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ERWIN, N.C. — A school bus carrying six students flipped over In Harnett County Monday morning, according to Natalie Tucker Ferrell with Harnett County Schools.
The bus was originally headed to Harnett County Early College, Ferrell said. No one was hurt, she said.
Nine students and two adults were injured when a school bus in Burke County ran off the road and flipped last week, as reported by the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
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Daniel Gray
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Strong storms moved through North Carolina Thursday, taking down trees and power lines from the coast to the foothills.
Officials with the National Weather Service plan to survey possible tornado damage in Rowan, Wilkies and possibly Surry counties Friday. Storms there damaged buildings and took down trees.
Wind gusts in Raleigh hit 54 mph. The winds were stronger along the coast, where Jacksonville recorded top gusts at 60 mph.
In parts of western North Carolina, people saw more that two inches of rain over 24 hours. Foscoe, not far from Boone, recorded 3.69 inches of rain. Seven Devils had 2.78 inches of rain and Blowing Rock recorded 2.69 inches.
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Charles Duncan
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A Burke County school bus ran off the road and flipped Tuesday morning, injuring the nine students and two adults on board, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.
The wreck happened at about 7:25 a.m. on Johnson Bridge Road near Old NC 10 in Hildebran, just west of Hickory.
“The driver was traveling west on Johnson Bridge Road, lost control, ran off the right side of the road, struck a ditch, and overturned. The bus came to rest on its top,” a Highway Patrol spokesman said in a news release.
The children were taken to hospitals in the area with injuries described as “non-life-threatening,” officials said. The bus driver also went to the hospital with minor injuries.
The other adult on the bus “became partially entrapped” and had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital in Charlotte. That adult is listed in serious condition, according to the Highway Patrol.
The bus is for students with handicaps and serves several schools in Burke County, the Highway Patrol spokesman said.
Police cited the driver for “failure to maintain lane control,” officials said.
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Charles Duncan
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On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will cast a shadow of totality across parts of 15 states. Check out this list of live cameras and watch the skies darken as they enter totality.
1:34 p.m. CT: San Antonio (TxDOT)
1:36-1:37 p.m. CT: Austin (TxDOT)
1:36 p.m. CT: Kyle
1:38-1:42 p.m. CT: Waco (TxDOT)
1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas (TxDOT)
1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas skyline (EarthCam)
1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas/Reunion Tower (EarthCam)
1:40-1:44 p.m. CT: Dallas Eye (Earthcam)
1:42-1:46 p.m. CT: Greenville
1:44-1:46 p.m. CT: Big Sandy
1:49-1:53 p.m. CT: Hot Springs (Instacam)
1:50-1:54 p.m. CT: Russellville (Angelcam)
1:59-2:04 p.m. CT: Marion (City of Marion)
2:00-2:02 p.m. CT: Paducah (WMVision)
3:05-3:09 p.m. ET: Bloomington (Indiana University)
3:06-3:10 p.m. ET: Carmel
3:06-3:10 p.m. ET: Carmel – Carter Green Amphitheater
3:07-3:11 p.m. ET: Nashville (EarthCam)
3:09-3:13 p.m. ET: Troy (TroyOhio.gov)
3:10-3:14 p.m. ET: Deshler
3:12-3:16 p.m. ET: Cedar Point (Cedar Point)
3:13-3:14 p.m. ET: Apple Valley Lake
3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Lorain
3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Cleveland
3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Cleveland (EarthCam)
3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Cleveland Public Square (EarthCam)
3:13-3:17 p.m. ET: Edgewater Park (Cleveland Metro Parks)
3:14-3:18 p.m. ET: Fairport Harbor (Angelcam)
3:15-3:18 p.m. ET: Geneva-on-the-Lake
3:16-3:20 p.m. ET: Erie (Epic Web Studios)
3:16-3:20 p.m. ET: North East (east view)
3:16-3:20 p.m. ET: North East (west view)
3:18-3:21 p.m. ET: Sunset Bay (Lake Erie Sunset Bay Live Cams)
3:18-3:22 p.m. ET: Niagara Falls (Maid of the Mist)
3:18-3:22 p.m. ET: Niagara Falls
3:18-3:22 p.m. ET: Buffalo
3:20-3:24 p.m. ET: Fairport on the Erie Canal (Village of Fairport)
3:22-3:26 p.m. ET: Watertown
3:22-3:26 p.m. ET: Watertown
3:22-3:26 p.m. ET: Sackets Harbor
3:23-3:24 p.m. ET: Syracuse (ArmoryCam.com)
3:23-3:24 p.m. ET: Syracuse (Syracuse Mets)
3:23-3:26 p.m. ET: St. Lawrence County
3:26-3:29 p.m. ET: Colchester
3:26-3:29 p.m. ET: Mallets Bay
3:26-3:29 p.m. ET: Burlington (Hazecam)
3:27-3:29 p.m. ET: Stowe (EarthCam)
3:27-3:29 p.m. ET: Duxbury (National Life Group)
3:30-3:33 p.m. ET: Rockwood
3:31-3:34 p.m. ET: Mt. Katahdin
3:31-3:34 p.m. ET: Mt. Katahdin
3:32-3:35 p.m. ET: Presque Isle (crownofmaine.com)
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Spectrum News Weather Staff
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The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season will follow up on a busy 2023 season. The 2023 season totaled 20 named storms, with 7 of those becoming hurricanes and 3 of those 7 becoming major (Category 3 or greater) hurricanes.
Of those hurricanes, Hurricane Idalia was the only hurricane that made landfall in the U.S. last year. It was a Category 3 hurricane with max winds of 125 mph when it moved inland in Keaton Beach, Fla. on Aug. 30.
The other two named storms that made landfall in U.S. were Harold and Ophelia. Tropical Storm Harold made landfall on Padre Island, Texas on Aug. 22 and Tropical Storm Ophelia made landfall near Emerald Isle, N.C. on Sept. 23.
With the expected return of La Niña conditions, forecasts for the upcoming season call for above-normal activity. Colorado State University’s outlook is forecasting the highest amount of storms since it began issuing them in 1995.
Along with the likely transition to La Niña conditions, record-warm tropical and eastern Atlantic sea surface temperatures are a primary factor in the 2024 outlook. Click here for a breakdown of the 2024 Hurricane Season outlook.
A storm gets named when it achieves tropical storm status (winds of 39 mph or higher). It becomes a hurricane when winds reach 74 mph, but keeps the same name. In meteorology, any tropical storm or greater is referred to as a tropical cyclone.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) creates lists of names and cycles each list every six years. Each list contains 21 names, alternating between male and female names. A name may be retired if it is deemed too destructive by the WMO and they would add a new name to the list.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), hundreds of years ago, tropical cyclones were named after Saint’s Day, which occurred nearest to the day of the storm. Consider, “Hurricane Santa Ana,” a violent storm that hit Puerto Rico on July 26, 1825.
Before 1950, storms were noted by their latitude and longitude. This proved problematic when trying to relay information to the public. It was confusing, so meteorologists streamlined this process using the phonetic alphabet to name the storms (Able, Baker, Charlie, etc.).
Starting in 1953, storms were given female names. Rumor has it that a member of the committee was angry at his wife and wanted to name a storm after her.
Whether that’s true, Alice was the first named storm of the 1953 season. All-female names continued until 1979, when male names were added to alternate within the list.
Prior to 2021, after the 21 names were exhausted, the Greek alphabet was used. 2005 and 2020 were the only two seasons to feature the Greek alphabet.
However, this proved difficult for several reasons, including what would happen after a storm was so destructive the name should be retired, as was the case for Eta and Iota in 2020. Additionally, coronavirus variants use Greek letters, adding to possible confusion.
To account for these issues, the WMO created a supplemental names list. This list featured another 21 names from A to W that alternate male and female names. This list will remain the same each year, only swapping out a name if it is retired.
Now is the time to reevaluate your hurricane preparedness kit. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, your kit should include, at a minimum:
Depending on your family’s requirements, you may need to include medical care items, baby supplies, pet supplies, and other things, such as extra car and house keys.
Additional supplies might include towels, plastic sheeting, duct tape, scissors, and work gloves.
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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Short-term health insurance companies will no longer be able to deny coverage for preexisting conditions and take advantage of other loopholes in the Affordable Care Act under new rules the Biden administration proposed Thursday.
“Some types of insurance plans, like short-term limited-duration insurance, don’t provide comprehensive coverage,” White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden, said Wednesday during a briefing about the new rules. “Importantly, they don’t have to comply with critical ACA protections” such as covering preexisting conditions.
Short-term insurance plans are intended to provide temporary coverage to people as they transition from one source of health insurance to another, Tanden said. As many as 1.9 million people are enrolled in short-term health insurance, according to the White House.
Calling short-term plans “junk insurance,” Tanden said they mislead consumers into thinking they are buying full-coverage health insurance when in reality their coverage is capped or health conditions are not included at all.
The new rule would limit short-term care to no more than four months. Insurance companies will also have to provide clear disclaimers that explain to customers what is and is not covered and provide information on how to buy additional coverage.
People who are currently enrolled in short-term plans will be able to keep that coverage and renew it according to the terms of their current plan. The new rules will take effect in 60 days.
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Susan Carpenter
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As March Madness rages on, this week host Tim Boyum considers the chaos with college athletics. The NCAA is dealing with conference realignment, adjusting to Name, Image and Likeness, or NIL, laws and lawsuits by athletes.
It’s a turbulent but fascinating time and politics has a big role in it too as Congress contemplates intervening. Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and UNC law professor Barbara Osborne join Tim for the discussion.
Having represented multiple athletes, Orr is a frequent opponent of the NCAA. In his research, Osborne has delved deeply into this matter and explored several interconnected subjects.
About the Podcast
With the speed of the local news cycle, it’s easy to forget that the politicians who represent us and the influencers in our communities are more than just a sound bite. North Carolina’s veteran reporter and anchor, Tim Boyum, loosens his signature bow tie to give listeners a glimpse behind the curtain, showing us who these power players really are and why they do what they do. Through Tim’s candid conversations on “Tying It Together,” his guests reveal their most fascinating life stories, passions, and help all of us get a better grasp on the issues affecting our communities.
Do you have any thoughts or questions for Tim? Weigh in on X with the hashtag #TyingItTogetherNC. Afterward, rate the podcast and leave a review to tell us what you think!
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Spectrum News Staff
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WILMINGTON, N.C. — Andrea Cannistraci is a single mother to Giovanna. Every day after school, Andrea motivates Giovanna on her spelling words, and in return, Giovanna motivates her mom in sports.
“So my daughter has been my biggest cheerleader since day one,” Cannistraci said. “She was about to turn 3 when I first stepped on stage, and she’s been at every show since then. And when I earned my pro card last April, it was actually her birthday weekend.”
Right before Giovanna turned 3, Cannistraci began bodybuilding.
“I had my daughter when I was almost 41 years old and losing the baby weight,” she said. “When you’re in your 40s, it’s really hard… it was supposed to be a one and done to drop the baby weight.”
“I lost 20 pounds and 10% body fat, and I was addicted,” she said. “I trained for nearly five months to go on stage for two minutes, and I wanted to do it again.”
Cannistraci says when she started, she was competing against many athletes who used enhancers.
“I was never one to take any enhancers or drugs, and I found myself on stage next to some very developed muscles of ladies, and it just wasn’t a level playing field for me,” she said.
After moving from California to North Carolina, she found the all-natural committee of the Organization of Competition Bodies, which has its Gains and Glory Natural Bodybuilding Competition today in Wilmington.
The OCB describes itself as a natural bodybuilding organization that aims to provide athletes with a safe, fair, drug-free and family-friendly platform. Participants in competitions must be drug-free and pass polygraph and urine screenings.
Cannistraci is part of the local bodybuilding community promoting the event, which opens at 10 a.m. at the North Front Theatre downtown.
Cannistraci says her biggest motivation in bodybuilding is health and setting an example for her daughter.
“I like to look good…. I live at the beach,” she said. “I have a daughter who’s 8 years old, and I want her to understand that it’s important to take care of your body and to eat healthy.”
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Alex Wilkinson
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WILMINGTON, N.C. — Wilmington Police Department officers go through extensive dry fire training to prepare for firearm use on the job.
Everyday police officers have to be prepared to draw their firearms, and that’s where training, like simulators, come into play.
Originally from Charlotte, Lt. Matt Fox has been with the Wilmington Police Department for the last 24 years.
“Prevention avoidance of force if possible. We don’t want to actually have to use force or hurt anybody,” Fox said.
From being a detective to being a member of the SWAT team, and now as an instructor, he said he’s dreamt of serving his community since he was a boy.
He added, though, he’s also accepted the challenges of the job.
“There are going to be times where we have to use force and it’s unavoidable. But prevention and decision making and then the final component is performance,” Fox said.
On a virtual simulator and at the range, he explained most of the firearms training is actually done without live fire. This dry fire practice is crucial in the development of firearm proficiency, according to Fox.
By the end of the training, the process should be almost involuntary, he said.
“We’re building neural pathways so that the officer can understand and learn all of these complex skills that most people don’t typically think about and own it at an intuitive level,” Lt. Fox said.
During the range session, trainees work on drawing their firearms.
“We want to make sure we’re doing this absolutely safely. No ammo anywhere in sight, but find a place to train and do it from the holster,” Fox said.
Trainees like Travis Shumate know the importance of practice and understanding their firearm since it is so new to many of them.
“Getting the repetitions and being able to kind of have that muscle memory and be able to do it without even thinking,” Shumate said.
Fox hopes the public better understands the difficult situations officers face to protect and serve their communities through proper policies from the department.
There were 60 shootings by law enforcement officers in North Carolina in 2023. There have been 12 shootings by law enforcement officers in North Carolina so far this year.
Spectrum News 1 documented each police shooting and built a new map and database.
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Alex Wilkinson
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Spring is almost here — officially, at least.
The vernal equinox arrives on Tuesday, marking the start of the spring season for the Northern Hemisphere.
But what does that actually mean? Here’s what to know about how we split up the year using the Earth’s orbit.
As the Earth travels around the sun, it does so at an angle.
For most of the year, the Earth’s axis is tilted either toward or away from the sun. That means the sun’s warmth and light fall unequally on the northern and southern halves of the planet.
During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal amount of sunlight.
The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. That’s because on the equinox, day and night last almost the same amount of time — though one may get a few extra minutes, depending on where you are on the planet.
The Northern Hemisphere’s spring — or vernal — equinox can land between March 19 and 21, depending on the year. Its fall – or autumnal — equinox can land between Sept. 21 and 24.
The solstices mark the times during the year when the Earth is at its most extreme tilt toward or away from the sun. This means the hemispheres are getting very different amounts of sunlight — and days and nights are at their most unequal.
During the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the upper half of the earth is tilted in toward the sun, creating the longest day and shortest night of the year. This solstice falls between June 20 and 22.
Meanwhile, at the winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere is leaning away from the sun — leading to the shortest day and longest night of the year. The winter solstice falls between December 20 and 23.
These are just two different ways to carve up the year.
Meteorological seasons are defined by the weather. They break down the year into three-month seasons based on annual temperature cycles. By that calendar, spring starts on March 1, summer on June 1, fall on Sept. 1 and winter on Dec. 1.
Astronomical seasons depend on how the Earth moves around the sun.
Equinoxes mark the start of spring and autumn. Solstices kick off summer and winter.
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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Associated Press
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It’s been a mild start to March across the Eastern U.S., but colder air has moved in and we will see more cooldowns and temperatures swings in the upcoming week.
A cold front pushing across the country has dropped high temperatures up to 10 to 20 degrees below normal for parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley on Monday.
Further south, sub-freezing temperatures in the forecast for tonight have led to Freeze Warnings being issued across the Deep South, stretching from Texas to North Carolina.
Colder air and below normal temperatures follow the cold front to Florida and the Deep South on Tuesday as temperatures rebound quickly across the Central U.S.
An active storm pattern will keep temperature swings in the forecast across the country through the week, with more cold blasts and wintry weather opportunities in the Great Lakes and Northeast through midweek and again this weekend.
Most places east of the Rockies are running warm this month. Average temperatures are well above normal through March 17, with areas across the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Northeast feeling a top-10 warmest March on record so far.
(Iowa Environmental Mesonet)
Meanwhile, the western U.S. has been running cool with below normal temperatures. With the exception of the Northeast and Florida, it is probable that the rest of the U.S. will close out the month with temperatures around or below normal.
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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Allergies are the sixth leading cause of chronic illness in the United States, according to American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.
Nearly 10% of the U.S. population is diagnosed with hay fever each year, especially during the spring months when the pollen count is quite high.
Check out the video above for more on how plants and wind can result in those itchy and watery eyes.
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Meteorologist Nick Merianos
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OCEAN ISLE, N.C. — Dunes represent a natural coastal protection measure. Henry Cooke is trying to revitalize them in Brunswick County, making the beach fronts a buildable space and safer from flooding issues.
“Without an adequate dune system for protection, the town will not issue a permit to build housing,” Cooke said.
Homes are not built on the dunes themselves, but rather near the dune lines. However, the ground isn’t stable enough for construction, according to Cooke, who is working to make a difference on that front.
Dunes are essentially small sand hills, built up to serve as a defensive line against floods from hurricanes and other storms. Many are protected by different laws and ordnances to keep people from damaging them.
Cooke started Dune Doctor LLC as a way to help the beaches he loves. He began this journey to help the dunes after his family lost their real estate business in Brunswick County.
“We were unable to make any kind of profit last year due to two storms back-to-back, which took our entire rental season for an entire year,” Cooke said.
Cooke is now using plants to stabilize the beaches and help keep sand from washing away. He said it’s important to use native plants, including American Beach Grass.
“[It’s] native to North Carolina, and they are pasture grown in a field the same as tobacco or another plant. Just the same. They’re hardy, which makes them hardy and makes them stronger. They’ve already endured the wind and the cold,” Cooke said.
Cooke isn’t the only one trying to revitalize the beaches, however, as many towns across North Carolina are now using dredging, a process that involves pumping sand from the sea and adding it back to the shores to build up the beach.
“Dredging is the other side of it. We work with the sand. They work with the sand, but they’re just in the water, and they move it around a little bit differently, depending on when they depend on water. It’s a much bigger job that they do, but it’s very important, especially in this coast of North Carolina,” Cooke said.
Cooke said his efforts to replant the beaches are just one small piece to revitalizing them. As more dredging projects happen, the extra sand they dig up helps these beaches grow and gives Cooke and his team more to work with.
“It has helped. And I would say with the most recent job of dredging here, we’ve if not doubled, maybe even more, this the width of the entire beach here,” Cooke said. “I was here last year measuring for these plants, and we didn’t have near as much.”
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Spectrum News Staff
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In the past few years, a progressive group in North Carolina seemed to have popped up out of nowhere. This year the nonprofit, Carolina Forward, succeeded in getting two of their Democratic picks through the primaries.
Carolina Forward Executive Director Blair Reeves joins host Tim Boyum this week to understand the origins of the all-volunteer group.
They also discuss the criticism of going after Democrats who vote with Republicans. The two then widen the lens to talk about Carolina Forward’s outlook this November.
About the Podcast
With the speed of the local news cycle, it’s easy to forget that the politicians who represent us and the influencers in our communities are more than just a sound bite. North Carolina’s veteran reporter and anchor, Tim Boyum, loosens his signature bow tie to give listeners a glimpse behind the curtain, showing us who these power players really are and why they do what they do. Through Tim’s candid conversations on “Tying It Together,” his guests reveal their most fascinating life stories, passions, and help all of us get a better grasp on the issues affecting our communities.
Do you have any thoughts or questions for Tim? Weigh in on X with the hashtag #TyingItTogetherNC. Afterward, rate the podcast and leave a review to tell us what you think!
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Spectrum News Staff
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When birds migrate north in the spring, baseball players and fans migrate south to Florida and Arizona every March for spring training.
Not only is spring training an opportunity for MLB teams to get some practice in before a long season, but for fans to escape the cold weather and enjoy some warmth, sunshine and baseball in warmer climates.
Since the late 1800s, MLB teams have sent their players and coaches south to train and practice in a warmer climate to prepare for the season.
Since 2018, MLB has split the league with 15 teams training in Florida and the other 15 in Arizona. The reason for those two locations is pretty straight-forward: the weather.
MLB spreads out most of the teams that train in Florida along the Gulf Coast, with a few teams in south Florida. Average high temperatures in south and central Florida during March hover around the upper 70s and lower 80s.
The Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins play in the two coldest spots as far as March temperatures go, averaging high temperatures in the lower 40s.
Not only do the players and fans get to escape the cold, but Toronto and Minneapolis average around 8 inches of snowfall during March.
Minnesota Twins’ spring home, Fort Myers, has an average high temperature in March almost 40 degrees warmer than Minneapolis, and hasn’t even had a low temperature below 40 degrees in March since 2013.
Along with the Twins, the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Tigers all get about a 35 degree temperature increase after traveling south during a typical March day.
The Marlins actually get to travel more than 80 miles north to Jupiter from Miami, and get a break from the heat, with average temperatures about 3 degrees lower.
How about the rest of the list? Besides the Astros, Rays and Marlins, the temperature difference is pretty significant and worthy of a trip to Florida for Spring Break.
In the Cactus League, all 15 teams play and train in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The average high temperature in March for the Phoenix area is a balmy 78.1 degrees.
Since the Cactus League is more centralized with no two teams more than a 45 minute drive apart, average temperatures are all within a few degrees of each other.
The biggest difference from the Grapefruit League? The desert offers much lower humidity and less rainfall.
Midwest teams from the NL and AL Central Divisions have the biggest disparity when it comes to Arizona temperatures, getting about a 30 degree increase during the month of March.
The Colorado Rockies escape Denver’s snowiest month of the year on average to play in sunny Scottsdale.
Similar to the Marlins, the Arizona Diamondbacks who play in downtown Phoenix, get to travel 20 minutes into Scottdale, where the average March high temperatures is only a few degrees lower.
So, if you’re a neutral fan in a cold weather state and want to take in some baseball on Spring Break, do you go to Florida or Arizona?
Florida teams are more spread out requiring longer drives, and you’ll have to deal with more humidity and higher rain chances. The Cactus league is much more centralized, and it’s a dry heat, but besides baseball, Phoenix may have less to offer for tourist opportunities when you’re not at a game.
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 Reid Lybarger
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RALEIGH, N.C. – You may be feeling lucky this St. Patrick’s Day, but law enforcement all across North Carolina doesn’t want motorists to take any chances by driving impaired.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s St. Patrick’s Day Booze It & Lose It campaign runs March 11-17.
The Governor’s Highway Safety Program coordinates at least a dozen campaigns each year to promote traffic safety along North Carolina roads.
While the focus of this campaign is on impaired drivers, GHSP Director Mark Ezzell says his agency focuses on all things traffic safety during the year.
“We also try to do similar campaigns around speeding or seatbelt use or things of that nature to help address issues around driving safety in North Carolina,” Ezzell said. “We know that last year regarding alcohol-related crashes, we lost 357 people on our roads and we lost five during the course of the St Patrick’s Day week, this time last year.”
You’ll not only see increased law enforcement presence, but also additional DWI checkpoints.
That presence will be seen on rural roads as well, areas Ezzell says have become dangerous with increased growth across the state.
“Surrounding metropolitan areas that are growing. And as a result, those rural roads and those local areas are growing. And sometimes the roads were built not for that kind of population explosion that we see,” Ezzell said.
“If you look at the statistics, rural roads are two and a half times more likely to have a traffic-related fatality than urban,” he said.
Ezzell says the campaign will work to keep people safe across the state while educating the public on responsible behavior both on and off the roadways.
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Sarah Rudlang
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RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh man and nearly 100 others sentenced to death in North Carolina are hoping to get their sentences overturned as part of the state’s repealed Racial Justice Act.
A hearing was held Monday for 37-year-old Hassan Bacote, a Black man convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Johnston County by a majority-white jury in 2009.
The hearings began last week with Bacote’s legal team claiming a pattern of discrimination in jury selection in Johnston County and across North Carolina.
Expert historians Samuel Sommers from Tufts University and Crystal Sanders, a professor at Emory University and a Johnston County native, both testified about how there can be racial discrimination in the legal system — even if it’s subtle.
Bacote is looking to get off death row through the Racial Justice Act, a law passed in 2009 then revoked in 2013. It allowed those on death row to challenge their sentence if race played a significant role in the judgment.
Executive director of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation Gretchen Engel says the RJA was about dealing with covert discrimination.
“That sort of subtle, it’s under the radar,” Engel said.
In 2020, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that all lawsuits brought under the RJA before its repeal could still move forward.
“My hope is that people understand the truth is being revealed, and that they not look away,” Engel said.
Samuel Sommers took the stand to explain how racial bias can have an impact on decision-making in schools, the workplace and the criminal justice system.
Defense attorney Ken Rose says these expert testimonies are vital in hearings like this because studies show racial discrimination does happen.
“Those studies all converged to suggest that prosecutors do, in fact, use race, sometimes not consciously, sometimes unconsciously, to exclude African American jurors,” Rose said.
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Jatrissa Wooten
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The Food and Drug Administration’s decision on approving a closely watched Alzheimer’s disease drug developed by Eli Lilly and Co. has been delayed as the agency asks an advisory panel to weigh in, the drugmaker said Friday.
Lilly said the FDA informed it that it wants to further understand the safety and efficacy of donanemab and will convene a meeting of its Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee.
The FDA was widely expected to authorize the drug this month. Lilly called the delay “unexpected” and noted it is unusual for an advisory committee to be called upon after the anticipated FDA action date.
It’s not yet known when the meeting will take place. Lilly said the FDA’s decision will be delayed at least into the second quarter of 2024.
The FDA told Spectrum News it cannot comment on possible or pending product applications or approvals.
“We are confident in donanemab’s potential to offer very meaningful benefits to people with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease,” Anne White, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Co., said in a statement. “It was unexpected to learn the FDA will convene an advisory committee at this stage in the review process, but we look forward to the opportunity to further present the … results and put donanemab’s strong efficacy in the context of safety.”
Lilly’s clinical trial of more than 1,700 people found the donanemab slowed cognitive and functional decline in patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s by 35% at 76 weeks compared to those who took a placebo, and all groups of trial participants saw improvement.
Given as a monthly intravenous infusion, the drug targets amyloid plaque that builds up between nerve cells in the brain.
About 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than three-quarters of all participants in the study achieved amyloid clearance at 76 weeks, compared to 0.3% in the placebo group.
There, however, were side effects with donanemab, including brain swelling in 24% among those who took the drug. There was brain bleeding in 31.4% of participants in the donanemab group and 13.6% in the placebo group.
While Lilly said the majority of the side effects were mild to moderate and resolved or stabilized with appropriate management, three participants died from brain swelling.
If authorized by the FDA, donanemab would become the third Alzheimer’s drug in its class to hit the market in the United States. Regulators granted accelerated approval to Leqembi, developed by Eisai and Biogen, in January 2023.
In 2021, the FDA approved Aduhelm, made by the same two companies. That authorization was controversial because there was weak evidence showing it would benefit patients. Biogen announced in January it was abandoning its ownership rights to the drug.
Note: This article was updated to include the FDA’s response.
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Ryan Chatelain
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The Food and Drug Administration’s decision on approving a closely watched Alzheimer’s disease drug developed by Eli Lilly and Co. has been delayed as the agency asks an advisory panel to weigh in, the drugmaker said Friday.
Lilly said the FDA informed it that it wants to further understand the safety and efficacy of donanemab and will convene a meeting of its Peripheral and Central Nervous System Drugs Advisory Committee.
The FDA was widely expected to authorize the drug this month. Lilly called the delay “unexpected” and noted it is unusual for an advisory committee to be called upon after the anticipated FDA action date.
It’s not yet known when the meeting will take place. Lilly said the FDA’s decision will be delayed at least into the second quarter of 2024.
The FDA told Spectrum News it cannot comment on possible or pending product applications or approvals.
“We are confident in donanemab’s potential to offer very meaningful benefits to people with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease,” Anne White, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Co., said in a statement. “It was unexpected to learn the FDA will convene an advisory committee at this stage in the review process, but we look forward to the opportunity to further present the … results and put donanemab’s strong efficacy in the context of safety.”
Lilly’s clinical trial of more than 1,700 people found the donanemab slowed cognitive and functional decline in patients with early symptomatic Alzheimer’s by 35% at 76 weeks compared to those who took a placebo, and all groups of trial participants saw improvement.
Given as a monthly intravenous infusion, the drug targets amyloid plaque that builds up between nerve cells in the brain.
About 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than three-quarters of all participants in the study achieved amyloid clearance at 76 weeks, compared to 0.3% in the placebo group.
There, however, were side effects with donanemab, including brain swelling in 24% among those who took the drug. There was brain bleeding in 31.4% of participants in the donanemab group and 13.6% in the placebo group.
While Lilly said the majority of the side effects were mild to moderate and resolved or stabilized with appropriate management, three participants died from brain swelling.
If authorized by the FDA, donanemab would become the third Alzheimer’s drug in its class to hit the market in the United States. Regulators granted accelerated approval to Leqembi, developed by Eisai and Biogen, in January 2023.
In 2021, the FDA approved Aduhelm, made by the same two companies. That authorization was controversial because there was weak evidence showing it would benefit patients. Biogen announced in January it was abandoning its ownership rights to the drug.
Note: This article was updated to include the FDA’s response.
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Ryan Chatelain
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Twice a year, most of the U.S. adjusts to time moving forward in the spring and back again in the fall. But where did the crazy idea of “shifting time” come from?
Benjamin Franklin gets some credit for the idea of daylight saving time, though his recommendation was a joke.
In a letter to the editor of the “Journal of Paris,” Franklin jokingly recommended the people get out of bed earlier in the morning to minimize the use of candles and lamp oil. He never mentioned setting clocks back or forth.
(Erica Roman)
In 1895, George Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, came up with the modern concept of daylight saving time. He proposed a two-hour time shift so he could have more after-work hours of sunshine to go bug hunting in the summer.
Hudson suggested moving clocks ahead two hours in October and then a two-hour shift back in March.
In 1905, William Willett, a British builder, suggested moving clocks ahead 20 minutes every Sunday in April and then setting them back every Sunday in September. That’s eight time changes every year!
It was during World War I that daylight saving time was first practically used.
In 1916, locations within the German Empire set clocks ahead one hour to use less power for lighting and to save fuel for the war effort.
Many other countries soon followed and after the war ended, they all went back to standard time.
In the United States, daylight saving time was first used in 1918, when a bill introduced the idea of a seasonal time shift. It lasted seven months before the bill was repealed.
During World War II, President Franklin Roosevelt re-established the idea of daylight saving time. It was called “War Time.”
War Time began in Feb. 1942 and lasted until the end of Sept. 1945.
In 1966, the Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the idea of regulating a yearly time change. Daylight saving time would begin the last Sunday in April and end the last Sunday in October.
(Pexels)
During the 1973 oil embargo, the United States Congress ordered a year-round period of daylight saving time to save energy. The period ran from Jan. 1974 to April 1975. The plan did little to save energy and lost popularity. In Oct. 1974, the U.S. switched back to standard time.
From 1987 through 2006, daylight saving time started the first weekend in April, running through the last weekend in October.
In 2007, the start and end of daylight saving time shifted again. That year, it began on the second Sunday in March and it ended on the first Sunday in November, which has been the case ever since.
In recent years, some have pushed to make daylight saving time last year-round. Several states have passed legislation to make this law.
I guess “time” will tell if we see year-round daylight saving time in the future.
(iStock)
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Chief Meteorologist Gary Stephenson
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