Category Archives: Triangle/Local

How to watch the Orionid meteor shower, debris of Halley’s comet

How to watch the Orionid meteor shower, debris of Halley’s comet

The Orionid meteor shower peaks this year with the arrival of a new moon, offering a rare chance to see shooting stars without moonlight interference. During Tuesday morning’s peak, exerts predict up to 20 meteors per hour could be visible under ideal conditions. Viewing lasts until early November. The source of the Orionids is debris from Halley’s comet. You don’t need special equipment to see the various meteor showers that flash across annually, just a spot away from city lights.… Continue Reading

Is college worth the cost? Universities work to show the return on investment of a degree

Is college worth the cost? Universities work to show the return on investment of a degree

WASHINGTON (AP) — For many young Americans, deciding on college has become a complex choice. Increasingly, a main question is whether a degree is worth its cost. Confidence in higher education has dropped due to high tuition, student loans and a tough job market. Colleges are now trying to prove their value. New rankings and reports focus on the financial benefits of degrees. Research shows most bachelor’s degrees still pay off, but not all lead to good salaries. More students are choosing technical schools or trades over four-year universities to avoid debt. In response, colleges are working to align degrees with job market needs.… Continue Reading

Ironweed: The resilient perennial transforming North Carolina landscapes

Ironweed: The resilient perennial transforming North Carolina landscapes

We all want resilient plants for our landscape. Frankly we want something that is cost effective. A plant which fulfills that description and expectation is “Ironweed” (Vernonia noveboracensis). This seems to be the most common variety grown in North Carolina. Anne Clapp used to say: “A weed is a plant you don’t want in your yard,” but you definitely will want Ironweed! It is a popular and hardy herbaceous perennial that you’ll find in a lot of landscapes in North Carolina. Herbaceous means it does not have a woody stem and dies back to the ground after it flowers. By the way, “Ironweed” was named for the English botanist William Vernon who traveled extensively in the late 1600’s and early 1700’s.… Continue Reading

High tides raise flood risk in Carolinas as tropical storms churn in Atlantic and Pacific

High tides raise flood risk in Carolinas as tropical storms churn in Atlantic and Pacific

MIAMI (AP) — A storm without a name and unusual king tides were causing some flooding on the Carolina coast as tropical storms churned in the Atlantic and along Mexico’s Pacific coast. About a dozen streets were already flooded in Charleston, South Carolina, where a high tide of 8.5 feet was forecast Friday morning. The unnamed coastal storm and unusually high king tides threatened to bring days of heavy winds that could cause coastal flooding. Along the Outer Banks, forecasters said the worst weather should occur Friday through the weekend. Tropical Storms Priscilla and Raymond threatened heavy rain along the Mexican coast, and Priscilla could cause flash flooding across the U.S. Southwest through the weekend.… Continue Reading

North Carolina state House member charged with sex crimes

North Carolina state House member charged with sex crimes

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina state House member has been charged with sex-related crimes involving a teenager. Court records show six-term Democratic Rep. Cecil Brockman was arrested Wednesday on charges of statutory sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a child. The alleged crimes involve a 15-year-old. Brockman was jailed without bond. The North Carolina Democratic Party and top state House leaders have called on Brockman to resign immediately. An assistant for Brockman said the legislator didn’t have a comment Thursday morning. A voice message left on a phone number connected to Brockman wasn’t immediately returned. Electronic court records provided no information on an attorney.… Continue Reading

Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness

Duke researchers receive $15M federal grant to expand AI model designed to predict mental illness

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) — Researchers at Duke University have received a $15 million federal grant to expand an artificial intelligence model designed to predict mental illness in adolescents. The Duke Predictive Model of Adolescent Mental Health is used to predict who is most likely to develop a mental illness within a year. It also identifies the key factors driving those predictions, creating the potential to offer preventive interventions. The model achieved 84% accuracy in identifying adolescents ranging in age from 10 to 15 who are at risk for future serious mental health issues. The new grant will fund a study of the tool in evaluating 2,000 adolescents in rural areas in North Carolina, Minnesota and North Dakota.… Continue Reading

Battleship North Carolina to honor U.S. Navy and Marine Corps anniversaries

Battleship North Carolina to honor U.S. Navy and Marine Corps anniversaries

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WPTF) — As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the Battleship North Carolina is inviting Americans to participate in a significant act of remembrance and gratitude. In honor of the 250th anniversaries, the Battleship will raise 250 American flags, each representing the generations who have served and sacrificed for the nation.

The ceremonial flag raisings are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 13, coinciding with the Navy Anniversary, and Monday, Nov. 10, for the Marine Corps Anniversary. These events will take place aboard the historic ship in collaboration with the Friends of the Battleship North Carolina and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.… Continue Reading

North Carolina governor signs criminal justice bill into law after Ukrainian refugee’s death

North Carolina governor signs criminal justice bill into law after Ukrainian refugee’s death

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Democratic governor has signed into law a criminal justice measure pushed by the Republican-controlled legislature in response to the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte train. While Gov. Josh Stein criticized portions of the bill on Friday, his signature still affirms in law reforms sought by GOP politicians and their allies. The bill had received bipartisan support in the state House. The new law bars cashless bail for certain violent crimes and limits magistrates’ discretion in pretrial release decisions. The bill authors also seek to restart executions in North Carolina, where capital punishment has not been carried out since 2006.… Continue Reading

Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda threaten the Bahamas and Bermuda

Hurricane Humberto and Tropical Storm Imelda threaten the Bahamas and Bermuda

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in the Bahamas have closed a majority of schools following mandatory evacuations for some islands in the archipelago as Tropical Storm Imelda drops heavy rain and unleashes flooding in the northern Caribbean. A tropical storm warning was in effect Monday for parts of the northwestern Bahamas, including Eleuthera, the Abacos, Grand Bahama Island and the surrounding keys. Heavy rains also were forecast along the coastline of North and South Carolina. Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto churned in open waters nearby, which forecasters said would cause Imelda to abruptly turn to the east-northeast, away from the southeastern United States coast.… Continue Reading

Tropical Storm Imelda forms near Bahamas and is expected to become a hurricane in coming days

Tropical Storm Imelda forms near Bahamas and is expected to become a hurricane in coming days

MIAMI (AP) — Tropical Storm Imelda has formed near the Bahamas and is forecast to become a hurricane curving away from the southeast U.S. seacoast early this week. Imelda was churning up rough seas, wind and rain on Sunday around the Bahamas and nearby islands, just over 350 miles southeast of Cape Canaveral, Florida. Meanwhile, Hurricane Humberto remains a dangerous Category 4 storm farther out in the Atlantic on a forecast track that could threaten Bermuda. In the Southeast U.S., South Carolina’s governor urged residents Sunday to remain alert, while North Carolina declared a state of emergency for any impacts from Imelda even though forecasters say the storm should spin away from the East Coast in coming days.… Continue Reading

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