After North Carolina experienced the wrath of two 500-year storms over the course of two years, there are calls for smarter …

Ronald Ross holds an air-pollution monitoring device used in the AirKeepers project. (Clean Air Carolina)

Residents of NC Neighborhood Collect Their Own Air-Pollution Data

CHARLOTTE, N. C. – A Mecklenburg County community air-pollution monitoring project is highlighting how housing discrimination affects the …

Public transportation and better schools are just two priorities that the group NC Child says would make a big difference in moving generations of children from poverty to opportunity. (NC Child)

Reports: NC Could Do More to Tackle Childhood Poverty

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nearly 1 million children in North Carolina live in poor or low-income homes, according to U.S. census figures. The nonprofit …

About 1.2 million households in North Carolina were affected by Hurricane Florence, according to the North Carolina Dept. of Public Safety. (nesdis.noaa.gov)

NC Groups Host Hurricane Florence Survivors

WILMINGTON, N.C. – More than four months after Hurricane Florence, people in Eastern North Carolina are still awaiting FEMA recovery assistance…

A decrease in fuel-efficiency progress could have a significant impact on cities such as Asheville with a high volume of traffic and large tourism economy. (SelenaNBH/flickr)

NC Tourism, Citizen Health Could Be Impacted by Fuel-Efficiency Roadblock

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday announced a proposed rule that would put a freeze on fuel-economy standards …

Systems such as the Lynx Blue Line light rail in Charlotte are transportation options for North Carolina as the population increases. (James Willamor/flickr)

NC Population Boom Presents Challenge to Cities, State

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – If you feel like there are more people living in your town, you're likely not imagining it. Two-thirds of the state saw …

The NC BREATHE Conference aims to reduce the number of Code Orange days, like this one last summer in Charlotte, where air quality is dangerous for sensitive groups. (Clean Air Carolina)

Experts Collaborate on Better Air Quality for NC

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – North Carolina has come a long way in improving air quality in recent decades, but is it far enough? Recent research …

Charging stations like this one in Durham make it easier for drivers to keep on rolling in their electric vehicles. (NCDOTcommunications/Flickr)

NC Cities Urged to "Plug In" to Electric Cars

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sales of electric vehicles are on the rise - up 38 percent in 2016 and another 32 percent last year. A new report by the …

With North Carolina's wind-energy potential, there is extra incentive to see a national transmission upgrade to transport the energy generated. (Ian Muttoo/flickr)

Fortune 500 Companies Want to Wind Up Energy Grid for Wind

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina has more wind off its shores than any other state on the Atlantic coast. But beyond the hurdle of harnessing the …

Leaders from cities such as Durham and Raleigh are asking Washington for more support in developing public transit options. (James Willamor/flickr)

NC Mayors to Trump: Help Us Pave Way to Progress

DURHAM, N.C. — North Carolina mayors are joining others across the country to let Washington know about roadblocks in their pursuit of growth …

The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy maintains Laurel Ridge Preserve, which adjoins Asheville Watershed land. (SAHC)

Protecting NC Water Quality Rooted in Solutions, Literally

BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. – In many parts of North Carolina, riverfronts are becoming prime real estate, with cities such as Asheville now …

With 17 Interstate highways in North Carolina, Clean Air Carolina is the plaintiff in a lawsuit filed Monday, suiting the Federal Highway Administration for its suspension of the clean-air standard. (Mark Clifton/flickr)

Trump Administration Sued by Clean Air Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Federal Highway Administration now faces a lawsuit for its abrupt suspension of the clean-air standard earlier this year…

Two solar farms at First Baptist Church of Mount Olive are now generating enough to power a small town. (Nature Conservancy in North Carolina)

Churches Finding Ways to Worship Son and Sun

MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. – This Sunday, at least one North Carolina church will be thankful for the sunny weather of late. First Baptist Church of …

Elevated ozone levels were among the concerns shared by North Carolina climate leaders at the recent NC BREATHE Conference. (Kat/flickr.com)

NC Air Quality: Experts Say Protections Must Include Urban, Rural Areas

RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina's scientists are doing anything but breathing easily about the future of the state's air quality as the Trump …

The AirKeepers Citizen Science Program offers low-cost AirBeam Monitors to citizens and educators to monitor particulate matter in North Carolina's air. (Clean Air Carolina)

Citizen Science: Program Aims to Create Air Awareness through Education

CHARLOTTE, N. C. – The impact of poor air quality on people's lungs often is felt long before it is seen, but a program by Clean Air Carolina …

Princeville is among the North Carolina towns that remain devastated by the floods from Hurricane Matthew in October. (Erica Smith-Ingram)

NC Coastal Communities in Limbo After Hurricane Matthew

PRINCEVILLE, N.C. – "Should I stay or should I go?" That's the question for thousands of residents on the North Carolina coast, who remain …

Much of the eastern part of North Carolina remains underwater, and people struggle to recover and compete with the election for attention. (Fema.gov)

Election Drowning Out Devastation on NC Coast

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. – Thousands of people have been displaced and damage is in the millions of dollars, and yet the destruction caused by …

The Ararat River Restoration and Green Way Project in Mount Airy generates an estimated $500,000 annually for the city's economy. (Mount Airy)

NC Town Links People, Nature

MOUNT AIRY, N.C. — Much attention has been paid to revitalizing downtowns in North Carolina by adding storefronts and parking garages. But one …

Semitrucks traveling across North Carolina will soon have to include improved carbon emissions technology. (karen2873/flickr.com)

Share the Air and the Road: Carbon Emission Rules Extended to Trucking Industry

RALEIGH, N.C. - North Carolina drivers have to share the road with thousands of heavy-duty trucks that transport thousands of pounds of goods across …

A new report ranks North Carolina in fifth place in solar per capita in the nation. (Morguefile.com)

Report: Bright Future for Solar in NC

SANFORD, N.C. - There's four solar panels for every five people in North Carolina, placing the state in fifth place nationwide for solar per capita…

President Obama's Clean Power Plan is one policy that will be affected by the vacant seat left on the U.S. Supreme Court by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. (lauramusikanski/morguefile)

Environmentalists: Climate Depends on Filled U.S. Supreme Court Seat

RALEIGH, N. C. – As Earth Day events are held throughout North Carolina today, residents concerned about the effects of climate change and …

The Plains and Eastern Clean Line transmission project could carry wind energy from Oklahoma to Southeastern states, including North Carolina. (richardghawley/Flickr)

Cross-Continental Wind Energy Transmission Project Could Offer Power to NC

RALEIGH, N. C. – The winds of change are blowing, with the U.S. Department of Energy's approval of the Plains and Eastern Clean Line …

Raleigh is one of fastest growing metro areas in the country, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data. (JamesWillamor/Flickr)

Census News: North Carolina Metro Areas See Growth

RALEIGH, N.C. – People are moving to the Tar Heel State – particularly to its metro areas. Census data released today names Raleigh as …

Sustain Charlotte is calling on city leaders to invest in an east-west bike path in uptown Charlotte. (46birds/morguefile)

NC Group Wants Bicycles in the Driver's Seat

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - For decades, much of the state's transportation solutions have come down to building roadways to accommodate more vehicles…

Planned Express Toll Lanes on I-77 in Charlotte could end up costing taxpayers additional funds if enough travelers don't opt to take the travel option. (CharlieCowins/Flickr.com)

Report: Express-Lane Project May Take Toll on NC Taxpayers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Plans for the controversial I-77 Express Lanes Project in Charlotte are moving ahead now that the Charlotte Regional Transportation …

North Carolina voters will have the chance to weigh in on the Connect NC bond referendum on the March 15 primary ballot. (kconnors/morguefile.com)

Borrowing for the Future: Nonpartisan Support for Connect NC Bond

RALEIGH, N.C. – In less than two months at the March 15th primary, North Carolina voters will have their say on a bond referendum that …

Drought is one of North Carolina's vulnerabilities when it comes to climate change, according to a recent report. Credit: inkogutto/morguefile.com

NC Tourism Economy Could Dry Up with Climate Change

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - North Carolina's tourism industry generated $20 billion last year alone, and a new report predicts natural disasters, largely …

Grassy Ridge Bald is a 601-acre protected tract of land in the Road Highlands of the Pisgah National Forest. Credit: Witt Langstaff Jr.

NC Budget Deal: Land-Conservation Projects Breathe Sigh of Relief

RALEIGH, N.C. - Members of the North Carolina legislature will likely get their first look today at the budget deal reached by Republican leaders …

CEI - The Digital Office in Raleigh took advantage of available state and federal tax credits to install 615 solar panels and a new

N.C. Lawmakers Debate Putting the Freeze on Solar Growth

RALEIGH, N.C. – The tax credit believed to be largely responsible for North Carolina's ranking as fourth in the nation for installed solar …

Photo: The outcome of Asheville's case against the state over ownership of its watershed could have statewide implications. Photo credit: bhallu7/morguefile.com

Lawsuit Highlights Issue of State vs. City Ownership in North Carolina

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Western North Carolina – specifically Asheville – is embroiled in a fight with the state over control of the …

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NC: Urban Planning and Transportation