LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund Supports Hurricane-Impacted Businesses

The Henderson County Chamber of Commerce and partners are awarding grants of up to $10,000 to small businesses in Henderson County affected by Hurricane Helene. The second round of the "LoveHendo Business Recovery Fund," supported by a $100,000 donation from Optimum, is expected to raise $150,000-$200,000, with applications closing Nov. 22 by noon. Businesses must meet specific criteria, including having fewer than 100 employees and proof of physical damage, to qualify for the grants. (ABC 13)

North Carolina Recovery Office Faces Leadership Shake-Up Amid Financial Scrutiny

Laura Hogshead, head of the North Carolina Office of Recovery and Resiliency (ReBuild NC) since 2018, has departed following GOP lawmakers’ criticism of her handling of disaster recovery efforts. The office, struggling with a $220 million funding gap for Hurricane Matthew and Florence recovery projects, recently received $50 million in additional state funds. Interim leader Pryor Gibson will oversee the office as legislators push for audits and reforms, with $40 million needed monthly to prevent project delays. (WUNC)

NCDAC Rejects Claims of Overcrowding and Poor Conditions Following Hurricane Transfers

The North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections (NCDAC) has dismissed human rights groups’ allegations of overcrowding and poor conditions in state prisons following Hurricane Helene as “incorrect” and “almost entirely false.” Activist groups had called for the early release of 1,900 low-risk inmates, citing overcrowding percentages of up to 136.7% at facilities like Pamlico Correctional. NCDAC countered that these figures reflect Standard Operating Capacity, not Maximum Capacity, and emphasized its commitment to restoring normal operations and ensuring staff and offender welfare as utilities return to western facilities. (Carolina Journal)

UNCA Restores Potable Water After Hurricane Helene Disruption

Hurricane Helene's damage to infrastructure left UNC Asheville without water, prompting a campus closure and reliance on bottled water. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers installed a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Unit on October 22, capable of producing 288,000 gallons of potable water daily for campus use. While most facilities now have safe drinking water, two locations remain under boil water notices, and conservation guidelines are in place until full water capabilities are restored. The City of Asheville lifted its broader boil water advisory on Monday, restoring water to over 100,000 residents. (North State Journal)

Controversial North Carolina Bill Limits Democratic Powers Under Hurricane Relief Pretense

Republican lawmakers in North Carolina passed a 131-page bill labeled as hurricane disaster relief, but much of its content shifts powers away from newly elected Democratic leaders, including the governor, attorney general, and state schools superintendent. Passed using a procedural maneuver to bypass full review, the bill includes provisions to remove gubernatorial control over the State Board of Elections and restrict campaign finance investigations. Critics, including Democrats and some Republicans, called the bill a power grab, with one lawmaker noting it offered little actual hurricane relief for affected areas. (News & Observer)

NC Auditor-Elect Boliek to Gain Expanded Powers Over Elections Under Controversial Bill

Dave Boliek, North Carolina’s newly elected Republican state auditor, will assume significant new powers over the State Board of Elections if a recently passed bill becomes law. The bill shifts the authority to appoint state and county election board members from the governor to the auditor, raising concerns about conflicts of interest, given Boliek’s campaign pledge to audit the elections board. The legislation, criticized as a partisan "power grab," includes other election changes, such as shortening timelines for counting provisional ballots. Boliek, who did not seek these new powers, has pledged to manage his expanded role in a nonpartisan manner. (News & Observer)

NC Lawmakers Override Veto to Expand School Vouchers and Mandate Immigration Enforcement

The North Carolina legislature overrode Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of House Bill 10, enacting a $463.5 million expansion of private school vouchers and requiring sheriffs to comply more closely with federal immigration enforcement. The Opportunity Scholarship program now has $756.5 million in funding over two years, aiming to clear a 54,000-student waitlist, though critics argue it will strain public school resources. The law also mandates sheriffs detain individuals in the U.S. illegally if requested by ICE, a measure supporters claim enhances public safety but critics view as unconstitutional and underfunded. (WRAL)

NC Elections Face Legal Challenges, Recounts, and Sweeping Legislative Changes

Trailing by 625 votes, Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin has filed protests in every NC county, challenging over 60,000 ballots based on incomplete voter registration details, deceased voters, felons, and overseas voters. Similar protests have been filed in tight legislative races, with recounts underway. Meanwhile, the NC Senate passed a 131-page bill transferring elections board authority to the state auditor, shortening absentee ballot timelines, and limiting county vote counts. Critics say these legislative and legal maneuvers, combined with ongoing recounts, underscore heightened partisan tensions in NC elections. (NC Newsline)

NC Senate Reelects Phil Berger as Leader, Announces Leadership Team

Sen. Phil Berger (R-Eden) has been reelected as president pro tem of the North Carolina Senate, continuing his 13-year leadership tenure. Berger emphasized his commitment to advancing North Carolina’s progress. The Senate also confirmed its leadership team, including Sen. Paul Newton (R-Cabarrus) as majority leader, Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) as deputy president pro tem, and dual majority whips Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) and Sen. Todd Johnson (R-Union). These elections follow the recent selection of Rep. Destin Hall (R-Caldwell) as the next House speaker. (North State Journal)

Sharpsburg Mayor Resigns Amid DWI Charges

Sharpsburg Mayor Robert Williams Jr. has resigned, citing medical issues, following his suspension in January and four DWI arrests since taking office in 2018. His latest arrest occurred in July, with prior incidents in December 2023 and February 2024. The Sharpsburg Board of Commissioners has scheduled an emergency meeting Wednesday to address the resignation. (CBS 17)

Burlington City Council Approves Updated Plans for 211-Unit Apartment Complex

Burlington's city council has unanimously approved revised plans for a 211-unit apartment complex on St. Mark’s Church Road, increasing the unit count from the originally approved 205. The project, initially approved in 2021 as the city’s first “planned development,” had been abandoned but was revived by Charlotte-based developer David Ransenberg. The updated plans retain the original footprint, add a fire lane required by the fire department, and include sustainability incentives. (Alamance News)

Chapel Hill Council Reviews Proposed Multifamily Project on MLK Boulevard

The Chapel Hill Town Council reviewed plans for a 175-unit multifamily development at 701 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, sparking debate over whether the property should cater to students or a broader demographic. The project includes features like widened sidewalks, a public plaza, EV charging stations, and bike storage, but council members called for more aggressive affordability plans, reduced parking, and design changes to break up the building's mass. Located near UNC and the future North-South BRT line, the site is seen as an ideal location for multimodal transit and increased density. (Chapelboro)

Durham Public Schools Reduces Bus Service to 4 Days a Week Amid Driver Shortage

Starting December 2, Durham Public Schools (DPS) will implement a temporary 4-day-per-week rotational bus service, requiring families to handle student transportation one day each week through December 20. The measure, approved by the board of education, aims to provide more reliable service while addressing a persistent bus driver shortage. This follows a January 2024 disruption when 33 schools faced delays due to a pay dispute involving 26 absent drivers. (ABC 11)

FAFSA Opens for 2025-26 School Year with Improved System and User Experience

The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available, following extensive testing and significant improvements after last year’s problematic rollout. Updates include better functionality, easier navigation for low-income and mixed-status families, and an 80% increase in call center staffing to address inquiries efficiently. While the application takes about 20 minutes for most students to complete, families are encouraged to submit their FAFSA as soon as possible to maximize financial aid opportunities. (WFAE)

UNC Charlotte Launches Historic $500M Fundraising Campaign

UNC Charlotte has launched its largest-ever fundraising campaign, aiming to raise $500 million over four years to support student financial aid, research, and community-focused facilities. The “For the Love of Charlotte” campaign has already secured $250 million from donors and plans to expand scholarships, hire faculty, and upgrade arts and athletic facilities. With record enrollment of over 31,000 students and ambitions for top-tier "R1" research status by 2025, the campaign seeks to bolster the university’s endowment, which currently stands at $303 million, to ensure continued growth and community impact. (Charlotte Observer)

NC Unemployment Agency Criticized for Late Payments Despite Readiness Plan

A state audit revealed that North Carolina's Division of Employment Security (DES) issued only 57% of unemployment benefits on time in 2023, down from 76% during the pandemic, despite a lower unemployment rate of 3.5%. Over 11,000 payments were delayed more than 35 days, causing financial strain for recipients. While DES attributed delays to staffing shortages and turnover, it reported improvements, claiming 84% on-time payments by September 2024. Critics noted DES has yet to fully implement a readiness plan for economic downturns, though the agency stated it activated portions of the plan during Hurricane Helene’s aftermath. (News & Observer)

Winston-Salem's Economic Incentives Highlight Need for Inclusive Growth Strategy

The Winston-Salem City Council's approval of $208,050 in economic incentives for HanesBrands to consolidate its headquarters downtown reflects a broader issue in the city’s economic development strategy. While the deal aims to retain 500 jobs and a $40 million payroll, it prioritizes corporate downsizing over fostering new growth or supporting small businesses, which remain underfunded despite driving local innovation. Critics point to similar past missteps, like the Dell facility and uneven outcomes in the Innovation Quarter, as evidence that outdated approaches hinder equitable progress. A shift toward investing in small businesses, workforce development, and inclusive opportunities is essential to building a resilient and vibrant local economy. (Carolina Journal)

NCDOT Set to Begin $70.4M Expansion of Skeet Club Road

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is preparing to start construction on a $70.4 million project to widen a 4.4-mile stretch of Skeet Club Road, Johnson Street, and Sandy Ridge Road. The expansion will transform the heavily trafficked road—currently handling 26,000 cars daily, with projections of 39,500 by 2044—into a four-lane route with a median, bike lanes, sidewalks, and a multi-use path. While some residents, like Max Coltrane, are unhappy about losing portions of their property, many acknowledge the project’s necessity to ease congestion in this growing area connecting High Point and Greensboro. Construction is set to begin this summer. (FOX 8)

IRS Increases 2025 Retirement Contribution Limits, Adding "Super" Catch-Up Option

Starting in 2025, individuals can contribute up to $23,500 to their 401(k) plans, with an additional $7,500 catch-up contribution for those aged 50 and older. Workers aged 60-63 can take advantage of a new "super" catch-up contribution of $11,250, potentially contributing up to $34,750 annually under SECURE 2.0. While only 14% of retirement plan participants currently max out contributions, these changes aim to encourage saving, especially as the average household nearing retirement has just $10,000 in retirement savings. Financial experts emphasize regular contributions and gradual increases to maximize retirement fund growth. (ABC 11)

AAA Predicts Record Thanksgiving Travel, Offers Safety Tips for Road Trips

AAA forecasts 71.7 million Americans will hit the road for Thanksgiving, with over 570,000 expected to face car troubles like flat tires, dead batteries, or lockouts. To prevent issues, AAA recommends a pre-trip vehicle inspection focusing on tires, battery, and brakes, and preparing an emergency kit with essentials like a phone charger, water, snacks, and safety tools. Drivers are urged to prioritize roadside safety by slowing down, moving over for vehicles with flashing lights, and remaining alert to prevent accidents, ensuring a safe holiday for all travelers and responders. (WRAL)

Winston-Salem's Brown School Lofts Designated a Historical Landmark

The former Brown Elementary School, originally opened as Woodland Avenue Elementary in 1910, was officially marked as a historical landmark in Winston-Salem. The school, which served African American students during the Segregation Era, was renamed in 1941 after Principal Robert Washington Brown and demolished following a fire in 2016. The site was redeveloped into Brown School Lofts as part of the city’s affordable housing initiative, preserving its legacy as a hub of community and resilience. (ABC 45)

Beloved News Anchor Donna Gregory Passes Away After Battle with Cancer

Donna Gregory, a veteran journalist and cherished WWAY news anchor, passed away on Tuesday surrounded by loved ones after a courageous fight against Stage 4 lung cancer. Known for her decades-long career covering global events and her mentorship to young journalists, Donna joined WWAY in 2019, quickly becoming a trusted voice in the community. Her grace, wisdom, and enduring commitment to storytelling left an indelible mark, and she will be deeply missed by colleagues, viewers, and all who knew her. (WWAY)