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.newspack-post-subtitle{font-size: 1.4em;}</style> <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <h2 class="article-section-title"> <span>Top Stories</span> </h2> <article data-post-id="69616" class="tag-amdaily tag-appeal tag-ballots tag-elections tag-lawsuit tag-state-board-of-elections tag-statewide tag-supreme-court tag-voters category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69616/challenged-nc-voters-get-15-days-to-prove-theyre-legit-appellate-panel-says/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="800" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-uncropped size-newspack-article-block-uncropped wp-post-image" alt="Challenged NC voters get 15 days to prove they’re legit, appellate panel says" data-hero-candidate="1" loading="none" fetchpriority="high" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?w=1800&ssl=1 1800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" data-attachment-id="66562" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/66541/early-voters-nc-mountains-break-records-after-helene/2024earlyvoting29/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?fit=1800%2C1200&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1800,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"Colby Rabon","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Long lines on day two of early voting at the Black Mountain Public Library in Buncombe County on October 18, 2024. Colby Rabon \/ Carolina Public Press","created_timestamp":"1729276056","copyright":"Colby Rabon 2024","focal_length":"148","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.003125","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2024EarlyVoting29" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>A party volunteer hands out sample ballots as Buncombe County early voters at the Black Mountain library wait in a long line on the second day of early voting, Oct. 18, 2024, exactly three weeks after Tropical Storm Helene struck the area with deadly flooding and landslides. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024EarlyVoting29.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/category/politics/">Politics & Government</a> </div> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69616/challenged-nc-voters-get-15-days-to-prove-theyre-legit-appellate-panel-says/" rel="bookmark">Challenged NC voters get 15 days to prove they’re legit, appellate panel says</a></h3> <p>Two GOP members on appeals court panel back colleague Jefferson Griffin’s challenge in unresolved NC Supreme Court race. Appeal expected.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/sarah-michels/">Sarah Michels</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-04-04T18:25:49">April 4, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-04-04T18:27:39-04:00">April 4, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha is-grid columns-2 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-5 is-3 is-uncropped show-category has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="69601" class="tag-guns tag-josh-stein tag-n-c-general-assembly tag-national-rifle-association tag-pmdaily tag-statewide category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69601/gun-legislation-north-carolina-general-assembly/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="800" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-uncropped size-newspack-article-block-uncropped wp-post-image" alt="Risky business? Slate of NC gun bills condemned by some, celebrated by others." data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?w=2400&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="68377" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/img_1927-copy/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_1927 copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>The Legislative Building in Raleigh. Sarah Michels/Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1927-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/category/politics/">Politics & Government</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69601/gun-legislation-north-carolina-general-assembly/" rel="bookmark">Risky business? Slate of NC gun bills condemned by some, celebrated by others.</a></h2> <p>Gun bills aren’t new to state politics. But there weren’t many major changes until 2023. Since then, the pace of legislation has picked up.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/sarah-michels/">Sarah Michels</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-04-04T12:55:40">April 4, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-04-04T16:06:54-04:00">April 4, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="69517" class="tag-amdaily tag-asheville tag-jobs tag-n-c-department-of-commerce tag-statewide tag-unemployment tag-western-nc category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69517/asheville-unemployment-north-carolina/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="800" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-uncropped size-newspack-article-block-uncropped wp-post-image" alt="Asheville’s jobless rate — North Carolina’s highest — is ‘new and unwelcome’ territory" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?w=1800&ssl=1 1800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?resize=1568%2C1045&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?resize=400%2C267&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="66588" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/66576/ingles-reels-from-storm-damage-food-options-in-nc-mountains-limited/2024ingles07-1/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?fit=1800%2C1200&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1800,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"Colby Rabon","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Ingles Markets on Hendersonville Road in South Asheville on October 21, 2024. Colby Rabon \/ Carolina Public Press","created_timestamp":"1729549229","copyright":"Colby Rabon 2024","focal_length":"85","iso":"200","shutter_speed":"0.0025","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2024Ingles07 (1)" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Mud splatters an Ingles trailer on Hendersonville Road in South Asheville on Oct. 21, 2024. The supermarket chain is a major employer in many parts of the North Carolina mountains. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024Ingles07-1.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/category/jobs-economy/">Economy</a> </div> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69517/asheville-unemployment-north-carolina/" rel="bookmark">Asheville’s jobless rate — North Carolina’s highest — is ‘new and unwelcome’ territory</a></h2> <p>Months after Helene took lives and livelihoods, many Asheville residents haven’t returned to work. Some think there might be a deeper issue.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/">Jane Winik Sartwell</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-04-02T07:00:00">April 2, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-04-02T10:22:47-04:00">April 2, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow" style="flex-basis:34%"> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha ts-2 show-category is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <h2 class="article-section-title"> <span>RECENT News</span> </h2> <article data-post-id="69410" class="tag-agriculture tag-amdaily tag-corn tag-eastern-nc tag-farming tag-rural tag-statewide tag-western-nc category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/category/jobs-economy/">Economy</a> </div> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69410/farmers-north-carolina-corn-production/" rel="bookmark">After worst season in North Carolina history, corn farmers want ‘hope’</a></h3> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/">Jane Winik Sartwell</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-31T09:00:00">March 31, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-31T09:25:41-04:00">March 31, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="69447" class="tag-general-assembly tag-jim-hunt tag-mark-robinson tag-pmdaily tag-rachel-hunt tag-statewide category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <div class="cat-links "> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/category/politics/">Politics & Government</a> </div> <h3 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69447/north-carolina-lieutenant-governor-rachel-hunt-mark-robinson/" rel="bookmark">‘I want to build bridges’: Lt. 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is making the future tense for North Carolina nonprofits</a></h3> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/lucas-thomae/">Lucas Thomae</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-26T09:00:00">March 26, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-26T18:34:51-04:00">March 26, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-button"><a class="wp-block-button__link wp-element-button" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/recent-news/">Read More Latest News</a></div> </div> <div class="wp-block-group donate-group has-white-color has-primary-background-color has-text-color has-background"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--condensed 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data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Shaklan-Fellowship" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shaklan-Fellowship.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shaklan-Fellowship.jpg?fit=766%2C350&ssl=1" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shaklan-Fellowship.jpg?resize=766%2C350&ssl=1" alt="Shaklan Investigative Reporting Fellowship" class="wp-image-60358" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Shaklan-Fellowship.jpg?resize=766%2C350&ssl=1 766w, 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data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" class="wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-55759" alt="" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?resize=901%2C901&ssl=1" data-object-fit="cover" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?w=901&ssl=1 901w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NC-Connection-Social-Icon_NoText.png?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, 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style="border-radius:5px;color:#ffffff;background-color:#0f2358;padding-top:10px;padding-right:1em;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:1em">Read the report</a></div> </div> </div></div> </div> </div> <p></p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide"/> <div class="wp-block-cover alignfull"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-primary-background-color has-background-dim-100 has-background-dim"></span><div class="wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below heading--h2-large has-white-color has-text-color" id="special-reports">SPECIAL REPORTS</h2> <div class="wp-block-cover is-light" style="min-height:535px;aspect-ratio:unset;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient has-grad-3-gradient-background" style="background-color:#84848d"></span><img data-recalc-dims="1" 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has-large-font-size"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/deserting-women/">Deserting Women</a></p> <p class="has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-small-font-size"><em>Rural North Carolina counties are seeing growing deserts of health services </em><br><em>for women at local hospitals, with serious health implications. 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But solutions may be available. </em></p> </div></div> <div style="height:24px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <div class="wp-block-cover"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient has-grad-3-gradient-background" style="background-color:#84848d"></span><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="1200" height="800" data-attachment-id="65731" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/65699/images-of-asheville-after-helene/2024ashevillefloodingsept27_55/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024AshevilleFloodingSept27_55.jpg?fit=1800%2C1200&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1800,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"Colby Rabon","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Flooding from the French Broad River in the River Arts District in Asheville, after Hurricane Helene swept through on September 27, 2024. 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has-small-font-size"><em><em><em><em><em>Social services in NC may be in the hands of people </em></em></em></em></em><br><em><em><em><em><em>who don’t meet minimum qualifications. </em></em></em></em></em><br><em><em><em><em><em>Why and how it happens, and how other states avoid the problem.</em></em></em></em></em></p> </div></div> <div class="wp-block-cover is-light"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-30 has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient has-grad-3-gradient-background"></span><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="1200" height="600" data-attachment-id="48227" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/changing-tides/changing-tides-illo_no-text/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Changing-Tides-illo_no-text-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1280&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1280" data-comments-opened="0" 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She discussed her story and her current life on March 12, 2019. White now works as a life coach and finds she is able to identify with her clients in a uniquely empathetic way. [Melissa Sue Gerrits\/The Fayetteville Observer]","created_timestamp":"1552356482","copyright":"Melissa Sue Gerrits\/The Fayetteville Observer","focal_length":"85","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.005","title":"samantha white","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="samantha white" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Samantha White, of Cumberland County, survived a sexual assault as a teenager in Johnston County. She later testified against her attacker – her church pastor – resulting in his conviction and imprisonment. 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</em></em></em></em></em></em><br><em><em><em><em><em><em>they pose for managing the forests.</em></em></em></em></em></em></p> </div></div> <div class="wp-block-cover is-light" style="min-height:329px;aspect-ratio:unset;"><span aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim wp-block-cover__gradient-background has-background-gradient has-grad-3-gradient-background"></span><img data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" width="1200" height="461" data-attachment-id="49139" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/raising-jails/raising-jails-final_v3/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Raising-Jails-final_v3-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C984&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,984" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1633316321","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Raising 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Lucas Thomae / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bath-Building-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Bath-Building-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68800/buildings-nc-brutalist-demolition/" rel="bookmark">Razing concern: NC’s brutalist era is slowly ending — for better or worse</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/lucas-thomae/">Lucas Thomae</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div></div> <div style="height:40px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below heading--h2-large" id="more-stories">MORE STORIES</h2> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-4 is-1 is-square mobile-stack has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="69382" class="tag-amdaily tag-democrat tag-donald-trump tag-republican tag-statewide tag-ticket-splitting category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69382/split-ticket-voting-north-carolina-elections/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="800" height="800" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020SuperTuesday24-scaled-e1583284302293.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-medium size-newspack-article-block-square-medium wp-post-image" alt="Purple reign: NC’s history of split-ticket voting is ‘democracy working’" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020SuperTuesday24-scaled-e1583284302293.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1&w=370 370w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020SuperTuesday24-scaled-e1583284302293.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1&w=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="29891" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/29915/super-tuesday-in-nc-top-outcomes-surprises-and-question-marks/2020supertuesday24/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020SuperTuesday24-scaled-e1583284302293.jpg?fit=1500%2C1000&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1500,1000" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1583262951","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2020SuperTuesday24" data-image-description="<p>Lanie Hamrick, left, and Destinee Terry, both students at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, check in to pick up their primary election ballots at the Old Fort Wesleyan Church polling place in McDowell County on March 3, 2020. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-image-caption="<p>Lanie Hamrick, left, and Destinee Terry, both students at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, check in to pick up their primary election ballots at the Old Fort Wesleyan Church polling place in McDowell County on March 3, 2020. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020SuperTuesday24-scaled-e1583284302293.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020SuperTuesday24-scaled-e1583284302293.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69382/split-ticket-voting-north-carolina-elections/" rel="bookmark">Purple reign: NC’s history of split-ticket voting is ‘democracy working’</a></h2> <p>Democrats and Republicans have split tickets in North Carolina elections for decades — and today maybe more than any other state.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/sarah-michels/"></a> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/sarah-michels/">Sarah Michels</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-24T09:00:00">March 24, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-24T10:24:00-04:00">March 24, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="69368" class="tag-allison-riggs tag-election-2024 tag-jefferson-griffin tag-n-c-state-board-of-elections tag-pmdaily tag-statewide category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69368/griffin-election-protest/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="As Griffin case drags on, some NC voters can’t help but feel ‘targeted’" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="60728" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/60724/proposed-changes-to-ncs-judicial-standards-commission-raise-concerns-about-judicial-integrity-and-oversight/court-of-appeals-building/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"4","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS 5D Mark II","caption":"","created_timestamp":"946702853","copyright":"","focal_length":"17","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.066666666666667","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Court-of-Appeals-Building" data-image-description="<p>The North Carolina Court of Appeals. Photo: The North Carolina Judicial Branch / Provided</p> " data-image-caption="<p>The North Carolina Court of Appeals. The North Carolina Judicial Branch / Provided</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Court-of-Appeals-Building-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69368/griffin-election-protest/" rel="bookmark">As Griffin case drags on, some NC voters can’t help but feel ‘targeted’</a></h2> <p>For months, Griffin election protests have made their way through state and federal courts. On Friday, a three-judge panel heard the latest.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/sarah-michels/"></a> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/sarah-michels/">Sarah Michels</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-21T18:29:38">March 21, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-21T18:54:54-04:00">March 21, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="69348" class="tag-agriculture tag-amdaily tag-drought tag-eastern-nc tag-farmers tag-rural tag-statewide tag-western-nc category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69348/drought-agriculture-north-carolina-farmers/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="Under the weather: Lengthy drought has NC farmers ‘praying for the rain’" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="69347" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/drought-004-copy/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?fit=2111%2C1454&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2111,1454" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="drought-004 copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>A number of fields across the state, like this one in New Hanover, are suffering from dry conditions on the eve of spring planting. Jane Winik Sartwell / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/drought-004-copy.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69348/drought-agriculture-north-carolina-farmers/" rel="bookmark">Under the weather: Lengthy drought has NC farmers ‘praying for the rain’</a></h2> <p>Another year, another drought for North Carolina farmers, who head into spring planting season with a lot of uncertainty.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/"></a> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/">Jane Winik Sartwell</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-21T09:00:00">March 21, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-04-01T17:41:33-04:00">April 1, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="69170" class="tag-amdaily tag-deserting-women tag-dhhs tag-general-assembly tag-hospitals tag-rural tag-statewide category-healthcare type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69170/rural-women-health-care-services-hospitals-solutions-nc-deserting-women/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="Too costly to keep, but too important to lose. Solving paradox of NC rural women’s health services" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="69333" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69170/rural-women-health-care-services-hospitals-solutions-nc-deserting-women/pettiford-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?fit=2000%2C1333&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2000,1333" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Pettiford-2" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Belinda Pettiford, chief of the Women, Infant and Community Wellness Section of the Division of Public Health at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, sits at her desk in Raleigh. She told Carolina Public Press that conversations about the future of maternal health care in the state are ongoing. Lucas Thomae / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pettiford-2.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69170/rural-women-health-care-services-hospitals-solutions-nc-deserting-women/" rel="bookmark">Too costly to keep, but too important to lose. Solving paradox of NC rural women’s health services</a></h2> <p>Reversing trend of NC rural women’s health care services drying up will require tracking, enforcement and incentives in policies and laws.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/"></a> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/">Jane Winik Sartwell</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-19T02:21:17">March 19, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-19T02:48:06-04:00">March 19, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="69161" class="tag-amdaily tag-deserting-women tag-dhhs tag-general-assembly tag-hospitals tag-rural tag-statewide category-healthcare type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69161/financial-pressures-prompt-womens-services-cuts-at-nc-rural-hospitals/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="Financial pressures prompt women’s services cuts at NC rural hospitals" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="69207" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69161/financial-pressures-prompt-womens-services-cuts-at-nc-rural-hospitals/hospitals-003/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?fit=2500%2C1663&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2500,1663" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="hospitals-003" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Martin General Hospital in Williamston shuttered in August 2023, four years after the facility tried to reduce financial pressures by eliminating labor and delivery services. Jane Winik Sartwell / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/hospitals-003.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69161/financial-pressures-prompt-womens-services-cuts-at-nc-rural-hospitals/" rel="bookmark">Financial pressures prompt women’s services cuts at NC rural hospitals</a></h2> <p>Women’s services often lose money for NC rural hospitals. State doesn’t track lost services or require hospitals to sustain care. </p> <div class="entry-meta"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/"></a> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/">Jane Winik Sartwell</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-18T01:30:00">March 18, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-19T02:30:43-04:00">March 19, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div style="height:40px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="wp-block-group has-background" style="background-color:#0e1c42"><div class="wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow"> <div style="height:40px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-6 is-3 is-landscape mobile-stack show-caption has-text-align-left has-text-color has-white-color" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="68718" class="tag-amdaily tag-hurricane-helene tag-interstate-40 tag-josh-stein tag-rural tag-sean-duffy tag-statewide tag-tropical-storm-helene category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68718/roads-western-nc-reopen-helene/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="900" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image" alt="Repaired. Replaced. Reopened. Hit hard by Helene, this is what paved the way for these NC roads to come back." data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?resize=400%2C300&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?resize=200%2C150&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(min-width: 782px) 600px, (min-width: 600px) 42.5vw, 90vw" data-attachment-id="66025" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/65996/voices-after-the-storm-talking-with-people-in-asheville-following-helene/2024heleneoct1_27/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?fit=1800%2C1200&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1800,1200" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.5","credit":"Colby Rabon","camera":"Canon EOS R6","caption":"Devastation from Tropical Storm Helene along Old Farm School Road in Swannanoa on October 1, 2024. Colby Rabon \/ Carolina Public Press","created_timestamp":"1727812537","copyright":"Colby Rabon 2024","focal_length":"135","iso":"250","shutter_speed":"0.00125","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="2024HeleneOct1_27" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Devastation from Tropical Storm Helene along Old Farm School Road in Swannanoa on October 1, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2024HeleneOct1_27.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> <figcaption>Devastation from Tropical Storm Helene along Old Farm School Road in Swannanoa on October 1, 2024. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press</figcaption> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68718/roads-western-nc-reopen-helene/" rel="bookmark">Repaired. Replaced. Reopened. Hit hard by Helene, this is what paved the way for these NC roads to come back.</a></h2> <p>Consider 1,400. That’s roughly the number of roads and bridges Helene ruined. The state faces the monumental task of fixing them all.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/lucas-thomae/">Lucas Thomae</a></span> </span> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div style="height:40px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> </div></div> <div style="height:40px" aria-hidden="true" class="wp-block-spacer"></div> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-3 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below" id="crime-justice"><a href="/category/crime-and-justice/">Crime & Justice</a></h2> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-square is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="68380" class="tag-amdaily tag-animal-cruelty tag-animal-shelter tag-rural tag-western-nc category-crime-and-justice type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68380/animal-control-department-western-nc-criticism/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="600" height="600" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-intermediate size-newspack-article-block-square-intermediate wp-post-image" alt="Gone to the dogs: NC county’s animal control has been a pet peeve for many" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" data-attachment-id="68416" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/daisy-the-dog-copy/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?fit=900%2C758&ssl=1" data-orig-size="900,758" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Daisy-the-dog copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Daisy can be adopted at the Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue in Rutherfordton. Rutherford County has struggled over the years to meet demands for comprehensive animal services. Heart of the Foothills Animal Rescue/Provided</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Daisy-the-dog-copy.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68380/animal-control-department-western-nc-criticism/" rel="bookmark">Gone to the dogs: NC county’s animal control has been a pet peeve for many</a></h2> <p>The target of complaints and criticism, Rutherford County is struggling to manage its animal control needs. The state may be partly to blame.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/lucas-thomae/">Lucas Thomae</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-02-03T09:00:00">February 3, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T15:59:02-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha ts-2 is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="66923" class="tag-2024-elections tag-amdaily tag-ballots tag-lawsuit tag-statewide category-crime-and-justice type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/66923/ballot-selfies-illegal-in-nc-unless-youre-susan-hogarth/" rel="bookmark">Ballot selfies illegal in NC. Unless you’re Susan Hogarth.</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-11-05T00:04:05">November 5, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-11-05T00:04:12-05:00">November 5, 2024</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="66749" class="tag-administrative-office-of-the-courts tag-courts tag-jails tag-mountains tag-pmdaily tag-rural tag-tropical-storm-helene tag-western-nc category-crime-and-justice type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/66749/justice-disrupted-western-nc-courts-adjust-to-deal-with-damage-backlog/" rel="bookmark">Justice disrupted. Western NC courts adjust to deal with damage, backlog.</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-10-24T15:49:35">October 24, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-10-24T17:09:03-04:00">October 24, 2024</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="66119" class="tag-fraud tag-mountains tag-pmdaily tag-rural tag-tropical-storm-helene tag-western-nc category-crime-and-justice type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/66119/beware-of-scams-in-western-nc-after-helene/" rel="bookmark">Beware of scams in Western NC after Helene</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-10-04T16:18:10">October 4, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-10-04T18:21:30-04:00">October 4, 2024</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below" id="economy"><a href="/category/jobs-economy/">Economy</a></h2> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-square is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="68063" class="tag-amdaily tag-farming tag-rural tag-statewide tag-western-nc category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68063/farmers-western-nc-helene-aid/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="Promised lands: Western NC farmers wait for Helene aid to come. And wait." data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" data-attachment-id="68062" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/farming/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"8","credit":"","camera":"Canon EOS Rebel T7","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1729244602","copyright":"","focal_length":"25","iso":"100","shutter_speed":"0.008","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="Farming" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>After damage dealt by Helene, farmers can’t just go back and plant spring crops where there are no fields. Provided/Terry Kelley, Henderson County Cooperative Extension</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Farming-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68063/farmers-western-nc-helene-aid/" rel="bookmark">Promised lands: Western NC farmers wait for Helene aid to come. And wait.</a></h2> <p>Reeling from losses to land and livestock, many farmers are holding out for help. If it doesn’t come soon, spring may yield a bitter harvest.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/">Jane Winik Sartwell</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-22T09:45:00">January 22, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T16:55:21-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha ts-2 is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="67989" class="tag-amdaily tag-evictions tag-homelessness tag-rural tag-statewide tag-tropical-storm-helene tag-western-nc category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/67989/winter-western-nc-helene-homeless-evictions-propane/" rel="bookmark">Winter in Western NC can be bad. For Helene survivors, it’s worse.</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-21T09:45:00">January 21, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T17:01:41-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="67774" class="tag-amdaily tag-department-of-commerce tag-mitchell-county tag-nc-small-business-center-network category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/67774/unemployment-rate-soars-mitchell-county-from-helene/" rel="bookmark">‘Scars of the storm.’ Helene is gone, but its impact is far from over in Mitchell County.</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-13T09:24:25">January 13, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T17:16:53-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="67630" class="category-jobs-economy type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/67630/worst-year-ever-for-farms-in-nc/" rel="bookmark">‘Worst year’ ever for farms in NC</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-12-30T09:11:34">December 30, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-12-30T09:11:41-05:00">December 30, 2024</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below" id="education"><a href="/category/education/">Education</a></h2> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-square is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="68655" class="tag-amdaily tag-education tag-free-speech tag-rural tag-statewide tag-western-nc category-education type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68655/cleveland-county-lawsuit-lgbtq-ban-school-club/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="‘Indecent’ proposal: An NC school club’s plan to test their LGBTQ+ trivia skills is game over — for now" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" data-attachment-id="60736" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/60724/proposed-changes-to-ncs-judicial-standards-commission-raise-concerns-about-judicial-integrity-and-oversight/courtroom-gavel/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"2.8","credit":"AVA BARLOW","camera":"NIKON D300S","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1371548805","copyright":"2011","focal_length":"116","iso":"400","shutter_speed":"0.125","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="courtroom-gavel" data-image-description="<p>Courtroom gavel Photo: The North Carolina Judicial Branch</p> " data-image-caption="<p>Courtroom gavel Photo: The North Carolina Judicial Branch</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/courtroom-gavel-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68655/cleveland-county-lawsuit-lgbtq-ban-school-club/" rel="bookmark">‘Indecent’ proposal: An NC school club’s plan to test their LGBTQ+ trivia skills is game over — for now</a></h2> <p>The ban came from no less than the superintendent. Now, the ACLU is involved and Cleveland County finds itself in a fight over free speech.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/lucas-thomae/">Lucas Thomae</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-02-14T09:00:00">February 14, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T14:50:22-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha ts-2 is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="66785" class="tag-avery-county tag-buncombe-county tag-mental-health tag-pmdaily tag-rural tag-students tag-tropical-storm-helene tag-western-nc category-education type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/66785/students-survived-helene-nc-return-class-mental-health-concern/" rel="bookmark">Students’ mental state a concern as Helene survivors return to class</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-10-28T15:23:02">October 28, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-10-29T00:25:00-04:00">October 29, 2024</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="66343" class="tag-amdaily tag-colleges tag-mountains tag-rural tag-tropical-storm-helene tag-western-nc category-education type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/66343/western-nc-college-programs-adjust-after-disruption-of-helene/" rel="bookmark">Western NC college programs adjust after disruption of Helene</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-10-09T14:20:00">October 9, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-10-10T11:33:19-04:00">October 10, 2024</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="65944" class="tag-amdaily tag-asheville tag-buncombe-county tag-catawba-county tag-rutherford-county tag-schools tag-tropical-storm-helene tag-western-nc category-education type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/65944/school-systems-western-nc-adapt-helene/" rel="bookmark">NC school systems in storm’s wake struggle to adapt</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-10-01T23:44:03">October 1, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2024-10-02T11:08:02-04:00">October 2, 2024</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-4 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex"> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below" id="environment"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/category/environment/">Environment</a></h2> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-square is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="69039" class="tag-amdaily tag-coastal-wildfires tag-eastern-nc tag-north-carolina-fire-service tag-rural tag-statewide tag-western-nc category-environment type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69039/wildfires-nc/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="800" height="800" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-medium size-newspack-article-block-square-medium wp-post-image" alt="As NC wildfires rage, many can be blamed on one thing: people. ‘We’re our own worst enemy,’ official says." data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 1600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?zoom=3&resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" data-attachment-id="65420" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/65404/coastal-kindling-1-croatan-blaze-massive-nc-forest-fire/20230421_115021/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1154&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1154" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="20230421_115021" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>The Great Lakes Fire in the Croatan National Forest spreads flames and smoke along a roadway south of New Bern on April 21, 2023, after wind and dry conditions resulted in rapid growth. Provided / U.S. Forest Service </p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/20230421_115021-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69039/wildfires-nc/" rel="bookmark">As NC wildfires rage, many can be blamed on one thing: people. ‘We’re our own worst enemy,’ official says.</a></h2> <p>Between Feb. 24 and March 3, the N.C. Forest Service responded to a whopping 806 wildfires — mainly caused by the negligence of humans.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jack-igelman/">Jack Igelman</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-14T09:00:00">March 14, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-17T14:27:46-04:00">March 17, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha ts-2 is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="68103" class="tag-amdaily tag-charlotte tag-duke-energy tag-federal tag-flooding tag-rural tag-statewide tag-tropical-storm-helene category-environment type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68103/duke-energy-catawba-river-flooding/" rel="bookmark">Liquid courage: Duke Energy not asking for forgiveness following flooding fiasco</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-23T09:45:00">January 23, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T16:45:37-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="67881" class="tag-amdaily tag-eastern-nc tag-rural category-environment type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/67881/drought-in-eastern-nc-impact-environment-economy/" rel="bookmark">Dry run: A lengthy drought in Eastern NC hasn’t led to panic — yet</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-14T09:59:15">January 14, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T17:13:13-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="67607" class="category-environment type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/67607/finding-new-homes-for-nc-mountain-hellbenders-republish/" rel="bookmark">Finding new homes for NC mountain hellbenders</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-12-23T19:01:45">December 23, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-01-01T08:26:29-05:00">January 1, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below" id="health"><a href="/category/healthcare/">Health</a></h2> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-square is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="69149" class="tag-amdaily tag-deserting-women tag-dhhs tag-hospitals tag-rural tag-statewide category-healthcare type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69149/labor-and-delivery-hospitals-nc-rural-deserting-women/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="Deserts for women’s health care services expand in rural NC counties" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" data-attachment-id="69189" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69149/labor-and-delivery-hospitals-nc-rural-deserting-women/birth-centers-nc/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"3.2","credit":"Melissa Sue Gerrits","camera":"NIKON D850","caption":"Natasha Fuller, a registered nurse, lactation educator, and Lead Nurse at Family Connects\u2019 Mother-Baby Home Visiting program, poses for a portrait outside her home in Foscoe, North Carolina on March 15, 2025. \u201cEven with the challenges of pregnancy and birth in the areas that we serve, women are very resilient\u201d, said Fuller of the community she has dedicated her work to. Implementing post natal home visits allows Fuller and her team to offer continued care which they hope will address the high mortality rate of post natal women in the United States. [Melissa Sue Gerrits\/ Carolina Public Press]","created_timestamp":"1742067719","copyright":"Melissa Sue Gerrits\/Carolina Public Press","focal_length":"70","iso":"800","shutter_speed":"0.0008","title":"Birth Centers NC","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Birth Centers NC" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>Natasha Fuller, a registered nurse, lactation educator, and Lead Nurse at AppHealthCare’s Mother-Baby Postpartum Home Visiting Program, poses for a portrait outside her Watauga County home in Foscoe on March 15, 2025. Melissa Sue Gerrits / Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/birthing-centers-NC-for-CPP02-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69149/labor-and-delivery-hospitals-nc-rural-deserting-women/" rel="bookmark">Deserts for women’s health care services expand in rural NC counties</a></h2> <p>NC data shows labor and delivery and other women’s services reduced or eliminated at rural hospitals, with negative health implications.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/jane-winik-sartwell/">Jane Winik Sartwell</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-17T00:24:46">March 17, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-19T02:27:12-04:00">March 19, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha ts-2 is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="68314" class="tag-amdaily tag-health-care tag-jeff-jackson tag-josh-stein tag-rural tag-slider tag-statewide category-healthcare type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68314/mission-health-western-nc-scrutiny-helene/" rel="bookmark">Instrumental in Helene aftermath, Mission Health ‘back to their old ways’</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-30T09:00:00">January 30, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-11T16:10:36-04:00">March 11, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="67688" class="tag-amdaily tag-state-employees tag-statewide category-healthcare type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/67688/uncomfortable-things-necessary-to-fix-nc-health-plan-new-treasurer-says/" rel="bookmark">‘Uncomfortable things’ necessary to fix NC Health Plan, new treasurer says</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-01-06T09:24:13">January 6, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-01-08T12:51:18-05:00">January 8, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="67539" class="tag-amdaily tag-audit tag-dhhs tag-long-term-care tag-nursing-homes tag-statewide category-healthcare type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/67539/scathing-audit-for-nc-oversight-of-nursing-homes/" rel="bookmark">Scathing audit for NC oversight of nursing homes</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2024-12-19T00:01:21">December 19, 2024</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-01-01T08:28:59-05:00">January 1, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow"> <h2 class="wp-block-heading heading--rule-below" id="politics-government"><a href="/category/politics/">Politics & Government</a></h2> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-square is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="69053" class="tag-amdaily tag-josh-stein tag-legislation tag-n-c-general-assembly tag-republicans tag-statewide category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <figure class="post-thumbnail"> <a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69053/governor-nc-influence-republicans-bills/" rel="bookmark" tabindex="-1" aria-hidden="true"> <img decoding="async" onerror="if (typeof newspackHandleImageError === 'function') newspackHandleImageError(this);" width="1200" height="1200" src="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1" class="attachment-newspack-article-block-square-large size-newspack-article-block-square-large wp-post-image" alt="If GOP legislators have their way, NC’s already weak governor could have very little power" data-hero-candidate="1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=100%2C100&ssl=1 100w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C800&ssl=1 800w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1 600w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C400&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1 200w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1 2400w, https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C1200&ssl=1&w=370 370w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" data-attachment-id="68379" data-permalink="https://carolinapublicpress.org/img_1943-copy/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1707&ssl=1" data-orig-size="2560,1707" data-comments-opened="0" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="IMG_1943 copy" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="<p>The Legislative Building in Raleigh. Sarah Michels/Carolina Public Press</p> " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/carolinapublicpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IMG_1943-copy-scaled.jpg?fit=766%2C404&ssl=1" /> </a> </figure> <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/69053/governor-nc-influence-republicans-bills/" rel="bookmark">If GOP legislators have their way, NC’s already weak governor could have very little power</a></h2> <p>The eroding power of a North Carolina governor has been a concern to many. A number of GOP-led bills are aimed at diminishing it further.</p> <div class="entry-meta"> <span class="byline"> <span class="author-prefix">by</span> <span class="author vcard"><a class="url fn n" href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/author/sarah-michels/">Sarah Michels</a></span> </span> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-12T07:00:00">March 12, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-17T14:28:26-04:00">March 17, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> </div> </div> <div class="wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha ts-2 is-style-borders has-text-align-left" style="" > <div data-posts data-current-post-id="36914"> <article data-post-id="68975" class="tag-amdaily tag-donald-trump tag-eastern-band-of-cherokee-indians tag-federal tag-lumbee-tribe tag-rural tag-statewide tag-western-nc category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68975/lumbee-federal-recognition/" rel="bookmark">For Lumbee tribe, ‘the time has come’ to finally be federally recognized</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-10T09:00:00">March 10, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-17T14:23:29-04:00">March 17, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="68962" class="tag-amdaily tag-cryptocurrency tag-dei tag-immigration tag-n-c-general-assembly tag-social-media tag-statewide category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68962/bills-nc-lawmakers-inclusion-immigration-social-media/" rel="bookmark">What we’re (also) watching: More eye-opening bills from NC lawmakers</a></h2> <div class="entry-meta"> <time class="entry-date published" datetime="2025-03-07T09:00:00">March 7, 2025</time><time class="updated" datetime="2025-03-17T14:29:11-04:00">March 17, 2025</time> </div> </div> </article> <article data-post-id="68886" class="tag-confederate tag-eastern-nc tag-monument tag-pmdaily tag-rural tag-statewide category-politics type-post post-has-image" > <div class="entry-wrapper"> <h2 class="entry-title"><a href="https://carolinapublicpress.org/68886/confederate-monument-edenton/" rel="bookmark">Despite outcry, NC town’s Confederate monument is staying put. 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