ReportWire

Tag: APP Editor's Picks

  • Workforce training in Charlote helping people in recovery find stability

    [ad_1]

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, employment is a key part of long-term recovery for people overcoming substance use disorders.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Workforce opportunities are helping residents in recovery open new career doors

    •  In North Carolina, a partnership is empowering more individuals overcoming substance use disorders through training for high-demand fields 

    •  One student shares how the workforce program is helping him 


    Research shows obtaining and maintaining meaningful work helps establish structure, income and self-esteem, which are linked to better recovery outcomes.

    This model is taking shape at the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives’ Vocational Training Center Charlotte, a nonprofit providing free, hands-on job training in HVAC-R installation and service, automotive repair and commercial driving.

    The Charlotte team has trained over 900 people for careers since its opening in 2020. 

    NCIA VTC Charlotte program director Christine Poltawsky said their reach includes residents identified as low-income, those who are justice-involved transitioning back into the community and people unhoused or in a recovery process.

    “What we’re really looking to do is reach anybody that does not have access to education and training,” said Poltawsky. 

    VTC Charlotte credits partnerships with the county and a local nonprofit for empowering more people facing barriers to education and workforce training. 

    Mecklenburg County awarded NCIA about $128,000 in opioid settlement funding for employment-related services tied to opioid recovery. 

    Poltawsky said those dollars are allowing them to expand workforce development reach to residents eligible for tuition-free training and support.

    “Most of the people in the county that got the funds – it’s been a lot of treatment centers. So we’re excited that we’re able to target things from a different direction,” Poltawsky said.

    “We are recruiting out in the community at all treatment centers, Charlotte Rescue Mission and others. It’s just allowed us to serve a larger number of their clientele because we have a different funding stream that we can bring them in under,” Poltawsky said.

    In 2023, VTC Charlotte partnered with the rescue mission, an organization offering residential recovery programs at no cost for individuals at the intersection of homelessness and addiction. This includes individuals overcoming alcohol and drug addiction.

    The rescue mission is connecting residents to career training and support at VTC Charlotte.

    “We started conversations on how we could refer people in their program, in order for them to continue to build on what they’re working on,” Poltawsky said.

    “They have steps they need to follow to move forward. What our program offers to the residents there is a pathway to get some industry-recognized credentials and then make some money so they can start paying the rent and move forward through that step process. Along with everyone else who comes through our doors, we’re just giving second chances,” Poltawsky said.

    Since 2023, over 50 rescue mission participants have enrolled in NCIA training programs, thanks to support from the opioid settlement funds. As a result of these partnerships, VTC Charlotte said many of the graduates are now working full-time jobs.  

    Graduate Kasey Lester was referred through the rescue mission and recently graduated from the HVAC program. 

    Lester said the workforce training has been a gamechanger for getting a job and for others seeking second chances. 

    Kasey Lester recently graduated from NCIA VTC Charlotte and credited its partnership with Charlotte Rescue Mission for opening new career doors. (Spectrum News 1/Jennifer Roberts)

    “I wasn’t aware of the opportunities that were up to grab, the things I could pursue, do for myself to get me out my regular routine of life,” Lester said. “That I could branch out and have more stability, more freedom, peace, knowledge. Through the Charlotte Rescue Mission, it has opened many doors.”

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services estimates over 1.4 million adults struggle with a substance use disorder.

    From 2000 to 2022, NCDHHS reports over 36,000 North Carolinians died from drug overdoses.

    Poltawsky said the data speaks to the importance of connecting those in recovery programs to workforce pipelines, so they can create lasting stability beyond treatment. 

    “It feels really good to contribute to the good news and changing somebody’s life for the positive,” Poltawsky said. 

    Walter Boseman is enrolled in VTC Charlotte’s HVAC-R program.

    “I have an associate degree in it already, but I got in an accident years ago which led me out of the workforce,” Boseman said. “I’m going back to what I know to get me up to par with new systems being used.”

    Boseman was also referred through the Charlotte Rescue Mission.

    Boseman said the combination of support and workforce training has helped create a pathway he needed. 

    “Put me back where God wanted me from the beginning,” Boseman said. “It’s working together just like an air conditioning unit. I’m just moving on up.”

    Follow us on Instagram at spectrumnews1nc for news and other happenings across North Carolina.

     

    [ad_2]

    Jennifer Roberts

    Source link

  • New tariffs impact High Point Furniture Market

    [ad_1]

    HIGH POINT, N.C. — Over the next five days, 75,000 people are expected to visit “The Furniture Capital of the World,” High Point, for the Fall Furniture Market. 

    “This is the most important furniture show in the world,” said Eduardo Perez, president and CEO of Adriana Hoyos. 

    What You Need To Know

    • More than 75,000 people are expected to attend the High Point Furniture Market

    • It has a $6.7 billion impact on North Carolina’s economy

    • There’s a 25% tariff on imported vanities, kitchen cabinets as well as upholstered chairs, seats and sofas


    It’s considered to have the biggest economic impact of any event in North Carolina. 

    “$6.7 billion comes​​ to our state economy as a result of this show being here twice a year,” said Tammy Covington, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “It’s great for our city. Market is in High Point’s DNA. We love to welcome our furniture friends back to High Point.”

    The semiannual event gives furniture industry leaders the chance to network with and collaborate with their peers and clients. Attendees can visit showrooms, learn key insights from industry experts and check out the latest home furnishings and trends. 

    “It’s about the brand,” Perez said. “It’s about the lifestyle. It’s about presenting what we think overall, that design is about. It’s about creating spaces, it’s not only about product.” 

    The fall market comes at an interesting time for the furniture industry. President Donald Trump recently imposed tariffs on specific wood products and components, citing national security and foreign trade practice concerns. Currently there’s a 25% tariff on imported vanities and kitchen cabinets as well as upholstered chairs, seats and sofas. Those tariffs could increase in the new year. 

    “Challenges are part of life,” Perez said. “It is what it is. We’re going to be very creative. In order to handle the tariffs, we manufacture in Ecuador as a fact. We are a vertically integrated company, perhaps like no other. We even have the forests. We grow our own trees. What we’re thinking now is also complementing our manufacturing here in the states.”

    “Retailers are exploring their options in terms of what’s out there and really understanding how our exhibitors are responding to the tariff issue,” Covington said. “The great thing about High Point is we’re where those conversations happen.”

    Industry leaders remain optimistic during this time of uncertainty. 

    “I really like that we can cooperate and give to the American market the best possible furniture as it used to be, the best quality,” Perez said.

    “I don’t anticipate it having any issues for April because folks really need to have exposure to this product,” Covington said. “They need to know what their options are in terms of sourcing, and High Point is where you do that.”

    [ad_2]

    Zach Tucker

    Source link

  • N.C. election official urges patience in early voting

    [ad_1]

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In-person early voting is underway across North Carolina, and election officials are expecting turnout to be strong, despite it being a municipal cycle rather than a presidential election year. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Early voting is underway across North Carolina 

    • Election officials are expecting mayoral races and a sales tax referendum to fuel voting attendance 

    • A North Carolina election official is urging people to exercise patience and preparedness during the election season 


    Michael Dickerson serves as director of the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. 

    Dickerson said this year’s elections are fueled by mayoral races, including in Charlotte, Greensboro and Durham, and a one-cent sales tax referendum in Mecklenburg County backed by local and state lawmakers.

    “We got something for everybody to vote on here in Mecklenburg County,” Dickerson said. “We [also] have school board.”

    Dickerson urged voters to bring patience and a photo ID to help keep the voting process running smoothly.

    “It’s not a matter of whether or not you [do or] don’t want to show it, I have to ask for that photo ID in order to accept your ballot,” Dickerson said.

    According to the N.C. State Board of Elections, over 7.5 million people are registered to vote statewide.

    Mecklenburg County accounts for more than 810,000 registered voters and between 2,000 and 3,000 poll workers this election cycle.

    At the Hal Marshall Center in Mecklenburg County, poll workers have been busy welcoming voters since the polls opened Thursday morning.

    Vanessa Ramseur, the Hal Marshall Center site’s chief judge, said she returns each year to help ensure a smooth process.

    “We always work a little earlier than all the other locations because we are here to help to make sure everything gets a great start, which includes having all our staff here ready to greet and meet all our voters and give them the excellent service they need,” Ramseur said.

    Although Ramseur retired, she said helping people exercise their civic duty is both critical and meaningful work.

    “The reason I come back from year to year is to make sure every voter gets the opportunity to vote. It allows me to get up real early, go through the traffic and it means a tremendous amount to me because voting is a right,” Ramseur said.

    Some reports show safety remains a national concern for polling staff.

    A 2025 Brennan Center Research Department survey found that 52% of local election officials expressed concern about threats to themselves or their staff.

    Dickerson said wellness of poll workers remains top priority.

    “We don’t write the rule to do it, we follow the process. Our goal is to get you to vote, that’s the most important thing,” Dickerson said.

    “I am very proud of our poll workers. Our workers are trained to make sure we do have the process work smoothly, and their security is the most important thing to us. They know the procedures to take care of themselves, and they know to get in touch with us if they have any issues, and we will work them through it,” Dickerson said.

    Ramseur said she also feels safe doing this job, crediting election officials for security coordination.

    “We don’t have to worry about anything else except doing our job,” Ramseur said. “We’re thankful.”

    Early voting in North Carolina continues through Nov. 1. Election Day falls on Nov. 4.

    In Mecklenburg County, the Hal Marshall Center remains the only open early voting site until next Thursday, when 21 locations will open to voters.

    Residents can find a list of early voting sites and everything you need to know before you vote on the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections website.

    Although voters will be asked to show ID, residents can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form.

     

    [ad_2]

    Jennifer Roberts

    Source link

  • N.C. campus creating spaces to promote student wellness

    [ad_1]

    LOCUST, N.C. — October marks Mental Health Awareness Month for many wellness organizations, aligning with World Mental Health Day and National Depression Screening Day.

    At Stanly Community College, staff are using this time to spotlight resources and support services for the 10,000 students at its Albemarle campus, Crutchfield Education Center in Locust and other learning sites.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Organizations are spotlighting mental health wellness, coinciding with World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10

    •  A North Carolina community college hosted wellness activities as part of its commitment to mental health 

    •  Stanly Community College said these recent events are just one piece of its long-term efforts to promote student wellness 



    This week, the college hosted “Color Yourself Happy” and “Walk & Talk with a Counselor” events, inviting students to take a break and focus on the moment.

    “We try to do things like that throughout the year, we know college can be extremely stressful,” said Kara Finch, dean of Health Sciences and Public Services. “We want to make sure we’re paying attention to mental health needs of college students.”

    Finch said over the years, the community college has taken huge strides with supporting mental health needs, taking a more holistic approach all year-round.

    This includes resources embedded across the school’s campuses to meet wellness needs.

    “We have a food pantry, counseling services here on our campuses to provide support,” Finch said. “We also have a focus on mental health first aid and QPR (question, persuade, refer) suicide prevention for our faculty and staff. We have a lot of staff and faculty trained in mental health first aid, about 85% of our faculty and staff are trained in suicide prevention.”

    Finch said the college is also integrating mental health awareness into student orientation, where staff discuss self-care and signs of depression and anxiety.

    “We want our students to be successful,” Finch said. “Part of that means there’s not just a focus on their education, there’s a focus on their mental health and physical needs, all of those things.”

    “We know students can’t learn on an empty stomach. Providing snacks for them when they’re on break, having the food pantry for those students who might need that support, we know it’s a stressful environment,” Finch said.

    Jonathan Ho is a student in the emergency medical science program at SCC. He said midterms and constant studying can be overwhelming.

    “Trying to remember everything you learn in class, there’s so much stress,” Ho said.

    For Ho, the “Color Yourself Happy” activities were an opportunity to draw while releasing stress. 

    “Take our mind off studying, trying to focus on mental health and doing something non-school-related while at school,” Ho said. “Makes you forget about everything else, you’re just focusing on the picture.”

    “[These events] make you feel like you’re not just a student, people actually care about you and want to see you succeed,” Ho said.

    The school said mental health extends to academics, particularly in the nursing program, where self-care is part of the curriculum.

    “We spend a lot of time in one of the first classes they take [focusing on] self-care, the importance of self-care while they’re in school and also while they’re in the field,” Finch said.

    Nursing student Maggie Thompson said the program’s new “fidget basket,” filled with stress-relief tools, helps her manage anxiety.

    “Even after tests, my nerves are always up. Having something in my hands [a fidget toy] can relieve my stress. I love it, it shows that I’m cared for and they’re constantly evolving to be there for students,” Thompson said.

    SCC adds a self-care statement in each course syllabus, a reminder that mental wellness is a priority.

     

    [ad_2]

    Jennifer Roberts

    Source link

  • N.C. furniture maker looks to ramp up production as tariffs are set to begin

    [ad_1]

    HIGH POINT, N.C. — President Donald Trump this week laid out plans to impose tariffs on a range of strategic imports, including timber, wood products and furniture. 

    An executive order signed Monday includes tariffs of 25% on upholstered furniture and 10% on softwood timber and lumber that take effect Oct. 14, with exceptions for some trading partners, such as the United Kingdom.

    What You Need To Know

    • New tariffs are set to take effect this month on timber and wood products, including upholstered furniture

    • A furniture maker in High Point, North Carolina, says he is seeing a surge in demand from customers who are unsure how the tariffs will affect supply 

    • But the owner of Dominick’s Furniture says to meet higher demand, he will need special machinery and skilled workers who can operate it

    • The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy has been working to teach skills such as sewing, cutting, framing and upholstery

    Fourth-generation furniture maker Anthony Pennisi, who owns Dominick’s Furniture in High Point, North Carolina, said the move is already helping his business see a surge in demand.

    But to offer competitive prices, he said Dominick’s will need more skilled workers.

    “These customers who are getting, you know, 15, 20 containers a month for the big box stores are panicking. The uncertainty of whether they’ll be able to get it, and if the tariffs are going to continue to rise, is causing them to start looking to see about domestic manufacturing,” Pennisi said. “So we have been quoting nonstop.” 

    But Pennisi said that to meet that higher production rate, he needs specialized machinery.

    “Our labor cost is one of the things that is the highest part of making the product. So, when there’s going to be a need to ramp up and make the 100 sofa frames, we need to be able to have a CNC router that will cut all the plywood,” Pennisi said.

    Pennisi has 15 employees and said that he would need to hire more skilled workers to operate those machines and to handle upholstery.

    “If we could just get that back in schools to have future candidates and employees, that would be great because, you know, that’s what we need,” he said.

    The Catawba Valley Furniture Academy has been working to answer that call by teaching skills like sewing, cutting, framing and upholstery to students enrolled in its night-time program.

    “It’s critical to our region, and this is the furniture capital of the world. We can add High Point; there are two cities where the focal point is furniture, and so we need to be able to produce really good students so that they can go to work for our partners, and they can hit the ground running day one,” said executive dean of economic development and corporate education Gary Mullen.

    A new daytime course also offers the same opportunity to inmates.

    It has been life-changing for students like Eli Cobb, who will graduate in spring.

    “I thought it was a great opportunity for me to learn a new skill and to get a better pay increase. I’m planning on moving, maybe to this area also, and I know that this area will need skilled trainers,” Cobb said.

    Trump’s tariff on certain upholstered furniture is set to increase to 30% on Jan. 1.

    Pennisi said that higher rates could also impact American manufacturers importing electronic mechanisms for their products.

    “I was kind of excited about the tariffs because I think it’s going to bring us business,” he said. 

    [ad_2]

    Sasha Strong

    Source link

  • How N.C. professor finds bees that fight deadly mite

    [ad_1]

    RALEIGH, N.C. — A pesky parasite is impacting bees, threatening colonies all over the world. 

    Bees keep our crops pollinated and now their keepers are looking for a way to stop this killer. Honey bees are a key contributor in the state’s largest industry.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Varroa destructor is threatening honey bee populations globally 

    • Research at UNC Greensboro aims to find bees that can fight off the mite

    • UBeeO is a spray that mimics the scent of a Varroa mite, helping researchers locate hygienic bees

    • Researchers are studying healthy bees’ microbiome, hoping to one day develop a food to improve their overall health


    “Part of our goal really is shoring up food security, crop production in North Carolina,” said Kaira Wagoner, a research scientist at UNC Greensboro.

    Wagoner and her team are keeping the buzz about bees going from the honeycomb to the fume hoods.

    Wagoner’s passion is protecting one of the planet’s most prolific pollinators. 

    Researchers have pinpointed the parasite responsible for decimating bee colonies across the country.

    The Varroa destructor, a small mite that’s living up to its name, is feeding on honey bees and amplifying deadly viruses, Wagoner said.

    “That’s really the No. 1 threat to honey bee health in the United States, and really globally, is this mite and the damage that it causes through spreading of those diseases,” she said.

    These sly creatures bury themselves in brood cells, the small hexagonal openings in the hive, where bee pupa are developing. 

    “She hides under that food and has a snorkel to breathe,” Wagoner said. “They cap over that cell so she can’t be detected as easily. Then the baby bee will eat up that food, releasing her from that brood food. She’ll come out and start feeding on the baby.”

    Wagoner said some bees have a way of stopping the spread. 

    “The honey bees that can smell very well, that are very sensitive, can then detect these Varroa mites, these problems, and throw them out of the colony, preventing the colony from dying,” Wagoner said.

    Wagoner developed a method to find these overly hygienic bees so they can be used for future breeding. 

    Her technology is called unhealthy brood odor or UBeeO. The pheromone-based spray mimics the scent of a Varroa mite. 

    Once it’s on the frame, it’s placed back in the beehive.

    Two hours later the same frame is removed, examined and photographed to document the progress.

    The tests we saw had mixed results. 

    The first frames were mostly untouched, and this hive didn’t uncap any cells.

    A second set of bees removed a few, even pulling out some of the pupa to prevent potential spread and look for mites.

    The final test we watched had near perfect results. 

    The bees checked every sprayed cell.

    Wagoner says colonies that can identify at least 60% of the sprayed cells have fewer mites, less bacteria and lower fungal loads. 

    High-scoring colonies are also found to have fewer viruses, all qualities that make them good candidates for selective breeding, a process intended to strengthen bees.

    Wagoner is exploring another discovery using NCInnovation funding from the state.

    She found hygienic honey bees have a different microbiota from less-hygienic bees. 

    Her team of researchers is now exploring that link. 

    “We have potential to develop a product out of this, finding that could actually improve honey bee health,” Wagoner said. “We’re starting to get into that in the last few years and we have a lot of exciting research ahead of us, thanks to NCInnovation.”

    Wagoner said beekeepers from all over the world are interested in her research and starting to use UBeeO for themselves to identify hygienic bees. 

    She hopes her technology can promote more intentional breeding that can help bees be more resistant to parasites and save farmers money by eliminating the need for expensive miticides.

    [ad_2]

    Marshall Keely

    Source link

  • NASCAR legend Humpy Wheeler died this week

    [ad_1]

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The former president and general manager of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Howard “Humpy” Wheeler Jr., died this week.

    What You Need To Know

    • Howard “Humpy” Wheeler Jr., a well-known figure in NASCAR and the Charlotte community, died this past week

    • Wheeler was from Belmont and created the idea to start a motorsports management program at Belmont Abbey College

    • 18 years later, more than 60 students are pursuing their degrees. Belmont Abbey expanded its motorsports management program recently and now students can earn a master’s degree

    • In lieu of flowers, the Wheeler family asked memorial donations be made to the program in Wheeler’s name


    The 86-year-old was known for his contributions to NASCAR and in the community.

    “It’s the end of an era. Humpy’s the type of guy, I mean he was known all over NASCAR as the top promoter,” said Scott Padgett, former mayor of Concord and friend of Wheeler. “He was always a perfect gentleman. He appreciated the way that we helped him do his job as a promoter.”   

    Wheeler was a visionary in NASCAR. He made the sport more entertaining.

    “The first night race we had with lights at the speedway was another big deal, that was Humpy’s idea, ‘Let’s light up the track.’ It shows up better on TV, and he was thinking about that,” Padgett said.

    Padgett said Wheeler believed in bringing big names to the races.

    “He was promoting not only this speedway, but the whole sport and it paid dividends as the sport has grown so much,” Padgett said. 

    He was respected in the NASCAR organization.

    “The ideas that he had at this speedway spread to other speedways that copied what he had done,” Padgett said.

    Another legacy project of Wheeler’s was higher education. He helped start a motorsports management program at Belmont Abbey College. 

    “Thinking of a motorsports program at a college was way out of the way that NASCAR had been,” Padgett said.

    The college is mourning the loss of Wheeler as well. 

    “We almost take for granted people like Humpy in our culture and in America. These individuals that can have ideas, but make them reality,” said Philip Brach, vice president of college relations at Belmont Abbey.

    Lucas Laager gets to benefit from Wheeler’s idea. He’s a senior motorsports management major. 

    “We were able to meet a driver, a number of team members, throughout the industry from marketing to mechanics to team managers,” Laager said.

    He says he’s loved the sport since he was a teen and having the chance to experience a program like this is special. 

    “We wouldn’t be here without him. His impact on the school is something tremendous. He really was the visionary behind having a degree that combines a passion for racing with gaining business acumen that’s applicable in real life,” Laager said.

    The program covers a range of racing from NASCAR to Formula 1 with the goal of setting students up for success.

    “The experience we gain here, the connections and just the understanding of the sport as a whole is vital to getting introduced and being able to secure a position. It’s a big differentiator for us,” Laager said.

    Wheeler’s love of racing lives on at Belmont Abbey.

    “It’s incredible to be a part of his legacy and carry that forward,” Laager said.

    “It’ll be a long time before people forget Humpy Wheeler — a long time. He leaves a legacy of being a visionary, being bigger than life, being always there. You just thought he would live forever,” Padgett said.

    In lieu of flowers, the Wheeler family asked that memorial donations be made to the Belmont Abbey motorsports management program in Wheeler’s name.

    [ad_2]

    Melody Greene

    Source link

  • Winston-Salem school nurse says staffing shortages continue to rise

    [ad_1]

    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Across North Carolina, schools continue to struggle with staffing shortages — from teachers and cafeteria workers to bus drivers and school nurses. Stephanie Smith, a school nurse at Carver High School in Winston-Salem, has experienced those shortages firsthand.

         What You Need To Know

    • Across North Carolina, schools continue to struggle with staffing shortages — from teachers and cafeteria workers to bus drivers and school nurses

    • Stephanie Smith has experienced those shortages and has worked as a school nurse for the last 15 years

    • The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports the state’s teacher attrition rate during the 2023-24 school year was 9.88%. That’s down from 11.5% the year before, but still above the seven-year average of 8.64%
    • Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green has pushed for higher teacher pay as part of his legislative agenda
    • As of April, the state reported an average starting teacher salary of just under $43,000, ranking North Carolina 39th in the country
    • The average teacher salary is just over $58,000, ranking 43rd in the nation


    Smith began her career in public health, but after having her first child, she switched paths.

    “A school nurse position came available the summer before he started kindergarten, and that seemed like a fantastic fit,” Smith said. “I really enjoyed working with kids. I had been previously working with first-time moms and babies and really enjoyed that population of like young kids.”

    She’s been working as a school nurse for 15 years, but she says staffing challenges have changed the way she works.

    “We have had some increase in positions available, but not necessarily an equal increase in staffing for those positions,” Smith said. “Some years there’s no increase in positions and we have turnover in staff.”

    When she started at Carver, Smith was full time at the school. Now, she splits her time between two schools.

    “We had a significant amount of assignment changes and needs for schools like new schools being built, additional schools being built, and need for more school nurses,” Smith said.

    Smith says part of the demand comes from the rise in chronic health conditions among students.

    “The national standard is for there to be one school nurse in every school, and that doesn’t exist in this county,” Smith said.

    The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction reports the state’s teacher attrition rate during the 2023-24 school year was 9.88%. That’s down from 11.5% the year before, but still above the seven-year average of 8.64%.

    Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green has pushed for higher teacher pay as part of his legislative agenda.

    As of April, the state reported an average starting teacher salary of just under $43,000, ranking North Carolina 39th in the country. The average teacher salary is just over $58,000, ranking 43rd in the nation.

    Smith says the pay challenges aren’t limited to teachers.

    “There is a significant difference in what nurses specifically are paid as school nurses versus as nurses in the private sector or in some other areas of public sector,” Smith said.

    The shortages have sometimes forced teachers to step into roles outside of the classroom.

    “I’m sure it is defeating and disappointing for them because they would love to be able to focus their time and energy on their teaching and helping these kids learn and grow,” Smith said.

    Even with the challenges, Smith says she finds the work fulfilling.

    “The passion for me is being able to see the difference that I can make, not just in one day and one visit with the student, but across their entire lifetime,” Smith said.

     

    [ad_2]

    Ashley Van Havere

    Source link

  • Rip currents: A hidden danger from tropical systems

    [ad_1]

    NORTH CAROLINA — When you think of a tropical storm or hurricane dangers, you think of things like high winds, heavy rain, and storm surge. One risk you may not think of is the danger caused by rip currents.

     

    What You Need To Know

    A storm can be hundreds of miles off the coast but still produce dangerous rip currents

    The threat for rip currents increases even more as a tropical system approaches the coast

    Even if it’s sunny out, rip currents are still possible

     

    The danger of rip currents not only occurs when a storm is near the coast. Storms also cause rip current threats when they are well off the coast.

    A storm can be hundreds of miles off a coastline and still produce surf hazards like large swells and rip currents. The stronger the storm, the greater the potential impact from a distance.

    Satellite image of Hurricane Bertha

    A good example of this was Hurricane Bertha in July 2008.

    Even though the storm was over 1,000 miles off the coast, in New Jersey, there were three rip current fatalities. At Maryland beaches, lifeguards performed 1,500 ocean rescues in the course of one week.

    In 2009, there were no fatalities in the United States that directly occurred due to tropical systems. However, there were six indirect fatalities. All were related to large waves and rip currents caused by offshore tropical systems.

    The threat of rip currents increase even more as a tropical system approaches the coast. That threat is greatest when the storm is one to two days from landfall.

    The best advice is to stay out of the water if a tropical system is causing swells and rip currents.

    You can find rip current forecasts for the North Carolina coast online. National Weather Service offices in coastal areas make a rip current forecast daily and update it as needed.  

    If you do go in the water and do get caught in a rip current, don’t panic.

    Try to swim parallel to the shoreline. This should take you out of the rip current. Another way to escape the rip current is to let it take you out and when the current weakens, swim back to shore or attract the attention of a lifeguard.

    Remember, during the tropical season, skies might be sunny at the beach you’re enjoying, but if there’s a tropical system off the coast, there might be dangerous rip currents in the surf.

    Always know the rip current risk for your local beach and stay aware while you’re enjoying the water.

    Our team of meteorologists dives deep into the science of weather and breaks down timely weather data and information. To view more weather and climate stories, check out our weather blogs section.

    [ad_2]

    Chief Meteorologist Gary Stephenson

    Source link

  • Charlotte doula supports moms in the community

    [ad_1]

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kajarra Caldwell is picking up food, books and other necessities at a pantry at the Ada Jenkins Center in Davidson, North Carolina for a pregnant client. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Research shows moms-to-be have better birth outcomes when they have doulas
    • A professional doula provides support before, during and after birth

    • Kajarra Caldwell is a doula and a senior perinatal community health partner for CityBlock Health

    • She goes above and beyond to help low income women as they navigate motherhood


    “Before I come to pantries, I always ask members a little more about themselves. I like to surprise them with the simple things such as books. She loves books, so she’s going to be amazed when she sees the books,” Caldwell said.  

    Caldwell works as a doula and Senior Perinatal Community Health Partner for CityBlock Health. She says this role aligns with her passion. “Just wanting to help people. I’ve been helping people since I was a youngster,” Caldwell said. 

    She helps pregnant women in several ways, both virtually or in person, before, during and after birth to meet the needs of women. This includes attending appointments, educating them about the birthing process, lactation and postpartum depression, and helping with their nutrition. 

    “It’s important that moms are eating nutritionally during their pregnancy. Sometimes members are high risk, so they can’t work, so it puts pressure on the families that we serve because we cater to low-income families, and this is just a blessing to them,” Caldwell said. 

    She says low-income mothers are a group that needs more support from everyone.  

    “I think that we need to start paying attention to our mothers or our pregnant individuals or women that just had a baby and ask them, ‘What do you need? How can I better assist you?’” Caldwell said. 

    The client she’s picking up and dropping off food for today doesn’t have transportation. Caldwell assists in any area necessary because addressing their most basic needs is important.  

    “The first time I went to her, she literally had nothing,” Caldwell said. “They deserve to be able to eat what they like and what they want.”  

    After spending a decade working in mental health, she felt called to this work because she saw the impacts of when a pregnant woman wasn’t able to feed her baby and ran out of formula. 

    “She called a system that she thought she could call when she needed help for the formula and the system came and they took her baby,” Caldwell said. “It made me think, what could I have done in that situation to help the member?”

    So she made a promise to never see that happen again and fulfills that goal in her role. 

    [ad_2]

    Melody Greene

    Source link

  • Grant funds revoked for UNC Charlotte researchers

    [ad_1]

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A research team supporting LGBTQ+ people is facing uncertainty after funding awarded by the National Institutes of Health was revoked.

    Annelise Mennicke is an associate professor of social work at UNC Charlotte.

    She’s also the co-founder of the Violence Prevention Center.

    What You Need To Know

    •  A UNC Charlotte research team learned grant funding awarded by the National Institutes of Health was canceled

    • The funds were expected to last through 2027

    • The NIH’s letter stated the researchers work was not a priority for the agency 

    • The research team was supporing sexual violence survivors in the LGBTQ+ community 


    “As a faculty member who gets to do research, I really value the creativity we have,” Mennicke said. “In the tenure track position, we get to think deeply about plaguing societal problems and come up with creative solutions. Especially at UNC Charlotte, we get the pleasure of doing that with students.”

    Mennicke is part of a grant research team relying on federal funds supporting LGBTQ+ people. Her group consists of a principal investigator, one grad student and five undergraduates.

    “The goal of this program was to help sexual violence survivors who are LGBTQ+,” Mennicke said.

    Since 2018, Mennicke said they’d tried securing grant funds to advance their efforts, but had little success.

    Then in April 2024, the NIH awarded them $469,000. The grant was budgeted from May 1, 2024, through April 30, 2027.

    However, things recently changed, after Mennicke’s group received a letter from the NIH stating the remaining funds were being canceled.

    “It was abruptly and unexpectedly terminated,” Mennicke said. “[It’s] a real loss.”

    “The Charlotte area is really a hub for the LGBTQ community. [They] are contributing members of our society [and] are experiencing sexual violence at much higher rates. The recension of this grant undermines our ability to increase that safety and provide the supportive services folks need,” Mennicke said.

    The NIH letter stated: “This award no longer effectuates agency priorities. Research programs based on gender identity are often unscientific, have little identifiable return on investment and do nothing to enhance the health of many Americans. Many such strategies ignore rather then seriously examine biological realities.”

    Mennicke said the NIH’s reasoning for canceling the grant isn’t adding up.

    “The NIH has established strategic plans, and our grant [was] issued as part of those priorities,” Mennicke said. “It is incompliant for them to change their research priorities without going through established policies and procedures.”

    The federal agency provided this statement in response to questions about why the grant was canceled:

    “NIH is taking action to terminate research funding that is not aligned with NIH and HHS priorities. We remain dedicated to restoring our agency to its tradition of upholding gold-standard, evidence-based science. As we begin to Make America Healthy Again, it’s important to prioritize research that directly affects the health of Americans. We will leave no stone unturned in identifying the root causes of the chronic disease epidemic as part of our mission to Make America Healthy Again.” 

    UNC Charlotte associate professor Jessamyn Moxie is principal investigator on the grant project. She’s also a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

    Jessamyn Moxie, a principal investigator on a grant project supporting LGBTQ+ sexual abuse survivors, says she’s concerned about the NIH revoking funding already promised. (Spectrum News 1/Jennifer Roberts)

    Moxie said the revocation of federal funds sends a troubling message.

    “I think part of this is a larger signaling that we don’t matter, and we don’t need to address specific issues of subpopulations,” Moxie said. “Things that work for one population have not historically for decades worked for other populations.”

    “As a queer person, a lot of it is two-fold for me,” Moxie said. “It’s the work — but outside of work, we’re all battling what this looks like [moving forward]. Our advocacy doesn’t stop, it just signals they refuse to put money behind something we know is important.”

    The NIH has been cutting research funding on universities nationwide as the administration calls on campuses to end diversity, equity and inclusion and practices unaligned with President Donald Trump’s polices.

    Most recently, the Trump administration instructed Harvard University to meet certain conditions or risk losing billions in federal funds, raising questions about how far the government can go with stopping universities cash flows.

    Susan Roberts, a professor of political science at Davidson College, said some universities are heavily dependent on federal dollars for medical research.

    “I’m not sure the extent to which they would freeze certain programs, and not the vast majority,” Roberts said. “I think Harvard is saying we’re not going to yield to your demands about the funding and what you’re going to collect from the university.”  

    When it comes to the legality of revoking approved federal dollars, experts differ.

    Either way, Roberts said some of the questions and concerns posed could be decided in litigation.  

    “[Campuses] may be joining other universities in lawsuits,” she said. “This may open a Pandora’s box for Trump.”

    “I think colleges and universities have to be careful about whether or not they yield too broadly,” Roberts said. “I think the colleges are trying to figure out how to get a unified front. I think in a week we’ll have more of an idea of what universities are doing.” 

    As for Mennicke, her research team is exploring next steps.

    “The university is working with us to issue an appeal of this in the hopes [of reissuing] the grant,” Mennicke said.

    Mennicke said there’s still over $300,000 remaining grant dollars unused. A big portion of the money was supporting the researchers’ salaries.

    “The undergraduate students were planning to work another two years on the project,” Mennicke said. “The university is going to cover them through the rest of the semester, but they were planning on working much longer.”

    “To finally have achieved [this] and went through the most rigorous peer review process in the country and to have that taken away represents an emotional loss,” Mennicke said. “It’s a difficult time.”

     

    [ad_2]

    Jennifer Roberts

    Source link

  • N.C. campuses educating young people about voting

    N.C. campuses educating young people about voting

    [ad_1]

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Millions of Gen Z-ers could end up shaping this presidential election, particularly in swing states like North Carolina. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  Millions of young people ages 18-27 could be casting their votes during this presidential election

    •  History shows the youngest ages 18-19 aren’t voting at higher rates 

    •  N.C. campuses are taking the initiative to educate more young people about voting 


    Data from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement shows over 40 million members of Gen Z, ages 18-27, are eligible to vote. Nearly 8.3 million of them are newly eligible since the 2022 midterm election. 

    But history shows the youngest ages, 18-19, don’t show up to the polls at high rates.  

    In 2022, CIRCLE reports just 18% of that age range voted in the midterms. This was only 6% higher than voters ages 20-29.

    But as election day gets closer and the polls remain close, these young voters could be the deciding factor in tight races. 

    N.C. colleges and universities are taking steps to ensure more young people are educated and informed about the voting process. 

    In partnership with WFAE, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement at Queens University of Charlotte hosted Beauty and Barbershop: A Conversation About the 2024 Elections.

    The nonpartisan event aimed to engage young people, specifically those of color, in discussions about the election.

    Local businesses like barbers and estheticians provided free services to students, creating a safe and open environment to talk about the elections. 

    The director of initiatives for academic excellence and engagement at Queens University, LaDarius Thompson, says the event was in response to the needs of the students. 

    “We got a lot of feedback from our first-year students that they were not sure where to get their information, not sure where to ask questions,” Thompson said. “So we wanted to create a space, particularly for our BIPOC community, to come in and ask those questions and share their thoughts.”

    “That’s where the concept of this beauty and barbershop came from, a space that is unique to the BIPOC community to come and gather and build community among themselves,” he said, referring to an acronym for Black, Indigenous and people of color.


    Student Jazzie Lee is a civic and community engagement fellow at Queens University.

    A Gen Z-er herself, Lee is ensuring young people know the power of their vote. 

    “Through hosting events, to encouraging voter registration, helping a lot of students that are possibly first-time voters get informed and know what’s going on in this 2024 election,” Lee said. “Young voters may not feel as though their voice is seen in this election. Gen Z is here and we have a voice and our voice is powerful.”

    Less than an hour’s drive away, students at Davidson College are working to ensure Gen Z is able to vote. 

    Senior Sophia Ludt is president of the Center for Political Engagement at Davidson College. 

    Davidson College student Sophia Ludt is helping other students register to vote. (Spectrum News 1/Jennifer Roberts)

    Her team helped dozens of students get registered ahead of the elections.  

    Ludt says she’s dedicated to this cause and making sure her classmates are ready to cast a ballot. 

    “We want to have a say in what happens in our government,” Ludt said. “It’s really important for young people to be aware of what’s going on and hopefully be inspired to go out and vote your values and let your local politicians know what you want.”

    Lyric Bailey, 20, a junior at Davidson College, just registered to vote at the campus. 

    “I think it relieves a lot of anxiety and stress we have as students around all these pressing issues, like we can’t do anything,” Bailey said. “The school just brought an oppotunity straight to us to get involved and make a change, and that’s very liberating.”

    “I think my generation is going to be the change that affects generations to come,” she said. “We’re going to be the change.”


    Early voting is underway now in North Carolina through Nov. 2.

    Election Day is Nov. 5.

     

    [ad_2]

    Jennifer Roberts

    Source link

  • ‘Aquamation’: N.C. funeral home sees growing interest in water-based cremation

    ‘Aquamation’: N.C. funeral home sees growing interest in water-based cremation

    [ad_1]

    HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Aquamation, or water-based cremation, is growing in popularity as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation. The National Funeral Directors Association reports that interest in green funeral options is up 55% since 2021.

    A funeral home in Hillsborough, North Carolina, is one company making the switch to the water-based cremation. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Interest in green funeral options is up 55% since 2021

    • Aquamation is a water-based alternative to cremation 

    • Cremation accounts for 1.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, according to the American Chemical Society


    “With aquamation, we’re not burning the body. We’re circulating an alkaline solution around it for about four hours so there’s no combustion and there’s no release of any toxic or carcinogenic gases,” said Hunter Beattie, owner of Endswell Funeral Home in Hillsborough.

    According to a publication by the American Chemical Society and the Green Burial Council, cremating one corpse emits about 418 pounds of carbon dioxide into the air, accounting for 1.7 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

    The large amount of carbon dioxide emissions are almost entirely eliminated through aquamation and are also a factor into why a Hillsborough couple opted for the method.

    “The thing about the cremation process is, it does so much damage to the climate and to the atmosphere and to everything. And so I found this to be a very peaceful way to say goodbye,” said Gwen Claire. Claire lost her husband earlier this year and he was cremated through aquamation.

    Today, Claire fills her homes with pictures of trips she and her late husband took, both serving as foreign service officers.

    “My husband was also fascinated by other cultures and we wanted to do in my case, we wanted to do what John F. Kennedy said, ‘do something for your country,’” Claire said.

    Claire said she also plans on using the aquamation service when the time comes. 

    “Eventually, my ashes will be mixed with Dan’s and will go into a lovely granite bench we have in Hilton Head under live oaks and surrounded by azaleas, so I just can’t say enough about what a peaceful process this is,” said Claire.

    At Endswell, Beattie said water cremation mimics the natural process that occurs in the soil at a faster pace and uses 90% less energy than traditional cremation.

    “We open the door to the vessel, which is sterilized after each use. This basket slides out, we place the body in the basket, covered entirely. We push the body back into the machine, we close the door and then we rotate the machine at a 45 degree angle. This allows us to use less water, and it keeps the potassium hydroxide off the seal,” said Beattie.

    [ad_2]

    Claudia Puente

    Source link

  • N.C. track star from the Philippines sets sights on 2028 Olympics

    N.C. track star from the Philippines sets sights on 2028 Olympics

    [ad_1]

    CLAYTON, N.C. — CJ Martin, a graduate of Clayton High School, has laced up his cleats more times than he can count before running a race. He’s won most.

    The small-town kid is on his way to one of the premiere conferences in college sports, moving to Bloomington, Indiana to run track for the Hoosiers in the Big 10 on a scholarship. However, earning glory in the college ranks isn’t his only goal.

    What You Need To Know

    •  CJ Martin graduated from Clayton High School in 2024

    •  Martin owns more than 10 track records for Clayton High School, is a state champion and an All-American

    •  Martin is moving to Bloomington, Indiana to run for Indiana University in the Big 10 on a track scholarship

    • Martin is in the process of claiming dual citizenship with the Philippines so that he can run for them in the 2028 Olympics 


    Martin wants to run in the Olympics and has his eyes on the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He’s a sprinter and long-distance runner, who owns more than 10 track records at Clayton High. He’s a multi-state champion and an All-American, yet, if he eventually runs in the Olympics, he won’t be wearing red, white and blue. He’ll be representing his mother’s heritage and home of the Philippines. 

    “Pan-Asians, we stand out in these types of sports, football and track,” Martin said. “So I just wanna show them that you can do it too, don’t look down. I always had a chip on my shoulder, and looked over for so many years, and I’m on top now. And I just want to represent a country that doesn’t get as much spotlight in sports.”

    The feeling Martin gets when he runs is unlike anything else he’s ever felt. He’s run thousands of miles and races with a feeling of euphoria, but he also feels something else when running. 

    “When I run, I just black out. I don’t think about nothing, to be honest. There’s no thinking when I run. I don’t see a point in thinking. I just, there’s only one thing to do is to run. And that finish line,” he said. “My whole life, I’ve been the smallest. I’ve looked different. I’ve been overlooked.”

    Whether it’s because of his size, background or geographical location, Martin has had to overcome a lot, but he’s done it. His current 400-meter race times for example, are already better than those of the current 400-meter runners for the 2024 Philippines runners in this year’s Olympics in Paris.

    “Records only last for a little while, but I’m trying to make mine last forever. So I’m trying to make my name embedded in a school. No one can break it, that’s always been my goal. I want my name down in history forever.,” Martin said. 


    Luckily for Martin, he has the footprint for success in running on the international stage. He’s not looking at runners like Quincy Hall, Michael Norman or Chris Bailey. He’s looking right in his own backyard, at Clayton High School, where over about 14 years ago, American track star and silver medalist winner at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Kenni Harrison went to school. Martin hopes to become the second Olympic champion to attend Clayton High School, a town of around 30,000 people. 

    “A lot of people know me here and watched me grow up and become who I am, so I just wanna go and make them proud,” Martin said. “It’s a small town. We haven’t really been out on the map like that. I feel like we deserve to be on a bigger platform than we already are. So it’s cool, it’s better to be an underdog. You got something to prove. Got a goal to achieve. I’m just trying to make that goal easier for everyone else to get in that spotlight.”

    Martin’s coach, who has coached seven different athletes to North Carolina state championships, was also around when Harrison was a student dominating track and field at Clayton. Kesrick Frazier is a sprint coach at the high school and coached Harrison when she was just beginning her journey. He sees many of Harrison’s characteristics in Martin and says it’s a recipe for success.

    “I think CJ, he kind of reminds me of Keni, as far as work ethics, he put a lot into his craft by, by trying to be the best,” Frazier said. “Right. every day, in and out, when he comes to the track, he tries to work to become somebody great. Ever since he was a freshman, I saw that trait in him. I saw him as an athlete, that he’s a leader. He comes out every day ready to run, ready to compete. And that shows on a track.”

    [ad_2]

    Evan Abramson

    Source link

  • Veteran and NASCAR crew member shares what Coca-Cola 600 means

    Veteran and NASCAR crew member shares what Coca-Cola 600 means

    [ad_1]

    LINWOOD, N.C. — The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is NASCAR’s longest race and honors military members and families this holiday weekend. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Coca-Cola 600 honors military service members on Memorial Day weekend

    • Race cars will display a patriotic design and carry the name of a fallen military service member

    • Carl Garcia is a veteran and crew member for Legacy Motor Club driver 43, Erik Jones

    • Jones’ car at the Coca-Cola 600 will honor Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Thomas Butler, who died in 1967

    Ricky “Carl” Garcia had always dreamed of wearing a green beret. 

    “I was raised with a lot of uncles that were in Vietnam in that area, and most of my dad’s side of family served,” Garcia said. “So I grew up around listening to stories about Green Berets and the Rangers and the Delta Force and all that stuff. So I wanted to wear a beret.” 

    After discovering he would need to jump out of planes to get the coveted beret, his fate was sealed. Garcia became a specialist in the 3rd Battalion in the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. 

    Carl Garcia’s favorite photo of him parachuting in Panama. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

    “I specialized in urban warfare, which would be like a hostile takeover of a city, going in and clearing out a city if there were a hostile in a city,” Garcia said. 

    He says a favorite memory in service was going to Panama for jungle training. 

    “Spending three months down there and getting to jump and see the culture and be actually in a jungle, which is an eye-opening experience that you would not know unless you’re actually there,” he said. 

    He traveled around the world, including spending time at Fort Bragg. Garcia’s dream was to serve for decades and move into specialized units, but a physical limitation ended his service. 

    “I am glad I did at least get the opportunity to serve,” Garcia said. 

    After his service, he began a career as a plumber and did construction jobs. 

    “I’ve always wondered how things work. I love taking things apart,” he said. “Obviously, if you’re going to take them apart, you need to learn how to put them back together.” 

    He came into his next line of work by chance. 

    “I met a guy at the grocery store one day that was going to cook for a race team, and I had just started watching NASCAR probably a couple of months earlier and got into it. He asked me if I wanted to go, and I said, ‘Sure. I’ve never been to a race,’ so I got to go with him and help cook for a race team,” Garcia said. “I did that for two weeks and was so interested that the owner of the race team offered me a job learning how to change tires.” 

    From changing tires to working in the shop, Garcia became a full-time mechanic, using his size and knowledge of electrical work to specialize in the interior of the car. 

    Carl Garcia working on a four-wheeler at his home.

    Carl Garcia works on a four-wheeler at his home. (Spectrum News 1/Sydney McCoy)

    “I have transitioned over to the last couple of years to the front-end mechanic as well, as personnel has changed, but I pretty much do anything on the race car that needs to be done that’s mechanic-related, whether it’s hanging the suspension, helping put motors in some fabrication stuff, welding that we don’t really do much of anymore. But anything that needs to be done,” Garcia said. 

    Although he didn’t come from the grassroots of racing fans like many other crew members, Garcia landed a spot with Legacy Motor Club, on driver 43 Erik Jones’ crew. 

    “For this week in Charlotte, we’ve spent the last few days getting the car together, safety-checking everything, making sure nothing’s going to fall off, making sure that the car was properly put together, the way the engineers wanted it put together,” he said. 

    Garcia has an important role in making sure his driver is safe and comfortable. 

    “I do think sometimes that the interior gets overlooked for the aspect and only gets reminded when something happens [that’s] bad,” he said. “The most important part of our entire job is to make sure that at the end of the day, everybody’s going home the same way they started the day out with, whether we win a race or we lose a race.”

    “That’s more important than anything else that’s going on with our job,” Garcia said. 

    Garcia travels to different race tracks, and each experience is different. He says the most special part of every race is the national anthem. 

    Erik Jones' car design for the Coca-Cola 600. (Legacy Motor Club)

    Erik Jones’ car design for the Coca-Cola 600. (Legacy Motor Club)

    “Sometimes when we’re not on the track, we’re in the garage working. If the other series is starting to race and then do the national anthem, the entire garage stops, as respect. It’s just something that everybody does because they want to, you know, and that and all the sports that I’ve ever watched. I think the appreciation for the military is probably the greatest in NASCAR out of any of them,” Garcia said. 

    The Coca-Cola 600 is a special weekend in racing, as it is geared toward honoring military service members. 

    The NASCAR Salutes Together with the Coca-Cola Program will recognize fallen military members in a special way this Memorial Day weekend. 

    “It’s really cool because usually all the branches of service are represented this weekend and then all the different cars with all the different people on there and their family gets to have some sort of enjoyment, you know, for the sacrifice that their loved one made,” Garcia said.  

    Image of Charles Thomas Butler, who will be honored on Erik Jones' car. (LEGACY MOTOR CLUB via Charles Thomas Butler's family)

    Charles Thomas Butler will be honored on Erik Jones’ car at the Coca-Cola 600. (Legacy Motor Club via Charles Thomas Butler’s family)

    Besides special events at the track, for the 10th year of the program each car will be carrying a patriotic design as well as the name of a fallen military service member on the car for the 600 Miles of Remembrance.

    “I think that’s probably the highest form of respect you can repay is to show your appreciation not only to him, but to his family for the sacrifices that he made for our country,” Garcia said. 

    Jones’ car will honor Navy Lt. Cmdr. Charles Thomas Butler, who was 38 when he died and had received numerous awards for his service on Reconnaissance Attack Squadrons Five and Three. Butler died in 1967 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. 

    Garcia is excited to see what surprises are in store for the weekend, and of course eager to pull out a win.  

    “I love the races, the start of the day, and then the night. Erik does extremely well with those…  I think we’ll be super fast this weekend and I think it’ll be a great day and it’ll be good for our organization to have all three cars on the track. I think they’ll do extremely well and put on a good show for everybody for Memorial Day and they can have some fun along with them — a remembrance of what it actually means,” Garcia said. 

    To learn more about each of the fallen military service members who will be honored this weekend, visit NASCAR’s website.

    [ad_2]

    Sydney McCoy

    Source link

  • How to understand tornadoes and stay safe

    How to understand tornadoes and stay safe

    [ad_1]

    Not every thunderstorm spawns a tornado, but when they do, the strong rotating wind can really wreak havoc. So what causes a tornado to form?

    There are multiple variables that go into the development of a tornado that are not available in every storm.

    What You Need To Know

    • About 1,200 tornadoes hit the U.S. each year

    • There are different tornado seasons for different regions

    • Tornadoes are classified on the EF (Enhanced Fujita) scale

    What is a Tornado?

    A tornado is a violently rotating funnel of air that extends from a thunderstorm to the ground.  Sometimes a tornado can be confused with a hurricane, which is also a rotating storm, but on a larger and slower scale. Tornadoes are narrow and faster, making them much harder to prepare for and take cover.  

    Where Tornadoes Occur

    According to the National Severe Storms Laboratory, about 1200 tornadoes hit the United States yearly and can occur in all 50 states.

    They are more common along the Gulf Coast in early spring, May through June for the southern plains, and June through July for the northern plains and upper Midwest.

    The reason for the higher frequency during these months is because conditions for tornado development are more common. Conditions include an unstable atmosphere, sufficient moisture, and sufficient vertical wind shear, which is the change in wind speed and direction as it rises.

    These conditions are typically found along a boundary, such as a cold front, dryline, or sea breeze.

    These boundaries indicate an area where cold and warm or moist and dry air masses meet. This will cause air to rise and thunderstorms to form. If the vertical wind shear is then present, the thunderstorm will start to rotate and a tornado can spin down to the surface.

    Determining the Tornado Classification

    Tornadoes can come in all shapes, sizes, and strengths. It’s not until a tornado has weakened that a determination can be made on how strong it was.

    This is different than a hurricane that immediately gets ranked a category 1-5 based on wind speed. The EF Scale (Enhanced Fujita) is based on the damage that the tornado caused and can be as weak as an EF-0 or as strong as an EF-5.  

    No matter the strength of the tornado, it is important to take cover when a warning is issued.

    A warning means that a tornado is likely occurring and you’ll need to get to your safe spot immediately.

    How to Stay Safe During a Warning

    Safe locations include a basement or an inside room without windows on the lowest floor. Try and grab something to protect your head from falling debris, like a helmet, and wait for the threat to completely pass before leaving.

    Remember that tornadoes can occur at any time of year and during the day or night.

    If the ingredients are there, a spin-up may occur fast, so it’s important to have a way to be alerted wherever you are. If a warning is issued, have a plan in place to quickly respond and get yourself to safety.

    [ad_2]

    Meteorologist Mallory Nicholls

    Source link

  • Meet a man on a mission to rebuild Ocean Isle beaches

    Meet a man on a mission to rebuild Ocean Isle beaches

    [ad_1]

    OCEAN ISLE, N.C. —  Dunes represent a natural coastal protection measure. Henry Cooke is trying to revitalize them in Brunswick County, making the beach fronts a buildable space and safer from flooding issues.

    What You Need To Know

    • Sand dredging helps to replace sand that is carried away by wave action and currents, essentially “reclaiming” the beach and preserving its appearance and usability
    • Sand fencing and grass installation helps replenish the dunes on the beaches
    • To view the requirements for building an ocean front home, click here

    “Without an adequate dune system for protection, the town will not issue a permit to build housing,” Cooke said.

    Homes are not built on the dunes themselves, but rather near the dune lines. However, the ground isn’t stable enough for construction, according to Cooke, who is working to make a difference on that front. 

    Dunes are essentially small sand hills, built up to serve as a defensive line against floods from hurricanes and other storms. Many are protected by different laws and ordnances to keep people from damaging them. 

    Cooke started Dune Doctor LLC as a way to help the beaches he loves. He began this journey to help the dunes after his family lost their real estate business in Brunswick County. 

    “We were unable to make any kind of profit last year due to two storms back-to-back, which took our entire rental season for an entire year,” Cooke said. 

    Cooke is now using plants to stabilize the beaches and help keep sand from washing away. He said it’s important to use native plants, including American Beach Grass. 

    “[It’s] native to North Carolina, and they are pasture grown in a field the same as tobacco or another plant. Just the same. They’re hardy, which makes them hardy and makes them stronger. They’ve already endured the wind and the cold,” Cooke said. 

    Cooke isn’t the only one trying to revitalize the beaches, however, as many towns across North Carolina are now using dredging, a process that involves pumping sand from the sea and adding it back to the shores to build up the beach. 

    “Dredging is the other side of it. We work with the sand. They work with the sand, but they’re just in the water, and they move it around a little bit differently, depending on when they depend on water. It’s a much bigger job that they do, but it’s very important, especially in this coast of North Carolina,” Cooke said. 

    Cooke said his efforts to replant the beaches are just one small piece to revitalizing them. As more dredging projects happen, the extra sand they dig up helps these beaches grow and gives Cooke and his team more to work with. 

    “It has helped. And I would say with the most recent job of dredging here, we’ve if not doubled, maybe even more, this the width of the entire beach here,” Cooke said. “I was here last year measuring for these plants, and we didn’t have near as much.”

    [ad_2]

    Spectrum News Staff

    Source link

  • High School Scholar Elijah Wilson has a love of numbers and helping others

    High School Scholar Elijah Wilson has a love of numbers and helping others

    [ad_1]

    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Elijah Wilson loves math. 

    In the last few years, his love for numbers has helped him find a new passion, tutoring at the Nest Academy, a private school for refugee, underprivileged and at-risk kids in East Charlotte.

    Wilson says his family started volunteering at the Nest Academy soon after they opened their doors.

    “I’ve always liked volunteering as I’ve grown up,” said Wilson. “Just helping others gives you that sense of purpose in life.”

    What You Need To Know

    •  Elijah Wilson loves math

    •  He also has found a passion for volunteering

    •  The Nest Academy asked Elijah to come help tutor math to kids in need

    • The opportunity has opened Elijah’s eyes to not only helping others, but learning about what others are going through

    It’s a purpose that grew as he entered high school. The teachers at the Nest Academy say they saw first-hand his ability to work with students.

    “He’s passionate about what he’s doing, he cares about the kids, asks them how they are, connects with them,” said Nest Academy founder M.C. Hildreth. “You know, those are the real hidden angels in our community, the ones that really aren’t boasting about what they’re doing, but are really solid in the fact that they know who they are.”

    For Wilson, it’s not just about adding another activity to his college applications. It’s also about the satisfaction of getting to see those lightbulb moments when the lessons finally click.

    “It’s very rewarding because, like I said, you can feel comfortable and feel more like you’re able to make more of an impact because you have your own skills to share,” said Wilson.

    Wilson isn’t sure what school he wants to go to in the fall yet, but he hopes to study chemical engineering. And of course, continue to volunteer wherever he lands. 

    Wilson was presented with a $1,000 scholarship by North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham (District 112) on behalf of Spectrum Networks, as part of the High School Scholars program.

    [ad_2]

    Courtney Davis

    Source link

  • ‘Making a Snifference’: Conservation dogs help locate bumble bee nests

    ‘Making a Snifference’: Conservation dogs help locate bumble bee nests

    [ad_1]

    MILWAUKEE — When researchers wanted to collect data on wild bumble bee nests this past summer, they turned to man’s best friend to help sniff them out.

    What You Need To Know

    • Bumble bee nests are difficult to locate

    • The dogs help sniff out nests of 20 species of bumble bees

    • They are used to locate invasive species as well as turtles

    One is affectionately named Betty White, and her partner in crime is Ernie. The two spent the summer sniffing out bumble bee nests for researchers.

    “Nests, in general, are just super hard for humans to find by themselves. Any valuable find for the dogs is helpful for the researchers,” said Laura Holder of the Conservation Dogs Collective.

    Their slogan is “Making a Snifference.”

    (Spectrum News 1/Jon Fuller)

    The dogs are trained to locate Wisconsin’s approximately 20 species of wild bumble bees.

    On a recent training day in Wauwatosa, Holder hid parts of nests for the dogs to locate.

    “We train with different volumes of the bumble bee nest material. Out in the wild, there could be a tiny little nest or a really large nest,” explained Holder.

    A dog’s superior sense of smell makes it possible to locate nests and collect data on these important pollinators.

    “These dogs are super impressive. When they find a nest, they know exactly where it is,” said Jade Kochanski, University of Wisconsin-Madison Ph.D. graduate student.

    (Spectrum News 1/Jon Fuller)

    With a keen interest in pollinators, Kochanski witnessed the dogs working this summer.

    “If we can increase the efficiency and accuracy of finding bumble bee nests, that can help us answer research questions,” explained Kochanski. “Are there species-specific differences in their nesting preferences? Are prairie restorations helping them?”

    The dogs love to run and sniff, but their contributions are invaluable.

    “Finding the correlation between where they are foraging to where nests are found is a critical piece of information that’s missing right now,” said Holder.

    (Spectrum News 1/Jon Fuller)

    Sniffing around looking for bees may sound like you’re asking for trouble, but problems are rare, Holder said. She carries Benadryl just in case.

    “Bumble bees, you have to make them upset for you or the dog to get stung,” said Holder.

    The dogs can detect more than just bee nests. They can also help locate invasive species like the New Zealand mud snail.

    “We just had a team that came back from Iowa last week. They were doing ornate box turtle surveys. Wood turtles are another thing here in the area that are of great importance,” said Holder.

    The practice is an emerging field that continues to provide useful data for scientists — there’s no doubt it’ll also keep the valuable noses of Ernie and Betty White quite busy. 

    [ad_2]

    Source link