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Tag: What You Need To Know – NC

  • Sisters pool resources to feed families during SNAP uncertainty

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    “You have the pinto. You have the tomatoes. We’ve got the kidney bean.”

    What You Need To Know

    • Sisters Jeanna and Amanda Peoples usually get SNAP benefits each month

    • Both have yet to see that money for November in their accounts  

    • As the shutdown continues, they have been digging deep in their pantries to feed their families 

    • They also are starting to pool resources to help neighbors in need


    Over the last few weeks, sisters Jeanna and Amanda Peoples have been getting pretty resourceful. 

    The sisters, who live in Lexington, have four children each.

    “If you have four children, each of them eats three meals a day, sometimes two to three snacks a day,” said Jeanna Peoples. “That’s four times everything. Plus, I have to eat.”

    While they usually can find a way to stretch a dollar, earlier this year, Jeanna Peoples had to have hand surgery and lost her job in the process.

    While she’s been trying to get back on her feet, the sisters’ shared resources have been stretched thin.

    “When we do get the food like this, like the bowl, I try to make big meals, like, big pots of chili, chicken, chicken noodle soup, things like that,” said Amanda Peoples. “Like a hearty meal.”

    As the government shutdown reached its second month, neither sister received SNAP benefits for November.

    “At first I wasn’t that nervous, especially because I get my stamps on the third,” said Jeanna Peoples.  “So, I was like, well, I’m not going to get nervous until the third whenever I check it. But I am starting to worry a little bit.”

    They have found odd jobs to help make ends meet and dug deep into their pantries to find some extra items.

    But they are starting to worry about how long this may drag on.

    “I hate it for people who weren’t stocking up,” said Jeanna Peoples. “They were relying on the government and trusting that they would be OK. But it doesn’t look like we are going to be.”

    Still, as their pantries, and even their mother’s pantry empties, they have been encouraged to lean into community.

    “Make friends with your neighbor and maybe they might have the rice, you might have the meat,” said Jeanna Peoples. “You can come together and do potlucks.”

    They said they are hoping that pooling resources can make what little they have stretch to help neighbors as well.

    “Sometimes it’s the little gestures that help somebody out in a big way,” Amanda Peoples said. “There’s never anything too small or too big to ask for, especially in a time like this.”

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

     

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    Courtney Davis

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  • N.C. college helping students affected by shutdown

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    DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — Data shows food insecurity continues to affect college students across the country, an issue heightened by the federal government shutdown.

    A Government Accountability Office report estimates over 3 million students were eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, long before this recent shutdown. But many students reported not receiving those benefits. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Food insecurity continues to affect college students nationwide

    • The issue has been heightened by the recent government shutdown 

    • Many college students rely on SNAP benefits, which have been only partly funded as of Nov. 1

    • One North Carolina college shares how they’re ensuring student needs are taken care of during the shutdown


    The Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey released in 2025, fielded between spring 2023 and summer 2024, found 59% of students nationwide experience at least one form of basic-needs insecurity, connected to food or housing.

    Identifying which students are impacted by the reduction in SNAP funding can be difficult task for some higher education institutions.

    A North Carolina community college has taken steps to raise awareness about services and resources, so students can focus on academics and not their next meal.

    Davidson-Davie Community College’s vice president of student affairs Keisha Jones is supporting staff and faculty with helping nearly 4,700 students flourish along their academic journey.

    Jones notified employees on Oct. 30 about the potential SNAP funding stoppage and possible effects it could have on students.

    Jones said the message was meant to raise awareness about resources in place to support students, like the food pantry, so their academic pursuits would continue uninterrupted.

     “Something like SNAP benefits being taken away from certain people, it could impact the way they show up in the classroom,” Jones said. “Helping faculty and staff really think about signs I should be looking for that [a] student may be in distress, what are resources I can notify my entire class about [and] not singling anyone out. We provide a lot of resources to our students that they are aware or not aware of.”

    “Ways the faculty and staff could potentially donate through the foundation if they wanted to add to what we already have. We also connect students to community resources [like] additional food pantries to get support from,” Jones said.  

    That guidance has helped instructors better respond to students’ needs.

    Assistant professor of mathematics Kevin Eagan said the college’s leadership has encouraged flexibility and awareness as students navigate uncertainty of the shutdown.

    “It helped me feel supported to support them,” Eagan said. “Sometimes, you feel like you don’t really know what to say to a student, but not the case here.”

    Eagan said that simply offering understanding during a tough time can make a difference for a student.

    “I’ve noticed a couple of things and try to be really flexible as an instructor and understanding,” Eagan said. “Our students, they’re so hard-working, I know sometimes just to give them a little bit of flexibility is all they’re going to need and give them support so they can succeed.”

    For weeks, student volunteers at Davidson-Davie have been stocking shelves at the Storm Food Pantry as more learners turn to it for help during the shutdown.

    “We are stocked up for any student to come and utilize if they are in need,” said Katrina Prickett, a student and pantry volunteer. “We service students daily. Me going through this myself, I can relate to the disadvantages people may be going through right now.”

    The food pantry served nearly 500 students in 2024, double the previous year’s total.

    Staff said they’re on pace for another record season, as more students turn to the pantry for help.

    “We have seen a tremendous increase in student use of the food pantry since the government shutdown and lack of SNAP benefits,” said Lynne Watts, director of student life and leadership at Davidson-Davie. “I understand there may be some partial benefits coming this month, however, some food is not nearly enough food, especially when college students are left to decide between finding their next meal and studying for an exam.”

    “Food should not be a luxury and today, sadly, many college students are in a position where that’s exactly what their reality is,” Watts said.

    Prickett said for her, the college has become a trusted, reliable resource for students trying to overcome so much. 

    “Once I notified staff here at the school that I had [something] going on, they sprung into action to connect me to those resources,” Prickett said. “Coming from someone that has little to no support already, I fit right in here. They have felt like my family.”

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

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • Head Start programs face financial challenges as government shutdown continues

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

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Lumbees push for federal recognition in Senate hearing

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

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

    Designation would make the tribe eligible for additional federal dollars.

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    But seeking recognition through Congress is controversial.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Reuben Jones

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  • Mecklenburg Co. voters pass sales tax increase for transit improvements

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Voters in Mecklenburg County have passed a one-cent sales tax increase to fund transportation improvements over 30 years. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Voters in Mecklenburg County passed a sales tax increase in Tuesday’s election to fund transportation improvements over the next 30 years

    • The sales tax will increase from 7.25% to 8.25% starting July 1, 2026

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

    • Prior to Election Day, supporters said it would bring better transit options while opponents argued the cost would impact low-income families 


    Beginning July 1, 2026, the sales tax will increase from 7.25% to 8.25%, which the city of Charlotte estimates will be about $19 more a month per household. 

    The tax will fund the 2055 Transit System Plan, according to Charlotte Area Transit interim CEO Brent Cagle, which includes rail construction, road improvements, and better bus and microtransit service. 

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

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

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

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

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

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    Estephany Escobar, Spectrum News Staff

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

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

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Arin Cotel-Altman

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

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Estephany Escobar

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

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

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Arin Cotel-Altman

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  • ‘Dignity Drive‘ helps shelters across Mecklenburg County

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina woman is using her time and money to help tackle homelessness in her community.

    Tracy Grant bought and collected more than 200 pairs of underwear for the homeless women in Mecklenburg County. She laid them out at the Salvation Army Center of Hope in Charlotte as part of their “Dignity Drive” while explaining why she chose these items.

    What You Need To Know

    • Tracy Grant donates hundreds of pairs of underwear, socks and hygiene products to homeless shelters

    • The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte says these items are often forgotten and can provide a sense of dignity to those looking to get back on their feet

    • After seeing the need, Grant is making this a quarterly drive

    • You can drop off donations at the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 534 Spratt Street in Charlotte


    “We don’t think about it, but underwear is essential to women for one thing. It’s part of good health, part of good hygiene,” Grant said.

    She said, it’s not something most people think to donate, but can make a big difference. “I think having clean underwear is just what helps boost their self-confidence, and no one should have to go without,” Grant said.

    Along with underwear, Tracy has dozens of individually packaged hygiene products, including sanitary napkins and body wipes.

    It’s not just the women’s shelter. Grant also dropped off over 250 dozen pairs of socks at the Roof Above Howard Levine Men’s Shelter just weeks prior. It’s another item that’s rarely donated, Grant said, but one that’s important.

    “Some people like to sleep in socks, and your feet are one of the most important things on your body. So we need to take care of our feet,” Grant said.

    She explained these things could help people feel dignified while they find housing and eventually a job and a home.

    “I’ve had a lot of people I know that have had success,” Grant said. “So I know it works. It just takes time. It just takes patience. It just takes giving. It just takes conversations, and it just takes grace.”

    The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte Area commander Major Andrew Wiley says he sees the change through these acts of kindness.

    “We’ve just in the last two weeks had two of our residents who have secured jobs,” he said. “Nobody’s thinking about the things that we’re seeing here today. And so this is incredibly exciting for me to see an individual who saw a need and was willing to step up and do something about it, and a need that many times is forgotten.”

    After realizing the great need in the community, Grant has decided to make her “Dignity Drive” a quarterly one to help shelters across Mecklenburg County.

    “We can all be a servant. We can all give back, whether it’s your time, whether it’s your resources. No matter what it is, I think that we all have something to give to someone else,” Grant said.

    Grant’s next donation collection will be in November. If you’d like to help, you can drop off donations at the Salvation Army Center of Hope at 534 Spratt Street in Charlotte.

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    Britni McDonald

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  • Eastern N.C. representatives debate political future with new map

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    One of the members of Congress most impacted by North Carolina’s new congressional map has made a decision about his political future while the other is debating what congressional district to run in.

    What You Need To Know

    • U.S. Reps. Don Davis and Greg Murphy are most affected by North Carolina’s new congressional map

    • Murphy, a Republican, is going to run in District 3, but Davis, a Democrat, hasn’t decided whether he’ll run in the District 1 or District 3

    • North Carolina GOP lawmakers who redrew the map in the middle of the decade say they aim to to gain another House seat for Republicans 

    The two members most impacted are Democrat Rep. Don Davis, who represents District 1, and Rep. Greg Murphy, a Republican who represents District 3. Both districts are in eastern North Carolina.

    The new map swaps a number of counties, resulting in District 1 becoming much more Republican and harder for Davis to win and District 3 losing some of its Republican counties but still remaining a pretty solid Republican district.

    On Wednesday Murphy announced that, despite major changes to the district, he will run for reelection in District 3. 

    “This has been very hard. I’ll be very open about that because literally the new state maps split the district right in half,” Murphy told Spectrum News 1. “I’m a data person. We went down and did the data and looked at a lot of this stuff and I’m going to run as the incumbent in District 3.”

    Murphy said he was disappointed there were so many changes to his current district resulting in the coastal counties moving into District 1. Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico and Onslow counties move from District 3 to District 1. 

    “I wasn’t happy about it. I’ll be very transparent about that. These are interests I’ve represented for a very long time,” Murphy said. “This is kind of like many times you’re all of a sudden with somebody, with all these groups and then arbitrary lines change it the other way.”

    Murphy said the White House didn’t have influence on what district he decided to run in.

    “They came and gave us an idea this was going to be redistricted,” Murphy said. “But they were going to support me regardless of where I went. They’re supporting me as the individual, not as a district person, which I appreciate tremendously. And so they had no undue influence on as to where I was going to pick.” 

    Davis is also debating his political future. In an interview with Spectrum News 1 he said he hasn’t decided what district he will run in.

    “We’re going to look at both districts, which we’re in the process of beginning to do,” Davis said. “We’re going to look at all kinds of factors, analysis.”

    Under the new map the 1st District doesn’t include Wilson, Lenoir or Wayne counties. It also doesn’t include Green County, where Davis lives.

    Davis said he hopes to make a decision in the “near future.”

    In a statement after the General Assembly’s vote on Wednesday, Davis called it “one of the darkest moments of our state’s history.”

    “This is not what people want. People want us to stay focused on their issues,” Davis told Spectrum News 1.

    The Republican-controlled General Assembly took up mid-decade redistricting following similar actions by other states. Texas started the process after urging from President Donald Trump.

    The new North Carolina map results in 11 districts heavily favored for Republicans and three for Democrats. That’s despite many political analysts who label the state as a toss-up or lean Republican.  

    If Davis decides to run in District 3 it would result in a matchup between two incumbents: Davis and Murphy.

    “This decision was made solely upon what I believe, what my team believed was best for us. If there is a big matchup, I think it’s unfortunate. Don and I are on friendly terms, but you know it is what it is. That’s what politics is all about,” Murphy said. 

    “I would say that Rep. Murphy, he’s been in tune and we’ve actually worked on issues together,” Davis said. “But at the end of the day, this is now about looking at the map and allowing a route that we believe best represents the voice of the people of eastern North Carolina and so everyone can be heard. To me all options are on the table.”

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    Reuben Jones

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  • Lexington Barbecue Festival returns

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    LEXINGTON,N.C. — Lexington’s 41st Barbecue Festival gets underway Saturday. 

    The event attracts close to 200,000 people who come out every year to sample some of the sweetest, spiciest and most savory barbecue the region has to offer. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The Lexington Barbecue Festival features Lexington-style barbecue prepared by local restaurants, a vendor fair, live performances and games

    • Close to 200,000 people from across the country attend the annual event

    • Organizers say it is the community’s largest economic driver

    Lexington Tourism Authority executive director Morgan Brinkle said barbecue is built into the city’s traditions.

    “It is said that that’s how the judge was back in the late 1800s, early 1900s knew to break for lunch, just because he could smell the smoke coming from the barbecue pits back here,” she said while walking “Barbecue Alley.”

    Now, each year the city celebrates at the Lexington Barbecue Festival. The day has become the community’s largest event of the year.

    “Most of the people that do come to our barbecue festival come from out of town, and we get people from all over the United States. This is a huge economic driver for the city. We have historically had as many as 200,000 people come out to this festival,” Brinkle said.

    Brinkle said the town gets into in prep mode ahead of the event. 

    “We work all year long promoting the barbecue festival. As soon as one ends, we start on the next one to promote it,” she said. “The city, the sponsors, the festival managers, everyone who has anything to do with the festival is prepping, all the barbecue restaurants, of course.”

    The Barbecue Center has provided food for all 41 years of the festival and is one of the event’s longest-running participating restaurants. 

    Owner Cecil Conrad said the event helps bring in customers and visitors to the city all year long.

    “It’s over $10 million for a single day in Lexington. It’s great for us, great for our community. And it certainly helps us with our business, and it helps other people in town as well,” Conrad said.

    The festival is in Uptown Lexington.

    Exhibits start at 8:30 a.m. Saturday with barbecue tents opening at 10 a.m.

    Free parking and shuttles will operate from Childress Vineyards and Walmart Supercenter.

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    Sasha Strong

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  • New tariffs impact High Point Furniture Market

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    HIGH POINT, N.C. — Over the next five days, 75,000 people are expected to visit “The Furniture Capital of the World,” High Point, for the Fall Furniture Market. 

    “This is the most important furniture show in the world,” said Eduardo Perez, president and CEO of Adriana Hoyos. 

    What You Need To Know

    • More than 75,000 people are expected to attend the High Point Furniture Market

    • It has a $6.7 billion impact on North Carolina’s economy

    • There’s a 25% tariff on imported vanities, kitchen cabinets as well as upholstered chairs, seats and sofas


    It’s considered to have the biggest economic impact of any event in North Carolina. 

    “$6.7 billion comes​​ to our state economy as a result of this show being here twice a year,” said Tammy Covington, president and CEO of the High Point Market Authority. “It’s great for our city. Market is in High Point’s DNA. We love to welcome our furniture friends back to High Point.”

    The semiannual event gives furniture industry leaders the chance to network with and collaborate with their peers and clients. Attendees can visit showrooms, learn key insights from industry experts and check out the latest home furnishings and trends. 

    “It’s about the brand,” Perez said. “It’s about the lifestyle. It’s about presenting what we think overall, that design is about. It’s about creating spaces, it’s not only about product.” 

    The fall market comes at an interesting time for the furniture industry. President Donald Trump recently imposed tariffs on specific wood products and components, citing national security and foreign trade practice concerns. Currently there’s a 25% tariff on imported vanities and kitchen cabinets as well as upholstered chairs, seats and sofas. Those tariffs could increase in the new year. 

    “Challenges are part of life,” Perez said. “It is what it is. We’re going to be very creative. In order to handle the tariffs, we manufacture in Ecuador as a fact. We are a vertically integrated company, perhaps like no other. We even have the forests. We grow our own trees. What we’re thinking now is also complementing our manufacturing here in the states.”

    “Retailers are exploring their options in terms of what’s out there and really understanding how our exhibitors are responding to the tariff issue,” Covington said. “The great thing about High Point is we’re where those conversations happen.”

    Industry leaders remain optimistic during this time of uncertainty. 

    “I really like that we can cooperate and give to the American market the best possible furniture as it used to be, the best quality,” Perez said.

    “I don’t anticipate it having any issues for April because folks really need to have exposure to this product,” Covington said. “They need to know what their options are in terms of sourcing, and High Point is where you do that.”

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Shepherd and amputee enters N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Getting her sheep lined up and ready to go, Ellen Mabry is preparing for the livestock competition. She’s been showing sheep at the North Carolina State Fair for over 30 years and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. 

    What You Need To Know

    • Ellen Mabry has been showing sheep at the North Carolina State Fair for over 30 years

    • She’s an amputee and lost her leg in 2013 due to an infection

    • After losing her leg, she continued to show sheep competitively at the state fair

    • Mabry was inducted into the State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame 


    “I like to be competitive, and I like to see what we’ve grown and how it does against other people,” Mabry said.

    But she isn’t like most sheep show competitors. She’s an amputee and uses her scooter to show her sheep. 

    “I just went and took the sheep in the ring and … led him around. I got cheers that day for showing with a mobility cart,” Mabry said.

    She lost her leg over a decade ago due to an infection and has adapted to competing with one leg.  

    “I really don’t consider myself handicapped. I drive with my leg,” Mabry said.

    Showing sheep is a family affair — her husband, daughter and son-in-law all help out.

    “I’m so proud of her. Like, I remember when she lost her leg. I was afraid that she wouldn’t be my mom when she woke up, and she wouldn’t be able to do the things that she did prior. But that hasn’t been the case,” said Mabry’s daughter, Lauren Bell.

    Not only is her family proud of her but so is the state fair community. That’s why she was inducted into the N.C. State Fair Livestock Hall of Fame this year. 

    “I’m really excited. And being a female, even more excited because, you know, it’s been dominated by men for years. And it’s quite an honor, I think,” Mabry said.

    If you want to see Mabry’s sheep and other animals, you can check them out at the fair through Sunday.

     

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    Kennedy Chase

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Reuben Jones

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  • New DMV option allows teens to get provisional license without the long wait

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    SHELBY, N.C. — Teen drivers in North Carolina have a way to take an important step toward getting their license without having to go to the DMV office.

    What You Need To Know

    • Teens trying to advance to a Level 2 limited provisional license can now take their road tests with a certified private driving school
    • At least 25 private driving schools are currently certified in North Carolina
    • The NCDMV says the new initiative aims to lower wait times at driver’s license offices


    The North Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles announced in October that teens trying to advance to a Level 2 limited provisional license can now do so by taking their road tests with a certified private driving school.

    Safe Lane Driving School in Shelby is one of at least 25 certified schools across the state.

    “Pretty neat to be one of the first schools to be able to give those road tests,” owner Phillip Glover said.

    The recent change made by the state DMV gives teens and parents a choice to skip the DMV office and gives them more flexibility since certified driving schools can do the test on nights and weekends.

    “Also, it gives a relief to the DMV employees, that they don’t have to leave the office and do the work,” Glover said. “And they don’t have to be out of the office for 20 minutes to go do a road test.”

    The NCDMV says the new initiative aims to lower wait times at driver’s license offices.

    The change adds not only convenience but also comfort. Some teens may be able to take what may be a stressful test with a familiar face.

    “Just talking to some of the teens already that have taken the road test through us, the stress level of coming here doesn’t exist for them,” Glover said. “They felt better about [the test].”

    As more people learn about this change, Glover thinks demand will only increase.

    “I think it was a great idea that the commissioner and the governor came up with, thinking outside of the box of how we can improve the DMV for the citizens of North Carolina,” Glover said. “And I think they’re going in the right step.”

    This change comes as the state is making other improvements at the DMV. That includes the sign-in process, which now allows drivers to watch their place in line on their phones and receive a text when it’s their time to come back to the office.

    They’ve also added nearly 65 examiners, thanks to the mini-budget passed by the legislature in the summer.

    A new law also allows eligible North Carolina drivers without a Real ID to renew their licenses online, which a spokesperson with the NCDMV says about 4,000 drivers took advantage of on the first day.

    For a full list of certified driving schools in North Carolina, click here.

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    Nick Buffo

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  • ‘No Kings’ marchers united in Charlotte, calling for change

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Uptown Charlotte was filled with chants, flags and handmade signs Saturday as part of the nationwide “No Kings 2” rallies, protesting policies under President Donald Trump’s administration.

    What You Need To Know

    •  “No Kings” rallies took place Saturday across the nation

    •  Several organizers led events in North Carolina

    •  In Charlotte, demonstrators marched through Uptown voicing their concerns about the Trump administration



    House Speaker Republican Mike Johnson criticized the national protests, calling them “hate America” rallies

    “I’m not sure how anybody can refute that,” Johnson said.

    Dozens of cities across North Carolina saw marches and rallies, including Raleigh and Charlotte.

    Indivisible Charlotte and community partners organized a march from First Ward Park through Uptown.

    Hardin Minor is the founder of Charlotte Earth Day. Minor is singing and showing his love for America ahead of the “No Kings” rally at First Ward Park. (Spectrum News 1/Jennifer Roberts)

    Organizers said the focus was on peaceful expression and unity, where participants could safely exercise their First Amendment rights.

    “We want people to come and feel safe in the environment of speaking out and being heard, taking [an important] part in their community,” said Tony Siracusa, the group’s media director.

    Siracusa said the organization worked with Charlotte-Mecklenburg police for nearly two months to ensure the events occurred safely and peacefully. 

    Organizers also estimated growing turnout since the first “No Kings” rally in June.

    Siracusa said more than 3,000 people registered online for the previous event, with an estimated 7,000 attending.

    He said registration for this weekend’s march was up 33%.

    “There’s no telling how sizeable the crowd can be,” Siracusa said.

    Among those marching was Hardin Minor, founder and director of Charlotte Earth Day.

    Minor said one reason he joined the march is concern over environmental decisions made by the current administration.

    “It just seems a little bit backward thinking to me for some of the actions that are taking place,” Minor said.

    Minor was seen proudly dressed in red, white and blue, holding signage that read “We love America.”

    Minor hopes the nationwide marches encourage more people from all backgrounds and political affiliations to unite for the greater good of the country.

    “The American eagle needs two wings to fly, a right wing and a left wing, and a strong center. That’s what it’s all about. We need each other and we want to connect with all of you in America with our positive message of let’s support our country and our democracy together,” Minor said. 

    Indivisible Charlotte organizers said that aside from a few health-related responses, there were no major disruptions during the event.

    The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department has not yet released information about crowd size or emergency calls tied to the rally.

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    Jennifer Roberts

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  • ‘No Kings’ protest held along Capital Boulevard in Raleigh

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Protesters lined Capital Boulevard in Raleigh on Saturday afternoon as part of a “No Kings” protest, part of a series of demonstrations across the United States on Saturday by critics of Republican President Donald Trump and his administration. 

    What You Need To Know

    • A “No Kings” protest took place Saturday on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh

    • Charlotte and other cities across the United States saw similar demonstrations

    • Organizers of the “No Kings” protests express opposition to what they see as President Donald Trump’s authoritarian policies



    “I was out here for the first one and I couldn’t wait to be out here for the second one,” said Jackie Alces, a protester. The rally Saturday is the third mass mobilization and the second “No Kings” protest since Trump was elected to his second term as president.

    “It is energizing to see like-minded people,” Alces said. “I tried to get more of my like-minded people to come out and they were hesitant. They’re afraid that something’s going to happen. Like we are peacefully protesting, we are not here to cause problems.”

    Car horns and other noisemakers filled the air while protesters waved signs and chanted messages along the busy street. One woman who is the daughter and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors says it was important to be out there.

    “People here are saying it’ll never happen, but it’s happening,” said Catherine Tabor. “I have my mom and grandma’s passport. When you first walk in my house, that’s the first thing you see. I have it in a shadow box right by the front door. And I think about them all the time.”

    Not everyone who was there was in favor of the protest. Some stopped by to see what was going on. 

    “It made me curious,” said Rex Caesar, who stopped by the protest. “I wanted to see some people’s opinions on why they’re anti-Trump, and we’ve been able to talk to a few people. It’s definitely cool to hear people’s experiences and what they feel about Trump and really just hear them out.”

    Others say they were there to make their voices heard.  

    “I feel that if we don’t put our voices out there, we’re complicit with … what they’re doing, and I’m not happy with what they’re doing,” said Alces.

    Republican supporters of Trump have dubbed the protests “Hate America” rallies, and the North Carolina GOP on Saturday called on Democrats to end the federal government shutdown.

    “Far-left radical Democrats shut down the federal government to brag at these events they shut down the government to stop President Trump,” Matt Mercer of the N.C. GOP said in a statement. “Democrats must stop holding the government hostage at the expense of military service members, low-income families, and federal law enforcement.”

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    Zach Tucker

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  • High Point school closes after state revokes its charter

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    HIGH POINT, N.C. — What once was a place to learn is now quiet. The Triad International Studies Academy in High Point closed this week after losing its charter. 

    What You Need To Know

    • The North Carolina Charter School Review Board revoked the Triad International Studies Academy’s on Oct. 6 for failure to meet minimum enrollment standards

    • State law requires charter schools to have a minimum of 80 students 

    • TISA, which had only 45 students, closed this week



    “I wish we were given the opportunity to save the school before it was too late,” said Breanne Kraft, whose daughter attended TISA.

    The North Carolina Charter School Review Board during its meeting Oct. 6 revoked the school’s charter after it failed to meet enrollment standards. State law requires charter schools to have at least 80 students. TISA had only 45. 

    Kraft’s daughter, who is autistic, was a kindergarten student at TISA. Kraft says her daughter enjoyed the immersive language program offered at the school.

    “My daughter speaks a little bit of Spanish at home, but being here in this environment helped her Spanish improve and get better,” Kraft said. “Her favorite subject was Chinese.”

    Kraft was surprised when she received the message about the school’s closure. 

    “They just suddenly said, hey, the charter review board voted to close our school,” Kraft said. “They said they’re going to give us until maybe Dec. 30, but it could be sooner than that. We may have to help you transfer your kids out of the school. It was very like, where did this come from?”

    The TISA board has since released a statement thanking students, families and the TISA team for their support. “Our team remains committed to serving and supporting our community in other capacities,” it says. 

    “I haven’t been given time to really do as much research as I did before school started,” Kraft said. “For me, I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t know. I’ve had other parents and people saying, ‘Oh, we’ll help you find another school,’ but for me, it’s like, I feel like I’m throwing my kid who developed bonds with their teachers and their fellow students into a school that I don’t know if it’s right for her.”

    In response to a question about whether TISA could reopen in the future, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction said: “The board for TISA could decide to reapply in future application cycles. There is no prohibition against that.” 

    “I wish that they would actually come by the school and see how great my kid and other kids are doing in the school, rather than most kids do in other schools,” Kraft said. “I wanted them to see for themselves that they’re making a mistake.”

    TISA is still planning on holding a free medical clinic Nov. 8.

    Data from the Department of Public Instruction shows there are 220 active charter schools in North Carolina, which supported almost 150,000 students during the 2024-25 school year. Fourteen charter applications were submitted this year for schools that would open in 2026 or 2027.

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    Zach Tucker

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  • Local teacher supplement increase to be discussed after contentious letter

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

    What You Need To Know

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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    Estephany Escobar

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  • N.C. food bank addressing ‘increased need’ during federal shutdown

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    RALEIGH, N.C. — Weeks into a federal shutdown, furloughed federal workers are starting to feel the pinch.

    Many missed their first paycheck last Friday, and this week some of them showed up to North Carolina food banks looking for help.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina has seen more need in just the last week as the federal shutdown starts to impact furloughed workers

    • Produce is on a 24-hour clock. It comes and goes in less than a day

    • Two years ago the food bank served 450,000 people faced with hunger. This year that number is 600,000

    • Federal workers impacted by the shutdown are seeking food resources in N.C.


    Boxes of produce are flying out of the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh as volunteers load up trucks and prepare pallets of goods for a growing number of North Carolinians.

    “These are real humans. These are not numbers on a spreadsheet,” said Amy Beros, CEO of The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. “This is impacting our neighbors.”

    Beros said the organization has seen more need in just the last week as the federal shutdown starts to impact furloughed workers.

    The produce here is on a 24-hour clock. It comes and goes in less than a day.

    “We’re definitely seeing an increased need already from the shutdown, especially from our federal workers who just missed their first paycheck,” Beros said.

    Many of those people, Beros said, have never used a food bank before.

    “We got an email on Monday from someone, a father who said, ‘I’m a federal worker. I missed my paycheck this week, and I have five children. I don’t know how I’m going to put food on the table. Where can I go?’” Beros said.

    It comes as the food bank deals with increasing need in the 34 counties it serves.

    Two years ago, the bank served 450,000 people faced with hunger. This year that number is 600,000.

    In response to the shutdown, the food bank is connecting with local organizations to set up direct food distributions and pop-up markets for federal workers.

    “We know it’s hard to ask for help, but we want to make it as easy as possible for them to get the help that they need,” Beros said.

    As the nonprofit navigates the increased need, it’s calling on federal lawmakers to find a solution to the shutdown and address food insecurity nationwide.

    “These programs that have been cut are going to drastically increase the need and impact the health of our communities,” Beros said. “We also believe that the government shutdown is going to do more harm to our community. We need people to act and ask their leaders to come together and have these conversations.”

    The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina said it’s seeing more people visiting its facilities and asking for food directly, unsure of where to go.

    Food bank officials said a higher cost of living is contributing to the increased need.

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    Marshall Keely

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