North Carolina News & Current Events

The prison population averaged about 30,000 last year in North Carolina. (Felix Mizioznikov/Adobe Stock)

Analysis: Earned time prison programs improve outcomes

Programs allowing incarcerated people to receive reductions in their sentences help lower chances of reoffending, according to a recent analysis…

More than 166 million birds across the country have been affected by avian influenza. (panyawat/Adobe Stock)

Industrial farming in NC, US becomes breeding ground for bird flu

Industrial farming practices could be boosting the spread of bird flu. Avian influenza has been detected in poultry across the country, including in …

Air Quality Index levels above 100 are considered unhealthy, especially for sensitive groups. (rck/Adobe Stock)

With ozone season, bad air days to increase in NC

Bad air quality days are a heightened concern as ozone season begins in North Carolina. Ozone season in the state lasts from March through October…

Efforts to take law enforcement out of transportation for mental health patients is part of a broader effort to change North Carolina's behavior health system. (Kristina Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

NC moving away from police transporting people in mental health crisis

North Carolina is investing $20 million to move the transportation of people experiencing mental health crisis away from the responsibility of law enf…

North Carolina's congressional score in the League of Conservation Voters' scorecard went down between 2023 and 2024. (Gerry/Adobe Stock)

Low marks for NC Congress members in 2024 conservation scorecard

North Carolina lawmakers in Congress received mixed marks in the new League of Conservation Voters scorecard. The scorecard ranks members of …

Adults can model proper brushing for their children by brushing alongside them. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

NC dentist has advice before Children's Dental Health Month ends

Children's Dental Health Month is wrapping up but tips for parents and guardians could help their child's health beyond their teeth. Oral health is …

About 17% of funding for North Carolina schools in the 2023-24 school year came from the federal government. (Noah/Adobe Stock)

U.S. Ed Department cuts would be costly to NC schools

The fate of the U.S. Department of Education could have big effects for North Carolina schools. While the Trump administration has discussed …

Collecting the right documents can speed up the process of filing tax returns. (Kittiphan/Adobe Stock)

NC taxpayers: Get your stuff together

Tax season is here and North Carolinians should find the relevant financial documents to ensure filing their returns is as smooth as possible…

Volunteers from Centro Unido helped provide aid to victims of Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. (Andrea Abernathy/Centro Unido)

NC organization applies COVID-era lessons to Helene relief

Lessons learned during the COVID pandemic have proven crucial to one organization responding to Hurricane Helene. Centro Unido - which serves the …

Produce at an upcoming farmers market will come directly from Catawba Trail Farm in Durham, N.C. (Volodymyr Kyrylyuk/Adobe Stock)

NC farmer's market, hike mark Black History Month

An urban farm in North Carolina is celebrating Black History Month this weekend with a farmers market and historic group hike. Urban Community …

An event in Burnsville, N.C., was a turning point for the 21st Century Packhorse Librarian project. (Photo courtesy of Kirsten Crawford Turner)

Free book project continues long tradition by delivering to Helene-damaged NC

By Anya Petrone Slepyan for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for North Carolina News Service Service for the Public News Service/D…

People report feeling fatigued and sleeping more during colder months. (GuRezende/Adobe Stock)

Tips for NC to fend off winter blues

People's moods can slip during the colder, darker winter months - but there are ways for North Carolinians to push back against the winter blues…

Tuition costs can be an insurmountable barriers for some students when it comes to college access. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

NC higher education combats costs with free tuition

With cost at the forefront of prospective students' minds, higher education institutions in North Carolina are rethinking how to overcome one of the …

Cape Fear Community College is among the 15 colleges in the NC Community Colleges Boost pilot program. (Billy Hathorn/Wikimedia Commons)

NC community colleges get 'boost' to bring more students to high-demand jobs

An effort to increase students heading into high-demand jobs from North Carolina's community colleges is receiving a "boost." The N-C Community Colleg…

Roanoke Cooperative serves customers in seven counties in eastern North Carolina near the Virginia border. (Indy beetle/Adobe Stock)

Programs in rural NC, other states provides cost-efficient energy upgrades

Programs in North Carolina and across the country are bringing energy efficiency to rural customers without breaking the bank. Known as Inclusive …

Electric vehicle registration went up by nearly 25,000 cars between September 2023 and 2024 in North Carolina. (Nick Starichenko/Adobe Stock)

Electric vehicle drivers show love for pollution-free cars

Electric vehicles in North Carolina and around the country are getting love this week. A coalition of clean vehicle advocates has declared the week …

Depictions on food marketing often do not reflect actual conditions for cows and other animals being raised in factory farms. (We Animals)

Despite advertising, North Carolina's factory farms are not pretty places

By Jessica Scott-Reid for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service …

People living within many miles of industrial swine operations feel the effects of ammonia pollution. (lightpoet/Adobe Stock)

Study shows air quality disparities from industrial ag in NC

The negative effects on air quality from industrialized animal facilities in North Carolina stick around for a long time, according to a new study…

The Outer Banks is a 200-mile stretch of barrier islands spanning three counties. (oldmn/Adobe Stock)

Outer Banks officials want to make tourism more sustainable

By Taylor Haelterman for Triple Pundit.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for North Carolina News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Netw…

According to Edmunds, EVs and PHEVs combined made up 8.5% of the vehicles sold in May 2024, while gas-powered vehicles made up 82.4% of the market that same month. (Wikimedia Commons)

Survey: NC drivers want carmakers to keep improving fuel efficiency

Americans continue to say improved fuel economy is the most significant change they want from vehicle manufacturers when they offer new products…

Duke Energy Carolinas said a quarter of additional energy demand will come from data centers by 2028. (kwarkot/Adobe Stock)

Report: Data centers drive gas power plant building in NC, Southeast

Data centers are driving the building of gas-powered plants in the Southeast but it will leave ratepayers on the hook if higher energy needs do not ma…

Panelists at the 9th annual NC BREATHE Conference explored issues like hazardous environmental toxins and the climate crisis. (CleanAIRE NC)

Report explores environmental health issues, solutions in NC

A new report highlights steps North Carolina can take as it faces pressing environmental health issues. The report lays out conclusions from the 9th …

The North Carolina race for Supreme Court justice from November is the only election in the state that's yet to be certified. (DiscoA340/Adobe Stock)

'Unprecedented' attempt to throw out 60,000 NC votes could damage democracy

The saga over votes in a North Carolina Supreme Court election continues, with potentially damaging effects for the state's democracy. While the …

The North Carolina Legislature heads back to the Capitol this Wednesday. The 2025 session lasts to the end of July. (Farragutful/Wikimedia Commons)

NC lawmakers prioritize school vouchers over Helene relief, critics say

Programs like school vouchers have become a higher priority for lawmakers than Hurricane Helene relief for western North Carolina schools, critics …

Forsyth Tech in Winston-Salem, N.C., says it's increasing student success with faculty mentors. (David Bjorgen/Wikimedia Commons)

Faculty mentor program at NC college increases retention

A college in North Carolina has developed an innovative model that lets faculty mentor students. Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-…

State lawmakers passed North Carolina's Carbon Plan to reduce emissions in 2021. (Mathew/Adobe Stock)

In face of federal rollbacks, NC environmental efforts continue

President-elect Donald Trump retakes office in less than a week and promises to roll back efforts to combat climate change. But state-level efforts …

A new service in North Carolina aims to ensure success for people reentering communities from jail or prison. (Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services)

First-of-its-kind recidivism reduction center goes mobile in NC

Services for North Carolinians affected by the justice system is going mobile. The Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services mobile resource …

A new course highlights that profitability can be part of sustainable business models. (patpitchaya/Adobe Stock)

Sustainability practices help NC businesses stick around

North Carolina businesses are getting tips on how to harness a sustainable approach to their work. The North Carolina Sustainable Business Council …

Russ Vought served as director of the Office of Management and Budget at the end of President Donald Trump's first term. (Shealah Craighead/White House)

NC senators urged to turn down Trump's Project 2025-linked budget director

As confirmations for the next Trump administration have begun, environmental groups say senators should turn down Russ Vough - the incoming …

According to the USDA, hired farmworkers represent less than 1% of all U.S. wage and salary workers, yet they are vital to the nation's agricultural industry. (Adobe Stock)

Farm workers rally as deportations threaten NC families, economy

Organizations supporting farm workers are ramping up efforts to protect immigrant laborers in light of looming mass-deportation threats. About 40% …

North Carolina faced an estimated $53.6 billion in damages from Hurricane Helene. (Adobe Stock)

NC Dental Society Foundation aids dentists after Hurricane Helene

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, many dentists in Western North Carolina faced devastating losses, from damaged practices to destroyed homes…

In 2024, North Carolina schools started the year with more than 3,100 teacher vacancies, according to the North Carolina School Superintendents' Association. (Adobe Stock)

William Peace University student breaks new ground in math education

A North Carolina university student is breaking new ground in math education. Megan McAnany is an elementary and special education major at William …

Hurricane Helene struck Western North Carolina on Sept. 26. (Adobe Stock)

NC turns to local foundation for long-term Helene recovery

It has been just over three months since Hurricane Helene devastated Western North Carolina, leaving communities to rebuild and recover. As the …

According to FWD.US, there are more than 31,500 people in federal prison over age 50. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates urge broader clemency despite Biden’s death row commutes

In one of his final acts in the White House, President Joe Biden has commuted the sentences of 37 people with federal death row convictions to life …

Millions of families across the U.S. depend on home-based child care, with over 750,000 children enrolled in these programs, often because parents consider them more flexible than traditional child care centers. (Adobe Stock)

Durham takes part in national effort to expand pre-K access

A North Carolina city is part of a national program aimed at diversifying early childhood education. The Enriching Public Pre-K Through Inclusion of …

Approximately one in every 1,250 individuals in North Carolina is unhoused. (Adobe Stock)

Organization helps NC woman advocate for housing, awareness

One life-altering situation turned a North Carolina woman's stability into homelessness and now, she is sharing her journey to humanize homelessness …

The Coastal Credit Union Foundation's grant cycle for the fourth quarter of 2024 supported more than a dozen organizations dedicated to improving access to resources and strengthening financial well-being programs in local communities. (Adobe Stock)

NC foundation grants help local nonprofits expand community services

North Carolina nonprofits are increasing their reach and enhancing services with nearly $1 million in grant funding provided this year by the Coastal …

The Eastern hellbender, one of the largest salamanders in the United States, plays a vital role in freshwater ecosystems. (Adobe Stock)

Hurricane Helene's damage spurs calls to protect NC's threatened species

The southern Appalachian Mountains, known as the salamander capital of the world, are home to some of the most distinct wildlife in the country but …

Expungement opportunities in North Carolina focus on three main categories: first-time nonviolent offenses, certain offenses committed before age 22, and charges dismissed or resolved as

North Carolina toolkit simplifies expungement process for second chances

Navigating the process of expunging criminal records can be overwhelming but for many, it is a critical step toward building a better future…

Duke Energy ranks as the third-largest greenhouse-gas emitter in the United States, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst's Greenhouse 100 Polluters Index by the Political Economy Research Institute. (Adobe Stock)

NC town files climate lawsuit against Duke Energy

The Town of Carrboro is leveraging state law to combat climate change, announcing a lawsuit aimed at Duke Energy. Barbara Foushee, mayor of Carrboro…

According to a study of North Carolina oral health, a routine dental appointment in Charlotte might involve a short 15-minute drive and a brief wait. But in Tyrrell County, patients often face more than an hour of travel each way. (Adobe Stock)

Bridging the gap: NC foundation tackles dental care crisis

More than half of North Carolina counties have fewer than four dentists per 10,000 people and a few counties have no dentists at all. The North …

The number of people diagnosed with Stage 3 HIV/AIDS rose to 636 in 2023, up from 511 in 2021. Experts believe pandemic-related delays in health care might have played a role. (Adobe Stock)

World AIDS Day highlights progress, challenges in fighting HIV in NC

World AIDS Day is Dec. 1, a time to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and the progress made in fighting it. Here in North Carolina, more than 37,000 …

Many adults said family or professional commitments can make it difficult to return to college and complete their degree program. (Adobe Stock)

Project Kitty Hawk helps former NC students complete college degree

Hundreds of former North Carolina college students are back on track to getting their degrees, thanks to an innovative program called Project Kitty …

Some 72% of those benefiting from the programs of United Methodist Churches are not members of those congregations. In effect, says a new report, rural Methodist churches are de facto community centers, much like urban congregations. (Adobe Stock)

NC church becomes hub for disaster relief, community resilience

Churches are often seen as cornerstones of their communities in North Carolina and elsewhere, but Swansboro United Methodist Church in Onslow County …

Nearly 13 million people nationwide, including about 375,000 in North Carolina enrolled in both Medicare and Medicaid, could be eligible for additional benefits through a Dual Special Needs Plan. (Adobe Stock)

D-SNP plans offer expanded healthcare benefits for North Carolinians

People in North Carolina who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid may have access to special healthcare coverage that addresses more than just medic…

As of Nov. 1, the United States has faced 24 confirmed weather and climate disaster events in 2024, each causing over $1 billion in damages. These included 17 severe storms and four other major events.(Adobe Stock)

Citizen scientists’ rainfall data saves lives, aids weather forecasting

By Jennifer Oldham for Yes! Magazine.Broadcast version by Shanteya Hudson for Georgia News Connection reporting for the YES! Media-Public News …

In North Carolina, New Markets Tax Credits administered by Self-Help Ventures Fund have transformed communities through projects like Durham's American Tobacco Campus, Greensboro's Revolution Mill and the Renaissance Shops at Phillips Avenue. (Adobe Stock)

Community projects across NC to be fueled by new access to federal support

Health care providers and schools across North Carolina could soon benefit from tax credits to help projects get off the ground and serve thousands of…

According to the American Heart Association, a healthy eating pattern includes whole foods, lots of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, nuts, seeds, and cooking in non-tropical oils such as olive and canola. (Adobe Stock)

100-year-old NC man's recovery highlights cardiac rehab importance

For 100 years, the American Heart Association has been dedicated to improving heart health and raising awareness about cardiovascular disease…

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