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Friday Forward News Roundup

NC Restaurants Need Urgent Support for Post-Storm Recovery Amid Economic Peril

The Asheville Independent Restaurants Association (AIR) has urged North Carolina leaders to expedite relief measures for small businesses and restaurants devastated by Tropical Storm Helene. AIR's letter highlights critical figures, including a $53 billion damage estimate—the state's highest ever, and notes that nearly 43% of small businesses fail to reopen post-disaster, with 14,500 regional food and beverage industry jobs at stake. AIR's requests include pausing Economic Injury Disaster Loans, increasing FEMA cost share, and enhancing unemployment benefits, as local and state relief efforts continue to fall short. (Citizen Times)


Asheville Cautiously Reopens to Tourists Amid Ongoing Hurricane Helene Recovery

Asheville is reopening gradually after Hurricane Helene’s destruction on September 27, which led to widespread outages, infrastructure damage, and road closures. Downtown Asheville shops and restaurants are welcoming visitors with limited hours, and the Biltmore Estate, largely undamaged, will reopen on November 2 for the holiday season. While some main roads are accessible, many areas, including parts of the River Arts District, require significant repairs, and I-40 remains closed past Asheville with an estimated reopening in a year or more. (News & Observer)


North Carolina Legislature Approves $600 Million for Hurricane Helene Relief, Expands Early Voting Access in Affected Counties

North Carolina lawmakers approved an additional $604 million from the state's reserves for Hurricane Helene recovery, with measures including $50 million in small business loans, $100 million for emergency repairs, and mental health support for schools. With early voting turnout exceeding 1.89 million, the legislature also mandated additional voting sites in affected counties like Henderson and McDowell to alleviate congestion, addressing voter access challenges as the state moves through a high-turnout early voting period. (WRAL)


Record Early Voter Turnout in North Carolina Shows Over 2 Million Ballots Cast

North Carolina’s early voting is setting records with over two million ballots already cast, up 6% from 2020. Early voting trends continue to grow, as 65% of voters voted early in 2020, with that figure now increasing. In the first week, 687,000 Republicans, 683,000 Democrats, and 630,000 unaffiliated voters participated, as residents express strong opinions on national and state issues. (ABC 11)


Abortion Rights Fuel Voter Tensions as North Carolina Faces Tight 2024 Election

Two years after Roe v. Wade was overturned, abortion remains a key election issue, especially for younger women in battleground North Carolina. With the state’s new 12-week abortion ban, 10% of voters in 2022 listed abortion as a top issue, a sharp rise from 3% in 2020. (AP)


In North Carolina’s New Toss-Up District, Don Davis Faces a Challenging Re-Election Bid Against Republican Challenger

U.S. Rep. Don Davis, a Forward-Democrat with a record of crossing party lines, faces a close race in North Carolina’s newly redrawn 1st Congressional District, now a battleground. His Republican opponent, Laurie Buckhout, a retired Army colonel, is focusing on the economy and distancing herself from more controversial figures in her party, despite her support for Governor candidate Mark Robinson and Donald Trump. With Davis maintaining a financial edge and emphasizing local roots, the high-poverty, aging district will test voter priorities as both candidates compete for crossover support in the historically Democratic region. (The Assembly)


NC NAACP Fights to Keep Voter ID and Tax Cap Amendments in Court as Six-Year Legal Battle Continues

In a six-year case challenging North Carolina’s 2018 voter ID and tax cap amendments, NAACP attorneys argued against a judgment on the pleadings filed by Republican legislators, which would dismiss the case without a trial. Defense attorneys contended the amendments were validly approved by voters and failed to show racial discrimination; however, the NAACP insists the amendments were passed by a racially gerrymandered legislature, warranting further review. The three-judge panel's decision remains pending, with the case likely to head for another appeal regardless of the outcome. (NC Newsline)


Mark Robinson Adjusts Damages in Defamation Suit Against CNN to Comply with NC Court Limits

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson has amended his defamation lawsuit against CNN, originally seeking $50 million, to specify damages in excess of $25,000 as required by North Carolina state court guidelines. Robinson's campaign clarified that the specific amount will be determined by a jury if the case proceeds to trial. The lawsuit alleges defamatory statements linking Robinson to a pornography shop and explicit online comments, which he disputes. (WSOC-TV)


Ethics Complaint Sparks Escalation in North Carolina Supreme Court Race

A confidential ethics complaint against Justice Allison Riggs, a Democrat running to retain her seat on North Carolina’s Supreme Court, has intensified her campaign battle with Republican challenger Judge Jefferson Griffin. Following the complaint, Griffin’s campaign began running ads stating Riggs is “under investigation” for her abortion-focused ads against him, prompting mutual accusations of unethical conduct. Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue criticized the ethics complaint as part of a broader GOP effort to politicize the judiciary. (News & Observer)


Casa Azel De Wilson is Empowering Hispanic Youth and Increasing Voter Participation in Wilson, NC

Casa Azel De Wilson, founded in 2021 by Flor Herrera-Picasso and her sister Elizabeth, supports North Carolina’s Hispanic and Latin American communities by expanding college access and fostering civic engagement. Operating across 22 counties, the nonprofit assists with college applications, voter registration, and cultural outreach; it has registered over 200 new voters this year alone, often through creative initiatives like outreach at quinceañeras. With a focus on education, community development, culture, and civic engagement, the organization aims to uplift Hispanic voices and promote informed decision-making. (ABC 11)


Greensboro City Council Votes for $12.4M Containment Plan for Contaminated Bingham Park

The Greensboro City Council voted 6-2 to implement a $12.4 million containment and cover plan for Bingham Park, where soil contamination from a century-old incinerator was discovered. This option, preferred over a $39 million full remediation plan, includes building a trail, stream restoration, and a neighborhood park on adjacent land. Council members cited limited available funding of $18 million from state and federal sources, despite community advocates’ disappointment over not fully remediating the site. (FOX 8)


Durham City Council Adopts New Urban Design Standards to Improve Safety and Accessibility

The Durham City Council unanimously approved updated design standards to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians amid increasing urbanization. Spearheaded by Council member Nate Baker, the city adopted the NACTO Urban Street and Bikeway Design Guides, along with the ITE’s multimodal corridor handbook, which will be integrated into future development guidelines. The standards aim to promote consistent infrastructure for walking and biking and support Durham's Vision Zero goal. While the city’s control over state-owned roads is limited, the new guidelines offer a framework for safer, more sustainable urban planning in locally managed areas. (Indy Week)


NC Gubernatorial Candidate Josh Stein Signals Possible Rollback of Opportunity Scholarships

Democratic candidate Josh Stein expressed openness to restricting North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program, which has been expanded to cover families at any income level. Stein suggested reverting the program to its original form, focusing on low-income public school students, contrasting with Governor Roy Cooper’s proposal to freeze future funding while supporting current recipients. Opportunity Scholarships, highly popular and with a record 72,000 applications in 2023, provide $3,360 to $7,468 per year per student. Stein cited a lack of standards in private schools and argued the funding could be better allocated toward North Carolina’s public education needs. (Carolina Journal)


Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board Upholds Moment of Silence Over Prayer at Meetings

After a discussion prompted by public comments and a board member’s request, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School Board voted 6-3 to maintain a moment of silence rather than reinstating prayer at the start of meetings. The change to moments of silence, initially made in response to a Freedom From Religion Foundation complaint, sparked debate among community members, some advocating for prayer and others supporting an inclusive silence. Board members Barr, Miller, and Wood voted against the measure, favoring a return to non-sectarian prayer. (WFAE)


ECU Faculty Senate’s Diversity Committee Webpage Removed

East Carolina University professor Amanda Klein discovered in early September that the webpage for the Faculty Senate’s Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) had been removed without prior notice. The page, which previously hosted three years of committee minutes, reports, and resources, now displays an error message, leaving committee members like Klein, who previously chaired the DEI committee, concerned about support for DEI initiatives on campus. (News & Observer)


CFPB's New 'Open Banking' Rule Aims to Ease Bank Switching and Expand Consumer Credit Access

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) finalized an "open banking" rule, mandating that banks transfer customers' financial data upon request to enable smoother bank switching and enhance consumer choice. Scheduled for implementation by large banks in 2026, the rule aims to boost competition and improve services, empowering consumers with free access to essential banking data like transactions and bill payments. Additionally, the rule promotes "cash-flow underwriting," where financial history beyond credit scores could enhance access to loans and offer a more accurate credit evaluation, benefiting borrowers with diverse financial backgrounds. (Charlotte Observer)


New Program Offers Free Rooftop Solar for Low-Income Households in Mecklenburg County

This spring, low-to-moderate-income households in Mecklenburg County can apply for free rooftop solar installations through the Solarize Charlotte-Mecklenburg program, potentially saving hundreds annually in energy costs. Funded by an $800,000 grant from the bipartisan infrastructure law, the initiative also provides discounted solar rates for residents above the income threshold, as well as opportunities for businesses and nonprofits. Charlotte’s chief sustainability officer, Sarah Hazel, emphasized that this program aims to make clean energy accessible and equitable for all residents. (WFAE)


Mia Hamm and Crystal Washington Headline Women Lead NC Conference, Focusing on Leadership and AI

Around 1,000 attendees gathered at the Raleigh Convention Center for the Women Lead NC Conference, where keynote speakers Mia Hamm and Crystal Washington shared insights on leadership and technology. Hamm emphasized the importance of accountability and team-driven excellence from her career in U.S. women’s soccer, while Washington discussed leveraging generative AI like ChatGPT to enhance career performance, urging curiosity in an evolving tech landscape. The event also featured a showcase of over 50 women-owned businesses and donation drives supporting community-focused initiatives. (North State Journal)


OpenAI Hires Duke Professor and Former Biden Adviser as First Chief Economist to Explore AI’s Economic Impact

OpenAI has appointed Aaron “Ronnie” Chatterji, a Duke University professor and former Biden Administration adviser, as its first chief economist to study AI’s potential to reshape economies and labor markets. Chatterji, who will continue teaching at Duke’s Fuqua School of Business, brings experience from roles in both the Biden and Obama administrations, including his recent position as White House coordinator for the CHIPS Act. CEO Sam Altman envisions AI transforming fields like education and healthcare, predicting shifts in job functions rather than rapid job loss. (Herald Sun)

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