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Tag: coastal

  • A look back at Hurricane Katrina, 20 years later

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    Hurricane Katrina remains infamous as one of the deadliest hurricanes ever to strike the United States.

    What You Need To Know

    • Hurricane Katrina reached Category 5 status but made landfall as a Category 3 with winds of 125 mph

    • Record storm surge was reported across the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines

    • 80% of New Orleans was under water on Aug. 31, 2005


    20 years ago on Aug. 29, it made its strongest landfall as a Category 3 hurricane in southeast Louisiana and brought devastation across the city of New Orleans and surrounding parishes.

    Meteorological history

    Hurricane Katrina developed from the remnants of Tropical Depression Ten and a tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles. It became Tropical Depression Twelve over the southeastern Bahamas on Aug. 23.

    On Aug. 24, it was classified as Tropical Storm Katrina, and it moved through the northwestern part of the Bahamas on Aug. 25. It strengthened into a hurricane on the evening of Aug. 25 just before making its first landfall near the Miami-Dade/Broward County line.

    The storm drifted southwest across southern Florida before moving over the eastern Gulf on Aug. 26. Over the warm waters of the Gulf, Katrina rapidly intensified, becoming a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 175 mph on Aug. 28.

    A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina prior to making landfall on Aug. 29, 2005. (NOAA)

    Katrina turned to the northwest and then north, making its second landfall near Buras, LA, in the southeastern part of the state on Aug. 29. It had weakened to a Category 3, with winds of 125 mph, just before landfall.

    Approximately five hours later, Katrina made a third landfall near the Louisiana/Mississippi border with winds estimated at 120 mph, still a Category 3 hurricane.


    Katrina moved over land and weakened but still maintained hurricane strength near Laurel, Mississippi. It was finally downgraded to a tropical depression on Aug. 30 before dissipating altogether on Aug. 31.

    Katrina’s impacts

    Katrina wasn’t just a Louisiana/Mississippi storm; at its height, it was 780 miles from east to west and about the same distance from north to south. Hurricane conditions were reported in southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi and southwestern Alabama, with storm surges reported as far east as Destin, FL.

    Storm surge affected coastal regions, with a 20-mile-wide swath of 24 to 28 feet along the Mississippi Coast. The highest surge was at Pass Christian, MS, at 27.8 feet. The storm surge was so high that it overtopped the levees in the city of New Orleans, leading to levee failures and extensive flooding. 80% of New Orleans was under water on Aug. 31.

    The damage and destruction it caused equated to $125 billion (un-adjusted 2005 dollars). Not to mention the thousands of lives lost.

    More Storm Season Resources

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

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    Meteorologist Stacy Lynn

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  • $2.25M grant will help improve public access to beaches, coastal waters in N.C.

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    A $2.25 million grant is going to help improve the public’s access to beaches and coastal waterways in North Carolina.

    What You Need To Know

    • A $2.25 million grant aims to improve public access to North Carolinabeaches and coastal waterways

    • The grant will be divided to support 10 projects along the coast 

    • For more information on the recipients and to see how they will each use the funds, click here


    The grant was awarded by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management, as part of the Public Beach and Coastal Waterfront Access Grant Program, to fund 10 projects along the state’s coast.

    The grant will help local governments in 20 coastal counties purchase land for public access sites and build or enhance amenities like dune crossovers, fishing piers, parking areas, restrooms and kayak launches, according to a news release.

    “These state investments will both ensure safe and expanded public access to our coastlines and strengthen the resilience of our communities by supporting infrastructure that can withstand extreme weather,” DEQ Secretary Reid Wilson said in the release. “As we face increasingly severe storms, these projects will play a key role in safeguarding both public safety and the long-term health of our coastal environments.” 

    This year’s grant recipients include:

    • Atlantic Beach, receiving $115,200
    • Beaufort, receiving $120,000
    • Belhaven, receiving $540,000
    • Bertie County, receiving $80,000
    • Cedar Point, receiving $305,000
    • Nags Head, receiving $400,000
    • New Hanover County, receiving $265,000
    • Ocean Isle Beach, receiving $82,500
    • Swansboro, receiving $127,623
    • Vandemere, receiving $167,700

    For more information and to see how each recipient plans to use the funds, click here.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Surry County BOE chair accused of putting narcotics in granddaughters’ ice cream

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    The chair of the Surry County Board of Elections is facing charges after illegal drugs were found in his granddaughters’ ice cream earlier this month, authorities said.

    What You Need To Know

    •  James Yokeley is accused of placing pills containing MDMA and cocaine in his juvenile granddaughters’ ice cream

    •  Yokeley is facing multiple charges related to the incident

    •  He is the chair of the Surry County Board of Elections


    James Yokeley, 66, is charged with contaminating food or drink with a controlled substance, felony child abuse and felony possession of Schedule I narcotics, according to the Wilmington Police Department.

    He’s now facing calls to resign from the county elections board. 


    The charges are connected to an incident on Aug. 8 in Wilmington, North Carolina.

    Police said Yokeley flagged down officers at the Sheetz gas station on Shipyard Boulevard to report two pills found in the recently purchased ice cream of his two juvenile granddaughters. Medics checked the girls and found that none of the substances had been ingested, police said.

    After a test, police determined the pills contained MDMA and cocaine, according to warrants.

    Investigators reviewed surveillance footage and found that Yokeley had placed the pills in the victims’ ice cream.

    State Auditor Dave Boliek, who oversees election boards in North Carolina, said Yokeley should resign from the board.

    “The arrest and investigation of the Surry County Board of Elections Chair is very disturbing. This matter distracts from election management in Surry County and must be addressed quickly and directly,” Boliek said.

    “Our office is built on holding individuals accountable. He needs to resign, and Surry County needs a new Board of Elections Chair. If he doesn’t resign, I’ll be requesting the State Board take action today to remove him as Chair,” he said. 

    Yokeley was taken to the New Hanover County Detention Center and later released on a $100,000 bond.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Steve Newmark’s shift from auto racing executive to UNC’s AD-in-waiting

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    CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Steve Newmark has spent years working in a sport defined by speed.

    Maybe that will have the former NASCAR racing team president prepared for the rapidly shifting landscape of college sports as North Carolina’s designated next athletic director.

    The school announced its succession plan in July, hiring Newmark away from RFK Racing for a transitionary position before becoming Bubba Cunningham’s successor in 2026. Newmark started working alongside Cunningham this month as an executive associate AD, giving him the better part of a year to study the intricacies and quirks of overseeing a power- onference athletics program while evaluating what could be ahead with schools now permitted to pay college athletes directly.

    “We were joking,” Newmark said of Cunningham, “some of it is just me following Bubba around and learning the ropes here.”

    And yet, Newmark’s status as an outsider is exactly why he’s here at this particular moment.

    UNC has touted the Chapel Hill native’s experience in sponsorships, marketing and contract negotiations after his 15-year run as president of Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing. That announcement came, fittingly, on the fourth anniversary of athletes being able to profit from use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

    It also came the same day as the official start of revenue sharingfollowing the $2.8 billion House antitrust settlement, clearing the way for schools to share up to about $20.5 million with their athletes in Year 1.

    Starting a transition plan

    Paying for all that — along with facing issues for the 28-sport program such as the uncertain future for the Smith Center home to the school’s storied men’s basketball program — will be Newmark’s responsibility by next summer.

    Cunningham, UNC’s AD since late 2011, said the two had conversations going back to last summer about differing approaches to generating revenue between auto racing and college sports, particularly with things changing so quickly in the latter since the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Cunningham described it as “an ongoing conversation,” leading to Newmark working on an advisory committee in the hiring of Bill Belichick as football coach in December before ultimately being named Cunningham’s successor.

    Cunningham, 63, is set to transition into an advisory role tied to special projects, such as the “Carolina North” campus expansion that could potentially host a new basketball area if the school opts not to renovate the 39-year-old Smith Center.

    “He and I shared the passion for what we were doing and where it was headed,” Cunningham said. “And then thinking about, all right, I’ve got two years left on a contract, I’m ready to do something else, how do we make this transition work for Carolina?

    “He’s a perfect fit for us right now. There wasn’t anything too magical to it. It was just kind of taking time over a developing relationship between the two of us, and the thought of: ‘How do we continue to get better?’”

    Added Newmark: “I don’t think when we started the discussions that that was the objective. I wasn’t looking to leave RFK Racing. I really enjoyed it there.”

    Mulling new revenue streams

    Rather, Newmark said, he looked at moving to UNC as an opportunity to use his own professional sports experience in a college world looking more pro-like by the day — or hour, for that matter.

    Newmark said he’ll spend the coming months looking at options for generating additional revenues in the long term. And it doesn’t take long to connect his history in auto racing — where sponsors turn cars into high-profile advertising for their brand — to the possibilities.

    That’s of particular interest in Chapel Hill, where the school long refused to allow advertising in major athletics venues until roughly two decades ago. Yet now, UNC joins schools across the country in mulling options such as selling naming rights to venues, field sponsorships or even jersey patches if permitted by the NCAA — which only last year permitted advertisements on football fields for regular-season games.

    “If you put Modelo (beer) on the (coaches’) headsets, probably not a good idea,” Cunningham said. “Modelo sponsoring the beer garden makes sense. So it just becomes part and parcel to what you’re doing. But I think that’s where the sponsorship experience that he brings to us is going to be really valuable to Carolina.”

    Newmark said he thinks sports fans nationally are more acclimated now to seeing more marketing, promotions and advertisements “integrated” into sporting events.

    “I think it may have been something that would’ve been a shock to the system 20 years ago, but I think everybody has seen the evolution of sports,” Newmark said. “And collegiate athletics is clearly not on the leading edge of doing that. If you look at professional sports, they’ve been much more aggressive in integrating brands and properties.”

    Still, Newmark stopped short of planning to replicate those ad-heavy racing looks in that trademark shade of light blue.

    “Well, I have committed to several donors that I promise we won’t look like a NASCAR driver’s fire suit and show up at any time,” he quipped.

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    Associated Press

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  • NCDOT to begin permanent repair projects in Chimney Rock, Bat Cave

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    CHIMNEY ROCK, N.C. — Construction to rebuild roads and bridges is ongoing in western North Carolina nearly a year after Helene. 

    The North Carolina Department of Transportation gave Spectrum News 1 a tour of a two and a half mile stretch of Chimney Rock and Bat Cave Tuesday to view the destruction and work to rebuild the region’s vital infrastructure.

    What You Need To Know

    • Helene washed out a portion of U.S. 74, which connects Chimney Rock to Bat Cave

    • A temporary road has been opened for local traffic

    • NCDOT plans to begin construction on a permanent road later this year

    • The project is estimated to cost $250 million


    Helene washed out a portion of U.S. 74, which connects Chimney Rock to Bat Cave, sending pieces of asphalt into the river below. The only way engineers could assess the damage was to hike there by foot.

    “It was very overwhelming seeing the challenge and devastation that was here,” Nathan Moneyham, the division construction engineer for NCDOT Division 13, said. “I think one of the things was that we knew we could do it. I think the question was how long it would take.”

    NCDOT quickly began building a temporary road in the middle of the riverbed below U.S. 74. The road came to life as engineers used rail cars as bridges. The temporary road opened in May.

    “That can serve this community so folks can go to the grocery store, go to doctor’s appointments and get back to some sense of normalcy as they start to rebuild,” Moneyham said.

    Engineers are now designing a permanent road to be built where U.S. 74 once stood. Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed by 2028. The project is estimated to cost $250 million.

    In Bat Cave, NCDOT plans to replace a bridge that connects U.S. 64 and U.S. 74. Construction is expected to begin later this year and be completed in 2027. 

    Moneyham is hopeful this work will bring a sense of normalcy back to the region. 

    “We’ve got this temporary road established a lot faster than anybody expected,” Moneyham said. “A lot of the businesses in the [Chimney Rock] village are starting to open. The state park opened back in June. It’s really a big milestone and accomplishment, and really needed for the people that live and have businesses here.”

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    Chloe Salsameda

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  • Lenoir County confirms case of West Nile virus in resident

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    Health officials in Lenoir County have confirmed a human case of West Nile virus, the county’s Health Department announced Monday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  A Lenoir County resident tested positive for West Nile virus, health officials confirmed Monday

    •  The resident had been exposed to bites from infected mosquitoes

    •  The CDC says most will not develop symptoms, but those that do may experience fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash

    • Officials say to contact a health care provider if infection is suspected


    An infected mosquito bit the Lenoir County resident, officials said, which is how the disease is most commonly spread.

    “Since we have identified a case in a Lenoir County resident, we are concerned that more mosquitoes in the county are carrying the virus,” Health Director Pamela Brown said in a release.

    Lenoir County is in eastern North Carolina and includes the City of Kinston, about 75 miles southeast of Raleigh.

    Symptoms commonly start between days two and six after being bitten, but can start anywhere from two days to two weeks.

    The virus has also been found in Durham and Pitt counties, according to state health officials. 

    Roughly 80% of those infected will not develop symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    “About 20% of people who are infected develop flu-like symptoms, such as a fever with headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash,” the CDC said. “Most people with mild illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.”

    The Lenoir County Health Department offers the following tips to help protect yourself from bites and infection:

    • Using an EPA-registered insect repellent with active ingredients: DEET, Picaridin, IR3535, Oil of lemon eucalyptus, Para-menthane-diol (PMD), or 1-undecanone
    • Wearing loose-fitting long-sleeved shirts and pants
    • Treating clothing and gear with permethrin (an insecticide that kills or repels mosquitoes)
    • Taking steps to control mosquitoes by keeping windows and doors shut and ensuring screens have no holes, emptying items that hold water, like vases and flowerpot saucers, once a week, treating outdoor areas using larvicides for large containers of water not used for drinking that cannot be covered or dumped out, spraying outdoor patio furniture or garages with insect spray where mosquitoes rest, and always following label instructions

    Anyone who thinks they have been infected or are experiencing symptoms is asked to call a local health care provider.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Charlotte, Mecklenburg County to offer free A/C units to eligible residents

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    Eligible residents will be able to claim a free air conditioning unit thanks to a partnership between the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation.

    What You Need To Know

    •  The City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Parks and Recreation have partnered to provide eligible residents free air conditioning units

    •  To be eligible, officials say residents must be at or below 60% of the area median income level

    •  Eligible residents must complete an application for the units, which will be available for pickup on Thursday, Aug. 28


    The units will be available on Thursday, Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

    • Eastway Recreation Center located at 3150 Eastway Park Drive
    • Bette Rae Thomas Recreation Center located at 2921 Tuckaseegee Road

    Residents at or below 60% of the area median income can take part, according to a release.

    Those eligible can apply by clicking here. A valid photo ID will be required at pickup.

    Officials say applicants will be asked to share their address, whether they rent or own their home, and the type of home they live in, such as a multifamily apartment or single-family home, when filling out the application.

    The information will be only be used to help the city better understand community cooling needs and plan for future programming, officials said. No other data will be kept.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • NASCAR’s playoffs begin with no clear favorite

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Nobody cheered Ryan Blaney louder to win NASCAR’s regular-season finale than Alex Bowman, who vowed to buy Blaney 7 million beers for the Daytona victory that saved Bowman’s spot in the playoffs.

    Bowman had wrecked out at Daytona very early Saturday night and had to watch on television as Blaney won a four-wide race across the finish line to stop a gaggle of long shot drivers from snagging Bowman’s spot in the 16-driver field.

    His relief was a contrast to the frustration shown by Tyler Reddick, last year’s regular-season champion, who limped into the playoffs this year. Like Bowman, he also wrecked early, but his points total was better, so once Bowman was out of the race, Reddick was locked in.

    But his 23XI team heads into the playoffs in a slump, a year after making it all the way to NASCAR’s championship-deciding season finale, and Reddick hasn’t had the consistency it will take to race again for the Cup title. Who has?

    Well, no single team has emerged as the favorite as NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway for Sunday’s playoff opener. Kyle Larson is the top seed, just ahead of regular-season champion William Byron.

    Lurking right behind the Hendrick Motorsports teammates is Denny Hamlin, one of only two drivers with a Cup Series-high four wins this season. There are two first-time playoff participants in the field, including rookie Shane van Gisbergen, who dominated street and road courses to match Hamlin with four wins.

    The front of the pack

    Larson is the top seed but hasn’t won a race since early May, before he ran the Indianapolis 500, when his Kansas victory gave him three wins in seven races.

    It’s been up and down since, but Larson starts the playoffs coming off back-to-back six-place finishes.

    Byron has two wins, including the Daytona 500, and hasn’t ranked lower than second the entire season. He is trying to make it to the championship race for a fourth consecutive year.

    Hamlin does have four wins but is coming off a bad night in Daytona: His car was damaged in an early crash and he finished 25th, dropping from third to sixth in the season standings — which cost him five playoff points, the equivalent of a victory.

    Hamlin has never won a Cup title and hasn’t even made it to the championship four since 2021. He’ll try to get there this year at the same time as 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns with Michael Jordan, fights NASCAR in federal court over antitrust claims. The two sides are due in court Thursday, four days before the playoff opener.

    Blaney’s victory at Daytona boosted him to fourth in the playoff seedings and gave him the momentum to potentially be considered the favorite. Team Penske gets hot this time of year and has won three consecutive championships with Blaney’s title in 2023 sandwiched between a pair of Joey Logano triumphs.

    Logano is seeded a distant 12th, but as NASCAR’s only active three-time champion, he can’t be counted out.

    Drivers in the middle

    Christopher Bell is the fifth seed and his three wins are tied with Larson, but he won three straight after the season-opening Daytona 500 and hasn’t been to victory lane since March 9 at Phoenix.

    Van Gisbergen is seeded sixth for his playoff debut based on four victories, all on street or road courses. If he can make it out of the first round, the New Zealander could be a spoiler — the hybrid road course/oval Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway is in the second round and a win there would vault van Gisbergen into the final eight.

    Chase Elliott is the seventh seed, but the 2020 champion needs to start winning. His victory at home track Atlanta is his lone win this season and only one of two victories since 2022 — the last time he made it to the championship four.

    One win club

    Elliott is the highest-seeded driver among eight who made it into the playoffs with a single victory this season. The group includes Bubba Wallace, who won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make the playoffs for just the second time in his career.

    Austin Dillon earned a berth with his victory at Richmond this month, but Richard Childress Racing hasn’t shown to be a consistent contender and he enters the playoffs as the 15th seed.

    Austin Cindric won at Talladega Superspeedway to put all three Team Penske cars in the playoffs, but Cindric has only one top-five finish since that victory 16 races ago.

    Ross Chastain joins teammate van Gisbergen in the playoffs to put two Trackhouse Racing entries in the field. He won the Coca-Cola 600 in May but has just three top-10 finishes since.

    Josh Berry makes his playoff debut with Wood Brothers Racing because of his early season victory at Las Vegas. His performance picked up in the final two weeks of the regular season, and he heads into the playoffs with consecutive top-10 finishes. He’s the 13th seed.

    Reddick and Bowman are the only two drivers in the playoff field without a win this season.

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    Associated Press

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  • NASCAR’s playoffs begin with no clear favorite

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Nobody cheered Ryan Blaney louder to win NASCAR’s regular-season finale than Alex Bowman, who vowed to buy Blaney 7 million beers for the Daytona victory that saved Bowman’s spot in the playoffs.

    Bowman had wrecked out at Daytona very early Saturday night and had to watch on television as Blaney won a four-wide race across the finish line to stop a gaggle of long shot drivers from snagging Bowman’s spot in the 16-driver field.

    His relief was a contrast to the frustration shown by Tyler Reddick, last year’s regular-season champion, who limped into the playoffs this year. Like Bowman, he also wrecked early, but his points total was better, so once Bowman was out of the race, Reddick was locked in.

    But his 23XI team heads into the playoffs in a slump, a year after making it all the way to NASCAR’s championship-deciding season finale, and Reddick hasn’t had the consistency it will take to race again for the Cup title. Who has?

    Well, no single team has emerged as the favorite as NASCAR heads to Darlington Raceway for Sunday’s playoff opener. Kyle Larson is the top seed, just ahead of regular-season champion William Byron.

    Lurking right behind the Hendrick Motorsports teammates is Denny Hamlin, one of only two drivers with a Cup Series-high four wins this season. There are two first-time playoff participants in the field, including rookie Shane van Gisbergen, who dominated street and road courses to match Hamlin with four wins.

    The front of the pack

    Larson is the top seed but hasn’t won a race since early May, before he ran the Indianapolis 500, when his Kansas victory gave him three wins in seven races.

    It’s been up and down since, but Larson starts the playoffs coming off back-to-back six-place finishes.

    Byron has two wins, including the Daytona 500, and hasn’t ranked lower than second the entire season. He is trying to make it to the championship race for a fourth consecutive year.

    Hamlin does have four wins but is coming off a bad night in Daytona: His car was damaged in an early crash and he finished 25th, dropping from third to sixth in the season standings — which cost him five playoff points, the equivalent of a victory.

    Hamlin has never won a Cup title and hasn’t even made it to the championship four since 2021. He’ll try to get there this year at the same time as 23XI Racing, the team he co-owns with Michael Jordan, fights NASCAR in federal court over antitrust claims. The two sides are due in court Thursday, four days before the playoff opener.

    Blaney’s victory at Daytona boosted him to fourth in the playoff seedings and gave him the momentum to potentially be considered the favorite. Team Penske gets hot this time of year and has won three consecutive championships with Blaney’s title in 2023 sandwiched between a pair of Joey Logano triumphs.

    Logano is seeded a distant 12th, but as NASCAR’s only active three-time champion, he can’t be counted out.

    Drivers in the middle

    Christopher Bell is the fifth seed and his three wins are tied with Larson, but he won three straight after the season-opening Daytona 500 and hasn’t been to victory lane since March 9 at Phoenix.

    Van Gisbergen is seeded sixth for his playoff debut based on four victories, all on street or road courses. If he can make it out of the first round, the New Zealander could be a spoiler — the hybrid road course/oval Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway is in the second round and a win there would vault van Gisbergen into the final eight.

    Chase Elliott is the seventh seed, but the 2020 champion needs to start winning. His victory at home track Atlanta is his lone win this season and only one of two victories since 2022 — the last time he made it to the championship four.

    One win club

    Elliott is the highest-seeded driver among eight who made it into the playoffs with a single victory this season. The group includes Bubba Wallace, who won at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to make the playoffs for just the second time in his career.

    Austin Dillon earned a berth with his victory at Richmond this month, but Richard Childress Racing hasn’t shown to be a consistent contender and he enters the playoffs as the 15th seed.

    Austin Cindric won at Talladega Superspeedway to put all three Team Penske cars in the playoffs, but Cindric has only one top-five finish since that victory 16 races ago.

    Ross Chastain joins teammate van Gisbergen in the playoffs to put two Trackhouse Racing entries in the field. He won the Coca-Cola 600 in May but has just three top-10 finishes since.

    Josh Berry makes his playoff debut with Wood Brothers Racing because of his early season victory at Las Vegas. His performance picked up in the final two weeks of the regular season, and he heads into the playoffs with consecutive top-10 finishes. He’s the 13th seed.

    Reddick and Bowman are the only two drivers in the playoff field without a win this season.

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    Associated Press

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  • New speeding cameras aim to make school zones safer

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    Starting this fall, cities and counties across North Carolina will be allowed to install speed cameras in school zones.

    Senate Bill 391 includes a new transportation law aimed at improving road safety. 

    Cities and counties across the state will be able to install the new camera systems beginning Oct. 1.

    Here’s how it works:

    • A camera installed around the school zone could take a picture of your vehicle if caught speeding
    • The ticket would include the date, time and speed, and be signed by an officer
    • A flat fine of $250 would be imposed, but would not add any points to your license
    • All camera zones will be required to post clear warning signs within a thousand feet
    • Violators will have 30 days to pay or appeal the ticket
    • Anyone who chooses not to pay will incur a $50 late fee, and/or may not be able to renew vehicle registration until it’s paid

    The bill was approved in June by both the North Carolina House, and Senate. Gov. Josh Stein signed the bill into law on July 1.

    You can find more information on SB-391 by clicking here.

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Two areas to watch for tropical development in the Atlantic

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    Erin is now an extra-tropical cyclone as it moves through the North Atlantic.

    Elsewhere, we’re watching two other areas of interest in the Atlantic with development potential in the coming days.

    What You Need To Know

    • Two disturbances are being watched, one with high chances to develop

    • There is no immediate concern for the U.S.

    • The next name on the list is Fernand

    A tropical depression or storm could form this weekend southeast of Bermuda as the system turns north in the Atlantic. It has high odds (90%) to develop over the next couple of days.

    Another tropical wave that emerged off the African coast will continue to move westward with with much lower odds for tropical development. Conditions will be more favorable once it reaches the Caribbean Sea.

    Neither of these disturbances pose a threat to the U.S. right now.

    August is one of the busier months in the hurricane season, so activity will likely pick up in the coming weeks. The next name on the list is Fernand.

    More Storm Season Resources

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

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Tropical Storm Fernand forms in the Atlantic

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    Tropical Storm Fernand formed in the western Atlantic on Saturday afternoon. It’s the sixth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fernand has formed in the western Atlantic

    • It’s a tropical storm with max winds of 40 mph

    • It’s not expected to impact the U.S.


    Fernand has maximum winds of 40 mph and is moving north at 15 mph. It’s expected maintain a north and northeast trajectory over the next few days.

    It will encounter favorable conditions to strengthen, and could possibly becoming a category one hurricane, before becoming post-tropical.

    It’s likely that is passes near Bermuda, and Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings could be issued by Sunday.


    Forecast models keep Fernand well off the U.S. east coast, impacting Bermuda and then accelerating into the north Atlantic by Tuesday.

    You can track the rest of the tropics here. 

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

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Tropical Storm Fernand forms in the Atlantic

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    Tropical Storm Fernand formed in the western Atlantic on Saturday afternoon. It’s the sixth named storm of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

    What You Need To Know

    • Fernand has formed in the western Atlantic

    • It’s a tropical storm with max winds of 40 mph

    • It’s not expected to impact the U.S.


    Fernand has maximum winds of 40 mph and is moving north at 15 mph. It’s expected maintain a north and northeast trajectory over the next few days.

    It will encounter favorable conditions to strengthen, and could possibly becoming a category one hurricane, before becoming post-tropical.

    It’s likely that is passes near Bermuda, and Tropical Storm Watches or Warnings could be issued by Sunday.


    Forecast models keep Fernand well off the U.S. east coast, impacting Bermuda and then accelerating into the north Atlantic by Tuesday.

    You can track the rest of the tropics here. 

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

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Photos: 2025 back-to-school photo submissions

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    BY

    Daniel Gray

    North Carolina


    PUBLISHED 10:30 AM ET Aug. 22, 2025
    PUBLISHED 10:30 AM EDT Aug. 22, 2025

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    Daniel Gray

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  • Eliminating the stigma: Food program ensures all Durham students get fed

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    Durham Public Schools has qualified for the second year of the Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP.

    When enough students are directly certified for free meal benefits, the entire school qualifies for the CEP option, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

    What You Need To Know

    • Durham Public Schools is among the few districts in the state taking part in the Community Eligibility Provision

    • School officials stated that the county qualified due to the percentage of students in the Durham School District on SNAP, food benefits, and facing homelessness

    • Each student can have one breakfast and a lunch at no cost to the family each day

    • If nothing changes from a funding standpoint, the program is expected to run through 2030


    The school district is among a few in the state with county-wide participation.

    School officials stated that the county qualified due to the percentage of students using SNAP, food benefits, and facing homelessness.

    Parents aren’t required to fill out applications for the free or reduced-priced meals.

    Each student can have one breakfast and a lunch at no cost to the family each day.

    County health and school officials say they’re thankful this is one less thing for struggling families to worry about, and students can focus less on hunger and more on their schoolwork.

    “It’s important for people to understand this isn’t just about free lunch for kids. It’s about taking care of their emotional needs,” James Keaton, director of school nutrition services for Durham Public Schools, said. “It’s taking care of the family. It’s being able to take care of the whole community. And it just looks good for people to be able to say, ‘We care enough about the kids to do what’s right.’”

    And for Keaton, this issue hits even closer to home, as he says he, too, benefited from a similar program.

    “It’s part of my past. I was one of the free reduced kids,“ Keaton said. “When I was a kid, they would actually put you out of your classroom 30 minutes before lunch, and we would eat our lunch, and then all the other kids, while they were eating lunch, we had to scrape trays, wash tables, empty milk cartons. We had to earn our lunch.”

    He said it’s a stigma no child should have to deal with, and with this program, there’s no way to single any one student out.

    “With a lot of regulations changing, we’re hoping that CEP is one of the things that doesn’t get cut very deeply because it’s so important for kids to have those meals,” he said.

    If nothing changes from a funding standpoint, he said the program is expected to run through 2030.

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    Daniel Gray

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  • Predator used Robux to lure 10-year-old, lawsuit says

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    GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — A High Point mother sued Roblox Corporation, claiming the gaming platform enabled the sexual exploitation of her 10-year-old daughter.

    What You Need To Know

    • A High Point mother says the Roblox gaming platform enabled the sexual exploitation of her young daughter

    • She filed a lawsuit in Guilford County Superior Court

    • The lawsuit claims Roblox misled parents about the platform’s safety, arguing its design makes children “easy and accessible prey” for predators

    • Spectrum News 1 was denied an interview with the family pursing the lawsuit


    Filed in Guilford County Superior Court, the lawsuit alleges Roblox created a “breeding ground for predators” and failed to protect children from online exploitation. The girl, identified as Jane Doe, was allegedly targeted by an adult predator on Roblox who posed as a peer.

    According to the complaint, the predator gained the child’s trust, then manipulated her into sending sexually explicit images in exchange for Robux, the platform’s virtual currency used for in-game purchases.

    “This case against Roblox is a terrifying reminder of the world we live in where capitalist greed far outweighs humanity,” said Matthew Dolman, principal of Dolman Law Group. “There have never been sufficient safety measures and protocols in place, and children are suffering unimaginably. With Roblox, evil individuals have another literal bargaining chip to play out their unthinkable fantasies with impressionable children.”

    The lawsuit claims Roblox misled parents about the platform’s safety, arguing its design makes children “easy and accessible prey” for predators. Dolman Law Group pointed to disturbing Roblox experiences with titles such as “Diddy Party,” “Survive Diddy” and “Escape to Epstein Island.”

    The lawsuit is seeking unspecified damages for “life-altering injuries,” including severe mental health struggles, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, depression and anxiety. The lawsuit states she is in therapy to cope with the trauma.

    Dolman Law Group said it is preparing to represent additional families in similar lawsuits nationwide.

    Spectrum News 1 requested an interview with those families. The law firm declined and said: “Unfortunately we have to refrain from any interviews with survivors/parents, even anonymously, to protect their identities/mental health given the trauma.”

    However, they did offer an opportunity to interview members of the law firm.

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    Jordan Kudisch

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  • Humpy Wheeler, longtime president and GM of Charlotte Motor Speedway, has died

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    Howard Augustine “Humpy” Wheeler Jr., longtime president and general manager of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, died Wednesday at the age of 86, according to a release.

    What You Need To Know

    •  H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler died Wednesday at the age of 86

    •  Charlotte Motor Speedway said in a release that Wheeler died peacefully of natural causes, surrounded by family

    •  Wheeler, longtime president and general manager of the speedway, was hired in 1975 by Speedway Motorsports founder Bruton Smith. He retired in 2008


    The announcement released Thursday morning said Wheeler was surrounded by his loving family when he died peacefully of natural causes.

    Charlotte Motor Speedway released the following statement on Wheeler’s death:

    “Charlotte Motor Speedway was blessed to have a leader in Humpy Wheeler who can only be described as ONE of a kind.

    For more than 30 years, Humpy was a promoter’s promoter at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Alongside our founder Bruton Smith, Humpy pushed the speedway to new and greater heights – establishing the famed 1.5-mile superspeedway as not only the most innovative facility in NASCAR for fan, partner and competitor amenities, but also one of the most progressive in all of sports.

    Humpy’s engaging smile and flair for promotion were legendary, and his impact on every stakeholder in motorsports will be long-lasting. Often described as the “P.T. Barnum of motorsports,” Humpy not only made his mark with publicity, but also with a laser-focus toward the fans. He would often tell his staff to pay attention to “the three Ts – tickets, traffic and toilets” in order to ensure fans have the best possible experience. He would also say it was our job to put a little “technicolor in people’s black-and-white lives.”

    While the motorsports world has lost an icon, the legacy H.A. “Humpy” Wheeler created by building and promoting remarkable events at Charlotte Motor Speedway will continue for generations to come.”

    Wheeler joined Speedway Motorsports in 1975 after being hired by founder Bruton Smith, and oversaw operations at the speedway until his retirement in 2008.

    You can read Wheeler’s full obituary by clicking here.

    The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Wheeler’s name to the Belmont Abbey College Motorsports Management Progam. Wheeler helped launch the program over 20 years ago to help “prepare young professionals for business, management and marketing roles across the industry,” a release said.

    Donations to the program can be made here:

    Belmont Abbey College Motorsport Management Program
    Office of College Relations
    100 Belmont-Mt. Holly Road
    Belmont, NC 28012
    collegerelations@bac.edu

     

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Tropical development chances increase for late week

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    Hurrricane Erin is expected to bring life-threatening surf and dangerous rip currents along the U.S. East Coast this week. 

    We’re watching three other areas of interest in the central and eastern Atlantic behind Erin with development potential in the coming days.

    What You Need To Know

    • Three disturbances are being watched, one with high chances to develop

    • Conditions will become more favorable later this week

    • The next name on the list is Fernand

    A tropical wave in the central tropical Atlantic is moving westward producing some disorganized showers and storms. Conditions will become more favorable for development in the next couple days.

    A tropical depression could form late this week or this weekend as the system continues to move westward near the Leeward Islands. It has high odds (70%) to develop this week.

    Another tropical wave that has emerged off the African coast will continue to move westward with medium odds for tropical development. A short-lived tropical depression could form by late week into the weekend, but conditions will become unfavorable after that.

    An area of low pressure in the central tropical Atlantic has low odds for development over the next seven days.

    Neither of these disturbances pose a threat to the U.S. right now.

    August is one of the busier months in the hurricane season, so activity will likely pick up in the coming weeks. The next name on the list is Fernand.

    More Storm Season Resources

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

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    Spectrum News Weather Staff

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  • Hurricane Erin’s high tides, rough waves threaten sea turtle nests on NC beaches

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    The rough surf and high tides from Hurricane Erin are threatening sea turtle nests on North Carolina’s beaches, according to groups tasked with monitoring the nests.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Strong surf and high tides from Hurricane Erin threaten sea turtle nests

    •  Endangered sea turtles crawl onto beaches to lay their eggs in the summer

    •  Groups on Topsail Island, Emerald Isle and Oak Island reported lost nests

    •  Other beaches along the coast likely saw turtle nests damaged or destroyed in the storm



    Sea turtles crawl up onto the beach to lay their eggs in the summer. Loggerhead turtles are the most common species seen in North Carolina, according to North Carolina Aquariums. But green, hawksbill, Kemp’s ridley and leatherback turtles will also nest on North Carolina beaches. 

    All sea turtle species are listed as endangered.

    “Eggs are able to handle some ocean over wash. In some cases over wash has a positive effect and keeps nests from lethal high temperatures. Nests underwater, eggs sitting in water for a sustained period, is something else, and usually not survivable,” The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center said.

    “We have to trust that the millions of years of biological strategy to deposit a few hundred eggs per turtle, into the sand every summer, can sustain some losses, as occur every nesting season around the globe,” the turtle rescue group on Topsail Island said on Facebook.

    Lost nests were reported on other beaches.

    “Sadly we are aware of the state of our sea turtle nests. Please remember that it is illegal to take eggs,” Emerald Isle Sea Turtle Patrol said on social media.

    The turtle rescue group on Oak Island also reported at least two nests lost there.

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    Charles Duncan

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  • NFL stars under pressure: Which players have the most to prove this season?

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    The pressure is on several big-name NFL players as they enter a season that will go a long way toward determining their playing futures — and possibly that of their teams.

    New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields is getting another chance as a starter on his third team in five years, this time looking to help end the league’s longest active playoff drought at 14 seasons.

    Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence got a huge payday before last season — a five-year, $275 million contract extension, including $142 million guaranteed — but struggled with injury and inconsistency as the Jaguars missed the postseason.

    Young quarterbacks such as Minnesota’s J.J. McCarthy, Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson, Chicago’s Caleb Williams and Carolina’s Bryce Young also are in the spotlight. But it’s not only the signal-callers.

    Buffalo running back James Cook, San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, Dallas wide receiver George Pickens, Atlanta tight end Kyle Pitts and New England defensive lineman Milton Williams are among a handful of NFL stars with something to prove because of injuries, mediocre play or needing to justify big contracts.

    Bryce Young, QB, Panthers

    The No. 1 overall pick in 2023 had the expected up-and-down struggles of a rookie QB but was benched last season in favor of Andy Dalton after just two games. Young regained the starting role after five games when Dalton went down with an injury and finished on a positive note with seven TD passes and no INTs with three rushing scores in his final three games, including two overtime wins. He needs to build on that to erase any doubt the Panthers have about their long-term plans at quarterback.

    Christian McCaffrey, RB, 49ers

    The 2023 AP Offensive Player of the Year has proven himself before, bouncing back from injuries to become a dominant playmaker. McCaffrey will need to do it again for the 49ers, and this time is coming off a season marred by knee and Achilles tendon issues. And, he’s 29, an age when many running backs start to decline. McCaffrey has looked like himself during the summer and another rebound season could help the 49ers get back to the playoffs.

    James Cook, RB, Bills

    The star running back ended his contract standoff last Wednesday by signing a four-year deal that will pay him $48 million — including $30 million in guaranteed money. Cook tied for the NFL lead with 16 touchdown runs last season, a breakout year for the 2022 second-rounder out of Georgia. He now must live up to that lofty contract while helping Josh Allen make Buffalo’s offense roll.

    Justin Fields, QB, Jets

    Fields was a first-rounder in 2021 by Chicago, which hoped he was the Bears’ franchise quarterback. He was gone after just three seasons, sent to Pittsburgh — where he went 4-2 for an injured Russell Wilson before heading to the bench for the veteran. He now is replacing Aaron Rodgers with the Jets, who signed him to a two-year, $40 million deal, installed him as their starter and believe his dual-threat playmaking ability is a perfect fit for their new-look offense.

    Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jaguars

    The No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft went to the Pro Bowl as an alternate in his second season with a breakout year, but he hasn’t been able to match that success. Lawrence played in only 10 games last season because of a shoulder injury and then a concussion. He is playing for a new coach in Liam Coen and is still considered a potential franchise quarterback. Two-way rookie sensation Travis Hunter should help, but Lawrence’s health and consistency are the key to the Jaguars’ success on offense.

    J.J. McCarthy, QB, Vikings

    The 10th overall pick in last year’s draft very well could’ve been Minnesota’s starter as a rookie if not for a knee injury in the preseason opener that sidelined him the rest of the season. Sam Darnold stepped in and had the best year of his career. But the Vikings decided to not re-sign Darnold, who signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with Seattle. Minnesota has turned its offense over to McCarthy, who needs to reward their faith in him by being a capable leader for a playoff-ready team.

    George Pickens, WR, Cowboys

    In May, Dallas acquired the 2022 second-round pick from Pittsburgh to be its No. 2 receiver and complement CeeDee Lamb as Dak Prescott’s primary options in the passing game. Pickens was a playmaker for the Steelers, but not enough — with just one season of 60 or more catches and 1,000 yards receiving, both in 2023. His frustration over a lack of targets, penalties and sideline outbursts also helped make his stay in Pittsburgh short.

    Kyle Pitts, TE, Falcons

    Pitts came to Atlanta as the highest-selected tight end in NFL draft history at No. 4 overall. His mix of speed, size and physicality had the Falcons daydreaming of mismatches all over the field. Instead, Pitts has failed to be that consistently dominant force. He has topped 60 catches and 1,000 yards receiving just once, both in his first season. Pitts is in the final year of his rookie contract.

    Brock Purdy, QB, 49ers

    No longer just a feel-good NFL story after he was “Mr. Irrelevant” as the final pick in the 2022 draft, Purdy already has played in a Super Bowl. Some critics have attributed Purdy’s success to him simply being a product of coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense. The 49ers see him as much more, though, and rewarded him with a five-year $265 million contract extension in May. After his numbers dropped a bit in 2024, getting McCaffrey and eventually wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk back from injuries should help Purdy.

    Anthony Richardson, QB, Colts

    Richardson has been an enigma on the field since being selected fourth overall in 2023. He played in only four games as a rookie because of a sprained shoulder and started just 11 last season while finishing with an NFL-worst 47.7% completion rate. Richardson missed four games with injuries and also was benched for two in favor of Joe Flacco in the middle of the season after asking out of a game because of fatigue. Richardson now will have to overcome yet another setback: He’ll start this season as a backup after coach Shane Steichen declared Daniel Jones his starter.

    Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Giants

    The pass rusher’s name came up in trade rumors during the offseason, particularly after the Giants drafted Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third overall pick. New York insisted it wanted to keep Thibodeaux — the Giants picked up his fifth-year contract option — to complement a solid pass rush rotation. Thibodeaux, a first-rounder in 2022, is coming off a season with just 5 1/2 sacks but insists his goal entering every year is to set the single-season record.

    Caleb Williams, QB, Bears

    The first overall pick last year is entering only his second NFL season, but all eyes have been on him in Chicago with new coach Ben Johnson taking over. Williams put up solid numbers as a rookie with 3,541 yards passing, 20 TDs and only six interceptions. But he took way too many sacks — a league-high 68. Some of the blame was on the offensive line, which has been upgraded, but Williams also routinely held the ball too long.

    Milton Williams, DL, Patriots

    Williams was a third-round pick by Philadelphia in 2021 and worked his way into being a force for the Eagles on their vaunted D-line. After Fletcher Cox retired following the 2023 season, Williams saw increased snaps and capped a breakout year by taking down Patrick Mahomes twice — including a strip-sack and fumble recovery in the Super Bowl win over Kansas City. He signed a four-year, $104 million contract with New England in the offseason, making his annual salary the highest ever for a Patriots player.

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    Associated Press

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