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Tag: APP Latest Human Interest Stories

  • Medical foster mom in Tampa reopens her home after adopting four foster kids

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    TAMPA, Fla. — Kadesha Stewart knew one thing her whole life.

    “I always wanted five children,” said Stewart.

    She had a son, LaShawn. But that was it. In her heart and in her home in Tampa, she never stopped yearning for more little feet.

    What You Need To Know

    • Kadesha Stewart is an adoptive mom of 4 kids that she previously fostered, and three of them have special medical needs

    • She is a specialized medical foster parent through Children’s Home Network, and has received training and a special license to care for kids at their most vulnerable, whose birth parents cannot care for them

    • After helping over 30 kids, Kadesha closed her foster home to new fosters when she adopted her fourth child, but is now getting re-licensed through CHN and is reopening her home for more medical foster children

    • Medical foster parent(s) are needed. To learn how to become one, join a virtual information session with the Children’s Home Network


    She decided to become a foster parent, and through her training decided she would be a medical foster parent.

    “These babies, they need more than just medication. They need love. They need stability,” said Stewart. “And they just need someone who can have the patience to care for them.”

    She went through training and opened her home. It quickly began to fill.

    With foster care, reunification with the child’s biological family is always the goal. But in some cases, that doesn’t work out.

    So Stewart became mother to more than one, adopting Teryonna first. Then, she adopted Lucas. Then Emma.

    “Then the opportunity comes for you to adopt now your fourth child, and your answer is?” asked Spectrum Bay News 9 anchor Erin Murray.

    “Yes,” said Stewart with a huge smile.

    Graciyanna became adoption number four.

    In total, Stewart has fostered more than 30 kids — most with medical needs.

    With LaShawn, Teryonna, Lucas, Emma and Graciyanna, Stewart’s dream is now complete. She is the mother of five children.

    “So five is enough for me because, you know, it’s just me,” said Stewart with a smile.

    Or that is what she thought.

    “If I have the space and the help, which is my mom, to do it, you know, I just want to continue to be a blessing to a child,” said Stewart.

    Fostering is part of her purpose, she said.

    The Children’s Home Network hopes more people will consider becoming medical foster families.

    “In Hillsborough County, there’s only about 15 medical foster homes,” said Paul Penhale, Out-of-Home Care Senior Director, Children’s Home Network in Tampa. “It’s never enough, right? We’re actively recruiting.”

    Penhale said while they are making it work with those 15 families in Hillsborough, Children’s Home Network is always looking for the next generation of foster moms and dads.

    “We believe that regardless of the child’s medical condition, they still deserve to be in a family-like setting. They don’t need to be in the hospital if they’re medically ready for discharge. But they do need more than a traditional foster parent can provide care,” said Penhale.

    Stewart hopes others will see her family and give fostering a chance.

    “These children need a home, and it would be a blessing for more families to open their home to medical children,” said Stewart.

    A full home that always has room for one more foster child.

    “I’m not going to say no,” said Stewart.

    Children’s Home Network said all medical foster parents are given medical training and they have a team of resources available to help them 24/7.

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    Erin Murray

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  • Homecoming festivities return to N.C. A&T

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    GREENSBORO,N.C. — Reconnecting with old classmates on the yard, tailgating before the big game and enjoying the parade are some of the best parts of homecoming week, but there’s one more ingredient that helps N.C. A&T host the “Greatest Homecoming on Earth.”

    What You Need To Know

    • It’s homecoming week at N.C A&T

    • Leaders at the college say more than 130,000 people attend the weeklong celebration in Greensboro

    • A report released by the university shows collectively their homecoming events make a $33 million economic impact on the entire state



    “It’s the spirit of Aggie pride,“ former N.C. A&T president of the National Alumni Association Gerald Williams explained. 

    And to show off that school spirit, alumni like Sabrina Brooks make the campus bookstore their first stop. 

    “To be able to show school spirit is so important. Coming from Philadelphia you have to always rep where you went,” Brooks said. 

    Sixty thousand out-of-town visitors will make their way to the campus events over the week.

    College leaders said the boost in visitors translates to a surge in sales each year, and the royalties go toward funding financial aid for the current generation of students.

    But the bookstore is just one of many businesses that benefit from homecoming season. 

    “North Carolina A&T has an annual economic impact on this state, mostly concentrated in Guilford County, of $2.4 billion. A lot of that comes from visitors and events that we hold that draw people into this community, homecoming by far the large is one of those events,” N.C. A&T Associate Vice Chancellor Todd Simmons said.

    N.C. A&T Police Chief Robert Hassell said they partnered with local law enforcement to ensure safety and help direct traffic.

    “We want everyone, our students or alumni and all visitors to feel safe. Our homecoming event is one of the largest and one of the best experiences anyone could ask, so with that comes a lot of traffic, not only vehicle traffic but pedestrian traffic. So all those coming to our homecoming event need to expect some possible delays with redirection of traffic,” Hassell said. 

    Collectively more than 130,000 people attend the events every year, and the celebration creates a $33 million economic impact on the state.

    The festivities continue Friday night with the annual step show.

    Saturday will feature the homecoming parade, football game against South Carolina State and a concert starring GloRilla and A Boogie. The event ends Sunday with a gospel concert.

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    Sasha Strong

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  • Tampa Bay entrepreneur revives old vending machines

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    MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — A Tampa Bay business owner is giving old vending machines a new life, and bringing more art into the community at the same time.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lucid Vending is a company that refurbishes old vending machines and stocks them with items you wouldn’t typically see, like a mini harmonica necklace or a mystery bag

    • The prices range from $2 to $20

    • The owner has 22 total around the Tampa Bay area and plans to open a new one every month

    Thinking outside the box is a full-time job for Chance Ryan.

    Ryan is the owner of Lucid Vending, a company that refurbishes old vending machines and stocks them with items you wouldn’t typically see, like a mini harmonica necklace or a mystery bag. The prices range from $2 to $20.

    The Lucid vending machine stands in one of the shops in the Tampa Bay area. (Spectrum News/Julia Hazel)

    “It happened by accident. Sort of. Just thought it’d be a fun idea to take vending machines, put them in cool bars and locally independently owned establishments in the Tampa Bay area,” Ryan said.

    Now he owns 22 vending machines and does all the buying, restocking, and refurbishing himself.

    “These are old Lance cracker snack machines from the 1990s. And you know, you can just refurbish them. I put new control boards in there and upgraded them with credit card readers,” he said.

    He takes pride in selling products from local artists — he buys the pieces upfront and re-sells them.

    “Well, I just like the community feel of it. It’s kind of, you know, hyper-local,” he said.

     Oscura, a music venue and coffee shop, located in the historic district of Bradenton, shares that same mission..

    Olivia D’Amico is one of the shop’s owners. A lot of art is purchased out of the vending machine, she said.

    Olivia D’Amico, the co-owner of Oscura in Bradenton, said the Lucid vending machine aligns with the local community. (Spectrum News/Julia Hazel)

    “People always stop and talk about it and ask us questions. And again, it just brings a little fun and whimsy, which we love here,” D’Amico said. “Really aligns with our community. And our community really enjoys.”

    The vending machines are free for businesses, and he gives a portion of the profits to each business, Ryan said.

    “I’m kind of at that point where I’m getting more in the grain and making more of a profit, and they’re making more profit because the sales always keep going up with the more improved I make my machines,” he said.

    This innovative idea of turning something old into something new has grown into a profitable business. Ryan says he hopes to create a new machine every other month.

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    Julia Hazel

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  • Madeira Beach hero meets with neighbor he saved during storm

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    MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. — Last year’s storms took a toll on so many Bay Area communities. Some lost everything they owned.

    Some even lost their lives. 

    But there were also a number of heroes who came out of the storms with memorable stories.

    What You Need To Know

    • Michael Greenstein jumped into action when storm surge from Hurricane Helene sent water inside the first-floor condos, where he lives

    • Greenstein saved three of his elderly neighbors and a cat

    • One of the neighbors he saved has known him since he was three years old

    • Greenstein has been honored by the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for his bravery
    • PREVIOUS: Madeira Beach man climbs through windows to rescue elderly neighbors from flood waters


    Right after Hurricane Helene, we spoke with a Madeira Beach man who saved three of his elderly neighbors from storm surge the night of the storm.

    We checked in with him a year later along with one of the people he saved.

    Last September, Michael Greenstein detailed the remarkable story of how he waded through floodwaters in the middle of the night, risking his own life to save not one, not two, but three of his elderly neighbors and a cat during Hurricane Helene.

    Connie Noren, 87, was one of those neighbors.

    “It’s very scary. I didn’t know whether we were going to make it,” she said.

    She sat down with Greenstein a year later, and their recollection of that night still very vivid.

    Noren remembered how Greenstein saved their neighbor, who’s in her 90s and hearing impaired.

    “She would’ve died that night I think, because the water was up to the mattress ,” Noren said.

    “Yeah, she was floating on the bed. The bed was floating,” said Greenstein.

    Noren said she’s known Greenstein since he was about three years old. She said the night of the storm reminded her of the times her family took Greenstein out on their boat with her grandkids when he was just a little boy.

    “He was so mad at me that day because we made him wear a life jacket. And he was just stomping around, because, ‘How come I have to wear a life jacket, and the other guys don’t have to wear a life jacket?’ And I said, Michael, you’re just a little guy you need to,’” Noren said.

    During last year’s storms, she laughed and said that those roles reversed. 

    “Now for him to come save me from the water, that was the joke,” Noren said.

    “Yeah, you needed a life jacket that day,” Greenstein said, laughing.

    Noren’s waterfront condo filled with water during the storm and it’s still under construction.

    Greenstein also rescued Noren’s older son that night. He’s back at home now. The other elderly neighbor moved closer to family in Utah according to Noren. 

    As for Noren, she says recovery has been difficult.

    “I’ve just been going from condo to condo to survive,” she said. 

    She’s thankful renovations are almost done and even more thankful for her neighbor and friend, Greenstein, who’s had his heroism celebrated twice since we last saw him. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office honored him with two different awards.

    Greenstein said so much has changed since last September.

    “At the time, I definitely had the adrenaline flowing a few weeks after that,” he said.

    The adrenaline rush from those rescues may be over, but his desire to do good in the world after all of this — that’s one of the things, he says, this experience has taught him to focus on everyday.

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    Saundra Weathers

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  • Volunteers pack 126,000 meals in Central Florida food bank in 24 hours

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Second Harvest of Central Florida Food Bank took on a first-of-its-kind challenge, staying open for 24 hours straight to fight hunger in the community.

    What You Need To Know

    • Second Harvest of Central Florida stayed open for 24 hours for the first time in its history

    • More than 300 volunteers rotated through three-hour shifts to pack food

    • The event’s goal was 100,000 meals, but volunteers exceeded it with 126,000

    • Leaders say the event highlights that hunger never takes a break

    “I started volunteering here in 2016,” said Alfred Delio, a longtime Second Harvest volunteer.

    At four o’clock in the morning, while most of Central Florida is asleep, Delio was already stacking boxes inside the food bank.

    “It makes me feel good inside. I feel like I’ve accomplished something,” he said.

    Delio was one of more than 300 volunteers who signed up for shifts during the relief marathon, called Hunger Never Sleeps. Beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, teams rotated every three hours, sorting, packing, and sealing food boxes with the goal of creating 100,000 meals.

    “It’s making such a positive impact on lives in Central Florida. We’re feeding hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens every ship. It’s almost biblical. Multiplying the efforts of our volunteers here,” Delio said.

    Second Harvest’s President and CEO, Derrick Chubbs, emphasized that the event was about more than just numbers.

    “1 in 7 Central Floridians do not know where their next meal is coming from. 1 in 6 are children that are food insecure. We just want to be here to try to bridge that gap,” Chubbs said.

    Organizers also highlighted the significance of the 24-hour effort.

    “In 43 years of the food bank’s history, we’ve never been open overnight. For the community to step forward with that ask is pretty significant,” Chubbs said.

    As the final hours ticked down, Delio said the lack of sleep was worth it, because the impact would last long after the lights turned off.

    “I really want to be a part of that. It sounds amazing,” he said.

    Second Harvest exceeded its original goal, packing 126,000 meals that will soon be distributed to families across Central Florida.

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    Ashley Engle

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  • How western N.C.’s tourist dependent businesses are surviving after Helene

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    OLD FORT, N.C. (AP) — Morning mist is still burning off the surrounding mountains when they appear: Small groups of helmeted riders on one-wheeled, skateboard-like contraptions, navigating the pitched streets, past the 30-foot granite Arrowhead Monument on the town square.

    What You Need To Know

    • Old Fort, like many other towns in western North Carolina, have reopened since Helene but are still struggling to get the word out to tourists 

    • Old Fort has been transitioning to a tourism based economy since furniture manufacturer Ethan Allen, one of the town’s largest employers, laid off more than 300 people in 2019 

    • Biking trails became one of the town’s biggest draws, but flooding from Helene washed many of them away and damaged nearby businesses like Old Fort Bike Shop which suffered $150k in uninsured losses 

    • Tourism has been slowed down by the 35 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway that sit closed for repairs and aren’t slated to reopen until fall 2026


    They are among the 400 or so people converging on this Blue Ridge foothills town for FloatLife Fest, which bills itself as “the ORIGINAL and LONGEST RUNNING” gathering dedicated to motorized Onewheel boards. Swelling Old Fort’s normal population by half, the mid-September festival is injecting much needed money and hope into a town still recovering a year after it was inundated by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

    “We should definitely come back again,” says Jess Jones, a 34-year-old marine biologist from Edinburgh, Scotland. “The vibe and the welcome that we got there was really nice.”

    That the festival occurred at all is a tribute to the area’s natural beauty, and the resilience of its people.

    Signs of progress are mixed with still-visible scars from Helene in this town about 24 miles (39 kilometers) east of Asheville. Most of Old Fort’s shops have reopened, even as workers continue clawing away at a debris pile downtown and some homes remain unlivable.

    Like other businesspeople in this tourist-dependent mountain region, bike shop owner Chad Schoenauer has been banking on a strong fall leaf-peeping season to help get him back on track after Helene. But many seem to assume Old Fort is still a wasteland.

    “‘Oh, I didn’t know that you were open,’” he says is a typical reaction.

    Helene’s floods and landslides interrupt outdoor tourism makeover

    When Helene swept through, Old Fort was well on its way to remaking itself as an outdoor destination, especially after furniture manufacturer Ethan Allen laid off 325 workers when it converted its factory there into a distribution center in 2019.

    “When the Ethan Allen layoff happened, local leaders started coming together and saying, `How do we use these beautiful natural assets that we have to diversify the manufacturing economy?’” says Kim Effler, president and CEO of the McDowell Chamber of Commerce.

    Named for a Revolutionary War-era stockade, the town decided to become a world-class destination for hiking, running, horseback riding and, most notably, mountain biking.

    “We have a red clay that makes some of the best trails in the country,” FloatLife founder Justyn Thompson says. “The trails are epic.”

    In 2021, the G5 Trail Collective — a program led by the nonprofit Camp Grier outdoors complex — got the U.S. Forest Service to agree to 42 miles (68 kilometers) of new multi-purpose trails. The effort began paying dividends almost immediately.

    “For every trail that we were able to open, we saw a new business open up in town,” says Jason McDougald, the camp’s executive director.

    The collective had just completed the 21st mile (34th kilometer) of trail when Helene, in Schoenauer’s words, hit “the reset button” by washing away trails and damaging businesses.

    When the storm blew through on Sept. 27, 2024, the Catawba River converged with the normally placid Mill Creek, leaving much of downtown under several feet of muddy water.

    Schoenauer, who opened his Old Fort Bike Shop in 2021, says it took two days before he could make it to town to assess damage to the business housed in a refurbished 1901 former general store.

    “I was numb coming all the way here,” he says. “And as soon as I got off the exit, I started crying.”

    The water rose more than 3 feet (1 meter) inside the shop, leaving behind a 10-inch (25-centimeter) layer of reddish-brown mud. The beautiful heart pine floors buckled.

    Schoenauer says he suffered about $150,000 in uninsured losses.

    At the Foothills Watershed mountain biking complex along the Catawba, the storm took 48 large shade trees and an 18,000-square-foot (1,672-square-meter) track built with banks and jumps.

    “We had a septic field, a brand-new constructed septic field for the business that was destroyed,” says Casey McKissick, who spent the last three years developing the bike park. “Never been used; not even turned on yet. And it all went right down the river.”

    McKissick says the business didn’t have flood insurance because it was too costly, and the threat of a catastrophic event seemed too remote.

    The damage amounted to $150,000. Worse yet was the loss of eight months of business, including last year’s foliage season.

    “We lost that really critical fourth quarter of the year, which is a beautiful fall,” McKissick says.

    Blue Ridge Parkway closure slows visitors’ return

    Gov. Josh Stein recently announced that travelers had spent a record $36.7 billion in the state last year. But that boom eluded the counties worst hit by Helene.

    Visitor spending in Buncombe County — home to Asheville — was down nearly 11% last year compared to 2023, according to the state Department of Commerce.

    In McDowell, tourist spending dropped nearly 3% in that same period. Effler says this June and July, foot traffic at the county’s largest visitor center was down 50% from last year.

    She blames much of that on damage to the Blue Ridge Parkway, which is consistently one of the most-visited of the national parks. About 35 miles (56 kilometers) of the North Carolina route — including long stretches in McDowell County — aren’t slated to reopen until fall 2026.

    McDougald says nearly every trail in the Old Fort complex was damaged, with landslides taking out “300-foot sections of trail at a time.”

    They’ve managed to reopen about 30 miles (48 kilometers) of trail, but he says about that many miles remain closed.

    Schoenauer reopened his shop in December, but traffic was down by about two-thirds this summer.

    “My business, revenue-wise, has shifted more to the repair side,” he says. “People trying to still recreate, but use the bike that they have just to keep it going and have some fun.”

    The Watershed complex opened in June, but without the planned riverfront gazebo and performance stage. And they’ve moved the bike jumps to higher ground.

    “It’s changed our way of looking at the floodplain, for sure,” McKissick says.

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    Associated Press

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  • How juvenile center says it grew stronger after Helene

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Inmates were displaced from several state prisons across western North Carolina as a result of the damage caused by Helene. The storm not only affected the region’s adult prisons, but it also impacted its only youth development center.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Western Area Juvenile and Assessment Center is the only facility that services the Asheville community and 28 other counties

    • The facility was forced to shut down without power and water to continue operations during Helene

    • Helene humbled the staff at Western Area Juvenile and Assessment Center, but it challenged them to grow as individuals and as an agency


    Many communities across the region were forced to rebuild following the significant devastation caused by Helene last September and for the state’s criminal justice system, it revealed where the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections and the Department of Public Safety needed to improve response efforts to natural disasters.

    The Western Area Juvenile and Assessment Center is the only facility that services the Asheville community and 28 other counties.

    The North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s website says juvenile crisis and assessment centers offer evidenced-based crisis assessment and mental health residential services for youth ages 10-17. During their stay at-risk youth are provided with recommendations for the most suitable behavioral interventions.

    Both boys and girls are housed at the facility and typically stay between 14 and 45 days to receive comprehensive evaluations by both licensed psychologists and clinical case managers. 

    The Western Area Juvenile and Assessment Center first opened in October 2016.

    Nearly a decade later, when Helene hit the area last year, the facility was forced to shut down without power and water to continue operations.

    “Even after our youth were out of here and we could take a deep breath, it hit all of us,” said Jennifer Morgan, Asheville operations manager for Methodist Home for Children said in an interview with Spectrum News 1. “Youth were using the water that we had here, like jugs of water, to be able to flush the toilet.”

    Owned by the Methodist Home for Children, the facility partners with NCDPS’s Division of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The division’s Juvenile Facility Operations section maintains both juvenile detention centers and youth development centers.

    The Methodist Home for Children currently provides residential care and services for youth across 16 locations statewide.

    “We had two staff that were here with our youth, but other staff when the storm hit, just came here because they knew our kids are here 24/7,” Morgan said.

    Youth brought to the facility under secure custody are housed there for as long as a court order is in place. Morgan said Western Area did have one secure custody youth occupying one of its beds at the time of the storm.

    “Under normal circumstances, we cannot transport those youth,” Morgan said. “They’re brought here shackled and chained, and they leave in those as well, but because of the circumstances, what was more important was this kid’s safety.”

    Morgan said after a few days youth housed in the facility were transferred to the Bridges Juvenile Crisis and Assessment Center in Winston-Salem. Many of the kids had been struggling to get in contact with their parents and soon learned that the devastation had made its way to their homes as well.

    Until the youth could be safely transported, staff at Western Area returned to work to continue cooking and taking care of them, transitioning the facility into a safe haven for support and community.

    “Everything from cat litter, to baby food, to gas, to food, I mean, you name it, water, paper towels, everything,” Morgan said. “Methodist Home really wrapped around our staff, and while our kids weren’t here, it became a hub for our staff to come in here.”

    Staff members impacted by the storm stayed for days until relief came. Morgan said Helene humbled the staff at Western Area Juvenile and Assessment Center, but it challenged them to grow as individuals and as an agency.

    “All of our youth that still come here rather assessment crisis or secure custody are benefiting from that because our staff are like family,” Morgan said.

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    Darrielle Fair

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  • Charlotte man reflects on neighborhood changes since Helene

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Despite his neighborhood being hit by Helene last September, Christopher Olivares feels blessed.

    What You Need To Know

    • With the one-year anniversary of Helene this weekend, a community in Charlotte is reflecting on the past 12 months 

    • A neighborhood on Riverside Drive on Mountain Island Lake experienced damage and flooding last year

    • After Helene, the area was a hive of activity, every house seemed to have people at it cleaning out and assessing the damage  

    • Today, some of the damage remains, but only a few families are left living in these homes 


    “As much as it kind of sucked for us, we are the lucky ones. We could rebuild, and it was expensive, but we have a home,” Olivares said.

    The neighborhood on Riverside Drive on Mountain Island Lake in Charlotte was once filled with dozens of homes and a sense of strong community. It now stands with some empty lots, damaged homes and only a few families who decided to rebuild and stay.

    “I mean you feel very alone, it’s quiet, which has its pros and cons,” Olivares said. “But at the same time, it’s so empty that you’re kind of the last man standing.” 

    It’s been 12 months since Helene’s impacts swept through this neighborhood. Olivares says he had no idea what was coming.

    “You never expect it to be as bad as what they were saying. We ended up having from the base of our garage to the height 11 feet, 8 inches of water, so almost 12 feet from the bottom of the garage,” Olivares said. “Not including the elevation of water depth in the yard where the river normally is to the house. There’s probably another 6 feet there.” 

    This neighborhood flooded before in 2019, so neighbors warned him it was best to evacuate.

    “More than anything though, I’m a husband and a father and trying to get everybody out of the house, but also not panicking and trying to reassure everybody that it’s going to be OK, that was the primary goal in the moment,” Olivares said.

    It took eight months to rebuild, but there’s still work to be done in his backyard.

    “Coming up on the one-year anniversary, everybody has their own way of dealing with stuff. For me I just didn’t want to think about it,” Olivares said. “I’m ready to just move on.”

    As for what’s next, there’s still some uncertainty.

    “We’re still dealing with it truthfully. I mean the fact that there’s still houses standing that are going to go down. We have to think, how long until it doesn’t feel like a post-disaster area down here. I don’t know. Is that going to be another year? Is that going to be three more years?” Olivares said.

    One year later, his neighborhood is different.

    “Now there’s no community, except your like one or two neighbors that you’ve gotten really tight with and that’s great. But the community that was here won’t exist again,” Olivares said. 

     

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    Melody Greene

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  • One year after Helene: Western N.C.’s ongoing journey to recovery

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    A year since Hurricane Helene rocked the mountains, communities in western North Carolina are still reckoning with the devastation it caused.

    Buncombe, Henderson, Yancey and other counties will hold memorials on the anniversary, Sept. 27, to honor the 108 lives lost in the state due to the storm.

    The hurricane first made landfall in Florida on Sept. 26 and churned its way through Georgia and South Carolina before arriving in North Carolina the following day.

    Helene dumped a record-breaking 5 inches of rain per hour on the western part of the state, whose soil was already soaked from downpours earlier in the month, according to the National Weather Service. This led to historic flooding that triggered nearly 2,000 landslides.

    North Carolina’s Governor Office estimates that Helene caused a total of $59.62 billion in damage in the state.

    Some deadlines for individuals or businesses to apply for Helene recovery assistance passed earlier this year, but applications for a North Carolina housing rehabilitation program are still open.

    Gov. Josh Stein recently requested $13.5 billion more from Congress to aid recovery efforts. Stein said he’s grateful for $5.2 billion in federal funds the state has been allocated so far but North Carolina has not received “anywhere near what it needs.”

    The requested money would help rebuild homes, support small businesses and repair roads, he said. 

    More than 1,400 roads were closed after the storm. Now, 34 remain shut down, but the majority are back online according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s regularly updated map of roads effected by the storm.

    As roads reopen, the areas connected to them have as well, just in time for the mountains’ upcoming tourism season.

    As the leaves turn bright yellow, orange and red, many are drawn to drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway to take in the views of the fall foliage.

    The National Park Service has an interactive map that shows which parts of the parkway are allowing through traffic. The scenic 26-mile section from Asheville to Craggy Gardens reopened last week.

    Several other state parks reopened this summer. In June, Chimney Rock State Park welcomed back its first visitors since last year to climb the 499 steps to the American flag atop the chimney-shaped outcrop.

    Visit North Carolina has an online tourism guide with a list of autumnal attraction recommendations in western North Carolina.


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    Caroline King

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  • Charlotte honors Iryna Zarutska at Vigil

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hundreds of people stood shoulder to shoulder Monday night in South End Charlotte, honoring the life of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska.

    Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, was killed last month while riding Charlotte’s light rail system. Her death has fueled demands for safer transit and mental health reform, both in North Carolina and across the nation.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hundreds of people stood shoulder to shoulder Monday night in South End Charlotte honoring Iryna Zarutska

    • The event was organized by the Mecklenburg County GOP

    • One woman brought her daughter’s wedding flowers, explaining it’s an experience Zarutska would never get after her life was cut short

    • Zarutska’s memorial at the East West light rail station continues to grow


    At the vigil, her name echoed through the streets as prayers were said and candles lit. The event was organized by the Mecklenburg County GOP.

    (Spectrum News 1/Jordan Kudisch)

    One speaker told the crowd, “This tragic loss deeply touches every heart and every soul here, present and even wider. And it will take time for these wounds to begin to heal.”

    Strangers gathered together, clutching roses and candles. Among them was Charlotte resident Kimberly Fahey.

    “This has impacted not just the Charlotte area, but the entire world,” Fahey said.

    Fahey carried flowers from her daughter’s wedding, placing them at the site as a symbol of the moments Zarutska will never experience.

    “My daughter just got married on Saturday, and I bring these flowers that were from her wedding because I read it will never have a wedding, and she will never see beautiful flowers like this again and it’s tragic.”

    For Fahey, the vigil was a reminder of the strength of community.

    “And I was not going to miss it,” she said. “So, yes, I’m proud of the community and the world for showing so much support. We need to do better.”

    She said “better” means safer public transit and more attention to mental health, and she hopes the tragedy will not define Charlotte.

    “I think we’re a great city. And come visit us and don’t be scared of this because it does happen in a lot of places. This was just such a horrible tragedy that I don’t, well, I don’t really know what could have fully prevented it. Just keep the love going for each other.”

    As Fahey laid her flowers down, she reflected on what Zarutska will never have.

    “From the things I’ve read and everything I’ve seen how loved she was, and she deserves this day. She deserved a day to be married also and to be carrying flowers like this,” she said.

    The night ended quietly as candles flickered in the dark, and a community grieving a life cut short.

    Zarutska’s memorial at the East West light rail station continues to grow.

    (Spectrum News 1/Jordan Kudisch)

     

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    Jordan Kudisch

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  • Let’s Plant It teaches customers about plant parenthood in Brevard County

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    VIERA, Fla. — Some 200 million Americans own at least one houseplant. That is 66% of the population, according to Statista.

    What You Need To Know

    • Let’s Plant It is a retail location where visitors come in and learn the proper way to pot, plant and maintain houseplants

    • Visitors can walk in, pick a pot, a plant and put it together themselves using a shovel and dirt and then decorate it with accessories

    • The store offers a wide variety of plant species from which to choose

    • There are two locations, including Viera and Melbourne


    Many people call themselves “plant parents,” a term that first surfaced from the millennial generation in 2010 often referring to their plants as children or pets.

    Laura Cage jokes about being the biggest “pot dealer” in Brevard County, referring to the number of potted plants she sells each month.

    “I love plants,” Cage said.

    She has turned a passion for potted plants into a place where anyone can come get their hands dirty.

    Guests can walk in without a reservation and go to work planting their favorite houseplant.

    “We do get a lot of first-time plant parents that come in. They want to get into plants, but they’re a little bit afraid,” Cage said. “So, they’re not sure. And this is a great place to get started.”

    Let’s Plant It has everything someone would need to build the perfect houseplant. 

    There are several stations where guests stand and scoop potting soil into pots they choose, along with accessories such as shells and rocks to bring accent to the final creation.

    Cage created the concept not only for her love of plants but also realizing that many people don’t know how to pot plants properly and keep them alive.

    “They all get to pick out their plants and pots and decorations. But in the end, everybody has created something that is unique to them,” Cage said.

    The plant lover tries to handpick as many plant species as possible that she sells in her shop. Cage visits nurseries across Central Florida looking for one-of-a-kind plants that will intrigue store guests to grow.

    One of her top sellers is the Swiss cheese plant known as Monstera deliciosa.

    “I think they like the uniqueness of the holes in them,” Cage said.

    The popular shop even has a candle bar for those who want to create something that smells good and needs no water.

    The shop is open to all ages.

    There are two locations, one in Melbourne and the other in the shops at the Avenue of Viera.

    For more, visit Let’s Plant It.”

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    Randy Rauch

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  • Teen honors Hispanic heritage using jewelry

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A family tradition in Charlotte is shining this Hispanic Heritage Month.

    Valentino Patria, a 13-year-old jewelry maker, is using tagua seeds from palm trees in South America to honor his Latin American roots while helping children thousands of miles away.

    What You Need To Know

    • Valentino Patria uses tagua seeds from palm trees in South America to create brightly colored jewelry 

    • Patria says he learned the craft from his mother and grandmother when he was 4 and that his pieces tell his family’s story

    • A portion of proceeds from Generation Jewelry go toward feeding children in Peru 



    “I normally try to mix the pieces and then see what colors match what colors,” he said.

    Patria designs brightly colored necklaces and bracelets and says the colored seeds are not just beads used for jewelry, they’re also pieces that tell his family’s story.

    “My grandma and my mom used to do this jewelry business, so I said, ‘well, why not continue it, right?’ Because my mom and my grandma had expertise,” Patria said, “and that’s why I called it Generation Jewelry, because it was passed down from my grandma to my mom to me, and now my brother joined.”

    Patria first learned the craft at 4 years old and says his favorite memory was helping his grandmother carry the supplies and learn how to make the jewelry.

    “I love it because I think it kind of feels like a family tradition,” Patria said.

    Patria’s mother, Paola Vargas, carried on the family’s craft and says teaching Patria has been about more than jewelry.

    “Many years ago, my mom had started it in Colombia. Part of me passing it on to them is experiences that I’ve had in life, that they can learn from and they can continue until it’s time for them to live through them,” Vargas said.

    With Venezuelan, Peruvian and Colombian roots, Patria threads his family’s past into the future and says every piece carries his culture and his heart.

    “In my heart, it feels it feels like I’m continuing the legacy. You know, it feels like the next generation. And I really want to be that next jewelry maker for my family,” Patria said.

    Part of the proceeds from Generation Jewelry helps feed children in Peru, a mission that connects Patria more deeply to his heritage.

    For more information about Generation Jewelry, visit the website here.

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    Claudia Puente

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  • Apex animal hospital creates fundraiser to honor 10-year-old boat crash victim

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    APEX, N.C. — A local nonprofit vet clinic that serves hundreds of state shelters is getting some much-needed help, but the reason might surprise you.

    Harmony Animal Rescue Clinic launched the Brooklyn Mae Pet Rescue Fund this week.

    It’s a program designed to honor Brooklyn Mae Carroll, a 10-year-old Wake County girl killed this summer when she was hit by a boat on Harris Lake.

    What You Need To Know

    • Harmony Animal Rescue Clinic launched the Brooklyn Mae Pet Rescue Fund

    • 10-year-old Brooklyn Mae Carroll was killed this summer when she was hit by a boat

    • The clinic’s plan is to turn the girl’s $30 gift donation into $30,000 by securing 1,000 donations of $30


    When you enter the Apex clinic, you’re met with a small, decorative, handcrafted box.

    Next to it is a picture of Carroll, bright-eyed and full of hope and optimism.

    The executive director of the clinic, Ericka Basile, said Carroll’s parents gave a donation from the earnings their daughter made from her lemonade stand.

    They had a request on their daughter’s behalf to use that money for the animals.

    “Her parents actually came very, very soon after and donated. Brought this box in which Brooklyn Mae raised $30 (at) a lemonade stand the week before,” Basile said.

    “We all wanted to band together and help them keep her memory alive, because this is something that was close to her heart,” she said.

    Related: 2 accused in deadly Harris Lake boat crash charged with 2nd degree murder

    Basile said she has two children and hearing about Carroll’s story and her passions affected her greatly.

    “I mean, 10 years old, she wants to help pets. She might have even grown up to be a veterinarian here and help us,” Basile said.

    The clinic created the pet rescue fund with the family’s blessing.

    The clinic’s plan is to turn the $30 donation into $30,000 by securing 1,000 donations of $30.

    The money raised will go toward medical care and veterinary services for cats and dogs throughout the state.

    ‘We’re not going to forget her. And all of these animals that are being helped, they’re not going to forget her either,” Basile said. “They don’t even know her, but somehow, out there in the universe, everyone knows it and they’re going to know each other.”

    The clinic will get a plaque made in Carroll’s honor. That way, her spirit, good heart and effort will never be forgotten,” Basile said.

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    Jatrissa Wooten

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  • Tarpon Springs women’s club uses stickers to spread human trafficking awareness

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    TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — A Tarpon Springs women’s group is working to fight human trafficking by placing awareness stickers in bathrooms across the city.

    What You Need To Know

    • The GFWC Woman’s Club of Tarpon Springs puts up stickers that include contact information of the National Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Awareness hotline

    • The group wants to bring awareness to the issue of human trafficking 

    • They hope a victim will see the number and make contact if they’re in the hands of a trafficker 

    • Member Linda Eisner and the rest of the group plan to send letters to Gov. Ron DeSantis and their local lawmakers about their project


    The GFWC Woman’s Club of Tarpon Springs hopes the stickers, which include the National Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Awareness Hotline, will give victims a chance to seek help.

    “We wanted to put it in some place where a victim will be separated from their trafficker — to be able to read it, make a copy of it, or memorize it — and be able to use it in the future,” said member Linda Eisner.

    The nonprofit has already posted stickers in dozens of businesses and plans to keep going.

    “We’ll probably hit 50 or 60 businesses. We will continue to walk up and down Tarpon Avenue, Pinellas Avenue and then we’ll go on (US 19) to all those stores,” Eisner said.

    The project has been years in the making, with awareness as the goal.

    “Tampa is like number two in the country for human trafficking, so we really just want to protect the victims and bring awareness to everybody,” Eisner said. “There are so many people out there that are oblivious to the whole issue of what’s going on,” Eisner said.

    The group is now pushing for a statewide mandate requiring stickers in all restrooms and rest areas.

    “Any chain store like a McDonald’s or an Ace Hardware, they can’t make the decision for themselves, they have to ask corporate. That’s why the mandate is so important to come from the top down,” Eisner said.

    Eisner and the GFWC Woman’s Club of Tarpon Springs plan to send letters to Gov. Ron DeSantis and their local lawmakers about their project. The next legislative session, where a bill could be introduced, will be in January 2026.

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    Jeff Van Sant

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  • Volunteers remember 9/11 on Patriot Day

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Patriot Day marks the 24th year since Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It serves as a day of remembrance for the nearly 3,000 lives lost.

    What You Need To Know

    • Patriot Day marks the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks  

    • Carry The Load is a nonprofit organization that aims to preserve the memory of the day through community service 

    • The project welcomes volunteers to honor veterans 


    More than 50 volunteers gathered Thursday at the Raleigh National Cemetery, as part of the Carry the Load National Day of Service & Remembrance for military and first responders who died during the Sept. 11 attacks.

    Among the group was volunteer Carlos Santiago, a volunteer with UBS who says the day carries deep personal meaning. He was living in Manhattan during the attacks and says the twin towers were part of his everyday view.

    “The towers was actually my view for every single day. I was right across the street from it,” Santiago said.

    The years after the attack were difficult for this New Yorker to navigate. Now in North Carolina, he still chooses to remember the friend he lost.

    “Every day this day comes… I think about him,” he said.

    Others, like Angelia Fajri, were there to honor the service members who followed in the years after 9/11. Her son, Justin, was inspired by the attacks to join the military right out of high school.

    “Justin always liked the military and anything that has anything to do with honoring the flag, honoring the country,” Fajri said.

    Organizers of the event say Patriot Day is not only a time of remembrance for those who died on 9/11 but also a chance to reflect on the generations who’ve served before and since.

    “It’s just a way of individually remembering them and ensuring that they’re not forgotten as people,” said John Hanken, a Carry the Load ambassador.

    Santiago said that being among the volunteers today, he is reminded that we are stronger united as a country.

    “There are people here that probably have different beliefs than I have, right? But we’re all working together, right? For a better cause. And that’s what America is all about. That’s what it needs to be all about.”

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    Ryan Hayes-Owens

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  • Mountain pumpkin farm reopening this weekend

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    WATAUGA COUNTY, N.C. — The countdown is on for Cassandra Bare and her family to bring visitors back to Harvest Farm in Valle Crucis.

    What You Need To Know

    • Pumpkin patches are opening back up in Watauga County this weekend

    • Many pumpkin patches were destroyed in Helene

    • Farmers have worked hard to rebuild the areas and get ready for this fall


    “They didn’t get to come last year, and a lot of people I talked to are excited to get to come to get to support local farmers,” Bare said.

    It’s a moment they have been waiting for all year.

    “We lost five generations worth of work in one night, and it’s not all going to be put back together in one year,” Bare said.

    It’s not back just as it was, she said, and this farm has been fixed more than the others, but they are on their way.

    Last year, after Helene her pumpkins and flowers were destroyed, fencing was torn down and there was sports equipment in the fields from down the street. The damage was huge and the loss even bigger.

    “We have had floods before and lost pumpkin crops before, but we have never lost everything that we worked on before,” Bare said.

    While this crop may only take a year to grow, some of her others, like Christmas trees, take several years. Still, Bare looks through this field and sees a light at the end of the tunnel.

    “I’m more thankful to be here this year than I ever have been or to have a crop to be able to sell,” Bare said.

    They also have a beautiful pick your own flower garden that has grown back since last year.

    More challenges could be heading in.

    Many farmers in the mountains keep a close eye on the bean count to get an idea of how the winter will be. For every foggy morning in August a bean is put into the jar. Each bean signifies a snow storm. It may sound like silly folklore to some, but many farmers swear by it. With some counting as many as 27 beans this year, they want to be prepared.

    “A farmer started back then with the bean in a jar to predict the weather because they needed to know how much they had to store for the weather. It was a way to guestimate if you will what was to come,” Bare said.

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    Rose Eiklor

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  • Raleigh Housing Authority launches new department to support families in need

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Finding a new home and making the transition can be challenging for families in public housing.

    The Raleigh Housing Authority has launched a new department, Resident Services, with a goal to better support them.

    What You Need To Know

    • More than 46,000 residents live in public housing across North Carolina, with an average household income of just over $15,000 a year

    • The Raleigh Housing Authority’s new Resident Services Department helps families transition to stable housing while connecting them to health care, food assistance and community resources

    • Finding enough available units and working with landlords who accept housing vouchers is a challenge

    • The authority is creating a self-sufficiency program focused on career and personal development to boost long-term economic independence



    Washing dishes in your own kitchen or having enough space for your children to play is something that some may take for granted, but for families like Tequita Jarman’s, it’s the biggest blessing.

    Jarman struggled with homelessness for years but found stability through the housing authority.

    “Them girls in they own rooms and they own spaces and they created their own spaces within their space? I like and love that,” Jarman said.

    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reports more than 46,000 residents live in public housing in North Carolina, with the average household income just over $15,000 a year. For many families, navigating the housing system is overwhelming, and access to support can be limited.

    That’s why the Raleigh Housing Authority has launched Resident Services, a new department designed to guide families through difficult transitions and connect them with critical resources.

    Relocation manager Sharon Sneed says her team focuses on helping families move into affordable, safe housing while offering additional support.

    “We are a team that comes in to support our families in transitioning from one location to the next… helping in supporting them, ensuring that they find housing that is affordable and decent and safe,” Sneed said.

    The department also works to connect residents with health care, food assistance and community programs, aiming to improve stability and quality of life. But the challenges are steep — from a lack of available units to landlords unwilling to accept housing vouchers.

    “When you have a family with the large size, sometimes that’s kind of hard for them to locate housing that they want, that they can afford, or if they can afford it with the voucher. Sometimes you have trouble finding the … landlords that will accept the assistance,” Sneed said.

    Despite these challenges, Jarman says it’s important to keep moving forward.

    “It’s going to be hard. It’s going to make you cry. You’re going to have moments where you had to cry when the kids ain’t looking, you know? But you gotta keep pushing,” she said.

    The housing authority says it is continuing to look for community partners, landlords and properties to expand its efforts. The agency is also developing a new program to help residents build self-sufficiency through personal and career development.

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    Ryan Hayes-Owens

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  • Greensboro remembers civil rights activist Joseph McNeil

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — One of North Carolina’s most influential civil rights activists died this week.

    Joseph McNeil was one of the Greensboro Four, a group of North Carolina A&T students who held sit-ins at Woolworth’s lunch counter. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Joseph McNeil died Thursday at the age of 83

    • McNeil was a pioneering activist, and part of the iconic Greensboro Four

    • The Greensboro Four were students from North Carolina Agriculture and Technology University who helped desegregate Woolworth’s lunch counter in a series of sit-ins beginning in 1960

    Those protests eventually led to the restaurant’s desegregation 65 years ago.

    John Swaine, the CEO of the International Civil Rights Museum in Greensboro, educates the public about the Greensboro Four and McNeil’s role in the civil rights movement.

    “After the sit-ins, he had entered the Air Force, he had become an Air Force general,” Swaine said, “He had established an institute, at his alma mater. He had become a mentor for many young men and women. And he inspired our co-founders to develop this institution.” 

    So when Swaine received the call from Joe McNeil Jr. on Thursday informing him of the activist’s death, Swaine said it was crushing.

    “It was a sharp hit because I understood what he meant to the world, to nonviolence and so much to this museum,” he said.

    McNeil visited the museum, located in the same building he helped desegregate, many times.

    This year he also visited N.C. A&T to celebrate 65 years since the first day of the sit-ins.

    “It was a great pleasure of mine just to hear him talk about what it was like being a freshman here on the campus in the 1960s. Being a freshman, he was not a sophomore or a senior. These were incoming students,” said Corey Torain, a professor of history at N.C. A&T.

    The professor said he remembers being a student at the school when they honored the Greensboro Four by placing a statue on campus. 

    He said McNeil’s legacy was personally motivating and will never be forgotten by the school, the community and people fighting for social justice and equality everywhere.

    “He inspired us and showed us what to do. So yes, it is a physical loss of having him away from us physically, but he will always be an Aggie, and once an Aggie, always Aggie,” Torain said.

    McNeil was 83 years old.

    Jibreel Khazan, formally known as Ezell Blair Jr., is now the only living member of the Greensboro Four.

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    Sasha Strong

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  • A viral-worthy Cotton Candy Cake among the favorites at Fun Spot Orlando

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    ORLANDO, Fla. — Something really sweet is happening at Fun Spot Orlando, and it’s thanks to a special confectioner.

    Nestled within Fun Spot Orlando’s entrance is a shop called the “Sweet Spot.” That’s where you’ll find the park’s bakery chef Tina Brenner. She makes and bakes things you may never have seen before, like a cotton candy cake.

    The cake is a hit for summer, with pastel colors and a viral-worthy cross-section. Think of it as a layer cake, but made of hand-spun cotton candy and a surprise Skittles filling.

    Brenner says she gets her inspiration from online forums, bringing to Fun Spot a variety of sweet treats unlike anything around.

    Some of Fun Spot’s other exclusive sweets include the Unicorn Sundae, which features 3 scoops of ice cream, toppings and whipped cream on a fluffy cotton candy taco shell. Fun Spot also has summer-themed candied apples, cake pops and chocolate-covered Rice Krispy Treats.

    Brenner is 17 years strong with Fun Spot, and she has seen a lot. “I kept seeing the owners’ children grow up,” she said smiling. “It’s really awesome. It’s more of a family than a business.”

    The Cotton Candy Cake can last more than a week in your fridge. She also decorates it according to the season. Up next, Halloween! 

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    Allison Walker

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  • Mountain ministry continues helping veterans after Helene

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    ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Veterans in a transitional housing program in Asheville had little time to evacuate during Helene. 

    They were able to leave the Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry’s Veterans Restoration Quarters unharmed, but their living quarters suffered severe damage from the storm. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry provides transitional housing for veterans at the Veterans Restoration Quarters 

    • Helene damaged the Veterans Restoration Quarters, prompting an evacuation of the veterans on site

    • The ministry relocated veterans to a nearby hotel after they were separated in three area shelters

    • Kenny McCurry, a former resident of the VRQ, recounts the evacuation and aftermath of the storm


    Kenny McCurry returned to the VRQ this summer after it had been cleaned up from the storm. 

    He called this place home for three years. 

    The ministry is behind the 250-bed facility offering transitional housing for veterans facing homelessness.

    “This was my first home I’ve had since 2010,” McCurry said. 

    The ministry’s chief administrative officer, Tim McElyea, said Team Rubicon removed debris and cleaned off mud for the nonprofit.

    “There was just so much damage. Trees down everywhere, stacked cars turned over and damaged, and certainly we didn’t have the means to, you know, be able to do all that,” McElyea said. 

    The storm damaged rooms, plumbing, electrical and their parking lot. 

    “We had an extreme amount of water come through, and these rooms now, they’re all gutted,” McElyea said. 

    The VRQ neighbors the Swannanoa River, which flooded to unprecedented levels.

    McCurry learned about the evacuation when members of the National Guard and the sheriff’s office knocked on his door. 

    Around 200 people had to evacuate quickly to area shelters. 

    “A lot of guys, they had everything that they owned here, you know, with them, which wasn’t a lot to start with. And then they lost that too,” McElyea said.

    With the evacuation being imminent, he left behind his dentures and other invaluable items. 

    “I wish that I grabbed that box of photographs of my children that are overseas. They live in Britain,” McCurry said. 

    The 65-year-old, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, couldn’t retrieve much after the flood, but he carries with him the memories of the time he spent at this place.

    “I can’t say enough things about this place. They got me through culinary school,” McCurry said. “Then I got my CDLs.”

    McCurry said 18 years ago when he was struggling with addiction, he set an empty house on fire and was convicted of second degree arson. 

    “I did a very horrible thing in 2007. It was probably the darkest time of my life, when I lost control of myself and I burnt my home and my family’s home. That’s been my greatest thing to overcome,” McCurry said. 

    After Helene, when veterans couldn’t return to the VRQ, he went to a PTSD rehabilitation program in Ohio. 

    Meanwhile, the ministry found temporary housing for the rest of the veterans at a nearby hotel.

    “The biggest request that we heard, because they were all three in different locations, is, ‘When can you get us out of here, and when can we get all back together?’” McElyea said. 

    McElyea said the rebuilding process will take up to two years.

    “We are definitely going to need support to get it back to where it was,” McElyea said. 

    McCurry said this place gave him hope during his recovery journey. This summer, he was staying at his sister’s house and started a new job. He still gets support from the ministry with furniture for his rented room.

    “I just have great people all around me,” McCurry said. 

    The ministry said private funding, corporate benefactors and a fundraiser are underway for the rebuild. The nonprofit also purchased a building next door to provide job training for veterans. 

    The program at the VRQ is a partnership through the federal government, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

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    Estephany Escobar

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