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Tag: App Top Stories – NC

  • Head Start programs face financial challenges as government shutdown continues

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    WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Helping low-income children and families access education is an investment that pays off for the entire country, says Khari Garvin, president and CEO of Family Services of Forsyth County.

    “The way that I like to think about it is Head Start is one of several programs that’s part of our nation’s prescription to end poverty,” Garvin said. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Head Start programs in North Carolina receive $290 million in federal funding

    • The program supports 19,500 students and more than 5,600 jobs in the state 

    • Head Start is responsible for 20% or more of licensed child care facilities in 22 rural counties statewide


    Head Start and Early Head Start programs provide free learning and development services to children in low-income families. The ages of participants range from birth to 5 years old.

    Most programs receive funding from the federal government, and some have not received those payments because of the ongoing government shutdown.

    Family Services of Forsyth County is the grantee for 10 sites in Winston-Salem and the surrounding area. The nonprofit secured enough grants to keep its Head Start programs funded through May. 

    “The theory is that if you assist a child and family with accessing those important resources to development, health care, education, nutrition, parent engagement and parent development, if you help these families access to services that they would otherwise not have ready access to given their situation, then you’re giving them a head start, as it were, to development,” Garvin said.

    Other programs across the state, such as the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project and the Salisbury-Rowan Community Action Agency, are on hold or suspending operations because they don’t have the funding.

    Gov. Josh Stein, Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt and Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green sent a letter to Congress in April about potential cuts to funding for Head Start programs. According to the letter, Head Start programs statewide receive $290 million from the federal government. It says Head Start supports 19,500 students and more than 5,600 jobs in North Carolina. State leaders believe if federal funds end for these curriculums, roughly 500 child care programs could close.

    “These are not children who, No. 1, they’re not being babysat,” Garvin said. “Secondly, they’re not just sitting around watching cartoons all day and eating snacks. These are early education programs designed to help support children’s educational trajectory to enter kindergarten and go beyond literacy, numeracy and social emotional development.”

    North Carolina is considered to be a child care desert. On average, five families compete to fill one spot at licensed child care facilities. Statewide, Head Start is responsible for 20% or more of licensed child care facilities in 22 rural counties.

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

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Lumbees push for federal recognition in Senate hearing

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    For the first time since 2021, North Carolina’s Lumbee Tribe made its case in a Senate hearing that it should be granted federal recognition.

    Wednesday’s hearing could be a positive step for the tribe, which has long sought the designation from Congress. 

    Designation would make the tribe eligible for additional federal dollars.

    What You Need To Know

    • Lumbee federal tribe recognition was the focus of a Senate hearing Wednesday

    • The North Carolina tribe has pushed Congress for recognition for years, but it always has stalled in the Senate

    • Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina testified in support of recognition before the committee

    Senators on Wednesday held a hearing on a bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, that would grant the tribe recognition.

    “This issue has come before Congress many times over the decades but never with this level of unity and support. These days it’s rare to see Republicans and Democrats come together on anything. But when it comes to Lumbee recognition, the support is overwhelming and it’s bipartisan,” Tillis told the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

    The Senate has always been the place where efforts to achieve Lumbee recognition have stalled, but it has support from President Donald Trump. It also had support from former President Joe Biden.

    Before the hearing, a number of lawmakers from the state, including Tillis, joined the Lumbees to show their support.

    But seeking recognition through Congress is controversial.

    Numerous tribes, including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, have spoken out against it. The Eastern Band has said there are more than a hundred tribes in the country that oppose the Lumbees going through Congress for recognition.

    The Eastern Band argues the Lumbees can’t demonstrate Native ancestry and if they want recognition they should go through the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs process, not Congress.

    “This issue in North Carolina has become so emotional and politically driven that it takes away from the true process that should be doing the evaluation… we just don’t feel that Congress has the tools to be able to look at the details of the merit… we need experts to make the determination,” Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Chair Michell Hicks told Spectrum News.

    Hicks worries about the impact if the Senate approves Lumbee recognition. The bill has already passed the House.

    “I think it potentially opens Pandora’s box because of not properly reviewing the requests, and that’s very concerning for identities in a lot of Indian country,” Hicks said.

    The Lumbee chair said Wednesday that the process run by the Bureau of Indian Affairs takes too long and expressed concerns that if it went through that path, it could end up in court.

    A few senators reiterated the power of Congress when it comes to granting recognition.

    “If you want to make the argument that we need to build a historical record and you trust this agency within an agency more than you trust us that’s fine, that’s fair. But this is still our authority,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, a Hawaii Democrat.

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

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    Reuben Jones

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  • Election Day: A quick voting guide for N.C. municipal elections

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    Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls open at 6:30 a.m. and will remain open until 7:30 p.m.

    What You Need To Know

    • The General Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4

    • There are more than 1,000 seats up for election across the state 

    • In addition to voting for elected officials, some will get to vote directly on local legislation through referendums 

    • Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.




    There are more than 1,000 seats up for election and several referendums to be voted on.

    The map of where municipal elections are happening can be accessed online here. 

    To participate in a municipal election, people have to live and be registered to vote there. People can check their registration status and view more voter details, including jurisdictions, polling place and more, by clicking here.

    Voter Requirements

    • Be a U.S. citizen

    • Be at least 18 years old by election day 

    • Not serving a felony sentence





    People will also be asked to show a photo ID when voting. The list of acceptable IDs can be found here. If someone does not have a photo ID, they can still vote by filling out an ID Exception Form.

    More information on what to expect when voting on Election Day, click here.

    Here are some elections across the state to look out for:

    Mayoral race in Greensboro

    After the primary election narrowed the field from four to two candidates, Marikay Abuzuaiter, who secured 39.89% of the primary vote will face Robbie Perkins, who received 32.49%. Abuzuaiter is the current at-large council member and Perkins previously served as Greensboro’s Mayor from 2011 to 2013, prior to the incumbent Nancy Vaughan, who did not run for reelection.

    Mayoral race in Durham

    Leonardo (Leo) Williams and Anjanée Bell were the top two candidates out of the five that ran in the primary, receiving 55.35% and 29.78% of the vote, respectively.

    Williams has been Durham’s mayor since 2023, and Bell is the daughter of William V. “Bill” Bell, who was the city’s longest serving mayor, holding the office from 2001 to 2017.

    Cary Town Council race

    This year, the at-large representative seat and seats for districts A and C are up for election. The map of the town’s districts can be viewed here.

    Carissa Kohn-Johnson is the current at-large representative and will face Marjorie K. Eastman, who is challenging her for the seat.

    Jennifer Robinson, who has served as the representative for District A since 1999, is challenged by Brittany Richards.

    Jack Smith, the current representative for District C, opted not to run for reelection, leaving Bella Huang and Renee Miller in competition for the seat.

    A North Carolina voter fills out her ballot. (Associated Press)

    Referendums:

    Voters in some municipalities will get the chance to vote on legislation directly. The full list of referendums that will be on this year’s ballots can be viewed here.

    Mecklenburg County, which includes Charlotte, proposed a new sales tax that would add one cent to every dollar of local sales. The proceeds from this new tax would go toward paying for public transportation. Eligible voters will be able to mark if they are for or against this tax on their ballots.

    Nearby in Union County, residents of Stallings and Indian Trail will get to vote on a new room occupancy tax of up to 5% which if approved, would apply to all guests staying at hotels and other short-term rentals in the towns.   

    The counties of Cleveland, Columbus and Richmond are considering allowing mixed drinks to be sold in hotels, restaurants, private clubs, community theaters, and convention centers and allowing malt beverages and unfortified wine to be sold in qualifying locations. It will be up to voters to decide whether or not to allow these sales.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Mecklenburg voters to decide on sales tax increase for transit improvements

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Voters in Mecklenburg County are considering a one-cent sales tax increase on Election Day to fund transportation improvements over 30 years. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Voters in Mecklenburg County will decide on a sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements over the next 30 years

    • If passed, the sales tax would increase from 7.25% to 8.25%

    • The additional tax revenue would go to rail projects, road improvements, bus and microtransit service

    • Supporters say it would bring better transit options while opponents argue the cost would affect low-income families 


    If passed, the sales tax would increase from 7.25% to 8.25%, which the city of Charlotte estimates would be about $19 more a month per household. 

    Charlotte Area Transit interim CEO Brent Cagle said it would fund the 2055 Transit System Plan, which includes rail construction, road improvements, and better bus and microtransit service. 

    “It increases frequency, reliability, security and options accessibility throughout transit, so it’s really a holistic plan to address mobility needs,” Cagle said. 

    Charlotte estimates the increased tax revenue would generate $19.4 billion over 30 years. Forty percent would go to rail projects, another 40% to roads, and 20% to buses and microtransit service. 

    Related: Election Day Preview: A look at who’s running in Durham, Fayetteville and Greensboro

    The plan includes a new commuter rail connecting Uptown to North Charlotte, Huntersville, Cornelius and Davidson, expanded streetcar and light rail with access to the airport. 

    It would improve traffic flow on roads and add more bike lanes, sidewalks and traffic signals to communities. Buses would also have expanded service hours and come to the busiest stops more often and microtransit would be expanded across the county. 

    Transit rider Juan Contreras Juarez, who volunteers for the Yes for Meck campaign, supports the plan. 

    “I think in general, understanding that there’s a bus that comes every 15 minutes would take a lot of stress from the families. They depend on the bus system. There’s a lot of anxiety that comes with it. You go to your bus stop, you’re hurrying because if you miss it, the next bus is in 30 minutes,” Contreras Juarez said. 

    Opponents, including Action NC, say a permanent tax unfairly affects people who can least afford to pay and that more than $200 per year would be a burden to the working class and low-income families. 

    Cagle argues these groups make up the majority of transit riders. 

    “We also think about who benefits from this the most: our riders and how do we benefit them. And they will benefit from this,” Cagle said.

    Craig Reynolds opposes the sales tax and is working with Action NC on their campaign. 

    In his perspective, there are no guarantees with the plan and the current half-cent sales tax has not delivered. 

    “My main point is just look at the failed promises that have happened over the last 27 years,” Reynolds said. 

    He also takes issue with the new regional transit authority that would oversee spending of this investment. 

    “My concern is there’s lack of accountability in this plan. If you look at it, this is an appointed authority of 27 members. It’s not elected, but yet it has the ability to tax citizens. It has the ability to take their property through eminent domain,” Reynolds said. 

    Charlotte City Council member Ed Driggs is reviewing applications for the board. The Republican and self-described fiscal conservative worked to put this item on the ballot. He’s chair of the Transportation, Planning and Development Committee of the city council and is part of the Charlotte Regional Transportation Planning Organization. 

    He said the board can improve transit safety, which has been in the spotlight since the killing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on the light rail in August.

    “They will be able to have a police force of their own and that will help provide a better level of security and they will also have more resources to invest,” Driggs said. 

    Cagle said if the referendum doesn’t pass, the 2055 Transit System Plan cannot be implemented.

    “We are utilizing all of the existing funding. and this transit system plan cannot be implement, cannot be implemented without additional funding,” Cagle said.

    If it fails, CATS will also need to evaluate current spending and ensure the transit system meets financial metrics. A future referendum would then be placed in the hands of the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. In addition, the PAVE Act, which gave approval for this item to be on the ballot, would have to be amended due to the timeline outlined in it. 

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

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    Estephany Escobar

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  • Child cancer survivor starts nonprofit

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    DURHAM, N.C. — Harper Harrell knows first-hand the importance of having a place to stay near the hospital while enduring extended treatment. She was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 8 years old and had to undergo two years of treatment. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Harper Harrell started her own nonprofit called “Harper’s Home” to help house families with children enduring extended treatment for life-threatening illnesses for free near Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center

    • Harrell was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was 8 years old and had to undergo two years of treatment

    • The goal is to build eight homes on their property that’s just a couple of miles away from the hospital, but they are currently renting two homes while they wait for the city to approve their permits to start building 

    • Studies show more than half the kids in extended treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital come from over 50 miles away
    • Kids sometimes need to get to the ER within 30 minutes if they spike a fever and if not, their condition could become deadly


    “When I was in treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia at Duke Children’s Hospital, we met so many families who didn’t have a place to stay,” Harrell said.

    Fortunately for Harrell and her family they didn’t live far from Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center and never worried about housing during her stay in the hospital. But she knows that’s not the case for everyone. 

    “They were living out of suitcases and hotels, and there was really no place for them to go,” Harrell said.

    That’s why she started her own nonprofit called “Harper’s Home.” The goal of Harper’s Home is to build eight homes in close proximity to the hospital for families with children fighting life-threatening illnesses to stay free of charge. 

    “Being able to stay here and having a roof over their head and not having to worry about it while a child is in treatment,” Harrell said.

    Currently, they are renting two homes three miles away from the hospital as they wait for the city to approve their permits to start building homes on their property. Harper’s mother, Heather Hindin, said renting these homes were only possible because of the giving community.

    “The way I see it is that we, Durham, the city, have kind of a responsibility as the place where Duke Children’s lives to open our arms and embrace the people who are coming here scared, uncertain,” Hindin said.

    Studies show more than half the kids in extended treatment at Duke Children’s Hospital come from over 50 miles away. Those same kids sometimes need to get to the emergency room within 30 minutes if they spike a fever and if not, their condition could become deadly. 

    “When we talk about being two miles or three miles from Duke Children’s, it’s not just convenient. It is in fact, a critical part of treatment,” Hindin said.

    It’s Harrell’s goal to make the lives of families a little bit easier, one home at a time.

    “Everybody deserves an equal opportunity to be able to get to their local world-class hospital or travel to a world-class hospital,” Harrell said.

    If you’d like to help Harrell grow her vision and help a family in need, you can donate at the Harper’s Home website.

     

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    Kennedy Chase

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  • ‘I know we will bounce back’: Jamaican community speaks out after Melissa

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Hurricane Melissa has unleashed widespread devastation across the Caribbean as one of the most powerful hurricanes ever recorded in the area.

    Sheldon Johnson has family in Montego Bay, one of the areas on the western side of the island of Jamaica, that got the worst of the storm.

    What You Need To Know

    • Jamaica’s government has said it “is not in a position to make an official statement on deaths” from Hurricane Melissa

    • The storm caused significant damage to public infrastructure, but the full extent of the damage is still unknown

    • Sheldon Johnson has family in Montego Bay, one of the areas on the western side of the island, that got the worst of the storm



    “I got all my family over there, my brothers, sisters, uncles, dad, aunt, grandma, everyone is still over there in Jamaica. I haven’t heard from any one of them. I can’t reach anyone” Johnson, owner and chef at Don’s Jamaican Kitchen, said.

    Jamaica’s government has said it “is not in a position to make an official statement on deaths” from Hurricane Melissa. 

    “I was shocked. Like, nobody was expecting this, not even me. I was like, watching the video, and I’m like, dang, I can’t believe this is really happening to my country,” Johnson said.

    The storm caused significant damage to public infrastructure, but the full extent of the damage has not come to light yet. 

    Gaynor Russell is the president of the Jamaican American Cultural Association, and she says she’s worried.

    “Jamaica is on the forefront in terms of structural development and infrastructure, but we have a lot of poor areas in Jamaica. It’s a third-world country. So you’re going to have devastation to people who live in low lying areas, people who are not, don’t live in structurally sound housing,” Russell said.

    Even though this hurricane hit Jamaica as one of the strongest ever on record, Johnson knows they will persevere. 

    “I know we will bounce back from this, but it’s going to take some time. We’re Jamaicans, so we’re going to stay strong,” Johnson said.

    JACA is planning a trip to the island in the coming weeks to help with the humanitarian efforts. The organization says it is also collecting monetary donations on its website.

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    Arin Cotel-Altman

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  • Father killed children one by one over four months, N.C. sheriff says

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    A Zebulon man murdered his three kids and one teen stepchild one at a time over the summer and into the fall, according to Johnston County Steve Bizzell.  

       What You Need To Know

    • Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, of Zebulon is charged with killing his three children and one teen stepchild 

    • The Johnston County sheriff gave an update at a press conference Wednesday morning 

    • The sheriff said Dicken’s wife died last year from a miscarriage 

    • The investigation continues, and the motive is unknown

    Bizzell stood with investigators and the Johnston County district attorney and went over the details of the case at a press conference Wednesday morning. 

    Monday night, Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, called 911 and allegedly confessed to killing his four children, according to the sheriff’s office. He’s now charged with four counts of murder, court records show. 

    His three children were ages 6, 9 and 10, and one victim was an 18-year-old stepchild, according to the Chief Deputy of Johnston County Sheriff’s Office, Jeff Caldwell. But deputies said they found a 3-year-old child alive in the home on Springtooth Drive in Zebulon. Wednesday morning, Bizzell said that child underwent a medical evaluation and is safe. 

    Bizzell said 6-year-old Leah was Dickens’ first victim, killed in May. He said the second victim was Dicken’s 9-year-old daughter Zoe, killed in August. Dicken’s son, Wellington Delano Dickens IV, 10, was killed between August and September, and his stepson 18-year-old Sean Brasfield was killed in September, the sheriff said. 

    Dicken’s wife and the mother of the children died April 21, 2024 after suffering complications from a miscarriage, and her death was ruled natural, Bizzell said. 

    Few details have been released into what led up to the deaths, and Bizzell said investigators are still trying to determine Dicken’s motive. 

    “I can stand here as a sheriff, a father and a grandfather and tell you there is no reason for a father to kill his children,” Bizzell said. 

    He spoke of the toll it takes on deputies and investigators, particularly ones with families of their own. 

    “I was on the scene yesterday in the rain under a tent,” the sheriff said, describing being there with his investigators and the head of the SBI. “We were there for a purpose.”

    He described it as a “tough” crime scene. 

    “To do what I witnessed yesterday, yes, that’s what we do,” the sheriff said, noting how hard this investigation has been on his deputies and investigators. “We are human too.”

    The State Bureau of Investigation joined the case because of its serious nature. Dickens is being held without bond. His next court appearance is on November 13.

    Johnston County District Attorney Jason Waller said he was called at about midnight on Monday with the news of the deaths and vowed to bring justice to the victims. 

    “My office will honor these children by pursuing justice,” Waller said. 

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    Charles Duncan, Elizabeth Townsend

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  • 911 call includes disturbing details of Zebulon killings

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    A Johnston County man told a 911 operator Monday night that he killed three of his children and a teenage stepson and stored their bodies in the trunk of his car, according to a recording of a 911 call released by the county.

    Monday night, Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, called 911 and allegedly confessed to killing his four children, according to the sheriff’s office. He’s now charged with four counts of murder, court records show.  The children killed were ages 6, 9, 10 and 18, according to authorities.

    What You Need To Know

    • A Johnston County man called 911 Monday night and confessed to killing four of his children 

    • The county released a recording of that call that includes a man, identified as the father, gives details about what happened

    • Wellington Delano Dickens III, 38, has been charged with four counts of murder

    • The children killed were ages 6, 9, 10 and 18



    The 911 call lays out gruesome details of how Dickens said he killed the children. The kids were killed one by one over a period of about four months from May to September, authorities said at the press conference Wednesday.

    The call begins with a man, identified by officials as Dickens, saying he has a confession. He tells the operator that he murdered some of his children and says he killed one child by accident after hitting her “excessively,” according to recordings release by the county.

    He goes on to say that he was on drugs when these killings happened.

    “There’s three of them and my stepson. It was my fault,” the man said on the call. “They are in the trunk of my car. In the garage to be specific. I was just out of my mind. Nobody made me do nothing, it was just me. I lost my mind. I was on the drugs, smoking, drinking … everything. I was on mushrooms and stuff. I did coke.”

    “I killed my children. It’s a lot to explain, but in a nutshell it’s all my fault,” he said. “It’s bad. I didn’t like to use knives. It started out with me over-disciplining and leaving them out to eat, it’s a lot of stuff,” he said in the recording.

    “I’d beat them sometimes. They didn’t want to eat sometimes… I didn’t force them to eat. I did a bunch of little things, just a lot of things. I’m trying to do the right thing,” Dickens said on the call.

    When asked if he took any drugs he says he did smoke and have a “sip of champagne.”

    The dispatcher asks him why he did this and he states: “It wasn’t up to me,” he said. “God just informed me, it wasn’t me. I got nervous and I didn’t do it when I was supposed to. I was a coward. I was trying to let my children, it was supposed to be me to take those decisions, and it just spiraled.”

    It isn’t clear on the call whether he is referring to killing the children or confessing to it.

    The sheriff said Dickens’ wife, and the mother of the children, died last year after complications from a miscarriage.

    Dickens is being held without bond and has a court appearance scheduled for next month.

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    Elizabeth Townsend

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  • Jeff Jackson announces lawsuit against Trump over SNAP benefits

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina and more than 20 other states are suing the Trump administration for pausing federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program.

    Democratic N.C Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced the lawsuit in a press conference in Raleigh on Tuesday.

    “It’s unlawful, and we’re going to do everything we can to fight it,” Jackson said of funds not being released. 

    There are 1.4 million North Carolina residents rely on the program to put food on the table, but the Trump Administration said the program will run out of money Saturday unless the federal shutdown ends.

    The program still has reserve funds, but Republicans say that money is not legally available because it is reserved for emergencies, like disasters.

    On Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson added there “has to be a preexisting appropriation for the contingency funding to be used, and Democrats blocked that contingency.”

    But Democrats say the Trump Administration should use the roughly $6 billion that are in the contingency funds for SNAP.

    “The department is choosing not to use the emergency money that they’ve been given. I believe the reason they’re doing that is to play shutdown politics. They are looking to ratchet up the pain in a already painful moment. This is wrong and it’s against the law,” Jackson said.

    Responding to the lawsuit, Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said on CNN, “I find it very rich that they are suing the Trump Administration because their friends on the Hill won’t vote yes to keep the government.”

    On Monday, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein posted on X: “The administration’s refusal to use these available funds as temperatures cool and the Thanksgiving holiday approaches is a cruel abdication of the responsibility to support families and communities.”

    Last week Jackson signed onto a letter with other state attorneys general asking why reserve funding can’t be used and they laid out a series of questions asking for the agency to respond by Monday.

    “We are asking the court to act with emergency speed to meet this emergency. i think there is a very good chance that we get a favorable ruling that puts this on hold relatively soon. I hope that it happens before November 1, there is some chance of this theoretically, but we are asking the court to act as quickly as possible given the circumstances,” he said.

     

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    Reuben Jones

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  • Attendance dips at N.C. State Fair. A look at the numbers

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    Food vendors and carnival workers are packing up their candied apples, cotton candy, games and giant stuffed prizes, marking the end of the 2025 North Carolina State Fair season.

    What You Need To Know

    • Less than 950,000 people went to the N.C. State Fair this year 

    • Last year, there were nearly 1 million fairgoers

    • Historically, attendance is most impacted by weather 

    • But weather this year was fairly similar to 2024 


    This year, there were 946,811 total fairgoers during the fair’s 11-day run, according to figures from the state’s Department of Agriculture.

    That is nearly 8,000 fewer than the past 10-year average and more than 50,000 less than last year.

    “It’s been a very strong year, and we are happy with that,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said in a statement. “A lot of attention gets focused on attendance figures, and we do want to see strong numbers, but that is not the only barometer we use to measure success. Across the fairgrounds and throughout the fair we saw a lot of smiles and a lot of happy people. And that’s what makes all the hard work worthwhile – every day and every year!”

    Fair attendance has not seen a linear recovery since it returned after missing 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

    In 2019, attendance was 938,029. In 2021, fewer than 825,000 people went. The following year saw a bounce back with more than 960,000 people, but then numbers dipped in 2023.

    Last year, attendance almost reached more than a million fairgoers, which would have been the first time it had hit seven figures since 2017, but it was just shy by a little over 1,000.

    The record for the highest number of total fairgoers in a single North Carolina State Fair season is still held by 2010, which saw 1,091,887.

    Attendance per day ranged from 41,287 to 116,426, the latter being attendance on the last Saturday and the former on the first Thursday of the fair. This stayed consistent with trends that the first day typically sees the fewest and the last Saturday the most fairgoers.

    Often, the culprit for low attendance levels is the weather. In 2023 when the total number of fairgoers was nearly 30,000 less than the year before, it rained on Oct. 14, which was the first Saturday of the fair season. 

    That day, 62,501 people went to the fair compared to 115,586 on Oct. 15 in 2022, which was the first Saturday that year and saw sunny weather with temperatures in the mid 70s.

    This year’s discrepancy between attendance numbers cannot be as easily explained away by the weather, though since temperatures and conditions were largely similar to last year.

    The Department of Agriculture’s highlights from this year’s fair:

    • The Junior Livestock Sale of Champions drew $214,830 for champions and the junior livestock scholarship program

    • There were more than 27,000 general and livestock entries registered in competitions

    • This year’s pumpkin contest brought a site-record with the winner weighing in at 2,244.5 pounds

    • The equivalent of 150,000 meals was collected through donations on Smithfield Hunger Relief Day

    North Carolina’s State Fair will return next year Oct. 15-25, 2026.

     

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    Caroline King

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  • Salibury chief says bystander likely saved officer’s life during assault

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    A bystander likely saved an officer’s life during a knife-wielding assault at a Cookout Sunday evening, the Salisbury Police Department said.

    What You Need To Know

    • Salisbury Police Chief Patrick Smith is praising a bystander’s courageous actions that he says likely saved an officer’s life during an assault Sunday evening

    • The officer and bystander were injured by a knife-wielding suspect at a Cookout on East Innes Street, police said

    • The suspect faces multiple charges


    Officers responded to the restaurant on East Innes Street around 8:15 p.m. for a disturbance call.

    When officers arrived, police said they found the suspect, identified as Jamie Hunt, 44, armed with a knife.

    “A struggle ensued,” according to a release. That’s when Hunt began swinging the knife, injuring one officer.

    “During the altercation, a bystander intervened to assist the officers and sustained several lacerations to his left hand while preventing the officer from suffering further stab wounds,” the department said. “His actions likely saved the officer’s life.”

    An officer used a Taser to subdue Hunt, who was then taken into custody.

    Everyone involved was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The officer and bystander were treated and released.

    The suspect is in custody but is expected to remain at the hospital for several days, police said.

    Once released, Hunt faces several charges that include two felony counts of assault on a government official with a dangerous weapon, one felony count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of resisting, obstructing and delaying a public officer.

    “I am thankful for the citizen who stepped in to help. His act of bravery likely saved an officer’s life,” Salisbury Police Chief Patrick Smith said in a release. “We are relieved that both our officer and this Good Samaritan are recovering.”

    The investigation is ongoing.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Troll hunting: Danish artist brings installation to the Tar Heel State

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — The City of Raleigh is promoting sustainability, imagination and the power of public art.  

    This fall, Danish artist Thomas Dambo is bringing his giant troll art installation to Dix Park. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Danish artist Thomas Dambo is bringing his largest U.S. art installation to Raleigh

    • Seven trolls can be found in the state 

    • Five trolls are in the Oak City, one is in High Point and the other in Charlotte


    Five giant trolls made up of recyclables are being built and spread throughout the park.

    Parts of Dix Park have looked like a construction zone for the last couple of weeks.

    All for two words — giant trolls. 

    One of the trolls being erected at Dix Park in Raleigh by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. (Spectrum News 1/Jatrissa Wooten)

    “I knew what a troll was. I just didn’t know how we were going to build it,” said Habitat for Humanity volunteer Tim Woods.

    Dambo, an artist from Denmark, uses recyclables and nature’s gifts to create masterpieces all over the world.  

    He built the five giant trolls with the help of volunteers from near and far. 

    “Some of my trolls are really tall, so maybe they’re 30 feet tall,” Dambo said.

    The group also created a tail that spans more than 600 feet and will run through the park’s forest.

    “The tail is the most extraordinary thing out here,” said Woods.

    Woods said he’s been working for hours each day for about two weeks.

    Although he isn’t building a home, Woods said trolls are just as fulfilling.

    “I have eight grandkids. So, I can bring them out here and show it to them, explain it to them and tell them, ‘I helped,’” Woods said.

    These installations in other cities have drawn thousands of visitors daily and boosted tourism.

    Raleigh leaders and volunteers believe the same will happen here. 

    “I think it’s going to be a nice tour. An area. It would also allow people to understand and see what a life of a troll is about,” Woods said.

    Dambo said it will take at least an hour to find all five trolls in the park, and that’s all part of the fun behind “troll hunting.”

    These trolls in the Oak City are part of a larger family of seven coming to the Tar Heel state, one in High Point and the other in Charlotte.

    Together, Dambo said this will create his largest U.S. installation to date.

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    Jatrissa Wooten

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  • N.C.’s ever-changing election maps cause confusion for voters

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    North Carolina’s new congressional map, passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, is the latest in a series of redistrictings the state has had in recent years.

    The constant redrawing of district lines can leave voters confused about who represents them in Congress.

    Dennis Mersereau has called the Greensboro area home for 15 years and in that time he’s had a lot of different people representing him in Congress.

    “I think I’ve had five or six different representatives. It’s hard to keep track of them because they keep shifting us around so much,” Mersereau said.

    He lives in Reidsville outside Greensboro, a city that’s been ground zero in the state’s shifting congressional district lines.

    North Carolina has had five maps used in elections over the past 15 years and that’s not counting two that were struck down before they could be used. This week the Republican-controlled General Assembly pushed through a sixth map. 

    “Reidsville shouldn’t be in the same district as Greensboro because Greensboro is its own distinct community,” Mersereau said. 

    Former Democratic Rep. Kathy Manning used to represent Greensboro before Republican state lawmakers approved a map that carved up the heavily Democratic city into three districts, each with more Republican voters than Democrats.

    Manning decided not to seek reelection in 2024 because she thought it would be too difficult to win.

    “We have three different people in Congress who are supposed to represent Guilford County and Greensboro and they don’t represent the values that the vast majority of people in my former district hold,” Manning said.

    Both Republicans and Democrats are guilty of gerrymandering in North Carolina and around the country. But with so many different maps in North Carolina in recent years, with changes to the congressional delegation, there are concerns voters may not even know who their member of Congress is.

    “Every time they do a round of redistricting, I have to learn who our representative is and it’s a pain in the butt,” Mersereau said.

    The shifting maps are also a challenge for lawmakers and their offices, which spend lots of time focused on district-specific issues.

    “I think it’s very difficult on the representatives themselves. They want to know the districts they represent. They want to represent the people in the best way they can,” Manning said.  

    “Surely this is dizzying for not only the voters but also the representatives,” said Princeton Gerrymandering Project Director Sam Wang. “That bond between voters and their representatives breaks in a situation like North Carolina where the map gets redrawn every two years.”

    Spectrum News found people on both sides of the aisle who say the current system where maps are drawn by elected officials isn’t working.

    “The independent redistricting question is something I think we should have,” Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, told Spectrum News. “I do believe it should be subject to a political vote by the legislature.”

    “The founding fathers envisioned that there would be a political decision process in redistricting, but that’s not going to happen in this political environment,” Tillis said.

    Many states have independent redistricting commissions that are supposed to take politics out of the process. But in California and Virginia, Democrats are moving to take control of the process to counter President Donald Trump urging Republican states to redraw district lines to benefit the GOP.

    In North Carolina, it would fall to the General Assembly to create a commission, something not likely to happen.

    “I don’t care who started it, you know it’s wrong. Both parties are going to have to decide, in the long run this is not good for the country, and we need to stop the political, the partisan gerrymandering,” Manning said.

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    Reuben Jones

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  • Food Lion’s parent company to bring 500 jobs to Piedmont-Triad

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    BURLINGTON, N.C. — One of the world’s largest food retail groups, Ahold Delhaize USA, which operates Food Lion, will build its newest distribution center along the Alamance-Guilford county line. It’s considered to be the largest capital investment in Burlington’s history, officials said.

    What You Need To Know

    •  TThe owner of Food Lion is making what it said is the largest capital investment in Burlington’s history at $860 million

    •  The facility will create more than 500 jobs

    • The average wage is expected to be more than $60,000 per year


    “I think everyone likes roads,” said Marvin Price, executive vice president of the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce. “I think everyone loves a well-funded school system and a police department or EMS teams that have the right kind of equipment, and you don’t have that unless you have the tax revenue to pay for it. A company coming in of this magnitude, gainfully being able to employ the citizens of that community, that just is a win.”

    The company’s $860-million investment could potentially create more than 500 jobs, company officials said. The average wage is expected to be more than $60,000 per year. Initially, 120 jobs will come to Guilford County.

    “They will come in and they will start that process of hiring and beginning to develop that culture, if you will, for that facility,” said Teross Young, vice president of Ahold Delhaize USA. “We’ll have supervisors who start to come in and then will start to bring in people who will automatically start to understand kind of how this facility will be run long term.”

    Guilford County Commissioners, along with the Burlington City Council, held separate public hearings on “Project Titan” Wednesday afternoon. Council approved $21.5 million worth of incentives to close the deal.

    “The one thing that is most important is that, as the population continues to grow, jobs and quality of life and places to live are going to be equally important,” said Burlington Mayor James Butler. “This is just a cog of that wheel, and we’re very fortunate.”

    The new state-of-the-art, one million square foot warehouse will be located in the Rock Creek area near Lake McIntosh off Interstate 40. Companies including Duke Energy, PrePac and Zink Imaging already have facilities nearby. 

    “Did you know that Guilford County is the place where I-40 and 85 merges together,” Price said. “When you think about that from a company standpoint, going all the way to California or going through I-85, going all the way to Virginia to New York, that’s an opportunity where it merges together. Commerce starts essentially in Guilford County, North Carolina.”

    Construction of the project is expected to start next year and be completed in 2029.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Southport bar, restaurant workers receive checks as businesses remain closed

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    SOUTHPORT, N.C. — The Southport community continues to rally behind restaurant and bar employees who have been out of work since last month’s deadly mass shooting.

    What You Need To Know

    • Southport Cares raised money for employees who have been out of work since the deadly mass shooting in late September
    • The American Fish Company said it received checks for its employees from the nonprofit Southport Cares
    • Three people were killed and  six others were injured when a gunman opened fire at the American Fish Company 


    The management team for the American Fish Company said they have received checks from the local nonprofit Southport Cares, which have been distributed to employees at American Fish Company and Frying Pan.

    “Words can’t accurately express our gratitude for the continued support,” the management team said in a statement.

    Three people were killed and six others were wounded when a gunman opened fire at the American Fish Company on Sept. 27.

    The American Fish Company and Frying Pan have been closed since the shooting. 

    “Although it will take time, we are planning to return to our rightful place — serving our Southport friends and visitors to our town,” the management team said. “Every act of care and every prayer is a step in the right direction.”

     

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    Chloe Salsameda

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  • State lawmakers to vote on Republican redrawn district map

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    North Carolina state senators say they will vote Tuesday on a redrawn congressional map that would give Republicans an opportunity to gain an extra seat in the U.S. House.

    What You Need To Know

    • North Carolina lawmakers are considering a redrawn congressional map intended to help Republicans unseat a Democrat

    • The map would change the state’s 1st District, currently represented by Democratic Rep. Don Davis, by adding more conservative counties and removing liberal-leaning ones

    • Congressional maps are typically only redrawn once every 10 years after the census 

    • Texas started the national redistricting battle and approved its own new map and California responded with its own gerrymandered map proposal 


    State Senate leader Phil Berger, a Republican, said his chamber gave the new map tentative approval Monday and will take a final vote Tuesday before sending it to the state House. 

    The state Senate was divided along party lines over new boundaries for two eastern North Carolina districts in a move aimed to thwart the reelection of Democratic Rep. Don Davis, one of the state’s three Black members of Congress. The vote followed a committee meeting in which dozens of speakers from the public sharply accused Republican lawmakers in the ninth-largest state of bowing to Republican President Donald Trump.

    The plan’s chief author was direct about the map’s intent to help his party in the 2026 midterm elections.

    “The motivation behind this redraw is simple and singular — draw a new map that will bring an additional Republican seat to the North Carolina congressional delegation,” said GOP Sen. Ralph Hise, who shepherded it through his chamber. If Democrats take back the House, Hise said, they will “torpedo President Trump’s agenda.”

    The proposed map reconfigures the 1st District, which is currently represented by Davis, by adding more Republican-leaning counties along the coast and removing more liberal-leaning ones inland. Greene County, Davis’ home county, is among several that would be removed from the 1st District and instead become part of the 3rd District. 

    The new map would help Republicans flip Davis’ seat in next year’s elections. That would mean 11 of the state’s 14 House representatives would be Republicans, up from the current 10-4 split. Under a map used in 2022, the state had a 7-7 seat split.

    If the map is approved, Davis would run in the 1st or 3rd District, according to a spokesperson.  

    After a Senate procedural vote Tuesday, the proposed map will head to the House, which is expected to give it final General Assembly approval later this week.

    The state Democratic Party plans an outdoor rally Tuesday to oppose it. But Democrats are the minority in both chambers, and state law prevents Democratic Gov. Josh Stein from using his veto stamp on redistricting action. 

    “This is an attack on Black voters,” Sen. Kandie Smith, an African American legislator who represents a county in Davis’ current district, said during Senate floor debate. “It’s about stealing elections by design, so that the outcomes are predetermined and accountability becomes optional.”

    Redrawing the districts is typically only done every 10 years after the census, but North Carolina is not the first state to propose a new map five years earlier than usual.

    Texas led the trend when its governor, Greg Abbott, signed a new map into law in August that could add five Republican seats. California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded by announcing his own redistricting plan, which California residents will vote on whether to approve.

    The practice of redrawing maps to favor a political party is known as gerrymandering. The term dates back to the early 1800s when Massachusetts’ state Senate election districts were redrawn under Gov. Elbridge Gerry. An article in the Boston Gazette compared the shape of one district to a salamander, and the “Gerry-mander” was born.

    Gerrymandering has long been a feature of North Carolina’s politics. The Supreme Court case Rucho v. Common Cause in 2019 was a result of the state’s congressional map redrawn to favor Republicans after the 2010 census. The court’s decision effectively ended federal oversight of the redistricting process, opening the door nationally for more gerrymandering.

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    Caroline King, Associated Press

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  • Mecklenburg sheriff and ICE meet to air frustrations and address new law

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden met face to face Friday to discuss tensions over a new state law that requires sheriff’s offices to hold detainees for an additional 48 hours to allow ICE to take custody.

    What You Need To Know

    • For the first time, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials and Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden met to address tensions

    • The hourlong meeting also discussed a new state law that requires sheriff’s offices to hold detainees for an additional 48 hours to allow ICE to take custody

    • Both agencies say the meeting was productive

    • The sheriff said there are no plans for another meeting with ICE


    In February, Spectrum News 1 reported that McFadden had released a detainee without ICE’s knowledge, one in a string of disputed incidents that have fueled conflict between local and federal authorities.

    McFadden and ICE officials say Friday’s meeting has helped clarify procedures.

    From McFadden’s perspective, the conversation was productive.

    In a statement, ICE agreed.

    “ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations met with Sheriff McFadden and his staff today and engaged in a very productive meeting. We greatly value the opportunity to collaborate with our law enforcement partners to achieve our shared goals of safety and security of our communities and our officers,” the agency said.

    During the hourlong meeting, McFadden presented ICE with a letter outlining plans for pickup, direct contacts and expectations for arrests — issues both sides say they’ve struggled to coordinate in the past.

    The meeting was the result of a letter sent on behalf of the sheriff Oct. 1, asking ICE for clearer collaboration under the new state law, the Criminal Illegal Alien Enforcement Act, which requires sheriffs to hold detainees for an extra 48 hours beyond their scheduled release so ICE can take them into custody.

    In recent months, McFadden has said ICE failed to respond to pickup requests, forcing his office to release detainees. ICE, however, has accused McFadden’s office of refusing to cooperate with detainer requests.

    The two agencies agreed on points of contact for coordinating courthouse arrests and pickups.

    “So we gave them a safe process and procedures,” McFadden said. “If they have to operate inside the courthouse or on the courthouse grounds, because they do have that jurisdiction to do that. We just want them to do it in a safe manner for both them and the general public.”

    McFadden said both sides needed to “air out frustrations” and work toward a more transparent system.

    “We have the facility that they will have to come to,” he said. “We have the facility they have to remove these people from. So we want to make that safe and secure and also without problems. And so today in having that discussion, hopefully they understand us and we understand their needs.”

    The sheriff said there are no plans at this time for another meeting with ICE.

    National pressure, local tension

    The meeting comes amid growing pressure from the Trump administration to expand deportation operations and enlist local law enforcement agencies as partners. ICE has recently proposed loosening detention standards so more county jails can hold immigrants awaiting removal.

    At the same time, Congress approved a funding package that includes billions for ICE to expand detention capacity and deportation efforts.

    Across the country, sheriffs have become central players in the debate over cooperation with ICE. While immigration detainers are nonbinding requests under federal law, North Carolina’s new legislation now mandates local compliance for up to 48 hours. Supporters say the law prevents the release of potentially dangerous individuals, while critics say it blurs the line between local policing and federal enforcement.

    In Mecklenburg County, McFadden has accused ICE of ignoring communication attempts and failing to pick up detainees, while ICE maintains that his office continues to disregard lawful detainer requests. The sheriff has argued that only detainers supported by a judge’s order are legally valid.

    As state, local and federal agencies continue to navigate overlapping authority, Mecklenburg County remains at the center of the debate over immigration enforcement in North Carolina.

     

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    Jordan Kudisch

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  • Local teacher supplement increase to be discussed after contentious letter

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    MONROE, N.C. — Union County Public Schools are expected to discuss a local supplement increase for teachers at a meeting next week. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Union County Board of Commissioners released a letter questioning a delay in the local supplement increase for teachers

    • The board chair said commissioners weren’t aware of the delay until recently 

    • The Union County Public Schools Board of Education says the delay came from uncertainty with state budget

    • The Board of Education Finance Committee plans to meet next week to propose a local supplement increase for teachers


    The local supplement is an amount the county provides in addition to the state salary to make teacher pay more competitive. 

    The upcoming meeting comes after the Union Board of County Commissioners released a letter calling on the school board to release these funds for teachers. 

    The school system requested the more than $14.6 million over the current budget, which would provide a higher teacher supplement raise. 

    Ultimately, board of commissioners approved $8.8 million extra in funding for UCPS.

    “We understood that UCPS could not give a $2,000 supplement with the proposed funding amount. Based on numerous discussions and sufficient funding provided, we anticipated that teachers would receive a $1,000 supplement increase,” the letter states. 

    Board of commissioners Chair Melissa Merrell said in early October, she learned the supplement increase had not been provided and said the county was unfairly blamed for it. 

    “We funded it, we approved it. We sent them the money into law and until this, we did not know. We had not been informed that the schools and the superintendent and the Board of Education, they made a decision to hold on to it,” Merrell said. 

    According to UCPS, the delay for the local supplement increase came from uncertainty with the state budget. 

    UCPS Board of Education Chairman the Rev. Jimmy H. Bention Sr. said the school board never said the commissioners didn’t fund them. 

    “They did fund us, but the funding level that they funded us at, we were not able to then provide that $2,000, so we’re waiting for our state funds to come in and at that point, our finance team would be able to determine what amount of a supplement they can receive,” Bention said. “The issue is that people locked in on amounts, whether $2,000 or $1,000, when in fact, we have to look at the total budget package and see what we can give.”

    Merrell said she’s excited there will be discussions next week regarding the local supplement increase for teachers, but she questions the motives behind it. 

    “I expect them to issue a $1,000 settlement increase to all classroom teachers immediately, and they need to clarify that they were the ones holding the money,” Merrell said. 

    Regarding the letter, Bention said he would’ve preferred a phone call to clarify the situation instead of the letter.

    “I want people know that this is not an issue, but between board, the board, it was a miscommunication that blew up,” Bention said. 

    Both agree giving teachers more incentives to remain in the classroom is a must. 

    “It’s also very important to me that to continue increasing the teacher supplement so that if you teach in Union County Public Schools, that the county supplement is not falling behind,” Merrell said. 

    Bention said the Board of Education Finance Committee will issue a recommendation for the supplement increase amount, and the full board will vote on it in November. 

    “I just want to say to our teachers out there, that team UCPS, as we have always been, stands 100% behind you because you are an essential part of what makes team UCPS us,” Bention said. 

    The Board of Education Finance Committee will meet Oct. 21 at 8 a.m. 

    The North Carolina General Assembly has not passed a state budget yet, which means the proposed raises for teachers have not taken effect.

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    Estephany Escobar

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  • Hundreds of N.C. National Guard members go without pay during federal shutdown

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    More than 800 members of the North Carolina National Guard did not get their regular paychecks this week because of the federal government shutdown, according to Gov. Josh Stein.  

    What You Need To Know

    •  The federal government shutdown began Oct. 1 after Congress did not pass a new budget

    •  Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay

    •  In North Carolina, more than 800 members of the National Guard did not get their paychecks this week

    •  In previous shutdowns, federal workers have received back pay after Congress passed a new federal budget


    The federal shutdown began on Oct. 1 after Republicans and Democrats in Congress could not agree on a new federal budget. Each party blames the other and demands their own changes to the proposed federal budget. The main sticking point for Democrats in the Republican-majority U.S. House is funding for health care subsidies and Medicare.

    But while members of Congress argue over the budget, hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or are working without pay, according to the Associated Press. 

    “North Carolina National Guard members are essential to keeping our state and our country safe. Today 841 NC National Guardsmen did not receive their scheduled paychecks and must continue work without pay through the federal government shutdown,” the North Carolina governor said. “That’s unacceptable.” 

    “We need our federal government to support our National Guard, protect our health care, and make sure families can put food on the table,” Stein said on X.

    In previous federal shutdowns, workers received back pay after Congress passed a new budget. 


     

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    Charles Duncan

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  • Making homeownership more affordable

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In recent weeks, mortgage rates have gotten to their lowest level in about a year, according to mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac.

    “I never thought I would be able to afford a home,” Michelle Senghore said, but now she owns a two-bedroom house.

    What You Need To Know

    • Many different federal, state and local programs are available to help first-time homebuyers

    • The nonprofit NACA helps qualified buyers to purchase a home with no downpayment and no closing costs

    • First-time homebuyers can be overwhelmed by the amount of information about the process, says Townebank Mortgage loan officer Stacy Kinsey

    • Even if you have owned a home in the past, you may be considered a first-time buyer if it was more than three years ago, Kinsey says  

    “I love the environment. It’s a quiet community, and it’s a small house. It’s cozy, it’s warm and I feel secure and safe here,” Senghore said.

    She went through a program called NACA. It’s a nonprofit that allows qualified buyers to purchase a home with no downpayment and no closing costs. 

    NACA also has financial counseling, which can help with the homebuying process.

    “There’s just so much information thrown at us every day, online, that I think it just becomes overwhelming in that case. If you’ve got a person to help you and guide you, has done this a time or two, that’s the best thing to do,” says Stacy Kinsey, a senior loan officer at Townebank Mortgage.

    Kinsey says there are many different federal, state and local homebuying assistance programs. 

    “A lot of times you can pair those together and kind of layer and take advantage of all of that,” Kinsey said.

    There’s an FHA loan, where buyers pay as little as 3.5% of the purchase price.

    There’s also a program through the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency that provides $15,000 in downpayment assistance for first-time homebuyers.

    “A lot of people assume you’re only a first-time homebuyer once, but the way that we prove that you’re a first-time homebuyer is by collecting the last three years of tax returns to show that there’s mortgage interest,” Kinsey said. “So if you haven’t owned a home in three years, then you’re considered a first time homebuyer.” 

    No matter what program you take advantage of, at the end of the day, Senghore says this help is important.

    “Everybody deserves to be a homeowner, to have a certain level of security. You feel at home in your own house,” Senghore said.

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    Arin Cotel-Altman

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