Category Archives: State/Regional

Hurricane Erin forecast to create dangerous surf, winds along North Carolina’s Outer Banks

Hurricane Erin forecast to create dangerous surf, winds along North Carolina’s Outer Banks

MIAMI (AP) — Hurricane Erin is pelting parts of the Caribbean and is forecast to create dangerous surf and rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week. Forecasters are confident that Erin will turn northeast and away from the eastern U.S. But the National Hurricane Center in Miami says Erin is still expected to churn up dangerous waves and rip currents and could bring tropical force winds to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Evacuations are being ordered on a few islands along the Outer Banks even though the storm is unlikely to make direct landfall. The storm intensified again to a Category 4 storm with 140 mph winds Monday.… Continue Reading

Republicans look to make a U-turn on federal commitment to electric vehicles for the Postal Service

Republicans look to make a U-turn on federal commitment to electric vehicles for the Postal Service

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is facing congressional attempts to strip billions in federal EV funding. The effort comes a year after the agency was honored for its plan to replace thousands of aging, gas-powered mail trucks with a mostly electric fleet. In June, the Senate parliamentarian in June blocked a Republican proposal to sell off the agency’s new electric vehicles and infrastructure and rescind any remaining money, but the push continues. Republican Sen. Joni Ernst says she’s going ahead with a bill to rescind what’s left of the $3 billion in federal funding.… Continue Reading

Category 4 Hurricane Erin buffets northern Caribbean islands but not forecast to hit land

Category 4 Hurricane Erin buffets northern Caribbean islands but not forecast to hit land

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Forecasters say Erin has exploded into a major hurricane in the Atlantic Ocean just north of the Caribbean. The National Hurricane Center says Erin reached Category 5 strength before weakening somewhat and becoming a Category 4 with maximum sustained winds of 140 mph. The hurricane center said that while Erin was “undergoing structural changes,” it remained “formidable.” The storm’s center was north-northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Saturday night. And its rains and winds were buffeting Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Forecasters warned that flooding and slides were possible. Powerful rip currents could affect the U.S. East Coast next week.… Continue Reading

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is on the defensive in Virginia’s race for governor

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is on the defensive in Virginia’s race for governor

HOPEWELL, Va. (AP) — Republican Winsome Earle-Sears says she’s running her campaign for Virginia governor like a military-style operation. And at this point, a few months away from the November election, it’s looking like a campaign on the defensive. The lieutenant governor is facing a Democratic Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman who has more campaign money and a unified party behind her. Earle-Sears has replaced a pastor with little political experience who had been her campaign manager. And her team has failed to gain traction with big money donors. An Earle-Sears victory would make her the first Black woman in U.S. history to serve as a governor.… Continue Reading

CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

ATLANTA (AP) — A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a Georgia man who opened fire Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. The 30-year-old shooter tried to get into the CDC’s headquarters but was stopped by guards. He then drove to a pharmacy across the street and opened fire. The official spoke anonymously Saturday because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. The official says the shooter was armed with at least five guns. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding.… 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

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 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 DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles is the subject of two new audits looking to address long wait times for customers and low morale for workers. Republican Auditor Dave Boliek released them on Monday. The DMV struggles to keep up with the state’s growing population, leading to customer frustrations. It’s not unusual for customers to camp outside driver’s license offices in the wee hours. Boliek recommends making the DMV an autonomous agency separate from the Department of Transportation for better control over budget and operations. Other suggestions include using outside instructors for driving tests and creating “pop-up” license offices.… Continue Reading

The Justice Department seeks voter and election information from at least 19 states, AP finds

The Justice Department seeks voter and election information from at least 19 states, AP finds

NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department is ramping up an effort to get election data from the states. According to an Associated Press tally, the department’s voting section has requested copies of voter registration lists from state election administrators in at least 15 states. And department lawyers have contacted officials in at least seven states to propose a meeting about forging an information-sharing agreement related to instances of voting or election fraud. The unusually expansive outreach has raised alarm among some election officials. That’s because states have the constitutional authority to run elections and because federal law protects the sharing of individual data with the government.… Continue Reading

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