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Tag: Arin Cotel-Altman

  • Teachers across North Carolina call for better pay and benefits

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The sun was barely even up, but educators across North Carolina were already making their voices heard on Wednesday.  

    “Teachers who are investing their own time and energy into teaching. It feels like our state is not investing their money back into us,” said high schol art teacher Kody Hall.

    What You Need To Know

    • Teachers across North Carolina call for better pay and benefits

    • These include restoring longevity and masters pay, restoring retiree health coverage for new hires and fully funding Leandro, the court ruling that requires the state to fund education equitably

    • Organizers say three more statewide protests are planned through April, taking place on the seventh of each month


    Educators walked out of their classrooms to call on the North Carolina General Assembly to pass a state budget and to draw attention to a number of demands.

    These include restoring longevity and masters pay, restoring retiree health coverage for new hires and fully funding Leandro, the court ruling that requires the state to fund education equitably.

    “We need the kids to know that teachers and education is worth something. We need our teachers to feel valued so that our teachers can then put their time and energy back into the students,” Hall said.

    These demonstrations continued throughout the day Wednesday. 

    English teacher Mechelle Vaughn is another teacher who took to the streets, saying she believes her profession is under attack. 

    “No one goes into education to get rich, but I think we deserve to live. If we don’t get something changed soon, you’re going to show up to school, and there will not be a teacher in your child’s classroom,” Vaughn said.

    Vaughn hopes the community sees this as an urgent call to action. 

    “I hope that the community recognizes that we are all in this together. Your children spent more time with us than they do with you during a school year, right? Don’t you want the best and the brightest there?” Vaughn said.

    Organizers say three more statewide protests are planned through April, taking place on the seventh of each month.

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

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  • How to address speech delays in ‘COVID kindergartners’

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Most children born during the COVID pandemic are now in their first year of school, often being referred to as “COVID kindergartners.”

    Research from the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that experiences in early childhood can have long-term impacts on development and growth.

    What You Need To Know

    • The “COVID kindergartener” class refers to children born around the time of the pandemic who are now about halfway done with their first year of school

    • The Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center conducts around 2,500 speech screenings each year across the Carolina region

    • In 2025, in the Charlotte area alone, the failure rate was around 35%, compared to20% prior to the pandemic. A 15% increase just five years later

    • They just launched “Tools for Transformation,” which is a campaign to raise money for essential tools needed to help these kids with their therapy


    Jack, 6, was born right before the start of the pandemic and is part of that “COVID kindergarten” class, which are students now almost halfway done with their first year of school.

    Jack’s mom said that since the pandemic was a huge part of his early years of life, it had impacts on his speech development. 

    “You know, he only saw people outside of the house. When his sister was born, we kind of, like, locked down again, because she was born in 2021, so it was still shaky ground as far as seeing people. Even though I can’t say this is the specific way that he was affected by it, like there’s no way that it didn’t,” said Maggie Patterson, Jack’s mother.

    Seeing speech and language delays in children born around the time of the pandemic isn’t uncommon.

    The Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center conducts around 2,500 speech screenings each year across the Carolina region. In 2025, in the Charlotte area alone, the failure rate was around 35% and before the pandemic, it was 20%. That’s a 15% increase in only five years.

    “We were so shut down that children did not have that exposure to language stimulation they normally would have. Then, on top of that, everyone was wearing a mask. So that’s an important piece for children to develop language is to actually read lips,” said Shannon Tucker, executive director of the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center.

    The center helps kids from across North Carolina and just launched its “Tools for Transformation” campaign to raise money for essential items needed to help these kids with their therapy.

    “A couple of examples of tools is, tools to build vocabulary. That can even be apps on an iPad that we have to pay for, that can be specialized books that help develop certain types of vocabulary. That could be oral motor tools to stimulate the development of the muscles of the mouth. Those are very specialized tools and are very expensive,” Tucker said.

    Tucker also has some everyday advice for parents to help children with speech development.

    “Read and have a lot of two-way conversation. So, reading a book is great. What’s even better than reading a book is asking questions about that book, engaging in dialog about what you’re seeing. If you don’t have books, you can do it on the bus, on the way to the grocery store. Just talking and talking, we tell all of our parents to be a radio announcer. Just talk about everything you can see and everything you do, and that child’s brain will just soak that up,” Tucker said.

    Jack’s mom says even though he’s still working on communicating, it’s nice to see her son improving. 

    “If it was “R” or “L” heavy, he really had a hard time getting his point across, and as a 5-year-old, that’s infuriating. So it’s just nice to see him be able to communicate what he wants,” Patterson said.

    For more information about the Charlotte Speech and Hearing Center and resources it provides, visit its website here.

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

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  • Small cosmetic business hopes shoppers stay local this year

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When shopping this holiday season, consider shopping small.

    Ari Green, founder of D’ara Cosmetics, said she’s spent over a decade perfecting her makeup products.

    “I’ve always struggled with super, super sensitive skin,” Green said. “Everything that’s safe for sensitive skin stills has preservatives, chemicals. So, I figured I could make it myself. If I make it, I know what’s in it.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Through Ari Green’s own skincare journey, D’ara Cosmetics was born

    • She creates body serums, oils and balms by hand in her apartment, using all natural ingredients

    • Green said she started doing it after seeing all the preservatives in makeup

    • She makes all the products in her apartment



    Through her personal skincare journey, D’ara Cosmetics emerged, offering solutions she was looking for that no one else offered on the marketplace.

    “It was just trial and error and figuring out what worked for my skin. And it just turned into a business that has helped so many people,” Green said.

    She creates body serums, oils and balms by hand in her apartment, using all-natural ingredients.

    As a black female entrepreneur, she believes representation for all types of skin, matters.

    “Especially for more melanite’d skin, there’s not a whole lot on the market for us. We have to be very careful about what we use. So it’s something i wanted to create, something that’s safe for all,” Green said.

    Green added this holiday season, consider shopping small.

    The priceless value of each batch reflects the time, and effort invested. 

    “Big corporations, you’re one of thousands of their customers, whereas small businesses, it means so much. You’re supporting your community, you’re supporting somebody’s life, somebody’s family, somebody’s dream,” Green said.

     If you want to shop D’ara Cosmetics, you can find the link here.

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

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  • One month since Hurricane Melissa, N.C. group working to help Jamaica recover

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It’s been one month since Hurricane Melissa wreaked havoc on the Caribbean islands, and the people there still need support. Lincoln Wilmot is reminded of the devastation that hit his home country of Jamaica 

     “It was the most devastating thing I’ve ever seen,” Wilmot of Charlotte said. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  It’s been one month since Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean islands

    • The Jamaican American Cultural Association is gathering supplies for a mission trip to Jamaica 

    • According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the death toll across the Caribbean has reached 90 as of Nov. 12


    He was on the island when Hurricane Melissa tore through as a Category 5. 

    “You know, I’m ex-military and it was probably the only time I’ve ever actually been scared for anything,” Wilmot said.

    He was staying only 50 yards from the ocean and saw structures washed away.

    “I felt really bad because I felt that I had a home to go back to, but a lot of these people had nowhere to go,” he said.

    The Jamaican American Cultural Association is organizing supplies for a mission trip to the island.

    The group has collected food, clothing, hygiene products and received $50,000 in medical supplies. It will distributed primarily on the southwest side of the country, where the hurricane did the most damage. 

    “That side is known as the breadbasket of Jamaica. It supplies a lot of the food all over Jamaica, and it affected a third of the Jamaican population,” said Gaynor Russell, president of the association.

    According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the death toll across the Caribbean reached 90 as of Nov. 12.

    “The prime minister himself has spoken about the extent of the damage. Even though they had insurance policies to cover damages, it’s still not even a dent into what has happened on the island,” Russell said.

    Even though the journey is far from over, Wilmot knows his people will persevere.

    “People in Jamaica desperately need help, so they’re doing the best they can to survive, and you know they’re strong people. We are strong people. So they have not given up hope, but I’m hoping that the world would continue to send supplies and send help,” Wilmot said.

    The association trip is planned for Dec. 5, and the group has enough monetary donations to build eight houses for families in need. 

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

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  • Chef cooks Thanksgiving meal for people in need

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Thanksgiving morning typically starts with the smells of a home cooked meal but for those facing food insecurity it can feel a bit different.

    “The prices of groceries have gone up so high. it really gives me a joy to be able to do something that not only do I love, but to other people who are not able to do it,” says Kevin Winston II, “Chef Kev.” 

    What You Need To Know

    • Thanksgiving morning typically starts with the smells of a home cooked meal but for those facing food insecurity it can feel a bit different.

    • Chef Kevin Winston II, served 70 meals were served to low income residents and the homeless, in partnership with Chef Chianti Peek.

    • The American Farm Bureau Federation says a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people will cost around $55 this year.


    Winston is making sure everyone gets to celebrate the holiday by cooking a Thanksgiving meal for people in need. 

    “When I grew up i always had the opportunity to have thanksgiving at my grandparents and family and friends. That was just like a highlight. I feel like that highlight has being taken away for so many people. So i want to be able to provide something that I do for a living as a highlight to their life,” he said.

    He served 70 meals to low income residents and the homeless, in partnership with Chef Chianti Peek.

    Those who came to eat said they are thankful.

    “I feel like we all have our battles and issues in life, but when you have an open door for someone to help or support you, take it. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. We all have our moments. So take it when someone is generous and trying to give back and help,” said Brittany Reid. 

    The American Farm Bureau Federation says a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people cost around $55 this year, money not everyone has, especially living in a shelter.

    “This particular holiday, when you’re going through what they go through, is taken away. So they don’t get that opportunity to feel like it’s a holiday. It’s kind of just like another day, so I kind of want them to have that in their mind like, wow, now it feels like a holiday,” Winston said.

    This is his third year cooking for people in need and he has plans to continue for as long as he can.

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

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  • How not extending ACA subsidies will affect N.C. residents

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An issue at the center of this government shutdown is extending the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans.

    Open enrollment began Nov. 1, and people are seeing premiums skyrocket for 2026. 

    What You Need To Know

    • An issue at the center of this government shutdown is extending the enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans

    • Open enrollment began Nov. 1 and people are seeing premiums skyrocket for 2026

    • These enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. If they’re not extended, 157,000 North Carolinians will become uninsured and another 888,000 will see their health care premiums double, according to Gov. Josh Stein



    Charlotte residents Steve Goodson and his husband, Carlos Mendez, are no exception.

    “Anyone dependent on the ACA is looking at undue stress right now,” Goodson said.

    In 2021, the Biden administration approved enhanced premium subsidies for Affordable Care Act insurance plans, meaning people were given more money from the government for health care costs than in the past.

    “To really make sure that people were able to access care that they needed, that they were able to, you know, get vaccinated for COVID and things like that. So they just wanted to make sure that everybody was healthy in the midst of this pandemic,” said Julieanne Taylor, program director of Family Support and Health Care Program for Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy.

    These enhanced subsidies are set to expire at the end of this year. If they’re not extended, 157,000 North Carolinians will become uninsured and another 888,000 will see their health care premiums double, according to Gov. Josh Stein.

    “With the premiums going up, we have to collectively reassess going to the doctor,” said Mendez, an ACA insurance recipient.

    According to the North Carolina Department of Insurance, the average rate for individual ACA coverage will increase by over 28% in 2026.

    As the government shutdown enters its second month, Taylor said this could have a huge impact on residents.

    “It may keep people from renewing their coverage. I mean, as we know right now, prices are just very expensive. It’s expensive for food, it’s expensive for housing and so this is just one more thing,” Taylor said.

    Goodson and Mendez said if their premium doubles, it won’t be easy in the long run.

    “Initially we would deal with it, but I think a year from now, resources would get very limited. But it could perhaps impoverish us over a few years,” Goodson said.

    On the other side of the issue, according to the Cato Institute, these subsidies cost almost half a trillion dollars and have produced enrollment fraud and many believe temporary emergencies should not justify permanent solutions.

    Taylor says health insurance navigators are available across North Carolina to help, if you need assistance picking a plan or understanding the changes to ACA insurance plans. Visit here for more information.

    Since being interviewed for this story, Carlos says he has signed up for healthcare through ACA Enrollment and the cost went up by 26% for 2026.

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

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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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  • 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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  • New program aims to get mental health care to the homeless

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A new psychiatry program launched in Mecklenburg County called Wellness Without Walls. It’s led by the United Way of Greater Charlotte and its Home for All Initiative.

    Malia Suhren believes everyone deserves equitable health care.

    “That’s not something that has to be earned. It’s just a human right,” said Suhren, director of unsheltered housing navigation for Roof Above.

    What You Need To Know

    • A new psychiatry program launched in Mecklenburg County called Wellness Without Walls, led by the United Way of Greater Charlotte 

    • It takes mental health care out to the streets to reach homeless populations 

    • The treatment is consensual, and the goal is to help people long term


    It’’s a sentiment Suhren keeps close to her heart and it’s why her organization has partnered with other nonprofits and health providers to start the Wellness Without Walls program. It takes mental health care out to the streets, making sure homeless populations get mental health treatment. Suhren and her team take the essential supplies people need and a psychiatrist goes out with them once or twice a week. 

    “They conduct walk-and-talk assessments, connect people with life-changing medication, provide the psycho-education that just goes beyond what we’re able to provide at outreach,” Suhren said.

    All the treatment is consensual, and the goal is to help people long term.

    “When we have a discussion around safety, we tend to think of our own personal safety and perceptions of safety, and that’s totally valid and totally right,” said Kathryn Firmin-Sellers, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Charlotte. “I want to feel safe on the light rail. I want to feel safe walking Uptown.”

    “But I also want our homeless neighbors to feel safe as well,” she said. “So I think expanding that conversation around public safety to include all Charlotteans is a great addition and a great outcome of bringing this program to life.” 

    The total homeless population in North Carolina without shelter increased by 50% from 2010 to 2024, compared with 17% nationally, according to the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency.

    “It would be amazing if Mecklenburg County could be something that people use as a model in order to improve services all around North Carolina,” Suhren said.

    The program is in its pilot phase but the United Way says it hopes to scale the program up in the coming year. 

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  • Immigration courts in North Carolina are open during government shutdown

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Immigration courts across the country remain open during the government shutdown, including in Charlotte, which is the only immigration court in North Carolina.

    What You Need To Know

    • Immigration courts across the country remain open during the government shutdown, including in Charlotte, which has the only immigration court in North Carolina

    • According to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, in North Carolina, there are over 133,00 backlogged immigration cases

    • One attorney explains that if the shutdown continues and non-detained cases stop being heard, the backlog of cases in the state could get worse


    Davis Lovvorn used to be a high school Spanish teacher, where he taught several undocumented students.

    “The barriers that they faced, with respect to work authorization, with respect to getting into college. Those are not barriers that I faced growing up,” Lovvorn, now an Immigrant Justice Program attorney at the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy, said.

    That work, he says, inspired him to become a lawyer.

    “It’s really important that we remember that everybody in this country has a right to be treated with dignity, and that includes basic rights of due process,” Lovvorn said.

    There is currently a backlog of over 133,000 cases in North Carolina, according Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse. The Department of Justice says the Executive Office for Immigration Review has a backlog of almost 4 million cases.

    A map showing the number of backlogged immigration cases in states with more than 100,000. (TracReports.org)

    “It’s a pretty substantial number. Even for me, I have approximately 60 clients, and maybe four or five have had their cases heard by immigration court at this point,” Lovvorn said.

    Lovvorn says that during the last government shutdown, the non-detained docket, meaning people who are not in ICE custody, was put on pause. This time, here in North Carolina, it’s continuing.

    “But at this time we don’t know for how long that can practically continue because emergency funding is emergency funding. That doesn’t mean it’s unlimited,” Lovvorn said.

    Lovvorn says that if the shutdown continues and non-detained cases stop being heard, the backlog of cases in North Carolina could get worse.

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  • Mobile pharmacy helps get free medicine to those in need

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    For some people, over-the-counter medications can be not only unaffordable, but also out of reach. 

    That’s why NC MedAssist is helping hundreds of people in need get the medications they need to keep their families healthy. 

    What You Need To Know

    • According to GoodRX, there are 25 counties in North Carolina that are considered “pharmacy deserts,” meaning residents have to drive over 15 minutes to reach a local pharmacy 

    • NC MedAssist takes its mobile pharmacy to counties across the state, holding over 50 events every year and serving around 700 people at each one

    • Anita Boswell-Russell with NC MedAssist says often times people in these communities are impoverished, so even if they lived closer to a pharmacy, they still would not be able to afford the medications


    “I’ve seen firsthand with close people of mine what it’s like to not be able to afford health care or anything like that and to just struggle and not have the help that you should have as a community,” Haylee Hocutt, a volunteer with NC MedAssist, said.

    NC MedAssist takes its mobile pharmacy to counties across North Carolina, holding over 50 events every year and serving around 700 people at each one. 

    “It helps a lot for families that are low income,” Teresa Colon, a mother of three, said.

    Colon gets to choose up to eight over-the-counter medications, that total around $150, for free. 

    “I’ve got three children. Mostly, I get different medications for their ages, so it’s not only one that I have to get,” Colon said.

    According to GoodRX, there are 25 counties in North Carolina that are considered “pharmacy deserts,” meaning residents have to drive over 15 minutes to reach a local pharmacy. 

    Anita Boswell-Russell says that often times people in these communities are impoverished, so even if they lived closer to a pharmacy, they could not afford the medications anyway. 

    “If they had a choice between buying food for their family, paying their rent, paying their light bill, they’re going to do that every time and not buy that over-the-counter medicine,” Boswell-Russell, with NC MedAssist, said.

    NC MedAssist is not only breaking down barriers to health care but also helping moms like Colon feel confident and prepared ahead of flu season.

    “For their colds or if they get fever, I have something already in store for them,” Colon said.

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  • What hurricane laws mean for vacation rentals in North Carolina

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    Getting into the vacation rental business started off as a necessity for Ashley Harkrader.

    “I became a single mom in 2015, and I needed to figure out how to take care of my daughter,” said Harkrader of Pretty Stays CLT.

    She now has almost 100 properties nationwide and most of them are in North Carolina.

    What You Need To Know

    • North Carolina last year received about 40 million visitors from across the country, making it the fifth-most-visited state, according to the North Carolina Department of Commerce

    • With an increase in tourism, property owners like Ashley Harkrader say it’s important that state laws protect visitors during hurricane season 

    • She says she knows first-hand why these laws are essential because one of her properties in Boone was destroyed by Hurricane Helene 


    According to the North Carolina Department of Commerce, last year there were around 40 million visitors from across the country, ranking North Carolina the fifth-most-visited state. 

    With an increase in tourism, property owners like Harkrader think it’s important that state laws protect visitors during hurricane season.

    “Because I think we all need to care about each other in situations that none of us can control, and I think that gives us the ability to create a better rapport. So that way, when the time is appropriate for them to travel back to you, they know that you truly believe in their safety and vice versa,” Harkrader said.

    The North Carolina Vacation Rental Act says renters must follow mandatory evacuation orders and they are entitled to a prorated refund if they do have to evacuate. There is an exception if someone opts out of insurance that covers the risk of evacuation. If a vacation rental can’t be delivered as promised, renters must be refunded or offered a comparable property. 

    “I encourage those individuals who are entering into short-term leases to make sure that they’re reading the leases and what all of their rights and responsibilities are under the lease and paying particular attention to the insurance coverage. Of course, any of the mandatory evacuation orders that may be put in place during this hurricane season,” said Kristen Fetter of the North Carolina Real Estate Commission. 

    Harkrader says she knows first-hand why these laws are so essential since one of her properties in Boone was destroyed by Helene. 

    “We actually had a family that was going to be staying there, but we obviously refunded and gave them their money back just because we didn’t know what was going to happen,” Harkrader said.

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