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Legislators get cold feet on gun safety, leave popular bipartisan programs underfunded
Earlier this month, North Carolina legislators returned home after a busy session in which they passed bills on everything from banning masking to allowing takeout cocktails. I know it’s hard to compete with mobile margaritas, but I can’t help but feel like our priorities are out of whack. So many other important initiatives got left […]
Home solar panel retrofit fails for years, drains money from NC couple until Troubleshooter steps in
Imagine shelling out more than $60,000 to go solar, but after a few years never seeing any savings.That's exactly what happened for ABC11 viewers Robert and Leatha Batts."It's been very stressful, very stressful," Leatha said.The Batts signed a contract with Sunpro Solar in 2020 to install solar panels and two batteries at their home near Goldsboro. The total price for the system was more than $60,000."It was supposed to be a whole home battery backup system, whereas the panels would generate the energy and we would be able to store the energy as well with the batteries," Robert said.Unfortunately, there...
Lack of swimming lesson options leaves Asheville parents frustrated
Ask a parent about swimming lessons in Asheville and you’re bound to get an earful of complaints. Not enough public pools. Inconvenient class times. A lack of private instructors. Seemingly endless waitlists. “Everyone is supremely frustrated with the lack of access to swimming pools,” says Amanda Wilde, a West...
Two Greenville County men make ‘American Ninja Warrior’ semifinals
Ryan Stratis and Bob Reese, both from Greenville County, have made their way to the semifinals of NBC’s American Ninja Warrior. Their next episode is set to air Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. Stratis is one of the longest-running contestants, first appearing on the show in season one. “I...
Doctor fired from Duke for resisting DEI agenda says majority of colleagues agree
Duke University Hospital was named one of the best hospitals in America last week in the U.S. News & World Report’s 2024-2025 “Best Hospitals” rankings, but a doctor who was recently fired from Duke for openly criticizing the hospital’s internal politics is speaking out. Dr. Kendall...
Iconic North Carolina Based Department Store Is Restructuring and Saving Jobs
When I saw the headline about Belk, my stomach dropped. We cannot lose this local institution. But this iconic North Carolina based department store is actually restructuring. The goal is better financial health and saving jobs. Iconic North Carolina Based Department Store Is Restructuring. According to the Charlotte Observer, Belk...
Bob Brinson nominated to complete Senator Jim Perry's term, awaits governor's nod
New Bern Alderman Robert "Bob" Brinson Jr. has been nominated by the Republican 2nd Senatorial District Committee to serve the remainder of Senator Jim Perry's unexpired term in the North Carolina State Senate. Brinson's nomination is now headed to North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. Due to State Statutes, Brinson is...
Alabama city one of 6 in US tapped for early test on 2030 Census
Six places in the South and West will host practice runs four years prior to the 2030 U.S. census, a nationwide head count that helps determine political power and the distribution of federal funds. Residents of western Texas; tribal lands in Arizona; Colorado Springs, Colorado; western North Carolina; Spartanburg, South...
Junk fees are gouging consumers; NC wants them gone
We’ve all heard the phrase, “too good to be true.” Well, these days shoppers are experiencing that when they find low advertised prices often come with junk fees — and consumer complaints are increasing. The White House says these fees cost consumers billions each year. Earlier...
Sold on a Promise, Part 2: The North Carolina homeless housing projects that were never built
“Sold on a Promise” is a special two-part investigative series jointly produced by BPR News, WFDD and CityView that explores how a California developer and its nonprofit partner promised and then later failed to house around 550 homeless people in North Carolina. On a cold December day in 2022,...
Waynesville project seeks to elevate quality of life
The Town of Waynesville is applying for the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program grant. The goal is to implement the "Keeping Waynesville Beautiful Project,” which would aim to address several critical needs related to urban and community forestry. “We have identified a pressing need for the enhancement...
Waynesville's South Main Street revamp faces delays, property challenges
WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Improvements on Waynesville's South Main Street are likely to take years. Some blighted buildings have been removed, but others remain, like Sutton Automotive, which could face being condemned and torn down. Meanwhile, plans remain to modernize and widen the roadway. South Main Street is one...
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