Tag Archives: NC

Fayetteville State University sets record enrollment, retention gains

Fayetteville State University sets record enrollment, retention gains

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WPTF) – Fayetteville State University is experiencing another year of record enrollment while also posting some of the strongest academic gains in its history, school leaders announced Tuesday. For the fourth straight year, FSU reached an all-time high enrollment with 7,628 students, surpassing last year’s record of 7,100 by more than 500. The freshman class is the largest since 2007 with 820 students, who arrived with an average GPA of 3.32. The university also reported a 78% student retention rate, a 15-point increase since 2021.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s Bill Belichick turns to Gio Lopez as starting QB for opener against TCU

North Carolina’s Bill Belichick turns to Gio Lopez as starting QB for opener against TCU

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina will start Gio Lopez at quarterback against TCU in Bill Belichick’s college coaching debut. Belichick announced the decision during a news conference on Wednesday. Lopez transferred from South Alabama and joined the team after spring drills. Belichick praised Lopez’s progress and said he would get most of the practice reps leading up to the game. Lopez threw for over 2,500 yards and 18 touchdowns last year while also proving to be a mobile threat. The Tar Heels’ quarterback room also includes veteran Max Johnson and two freshmen.… Continue Reading

Trump and Republican senators fight over a century-old tradition for judicial nominees

Trump and Republican senators fight over a century-old tradition for judicial nominees

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says the Senate’s century-old tradition of allowing home state senators to sign off on some federal judge and U.S. attorney nominees is “old and outdated.” Republican senators disagree. Trump has been complaining about what’s called the blue slip process for weeks and has pushed Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley to abandon the practice. But the veteran Iowa Republican senator hasn’t budged. On Monday, Trump said he may sue, arguing he can only get “weak” judges approved in states that have at least one Democratic senator. Senate Republicans have been unbowed, arguing they used blue slips to their own benefit when Democrat Joe Biden was president.… Continue Reading

Hurricane Erin picking up steam as it edges along the East Coast

Hurricane Erin picking up steam as it edges along the East Coast

RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin is strengthening again and forecasters say it could re-intensify into a major hurricane. The storm is creeping toward the mid-Atlantic coast and churning up menacing waves that have closed beaches from the Carolinas to New York City. It’s expected to peak over the next 48 hours. Erin is unlikely to make landfall along the East Coast before turning farther out to sea. But authorities are warning that its large swells will cut off roads on North Carolina’s Outer Banks and whip up life-threatening rip currents from Florida to New England. The National Hurricane Center is watching two more clusters of storms to the east of Erin.… Continue Reading

Duke Energy seeks to merge Carolina utilities, projecting more than $1B in customer savings

Duke Energy seeks to merge Carolina utilities, projecting more than $1B in customer savings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Duke Energy Corp. has requested approval to merge its electric utility subsidiaries in North and South Carolina. The company says this move could save customers over $1 billion over a decade. The Charlotte-based utility asked federal and state regulators on Thursday for permission to combine Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. The merger aims to streamline operations and spread infrastructure expenses. Duke Energy says the change would simplify rate structures and reduce the need for resources. The subsidiaries combined produce electricity for 4.7 million residential, commercial and industrial customers. Duke Energy wants the change made effective Jan. 1, 2027.… Continue Reading

Walden: N.C. economy still strong despite national slowdown

Walden: N.C. economy still strong despite national slowdown

RALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) — While the national economy shows signs of slowing, North Carolina remains in good shape, according to N.C. State University Economist Emeritus Dr. Mike Walden. Walden, the guest on this week’s Carolina Newsmakers, said tracking the effectiveness of tariffs is challenging and most economists did not expect the U.S. to be in its current position. He noted that President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a new approach to trade policy.… Continue Reading

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

A beloved tourist attraction in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains will be demolished starting later this month. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge sustained severe damage from Hurricane Helene last year. It collapsed on one end and buckled in several other sections. The town says two engineering firms concluded the bridge was beyond repair. Demolition will begin Aug. 18. The Flowering Bridge was created in 2013 by a group of volunteers who sought to transform the historic bridge into something beautiful. The group says it will try to use pieces of the bridge in future gardens.… Continue Reading

Rushing floodwater from heavy rain kills 2 in North Carolina

Rushing floodwater from heavy rain kills 2 in North Carolina

SPRING HOPE, N.C. (AP) — Two people were found dead in central North Carolina after rushing floodwaters pulled them from their submerged car. Another cluster of storms was dumping rain on the region Thursday, the day after the two bodies were found. Authorities say a 24-year-old woman and 55-year-old man from Louisburg were swept away while attempting to escape their vehicle. Flooding had swept the vehicle from the road into a ditch in the town of Spring Hope. An officer who tried to save them was swept into the floodwaters too before escaping unharmed. The storm’s pathway follows Tropical Storm Chantal’s flooding in parts of the region last month.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed a stopgap spending measure as lawmakers remain stuck in a budget impasse. But he also vetoed a bill Wednesday that would otherwise sign off on state involvement in a federal tax credit program to boost school-choice options. Stein criticized the spending plan for not providing enough pay raises or covering increased Medicaid expenses. The new law includes funds for state construction projects and employee benefits. The tax-credit program bill approved by Republicans seeks to opt in to the financial benefits within President Donald Trump’s new law for donations to K-12 scholarship organizations.… Continue Reading

North Carolina residents can now seek state aid after Tropical Storm Chantal

North Carolina residents can now seek state aid after Tropical Storm Chantal

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Residents in several central North Carolina counties affected by last month’s Tropical Storm Chantal can now apply for state-funded financial aid. This assistance follows a state disaster declaration issued Tuesday by Gov. Josh Stein. The storm brought several inches of rain, causing record-breaking river levels and significant damage. At least six storm-related deaths occurred. Stein has also requested a federal disaster declaration to speed up federal aid for rebuilding infrastructure. Public assistance damage estimates have exceeded $42 million. Residents can seek aid for housing, property replacement and medical expenses at local disaster recovery centers.… Continue Reading

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