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Tag: north carolina

  • President Trump, first lady to visit Fort Bragg Friday

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    President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will visit Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on Friday. 

    The president will meet with military families and members of the special forces who took part in the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a news conference Tuesday.  

    Trump is a regular visitor to North Carolina. In December, Trump visited Rocky Mount. The president visited Fort Bragg last summer for a military celebration. 

    Fort Bragg is the home of the Joint Special Operations Command. 

    Last year, the base went through controversial change. It was re-branded as Fort Liberty in 2023, going from a base that carried the name of a former Confederate soldier to Liberty instead. 

    In 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed an order to reinstating the Bragg name, but this time to honor a World War II paratrooper. 

    Trump’s trip to the base comes as early voting begins in North Carolina’s primary elections. The midterm primary is set for March 3, with a competitive U.S. Senate seat, every U.S. House seat and the entire state legislature up for election.

    President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk from Marine One to board Air Force One, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., en route to Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

     

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    Elizabeth Townsend

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  • More possible measles exposures identified in the Triangle, health officials say

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    The Orange County Health Department is warning of a possible measles exposure in Chapel Hill, officials announced Thursday.

    What You Need To Know

    •  Orange County health officials say a person infected with measles visited a Goodwill in Chapel Hill on Feb. 6

    •  Anyone also there during that time could have been exposed and should contact 919-245-2400 to speak to a communicable disease nurse to assess measles risk if unvaccinated

    •  Johnston County on Wednesday reported its first confirmed measles infection since 2018 

    •  Durham and Wake counties also identified several possible exposure areas in their counties earlier this week


    “A person infected with measles visited a public place in Orange County while contagious,” a statement from the county’s health department said.

    Officials say the person visited the Goodwill Store at 1115 Weaver Dairy Road in Chapel Hill on Friday, Feb. 6 between 9 a.m. and noon.

    Anyone who was in the store during that time could have been exposed to measles, officials say. If you have never received the measles vaccine (MMR vaccine), county health officials say to contact 919-245-2400 to speak to a communicable disease nurse and assess your measles risk.

    The news comes a day after officials in Johnston County reported their first confirmed measles infection since 2018.

    Earlier this week, officials in Durham and Wake counties also reported possible measles exposures involving several locations throughout those areas where an infected person is reported to have visited.

    Health officials say measles is highly contagious and can live for up to two hours in the air where an infected person was present. “Vaccination and isolation are key to limiting disease spread,” officials said.

    The following symptoms of measles usually start 7-14 days after exposure, health officials say, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure.

    • High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees)
    • Cough
    • Runny nose
    • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
    • Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots), appearing two to three days after symptoms begin
    • A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin
    • Measles can also cause complications including diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and suppression of the immune system

    As of Feb. 10, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reports 18 confirmed measles cases since December. That total does not include the case confirmed in Johnston County this week.

    Only one case since December, the department says, has required hospitalization.

    In South Carolina, there have been 933 confirmed cases of measles in an outbreak. That outbreak is centered around Spartanburg County, which sits on the border with North Carolina west of Charlotte.

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

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    Justin Pryor

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  • Understanding the importance of climate norms

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    January and now February, parts of the country have faced extreme cold, prompting many meteorologists to note, “This air is much colder than average.”

    But how do we define “average,” and have those averages—or normals—changed over time?

    What You Need To Know

    • Climatologists use 30-year periods to establish baselines for “climate normals”

    • Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.

    • FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events


    Climatologists use 30-year periods to smooth out year-to-year variability and establish baselines, or “climate normals,” for comparison. For example, a high of 45 degrees in January in Missouri might be five degrees above the long-term average.

    Why 30 years?

    Jared Rennie, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Centers for Environmental Information, explains that the 30-year standard better reflects the changing climate and its influence on day-to-day weather. 

    He adds that NOAA also explores other base periods to meet user needs. In addition to the 1991–2020 normals released a few years ago, NOAA provides a 15-year baseline (2006–2020).

    These baselines are updated every ten years to capture ongoing changes—so data from 1980 to 2010 will differ from values averaged over 1990–2020.

    Differences in the data

    There are regional differences when comparing the most recent datasets (1980–2010 vs. 1990–2020). Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.

    Temperatures are generally warmer by 0.3 to 1.0°F across most areas, with the north-central U.S. slightly cooler.

    (Courtesy: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)

    More frequent 100-year events

    It seems like every few weeks we hear, “This is a once in a 100-year event.” Why are we seeing more of these “once in a lifetime events?”

    “Scientifically, this usually refers to the percent chance an event happens in any given year,” he stressed.

    Adding, “With extreme rainfall events, NOAA uses data to identify areas that exceeded the 1% or 0.1% chance of occurring in a given year (known as a 1-in-100-year event and 1-in-1000-year event, respectively).”

    He says that as for the frequency of these types of events, it depends on the specific event. “When it comes to large-scale events like droughts and heat, we have a better understanding of how these are trending over time.”

    “For example, the science tells us that temperatures are increasing, especially at nighttime, which is affecting the number of heat events in the 21st century.”

    Smaller-scale events, such as tornadoes and certain floods, are harder to quantify, and ongoing research aims to improve understanding.

    Weather vulnerability

    How do population densities impact weather vulnerability? “There is lots of research in the socioeconomic space that is attempting to identify not only populations affected by weather and climate extremes, but also their risk.”

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides resources to help communities assess risk from heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes, and tornadoes. More information can be found in the Dec. 2025 National Risk Index for Natural Hazards index.

    FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events, like heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes and tornadoes.

    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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  • Understanding the importance of climate norms

    [ad_1]

    January and now February, parts of the country have faced extreme cold, prompting many meteorologists to note, “This air is much colder than average.”

    But how do we define “average,” and have those averages—or normals—changed over time?

    What You Need To Know

    • Climatologists use 30-year periods to establish baselines for “climate normals”

    • Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.

    • FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events


    Climatologists use 30-year periods to smooth out year-to-year variability and establish baselines, or “climate normals,” for comparison. For example, a high of 45 degrees in January in Missouri might be five degrees above the long-term average.

    Why 30 years?

    Jared Rennie, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Centers for Environmental Information, explains that the 30-year standard better reflects the changing climate and its influence on day-to-day weather. 

    He adds that NOAA also explores other base periods to meet user needs. In addition to the 1991–2020 normals released a few years ago, NOAA provides a 15-year baseline (2006–2020).

    These baselines are updated every ten years to capture ongoing changes—so data from 1980 to 2010 will differ from values averaged over 1990–2020.

    Differences in the data

    There are regional differences when comparing the most recent datasets (1980–2010 vs. 1990–2020). Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.

    Temperatures are generally warmer by 0.3 to 1.0°F across most areas, with the north-central U.S. slightly cooler.

    (Courtesy: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)

    More frequent 100-year events

    It seems like every few weeks we hear, “This is a once in a 100-year event.” Why are we seeing more of these “once in a lifetime events?”

    “Scientifically, this usually refers to the percent chance an event happens in any given year,” he stressed.

    Adding, “With extreme rainfall events, NOAA uses data to identify areas that exceeded the 1% or 0.1% chance of occurring in a given year (known as a 1-in-100-year event and 1-in-1000-year event, respectively).”

    He says that as for the frequency of these types of events, it depends on the specific event. “When it comes to large-scale events like droughts and heat, we have a better understanding of how these are trending over time.”

    “For example, the science tells us that temperatures are increasing, especially at nighttime, which is affecting the number of heat events in the 21st century.”

    Smaller-scale events, such as tornadoes and certain floods, are harder to quantify, and ongoing research aims to improve understanding.

    Weather vulnerability

    How do population densities impact weather vulnerability? “There is lots of research in the socioeconomic space that is attempting to identify not only populations affected by weather and climate extremes, but also their risk.”

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides resources to help communities assess risk from heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes, and tornadoes. More information can be found in the Dec. 2025 National Risk Index for Natural Hazards index.

    FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events, like heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes and tornadoes.

    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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  • Understanding the importance of climate norms

    [ad_1]

    January and now February, parts of the country have faced extreme cold, prompting many meteorologists to note, “This air is much colder than average.”

    But how do we define “average,” and have those averages—or normals—changed over time?

    What You Need To Know

    • Climatologists use 30-year periods to establish baselines for “climate normals”

    • Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.

    • FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events


    Climatologists use 30-year periods to smooth out year-to-year variability and establish baselines, or “climate normals,” for comparison. For example, a high of 45 degrees in January in Missouri might be five degrees above the long-term average.

    Why 30 years?

    Jared Rennie, a physical scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s National Centers for Environmental Information, explains that the 30-year standard better reflects the changing climate and its influence on day-to-day weather. 

    He adds that NOAA also explores other base periods to meet user needs. In addition to the 1991–2020 normals released a few years ago, NOAA provides a 15-year baseline (2006–2020).

    These baselines are updated every ten years to capture ongoing changes—so data from 1980 to 2010 will differ from values averaged over 1990–2020.

    Differences in the data

    There are regional differences when comparing the most recent datasets (1980–2010 vs. 1990–2020). Annual precipitation has increased 5–10% in the central and eastern U.S. and decreased 5–10% in the Southwest.

    Temperatures are generally warmer by 0.3 to 1.0°F across most areas, with the north-central U.S. slightly cooler.

    (Courtesy: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information)

    More frequent 100-year events

    It seems like every few weeks we hear, “This is a once in a 100-year event.” Why are we seeing more of these “once in a lifetime events?”

    “Scientifically, this usually refers to the percent chance an event happens in any given year,” he stressed.

    Adding, “With extreme rainfall events, NOAA uses data to identify areas that exceeded the 1% or 0.1% chance of occurring in a given year (known as a 1-in-100-year event and 1-in-1000-year event, respectively).”

    He says that as for the frequency of these types of events, it depends on the specific event. “When it comes to large-scale events like droughts and heat, we have a better understanding of how these are trending over time.”

    “For example, the science tells us that temperatures are increasing, especially at nighttime, which is affecting the number of heat events in the 21st century.”

    Smaller-scale events, such as tornadoes and certain floods, are harder to quantify, and ongoing research aims to improve understanding.

    Weather vulnerability

    How do population densities impact weather vulnerability? “There is lots of research in the socioeconomic space that is attempting to identify not only populations affected by weather and climate extremes, but also their risk.”

    The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides resources to help communities assess risk from heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes, and tornadoes. More information can be found in the Dec. 2025 National Risk Index for Natural Hazards index.

    FEMA is working to provide information for communities most at risk from weather events, like heat waves, cold outbreaks, hurricanes and tornadoes.

    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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  • Downtown Greensboro leaders seek solutions after multiple business closures

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. — Several well-known businesses in and around downtown Greensboro have recently closed their doors, sparking concern among city leaders and business owners about the future of the area’s commercial district. 

       What You Need To Know

    • Several well-known businesses in and around downtown Greensboro have recently closed their doors, sparking concern among city leaders and business owners about the future of the area’s commercial district
    • Among the closures are Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, Red Cinemas, M’Coul’s Public House and Liberty Oak Restaurant and Bar

    • Business owners raised a range of challenges, including parking issues, supply chain disruptions, tariffs and the rising cost of operating a business

    • On Tuesday, Feb. 10, some Greensboro City Council members met face-to-face with downtown business owners and community leaders, walking through the area and listening to concerns about what is making it difficult to stay open


    Among the closures are Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, Red Cinemas, M’Coul’s Public House and Liberty Oak Restaurant and Bar. Another downtown restaurant, Cille and Scoe, has also announced it will be closing soon.

    On Tuesday, Feb. 10, some Greensboro City Council members met face-to-face with downtown business owners and community leaders, walking through the area and listening to concerns about what is making it difficult to stay open.

    “It’s an American, a cultural problem, it’s an epidemic,” said Daniel Craft, a realtor in downtown Greensboro.

    Business owners raised a range of challenges, including parking issues, supply chain disruptions, tariffs and the rising cost of operating a business.

    Tanya Dickens, owner of Savor the Moment Dessert Bar, says food and beverage businesses are being hit especially hard.

    “The increased cost of everything, ingredients and use. The food and beverage industry has been hit really hard because everything fluctuates so much. But it’s usually going up right. And you can only charge so much to your customer for what it is that you’re selling,” Dickens said.

    Greensboro City Council member Cecile “CC” Crawford says the walk is the first step toward building strategies to support downtown businesses.

    On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Greensboro city council members, downtown business owners and other city leaders walk throughout downtown to talk about concerns and issues. (Spectrum News 1/Ashley Van Havere)

    “We’re going to get all of the feedback and begin working on strategies to help the businesses downtown thrive a little more,” Crawford said. “What I’m hearing on my side of downtown is that South Elm Street is developing, and they want a little more support, and so, just trying to get a full picture around that as well.” 

    City leaders say feedback gathered from these conversations could help shape future policy changes aimed at increasing foot traffic and encouraging more people to visit downtown Greensboro.

    Council members also plan to hold additional walks and discussions in the coming weeks and encourage any downtown business owners who could not attend Tuesday’s meeting to reach out and share their concerns.

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

     

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    Ashley Van Havere

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  • The First African American Astronaut

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    Guion Bluford, the first African American to travel into space, became one of the space community’s most influential figures.

    What You Need To Know

    • Guy Bluford was the first African American to fly in space

    • He started his career as a pilot in the Air Force

    • He became an astronaut for NASA in 1979


    Bluford developed a fascination with flight at a young age, and by high school he knew he wanted to become an aeronautical engineer.

    Early life

    After earning his college degree, Bluford joined the U.S. Air Force and received his pilot wings in Jan. 1966 at the early age of 24.

    He soon became an instructor pilot and later entered the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology, where he earned a master’s degree in 1974 and a Ph.D. in aerospace engineering in 1978.

    After his 1974 graduation, he served at the Air Force Flight Dynamics Laboratory, initially as a deputy and eventually as branch chief of the Aerodynamics and Airframe Branch.These achievements led to his selection for the NASA astronaut program in 1978.

    It’s safe to say he never lost sight of his childhood dreams.

    Becoming a legend

    The crew of Space Shuttle 8 shown in front of launch pad 39-A at Kennedy Space Center, Merritt Island, Florida on August 5, 1983, with the tip of the orbiter Challenger showing in the background. Ready for a August 30 launch are left to right: Mission Specialists Dale Gardner, Guion Bluford, Dr. Bill Thornton, pilot Dan Brandenstein and commander Richard Truly. The crew was going through STS-8 countdown test on Thursday, and are wearing blue suits with pilot Brandenstein wearing a red tee shirt underneath. (AP Photo/Phil Sandlin)

    After a year of training, Bluford became an official astronaut in Aug. 1979.

    Four years later, on Aug. 30, 1983, he flew his first mission aboard STS-8. That inaugural flight was brief but notable, pioneering techniques for nighttime operations and deploying the Indian National Satellite.

    After 145 hours in space, the crew returned to Edwards Air Force Base on Sept. 5.

    Over the next 10 years, Bluford became the second, third and fourth African American in space, logging over 688 hours.

    After NASA

    In 1993, Bluford left NASA and retired from the Air Force to become the Vice President and General Manager of the Engineering Services Division of NYMA Inc., in Greenbelt, Maryland.

    After several more high-end jobs, he went on to become the President of Aerospace Technology in Cleveland, Ohio, a job that he still holds today.

    Bluford never stopped learning or pursuing the next level of his career. A brilliant figure in the space and engineering communities, he became a leader and role model for many African Americans.

    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 Staff, Meteorologist Shelly Lindblade

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  • Roy Cooper didn’t release Charlotte stabbing suspect early

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    Some North Carolina Republicans say that the man accused of killing a woman on a Charlotte commuter train last year was released from prison early as part of a 2021 COVID-era settlement between civil rights groups and then-Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat. 

    With Cooper running for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat, GOP political operatives are hoping the claims make a splash in the 2026 election. But Brown wasn’t behind bars when the settlement was reached and it had no bearing on whether Brown was free to roam the streets in 2025. 

    DeCarlos Brown Jr. faces state and federal murder charges in the killing of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian who moved to Charlotte in 2022 after Russia invaded her home country. Zarutska’s Aug. 22 fatal stabbing, captured by surveillance video, prompted scrutiny of Brown’s criminal history and the officials who handled his cases. 

    Cooper’s Republican critics have repeatedly sought to blame the former governor’s actions for Zarutska’s death. Michael Whatley — the former Republican National Committee chairman who is seeking the GOP nomination for the North Carolina U.S. Senate seat — said in a social media post in September: “Cooper bears direct responsibility for this heinous act and must answer to the public about why he prioritizes criminals over public safety.” PolitiFact North Carolina previously rated that statement False. 

    Now, Republicans are focused on a settlement that Cooper’s administration agreed to on Feb. 25, 2021 — five months after Brown had been released from prison on Sept. 20, 2020. The details of the settlement don’t change the rating from our previous PolitiFact fact-check, but are worth explaining as Whatley and other Republicans attempt to once more implicate Cooper in Zarutska’s death.  

    Fox News Digital reported Feb. 4 that Brown’s prison identification number appeared in records related to a legal settlement between the NAACP and the Cooper administration in 2021 — a settlement that authorized the early release or transition of 3,500 prisoners amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooper agreed to the settlement after the state lost an early decision in the case. A Wake County judge ruled that state prisons were likely violating as many as 32,000 prisoners’ constitutional rights.

    Cooper’s administration got around having to release the full 3,500 prisoners they agreed to let go by counting people who had been recently released just prior to the settlement — including Brown.

    On Feb. 4, shortly after Fox News reported that Brown had been among the prisoners released early due to the COVID-19 settlement, the Republican National Committee said Cooper “should apologize to the Zarutska family for releasing their daughter’s killer.” And the National Republican Senatorial Committee accused Cooper of “caving to the woke mob and releasing Zarutska’s murderer.”

    Other Republicans — including U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and U.S. Senator Ted Budd of North Carolina — also posted about it on social media.

    Here’s what state records and the Department of Adult Correction say about Brown’s case. 

    Why was Brown in prison prior to Zarutska’s death? Brown pleaded guilty to robbery with a dangerous weapon in 2014. Armed robbery is a Class D felony, which can carry a sentence of 13 years in prison, depending on a defendant’s criminal record. A judge sentenced him in February 2015 to a minimum of 73 months in prison, or a little more than six years. But Brown got credit for 176 days in jail while awaiting trial. He was incarcerated in North Carolina’s prison system from Feb. 21, 2015, to Sept. 20, 2020. 

    Did Cooper release prisoners during the pandemic? Yes. He agreed to it as part of a settlement. In April 2020, a coalition of civil rights groups sued the Cooper administration in an attempt to reduce COVID-19 infection risk in state facilities. The ACLU of North Carolina accused Cooper of failing to protect inmates from the virus and criticized him because he “refused to sign an executive order to halt jail admissions, release a meaningful number of medically vulnerable people, or allow people whose sentences are nearly up to be released.”

    The Cooper administration argued in court that it was sufficiently protecting inmates from the virus. In June 2020, a North Carolina Superior Court judge ruled that the groups were likely to win their case. In a settlement reached Feb. 25, 2021, the administration agreed to the early release of 3,500 people in state custody. 

    Did the settlement trigger Brown’s release? No. Brown was released from prison five months before the settlement. Brown “was not released early or paroled. With credit for jail time served before conviction, he served 100% of his minimum sentence,” Brad Deen, a spokesman for the Department of Adult Correction told PolitiFact last year. Department spokesman Keith Acree said Feb. 5 that Brown’s release from prison was “entirely unrelated” to the February 2021 settlement.

    Why is Brown mentioned in the settlement? Brown was allowed to be included on a list of prisoners released early even though the settlement had no bearing on his case, Acree said. Here’s why: While out of prison and on post-release supervision on Feb. 6, 2021, Brown was arrested for assault on a female and damage to personal property, Acree said. On Feb. 15, 2021, correctional officers held a hearing to consider revoking his post-release supervision and potentially return Brown to prison. 

    During the hearing, Brown denied guilt, according to records provided by the Acree. According to a parole hearing officer’s written hearing summary, Brown said that the incident involved his sister “and he immediately left after she attacked him and went straight to his mom’s house.”Brown also said he turned himself in after the warrant for his arrest was issued.

    On Feb. 15, 2021, the parole hearing officer decided to allow Brown to remain free while under post-release supervision. Brown reached the end of his sentence on Sept. 20, 2021. 

    The COVID-19 settlement reached Feb. 25, 2021 —  10 days after Brown’s parole hearing officer’s decision —  allowed the department to count Brown toward the department’s quota of released prisoners even though Brown was already free, Acree said. Brown was one of many prisoners whose release came before Feb. 25, 2021, but qualified to be counted in the settlement, according to a PolitiFact review of settlement documents provided by the state. 

    How long could the state have held Brown after his February 2021 arrest? If the parole hearing officer had decided differently during the Feb. 15, 2021, hearing, Brown could have returned to prison for approximately seven months and been released on Sept. 20, 2021, Acree said.

    Brown could have begun a new prison sentence if convicted of female or damage to personal property. Assault on a female is a Class 1A misdemeanor that carries a maximum jail sentence of 150 days. Damage to personal property is a Class 1 misdemeanor if the damages total more than $200 in value and could result in a maximum jail sentence of 120 days. Those charges were ultimately dropped in December 2022, Acree said.

    Did the 2021 settlement play a role in Zarutska’s death? No. Brown was sentenced for armed robbery before Cooper became governor, and Brown was released from prison before the Cooper administration reached its settlement with civil rights groups. 

    The state reconsidered Brown’s post-release supervision on Feb. 15, before the settlement was reached on Feb. 25. Cooper wasn’t involved in that hearing, Acree said. And even if correctional officers had decided to keep Brown in prison, he would have been released Sept. 20, 2021 — almost four years ahead of Zarutska’s killing. 

    PolitiFact shared the state’s information with the Whatley campaign. Jonathan Felts, a spokesman for the Whatley campaign, said the state’s decision to allow Brown to remain free after his Feb. 6, 2021, arrest is a reflection of Cooper’s approach to public safety. 

    Felts said corrections officers “could have punished Brown by making him serve the rest of his sentence in prison but instead let him go free.

    “That’s soft-on-crime,” Felts said, “not tough-on-crime.”

    The Cooper campaign refuted Republican claims that the governor released Brown early. 

    “Decarlos Brown was not released from prison as a result of a court ordered settlement but in fact served his full sentence and was not released early,” Cooper campaign spokesperson Jordan Monaghan said. “Roy Cooper is the only candidate who spent his career prosecuting violent criminals and keeping thousands of them behind bars as attorney general, and signing tough on crime laws and stricter pretrial release bail policy as governor.” 

    PolitiFact reporter Will Doran contributed.

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  • North Carolina Republicans to Question Charlotte Leaders on Crime After Train Stabbings

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    RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican lawmakers are preparing to grill Charlotte-area leaders about crime-fighting tactics and spending, particularly in the wake of two stabbings — one fatal — on the light rail system in the Democratic-led city.

    A state House oversight committee asked Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Estella Patterson, Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden and others to testify Monday at the Legislative Building.

    The August fatal stabbing death of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, followed in December by a non-fatal stabbing on the same Charlotte rail system, are among the chief reasons for GOP critiques of area law enforcement. The suspect in each stabbing — which drew comments from President Donald Trump — faces charges in state and federal court.

    In invitation letters to testify, the committee’s cochairmen wrote high-profile crimes in recent years raise “serious concerns” about law enforcement staffing, “prosecutorial practices, and the City’s overall public safety strategy.”

    The committee “has an explicit duty to ensure that local governments receiving and expending public funds are prioritizing the safety and security of North Carolina residents,” the letters read.

    The committee’s public scrutiny has been useful for Republicans earning political points on hot-button issues. The panel can seek more documents and reports from local entities or threaten funding losses — although that couldn’t occur without separate action by the full General Assembly.

    Decarlos Brown Jr., the man accused in Zarutska’s death, had more than a dozen prior criminal arrests before the most recent charge, and concerns had been raised about his mental health. Republican lawmakers, as well as Trump and Vice President JD Vance, blamed Democratic leaders in Charlotte and statewide for soft-on-crime policies they allege allowed Brown to stay out of custody.

    Lyles wrote soon after Zarutska’s death that it was a “tragic failure by the courts and magistrates.” She and others have since highlighted additional safety measures for the light rail system.

    Zarutska’s death already resulted in a new state law that barred cashless bail for certain violent crimes and many repeat offenders. It also seeks to ensure more defendants undergo mental health evaluations.

    Democratic Gov. Josh Stein last week issued an executive order designed in part to address mental health treatment for people whom police confront and who are incarcerated.

    The suspect in the second light-rail attack — identified in federal records as Oscar Gerardo Solorzano-Garcia and in state court as Oscar Solarzano — is from Central America and had been transported out the country twice since 2018 — having been convicted of illegal reentry into the U.S., according to an FBI affidavit.

    Brown has been jailed due to the charges. A federal court ordered last month that he undergo a psychiatric examination to determine whether his legal case can proceed. A similar exam was ordered in state court months ago. Brown’s lawyers for federal court declined comment late last week. His state court lawyer didn’t immediately respond to an email.

    Solarzano is also jailed and an attorney representing him in state court didn’t immediately respond to an email. There is no lawyer listed in his federal case.

    The December stabbing occurred weeks after a federal immigration crackdown in Charlotte and elsewhere in North Carolina, resulting in hundreds of arrests over several days.

    Republicans for years blamed McFadden, who is facing a Democratic primary next month, for failing to cooperate with immigration agents. A recent state law has now made it mandatory for sheriffs to honor requests from federal officials to hold an arrested immigrant so agents can take custody of them.

    The committee meeting was previously delayed while committee leaders received guidance on what they could ask publicly about Zarutska’s death. A federal magistrate judge had granted a request from Brown’s attorneys preventing lawmakers from disclosing what’s inside their client’s case files from local police or the Mecklenburg County district attorney.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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    Associated Press

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  • Judge Rejects Democrats’ Plea for Early Voting Sites at 3 North Carolina Universities

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    GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge refused Sunday to help in attempts to open early voting sites at three public North Carolina universities, declining requests to overrule decisions by Republican-controlled elections boards leading up to the state’s upcoming primary.

    U.S. District Judge William Osteen rejected arguments by the College Democrats of North Carolina and some students that they were likely to win a recent lawsuit because decisions by GOP board members placed undue burdens on the right to vote.

    The decision by Osteen — nominated to the bench by President George W. Bush — to deny a preliminary injunction or a temporary restraining order can be appealed.

    Early in-person voting for the March 3 primary begins this coming Thursday. It features nomination races for U.S. Senate and House, the legislature and local elections.

    Osteen also wrote that formally backing efforts to open the sites so close to voting could risk confusion.

    Osteen’s ruling marks a key decision on policy preferences by the State Board of Elections and elections boards in all 100 counties since a state lawrecently shifted them from having Democratic majorities to Republican majorities.

    The College Democrats of North Carolina — an arm of the state party — and four voters sued in late January accusing the state board and boards in Jackson and Guilford counties of violating the U.S. Constitution.

    The lawsuit involves votes by the state board and the two county boards to not include early voting sites at Western Carolina University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina A&T State University, also in Greensboro. A&T is the largest historically Black university in the country.

    An early voting site at Western Carolina has operated regularly since 2016. Sites at the Greensboro campuses have not been offered in midterm elections. Voting sites are offered at college campuses elsewhere in the state. Same-day registration is available at early voting sites.

    Without the sites, the lawsuit says, students will be forced to travel off-campus to vote, imposing time and money upon those least familiar with voting.

    Lawyers for the boards defended the panels’ actions, writing in legal briefs that there is no requirement boards must retain voting sites used in previous election cycles, and that site decisions were based on reasonable circumstances like parking access and past turnout.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

    Photos You Should See – Feb. 2026

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    Associated Press

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  • Dangerously cold temperatures this weekend

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    Another weekend will bring bitter cold to parts of the country—this time across the Ohio River Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Wind chills could plunge to as much as 35 degrees below zero in some locations.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cold Weather Warnings are in place tonight through Sunday afternoon

    • Wind chills could dip as low as 30 degrees below zero

    • Temperatures are expected to moderate into next week



     

    Cold Weather Alerts

    Arctic air will pour into the region through the weekend. Area-wide temperatures will dip near zero, and gusty winds could drive wind chills down to 30 below.

    Cold Weather Advisories are in place for the Lakes and Mountains region of Maine, Ohio and eastern Michigan, with Extreme Cold Warnings set to go into effect for New York State and western Massachusetts.


    Cold weather alerts will remain in effect through Sunday afternoon.

    A Cold Weather Advisory is issued when dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 15 minutes. An Extreme Cold Warning is issued when frostbite and hypothermia are likely if skin is left unprotected.

    Frigid wind chills

    The cold will settle in Saturday night and remain locked in the Northeast and New England through Sunday. A gradual warmup will begin on Monday. 


    Several of these areas were hit with heavy snow two weeks ago, and much of it remains. Additional snow this weekend will only build bigger piles.

    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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  • Group that helps grieving children marks milestone graduation

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A community organization is helping grieving children and young adults succeed. 

    What You Need To Know

    •  Connecting the Gap is a nonprofit organization that provides therapy, mentorship and educational resources

    •  The group is celebrating a milestone after a participant of the program graduated college

    •  Christopher Daylin Carter lost his mom and grandmother at age 17 but has persevered thanks to the support of the group


    Through partnerships and supports, Connecting the Gap is providing therapy, mentorship and educational resources. 

    The group recently reached a milestone when Christopher Daylin Carter graduated from East Carolina University.

    “After hearing people be proud of me, I kind of just start to resonate with me, like this is a big deal. You pushed through and you made it,” Carter said. 

    His mentor, Quaneka Falls, attended the ceremony and cheered for him as he crossed the stage.

    “Just to see how much throughout the years Christopher has grown so much,” Falls said. 

    Carter said he appreciates the support of his late mother and grandmother.

    “I think it’s closest I can really get to spending time with them and really having them with me throughout my accomplishments, whatever I do in my life,” Carter said. 

    He lost both of them in a car crash in Greensboro in 2020 after a driver hit them head-on. Carter, who was 17 at the time, survived.

    “If it was something that was powerful enough to take lives, how did I continue?” Carter said. 

    His family rallied around him, and he got support from Connecting the Gap.

    Since 2020, the Charlotte nonprofit has helped around 60 children and young adults who lost a parent around the state. The group links them to resources to ensure they are successful post-graduation while they tackle grief. 

    “I feel like the support is important because when kids feel that you really, genuinely care about them, that gives them motivation to keep going,” Falls said. 

    The mission is personal for Falls because she lost her mother when she was 14. 

    “She had me and she had my brother, and we took two different paths, and I feel like because I’ve had the resources, I had community, I had mentors in my life, I was still able to be successful,” she said. 

    Carter said after his mom and grandmother died, the organization supported him right away. 

    “I was still kind of in shock. I was still kind of going through the motions, but just having that support there was definitely helpful, and just another person that’s looking for my success,” he said.

    The support stayed with him through college.

    “Therapy and just my freshman year or even pretty much every year up until I moved out, college, [Falls] was helping me get anything that I need from my dorms,” Carter said. 

    He’s the first student from the program to graduate college, an accomplishment that exemplifies their motto. 

    “I’ve firsthand witnessed Christopher grieve, believe and succeed,” Falls said. 

    He credits part of his success to Connecting the Gap and his family.

    “It’s amazing. I feel like God put a lot of people up in amazing ways, and I feel like without the support system that I have now, most likely wouldn’t be where I’m at,” Carter said. 

    Thanks to his uncle, Carter said he graduated debt-free from ECU with a degree in psychology and nutrition.

    In previous years, the organization received funding from United Way and Canopy Housing Foundation.

    This year, they are hoping to secure grant funding and donations to continue their mission. 

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

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    Estephany Escobar

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  • Wells Fargo to lay off more than 100 North Carolina employees

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    One of North Carolina’s largest employers, Wells Fargo, plans to lay off more than 100 people in Wake County.

    What You Need To Know

    • Wells Fargo plans to lay off 112 employees from its Raleigh corporate office

    • Wells Fargo is one of the largest employers in North Carolina

    • Last year, the company laid off almost 200 employees in Winston-Salem

    • CEO Charlie Scharf explained how AI may impact employment numbers at Wells Fargo


    Employees were told on Feb. 3, and the layoffs will go into effect on April 4, impacting 112 people at the company’s corporate office in Raleigh. 

    “These business decisions are never easy,” the Wells Fargo Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification letter stated. 

    “We are very thoughtful and deliberate in our approach, understanding the impact these decisions have on individuals at the company,” the letter, sent to state regulators, said. 

    Under federal law, a company planning on location closures or mass layoffs are required to file a WARN notice with the state and provide 60-days notice to employees. 

    Wells Fargo also stated in its letter that employees impacted by the layoffs will be offered severance benefits based on their years of service, and will be able to continue using the company health care plan for an unspecified period of time. 

    “Wells Fargo is committed to supporting our displaced employees and provides severance, career assistance, and other services to assist them,” the WARN letter said. 

    “We will make every effort to minimize the impact and ease the transition for our affected employees,” the letter stated.

    Of the employees being cut, 106 are from the Chief Operating Office unit, with many specializing in loan servicing.  

    Last August, the company laid off 194 employees in Winston-Salem.   

    Wells Fargo is the fourth largest bank in the country and employs more than 36,500 people across North Carolina. 

    North Carolina isn’t the only state being impacted by the company’s restructuring. Wells Fargo in West Des Moines, Iowa, will be losing 49 employees this spring as well. 

    The future of AI and employment at Wells Fargo

    In December, Wells Fargo CEO Charlie Scharf, discussed the rollout of AI usage in the company and how this impacts employees at the Goldman Sachs Conference. 

    “We’re not as efficient as we should be without the benefits of AI,” Scharf said. 

    With the current rollout of AI in the engineering side of Wells Fargo, Scharf stated that code-writing efficiency has increased by 30%-35%, without the reduction of employees. 

    Scharf did make it clear that AI will not “totally replace humans,” though he expressed that it will create an opportunity to do things differently going forward. 

    While the headcount of employees at Wells Fargo may not be immediately dropping due to AI, it’s a looming reality for the future of the company. 

    “No one wants to stand up and say we should have, we’re going to have a lower headcount in the future, it’s a hard thing to say,” Scharf said.

    Since Scharf joined the company in 2019, the number of employees has been reduced from 275,000 to 210,000.

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

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    Blair Hamilton

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  • No. 4 Duke visits No. 14 North Carolina following Wilson’s 22-point game

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    No. 14 North Carolina will hosts the No. 4 Duke Blue Devils this Saturday after Caleb Wilson scored 22 points in North Carolina’s 87-77 win against the Syracuse Orange.

    Saturday’s matchup is the first this season for the two squads.

    Here’s some highlights about the upcoming rivalry matchup.

    Duke Blue Devils (21-1, 10-0 ACC) at North Carolina Tar Heels (18-4, 6-3 ACC)

    Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Saturday, 6:30 p.m. EST

    BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: 

    • Blue Devils -5.5; over/under is 150.5

    BOTTOM LINE:

    • No. 14 North Carolina plays No. 4 Duke after Caleb Wilson scored 22 points in North Carolina’s 87-77 victory over the Syracuse Orange
    • The Tar Heels are 13-0 in home games. North Carolina ranks fourth in the ACC in rebounding with 36.7 rebounds. Wilson leads the Tar Heels with 9.8 boards
    • The Blue Devils are 10-0 in ACC play. Duke is 1-1 in games decided by less than 4 points
    • North Carolina scores 83.1 points, 19.5 more per game than the 63.6 Duke gives up. Duke averages 8.8 made 3-pointers per game this season, 0.7 more makes per game than North Carolina allows
    • The Tar Heels and Blue Devils face off Saturday for the first time in ACC play this season

    TOP PERFORMERS:

    • Luka Bogavac is shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc with 1.5 made 3-pointers per game for the Tar Heels, while averaging 10 points. Wilson is shooting 61.9% and averaging 20.7 points over the past 10 games
    • Cameron Boozer is averaging 23.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Blue Devils. Isaiah Evans is averaging 17 points over the past 10 games

    LAST 10 GAMES:

    • Tar Heels: 7-3, averaging 87.0 points, 34.1 rebounds, 17.4 assists, 6.5 steals and 3.1 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 77.8 points per game
    • Blue Devils: 10-0, averaging 80.5 points, 34.6 rebounds, 15.2 assists, 8.9 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.8 points

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

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Former Panther Luke Kuechly among 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees

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    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headlined the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class featuring five players but not six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick.

    What You Need To Know

    • Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headlined the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class featuring five players but not six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick

    • Brees and Fitzgerald both made it in their first year of eligibility in results announced at NFL Honors

    • Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri made it in their second seasons of eligibility, while Roger Craig was the lone pick among seniors, coaches and contributors

    • But the class is also noteworthy for Belichick’s absence as at least 11 of the 50 voters opted against giving him a vote despite a career with 333 wins and the most Super Bowl titles of any head coach


    Brees and Fitzgerald both made it in their first year of eligibility in results announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night after prolific careers. Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri made it in their second seasons of eligibility, while Roger Craig was the lone pick among seniors, coaches and contributors.

    “One of the coolest moments was getting up on that stage with all the other Hall of Famers,” Fitzgerald said. “That moment kind of crystallized it for me.”

    But the class is also noteworthy for Belichick’s absence as at least 11 of the 50 voters opted against giving him a vote despite a career with 333 wins in the regular season and playoffs and the most Super Bowl titles of any head coach. A report last week that Belichick fell short in his first year of eligibility was met with widespread criticism of both the voters and the process for choosing Hall of Famers.

    “His stats speak for themselves,” said Vinatieri, who played six years for Belichick.

    “I thought he’d have a real good chance to be up there as well. The people who voted made their votes and I think he’ll be up here one day.”

    The man who hired Belichick in New England to set the stage for the Patriots dynasty also fell short, with owner Robert Kraft failing to get enough votes.

    This is the second straight year with a smaller class after only four people made it last year as new rule changes have made it harder to get into the Hall. There had been at least seven people inducted in the previous 12 classes before last year.

    That contributed to the snub for Belichick and Kraft, who were grouped with Craig and two other players — Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood — who have been retired for at least 25 seasons. The voters picked three of the five candidates with the highest vote-getter and anyone else above 80% getting the honor.

    Craig, who was in his 28th year of eligibility, was the only one of those five to make it. Craig was the first player ever to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season, which happened in 1985, and he led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage in 1988 when he helped San Francisco win the Super Bowl.

    Craig also was part of the title-winning teams for the 49ers in the 1984 and 1989 seasons. His 410 yards from scrimmage in those Super Bowl wins are the third-most ever behind Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Franco Harris.

    The four modern-era candidates all overlapped for several years, waging many battles against each other.

    “Very early on you realized there was something special and unique about these guys,” Brees said.

    Vinatieri was one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, making the game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl victories during New England’s dynasty with Belichick and Kraft in charge. He joined Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the only players in the Hall who were primarily kickers in their careers.

    Vinatieri helped launch the run with one of the game’s greatest kicks — a 45-yarder in the snow to force overtime in the “Tuck Rule” game against the Raiders in the 2001 divisional round. He made the game-winning kick in OT to win that game and then hit a 48-yarder on the final play of a 20-17 win in the Super Bowl against the Rams.

    Vinatieri is the NFL’s career leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599) over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He also leads all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.

    Brees is second all time to Tom Brady with 80,358 yards passing and 571 touchdown passes. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers before signing as a free agent with the Saints in 2006, where his career took off as he helped lift a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

    Brees delivered to New Orleans its first Super Bowl title following the 2009 season, when he won MVP of the game after beating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Brees made the Pro Bowl 13 times in his career, won AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, was an All-Pro in 2006 and was a second-team All-Pro four times.

    Fitzgerald spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted third overall in 2004. His 1,432 catches and 17,492 yards receiving in 17 seasons rank second all time to Jerry Rice.

    Fitzgerald topped 1,000 yards receiving nine times — tied for the fourth-most ever — and helped the Cardinals reach their only Super Bowl following the 2008 season. Fitzgerald set single-season records that postseason with 546 yards receiving and seven TD catches, including a go-ahead 64-yard score with 2:37 to play in the Super Bowl before Pittsburgh rallied for a 27-23 win over Arizona.

    Kuechly’s career was brief but impactful. The first-round pick by Carolina in 2012 was an All-Pro five times, with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Over his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defensed (66).

    Voters reduced the list of 15 finalists in the modern era category to 10 and then seven before voting for five to make it. The top three vote-getters and anyone else above 80% got into the Hall.

    Offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Marshal Yanda, and edge rusher Terrell Suggs made it to the final seven in the modern-era category and will automatically be finalists again next year.

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

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Mavs leaving no doubt that Cooper Flagg is their future after Davis trade

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    DALLAS (AP) — Cooper Flagg is in the midst of an unprecedented run for an NBA teenager just as the Dallas Mavericks are firmly declaring their rookie No. 1 pick the future face of the franchise.

    The day was coming regardless. It arrived with Dallas trading Anthony Davis, the 10-time All-Star who joined the Mavs in a deal that cost them generational superstar Luka Doncic and sent their fans into a funk from which they’re still recovering.

    “We have an unbelievable player in Cooper Flagg,” co-interim general manager Michael Finley, a former Mavericks player, said Thursday night during the announcement of a three-team trade involving nine players and five draft picks that are all going to Dallas.

    “When you have that type of draft capital, it gives yourself the ability to go out and put the proper pieces around him to make our team, like I keep stressing, a championship contender.”

    The Mavericks got Khris Middleton, AJ Johnson and Marvin Bagley III along with two first-round picks and three second-rounders from Washington for Davis, Jaden Hardy, D’Angelo Russell and Dante Exum. Malaki Branham also was part of the deal for Dallas, which then traded him to Charlotte for Tyus Jones.

    “It’s tough. Those are guys I came in here my first year, they were all amazing guys to be around on and off the court,” Flagg said. “I wish them all the best. And I’m just blessed to be here. Whoever’s out there on the court with me, and the rest of the guys, just looking forward to continuing to try to get better and compete at a really high level.”

    Flagg extended his NBA record for a teenager with his fourth consecutive game of at least 30 points, scoring 32 in a 135-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. The run started with the 19-year-old setting a league scoring record for a teen with 49 points against Charlotte. Flagg followed that with 34 points against Houston and 36 against Boston.

    The Mavericks have lost all four games during Flagg’s surge to put their season-worst losing streak at six games, which helps explain why the Mavericks moved on from the oft-injured Davis, currently sidelined by a hand injury, and chose another retooling of the roster over the chance to see Davis, Flagg and star guard Kyrie Irving on the court together.

    “I think, as a fan, you probably would want to see AD, Kyrie, and Cooper on the court,” said Finley, who shares the interim GM title with Matt Riccardi. “But we had an opportunity to do something to give us the ultimate flexibility in the future. We just felt that this was an opportunity to take advantage of that situation.”

    When the Mavericks converted a 1.8% chance in the draft lottery for the right to select Flagg last summer, there was hope that the fog of losing Doncic would clear.

    Instead, Davis’ injury woes returned amid a slow start by the team this season, as did the “Fire Nico” chants that filled American Airlines Center in the final two months of 2024-25 after the Doncic trade engineered by then-general manager Nico Harrison.

    The Mavericks fired Harrison in November in part as a way to repair the relationship with the fans, and to acknowledge that the trade was a setback for the franchise.

    Now they’ve moved on from their centerpiece in that deal, but Irving is the biggest remaining piece from the team that he and Doncic led to the NBA Finals less than two years ago. It’s beginning to look as if Irving won’t play at all this season after the nine-time All-Star tore the ACL in his left knee last March.

    Finley indicated the Mavs still have a vision of Flagg and Irving — both one-and-done No. 1 overall picks from Duke — sharing the court at some point.

    “We’ve both spoken to Kyrie at different points,” Finley said, referring to Riccardi. “Kyrie has the ultimate respect for Cooper. He loves the kid’s work ethic. He loves the kid’s love for the game. And I think Kyrie’s embracing the role as a mentor to Cooper. So it’s going to be amazing to have a chance to see those guys on the court and playing together.”

    The fate of Flagg’s rookie year is all but set — the Mavericks as also-rans in what appears to be a second consecutive season without a trip to the playoffs since the five-game loss to Boston in the 2024 NBA Finals.

    Coach Jason Kidd, the point guard for the franchise’s only championship team in 2011, believes Flagg has the makings of a franchise leader, and the perseverance to work toward that first postseason chance.

    “The bigger the stage, the bigger the light, the better game he has,” Kidd said. “He wants to win. The 49 (points), the 36, they all have L’s behind it. He wants the change that. He wants to win. I think the great ones learn how to change those L’s into W’s, and he’s going to be one of those.”

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    Associated Press

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  • Snow follwed by dangerously cold temperatures this weekend

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    Another weekend will bring snow and bitter cold to parts of the country—this time across the Ohio River Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. Wind chills could plunge to 35 degrees below zero.

    What You Need To Know

    • Cold Weather Warnings are in place Saturday night through Sunday afternoon

    • Wind chills could dip as low as 30 degrees below zero

    • Snowfall totals will be around 1 to 3 inches with the potential for higher amounts in southern Maine and eastern Massachusetts



    Snow chances

    A cold front will bring snow to New York and New England from tonight through tomorrow. Totals will generally be light—around 1 to 3 inches—but a unique phenomenon known as ocean-effect snow could enhance accumulations in eastern Massachusetts and southern Maine (including York County).

    A heavy band may develop there, with localized totals exceeding 6 inches. If this occurs, the most likely timing is early Saturday afternoon.

    Here’s one model’s timing on the snow.


    Cold Weather Alerts

    Arctic air will move in behind the snow starting Saturday night. Area-wide temperatures will dip near zero, and gusty winds could drive wind chills down to 30 below.

    Cold Weather Advisories are in place for the Lakes and Mountains region of Maine, Ohio and eastern Michigan, with Extreme Cold Warnings set to go into effect for New York State and western Massachusetts.


    Cold weather alerts will remain in effect through Sunday afternoon.

    A Cold Weather Advisory is issued when dangerously cold wind chills can cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 15 minutes. An Extreme Cold Warning is issued when frostbite and hypothermia are likely if skin is left unprotected.

    Frigid wind chills

    The cold will settle in Saturday night and remain locked in the Northeast and New England through Sunday. A gradual warmup will begin on Monday. 


    Several of these areas were hit with heavy snow two weeks ago, and much of it remains. Additional snow this weekend will only build bigger piles.

    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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  • Schools return in person after weather disruptions

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    GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Many school districts in North Carolina are back in person after disruptions due to back-to-back winter storms.

    What You Need To Know

    • Schools took different approaches, however all of them used remote learning days at one point or another

    • At Gaston County Schools, packets were used for remote learning, and at Mountain Island Charter School, students used an online platform

    • Gaston County Schools closed and had remote learning days, and Mountain Island Charter only had remote learning days


    Schools took different approaches, however all of them used remote learning days at one point or another. 

    Gaston County Schools, for example, had two snow days and four remote learning days in the past two weeks due to the ice storm and snowstorm. 

    Forestview High School English and AP psychology teacher Richard Morris, who is Gaston County Schools’ new teacher of the year, welcomed students back in person Thursday after a two-hour delay. 

    He asked students briefly about whether they enjoyed the snow before discussing the remote learning packet students were expected to complete.

    “Before they left, I wanted to be sure they understood exactly what the text was going to be about and the expectations I had for them while they were out,” Morris said. 

    He said the secondary English curriculum coordinator sent packets for students in order for them not to fall behind and continue being engaged while out of school. 

    Morris has been trying to make the most of the school closures. 

    “I love being in the classroom with students, but we live on this earth where weather happens, and it can be a disruption. It’s a little frustrating, but it’s the reality of the situation. I was very responsive to both parents and students on email, making sure that everyone is on the same page,” Morris said. 

    Forestview science and biology teacher John Ramos, who is the district’s teacher of the year, said his concern is the continuation of learning.  

    “I don’t want to experience another learning loss like what we had in COVID back then. And, I’m just glad that, you know, we are very proactive as a school district and our administrators are really sending information in advance,” Ramos said. 

    Mountain Island Charter School, which is also located in Gaston County, is a public charter school and also relied on remote learning. The school didn’t use any snow days but instead opted for using its five allotted remote learning days.

    Mountain Island Charter School sixth to 12th grade principal Jacob Wilson said the school serves students from eight counties and any closure decisions come after analyzing a variety of factors. This includes looking into the decisions made by traditional public schools, monitoring weather and road conditions and assessing areas around the campus. 

    “Student safety is always going to be No. 1 but beyond that, we want to make sure that our students are continuing learning and so we’re always going to want to push that ball forward. Anytime we have a chance to make it to where students can learn, we’re going to do that.” Wilson said. 

    Assistant Principal of Curriculum Instruction Renee Goodwin said she was in contact with teachers during remote learning to receive feedback.

    “I talked to them over the phone and asked them how things are going, where we should go when we get back, because we are in the middle of like testing season as well. So we had to make some adjustments for students to make sure that we get the best results for the testing,” Goodwin said. 

    Students at Mountain Island Charter used an online platform with instructional activities to review concepts and independent learning. 

    “Nothing replaces a teacher in the classroom, however the extension activities that our teachers provide here actually go beyond what the teacher is teaching through multiple platforms that we have,” Goodwin said.

    Back at Forestview, Morris and Ramos are getting students back in the swing of things.

    “Our main goal is to ensure that the routine will be in place again,” Ramos said. 

    The intent behind it is to move forward. 

    “We’re going to briefly go over the packet, make sure that everything’s complete so they get that attendance for the day, get that classwork grade for the day, but then we’re just going to keep on rolling like we never missed a beat,” Morris said. 

    Both Gaston County Schools and Mountain Island Charter school officials said the weather-related closures will not prompt any makeup days or any schedule changes.

    Meanwhile, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is modifying its calendar turning Feb. 11 and April 29 from early release days into full instructional days. 

    “By supporting the superintendent’s recommendation to convert the remaining early release days to full instructional days, we’re choosing to exceed state requirements because it’s what best serves students,” CMS Board of Education Chair Stephanie Sneed said. 

    Under state law, schools are only allowed to declare five remote learning days in a calendar year for emergency situations and severe weather.

    However, according to the Department of Public Instruction, some schools have a waiver because they have been closed at least eight days during any four of the last 10 years due to weather.

    This year, schools with a waiver include Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Haywood, Jackson, Madison, Mitchell, Swain, Watauga and Yancey counties. These schools are allowed to open a week early to have more makeup days and can use 15 remote instruction days or 90 hours. 

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

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    Estephany Escobar

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  • Senate Banking panel GOP chair: Powell didn’t commit crime

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    WASHINGTON — Democrats and one Republican on a key committee are seeking to hold up advancing President Donald Trump’s choice to be the next Federal Reserve chair until the administration’s investigation into the current one is put to rest.

    It comes as the top Republican on the panel expressed confidence that Kevin Warsh’s nomination will move forward soon, even as he said current Fed Chair Jerome Powell did not commit a crime. 

    What You Need To Know

    • This week, all Democratic members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs — which plays an essential role in the process of confirming nominees for the Federal Reserve — sent a letter to the panel’s Republican chair, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, urging him not to hold a hearing on the president’s pick for the next head of the Fed until investigations launched under the Trump administration into Powell and Fed Governor Lisa Cook have been closed

    • It echoed what one Republican on the committee, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, whose support is likely critical, expressed after Trump announced his pick of former Federal Reserve official Kevin Warsh to be the next chair last week

    • Powell’s announced last month that the Justice Department is investigating him regarding renovations to the Fed’s office buildings and his testimony to Congress about it

    • Scott said in an interview this week that he does not believe Powell committed in crime in his testimony; He also expressed confidence Warsh’s nomination would move forward 
    • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent declined to rule out the possibility that the administration would seek to sue Warsh if he doesn’t lower interest rates during an appearance in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Capitol Hill Thursday

    This week, all Democratic members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs — which plays an essential role in the process of confirming nominees for the Federal Reserve — sent a letter to the panel’s Republican chair, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, urging him not to hold a hearing on the president’s pick for the next head of the Fed until investigations launched under the Trump administration into Powell and Fed governor Lisa Cook have been closed. 

    “The nomination comes after months of repeated efforts by President Trump and his Administration to influence the Fed by intimidation, including by opening criminal investigations into Fed Governor Lisa Cook and Fed Chair Jerome Powell,” the 11 Democrats on the committee wrote in the letter. “These ongoing efforts by the President to control the Fed — which must be able to exercise independent judgment — undermine public confidence in any nomination for chair at this time.”

    It echoed what one Republican on the committee, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, whose support is likely critical, expressed after Trump announced his pick of former Federal Reserve official Kevin Warsh to be the next chair last week. 

    “My position has not changed: I will oppose the confirmation of any Federal Reserve nominee, including for the position of Chairman, until the DOJ’s inquiry into Chairman Powell is fully and transparently resolved,” Tillis wrote on X despite noting that he believes Warsh is a “qualified nominee with a deep understanding of monetary policy.”

    Tillis — who announced his retirement from Congress at the end of his term after a high-profile spat with the president — initially pledged to to oppose any nominee for the Fed, including Trump’s upcoming pick for chair, in the wake of Powell’s announcement last month that the Justice Department is investigating him regarding renovations to the Fed’s office buildings and his testimony to Congress about it. The revelation caused a firestorm on Capitol Hill. The administration has also sought to fire Cook over mortgage fraud allegations — which she denies — in a case that is now in front of the Supreme Court.

    Trump has consistently criticized Powell since he returned to the White House, making clear his disapproval of the Fed chair for not lowering interest rates as much or as quickly as he would like. The president has held off on moving to try to oust him, however, often citing the fact that Powell’s term as chairman is up in May. 

    Despite noting he is glad the country is set to get a new Federal Reserve chair, Scott said in a notable statement Wednesday he did not believe Powell committed a crime during his testimony in front of the committee the South Carolina Republican chairs about the central bank’s renovation project. 

    “I found him to be inept at doing his job, but ineptness or being incompetent is not a criminal act,” Scott told Fox News in an interview regarding Powell. “I believe what he did was make a gross error in judgment. He was not prepared for that hearing. I do not believe that he committed a crime during the hearing.”

    Scott went on to express confidence that Warsh’s nomination will be able to move forward despite the demands from Tillis and the panel’s Democrats. 

    “I believe that we’re going to resolve that issue, we’re going to move forward, and Thom Tillis will be voting for Kevin Warsh as the next chairman of the Federal Reserve,” he said. 

    Trump announced his pick of Warsh days ago after weeks of speculation about whom he would tap for the role as the president has left no doubts that he hopes the person would seek to lower interest rates. 

    Trump has said that he didn’t ask Warsh to commit to cutting rates ahead of time — referring to such a request as “inappropriate” — but has made clear he believes his pick wants to and will. 

    Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, however, declined Thursday to rule out the possibility that the administration would seek to sue Warsh if he doesn’t lower interest ratesduring an appearance in front of the Senate Banking Committee on Capitol Hill Thursday. 

    “That is up to the president,” Bessent said during a Senate Banking Committee hearing.

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    Maddie Gannon

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  • Backyard vegetable gardens are healthy for people, planet. Here’s how to start

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    OHIO — If you want healthy food, experts say to eat what’s local, organic and in-season. Those foods benefit the planet too, because they are less taxing on the soil and they don’t travel as far.

    It doesn’t get more local, organic and in-season than a backyard vegetable garden.

    What You Need To Know

    • At this time of year, many backyards across the country are still covered in snow

    • Vegetable gardens benefit the surrounding ecosystem by adding diverse plant life, especially where they replace grass or cover a deck or patio

    • Homegrown vegetables and fruits are responsible for fewer emissions than their store-bought counterparts
    • Gardening promotes physical health because it requires a lot of movement

    At this time of year, many backyards across the country are still covered in snow. But it’s the perfect time to start planning for a garden because you’ll want to have supplies ready to start planting just after the last frost date in your area.

    Below are some tips on how to plan a backyard garden and reasons why you should do it.

    Homegrown vegetables have fewer emissions

    Vegetable gardens benefit the surrounding ecosystem by adding diverse plant life, especially where they replace grass or cover a deck or patio. They also can provide flowering plants for pollinators.

    The plants capture and store carbon in the soil, promote healthy soil by preventing compaction and can make the air cooler on rooftops and patios, according to Ellen Comeau, who chairs the advisory council for the Cuyahoga County Master Gardener Volunteers with the Ohio State University Extension program.

    Homegrown vegetables and fruits are responsible for fewer emissions than their store-bought counterparts because grocery store produce typically travels long distances on trucks.

    “There’s this whole idea of a zero-kilometer meal, that I don’t have to travel anywhere, except my backyard, to make food. That certainly helps the climate,” said Carol Connare, editor of The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

    Gardening has health benefits

    The health benefits from gardening are multifaceted, “social, emotional, nutritional, physical,” said Katherine Alaimo, an associate professor of food science and human nutrition at Michigan State University.

    Gardening promotes physical health because it requires a lot of movement. The food is typically picked at the height of ripeness and eaten fresh so it tends to have more nutrients than grocery store produce.

    Alaimo said most gardeners don’t use pesticides and grow their food organically. And of course, when you grow more produce, you eat more produce.

    “That’s going to reinforce people eating more fruits and vegetables even in the off season when they’re not growing food. So they try new foods, they potentially increase creativity and their cooking skills,” she said.

    Alaimo said gardening also connects people with nature, provides a sense of responsibility and accomplishment and encourages sharing harvests with friends. All of that can contribute to reduced stress, lower blood pressure and higher energy, she said.

    Picking the right spot and budgeting

    Sunlight is the biggest factor in choosing where to put your garden. Most produce wants at least six hours of sunlight per day. If sunny spots are few, save them for fruiting plants because leafy greens can tolerate more shade.

    It also helps to have a nearby water source because you’ll get more food for less effort if you’re not lugging buckets of water a long way.

    If you’re growing in the ground, Comeau said to start with a soil test to determine its acidity and nutrient makeup. Soil samples, once bagged or boxed, can typically be sent to a cooperative extension office at a university. The Old Farmer’s Almanac offers a list of extension offices by state. The results will give you an idea of what to grow and whether you need fertilizer or other amendments.

    If you have barren soil or a concrete patio, you can buy or build raised beds with purchased soil. Connare said raised beds have advantages such as controlling the soil, but the disadvantages include the cost and the likelihood of compacting soil and eventually needing to replace it.

    After finding the right spot, Comeau said the next step is figuring out how much you have to spend. That determines how big the garden is, whether you sow seeds or buy baby plants known as starts and how many supplies you can afford.

    Another major investment: fencing for pests. That means digging fences into the soil to stop burrowing animals like groundhogs, making them tall to deter deer or installing netting for climbing critters.

    Choosing what to grow and when to start

    What you can grow depends on what falls into your region’s plant hardiness zone. Californians can grow olives more easily than Ohioans, for example.

    Connare recommends finding out what plants are working for your neighbors.

    “They might be able to tell you, ‘I can’t grow a Cherokee tomato here to save my life, but these tie-dye ones do great,’” she said.

    Once you’ve narrowed down what can grow, pick what appeals to you. Kevin Espiritu, founder of Epic Gardening, said he used to advise people to focus on what grows the fastest and easiest, but now he also emphasizes choosing what you like to eat.

    Connare also recommends adding flowers to attract pollinators. Local garden centers are good sources of knowledge about what native plants will attract beneficial insects.

    Espiritu said to figure out the last frost date in your area and plan around that. Many fruits and vegetables are best planted after the frost threat has passed, but some can go in earlier. Cool-season crops like leafy vegetables can tolerate slightly colder temperatures. Seeds can get started indoors weeks before the last frost date.

    Comeau said seed packet labels often provide instructions.

    “The label will tell you when you can start it and when it can go into the ground. Some obviously go right into the ground and some can be started ahead of time,” she said.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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