Tag: What You Need To Know – NC

AAA shares tips for smooth spring break travels
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RALEIGH, N.C. – Snag your sunhat and put school on the shelf, because spring break season is getting underway across North Carolina, and AAA predicts a surge in travelers this year.
What You Need To Know

AAA predicts 44% more North Carolinians are planning to take vacations this year than in 2023

AAA reports the most popular period to travel is from March through July

Experts recommend planning trips and not waiting for last-minute deals
According to AAA Carolina’s Tiffany Wright, the upcoming spring break marks the beginning of a surge in travel for 2024.

“We expect that spring break is going to kick off what is already a huge travel season for 2024,” Wright said. “After a recent survey, we found that 89% of North Carolinians are planning to travel this year, which is a 44% increase from last year.”

With travel on the horizon, people are exploring various modes of transportation, including air, sea and road travel. Wright says popular destinations domestically include Florida, while international travel to cities like Rome, Paris and Dublin have seen a notable uptick.

However, Wright advises travelers not to procrastinate when it comes to booking.

“It’s going to be busy out there,” she said. “So I think it’s very important to book now. Don’t wait around for those last-minute deals.”

Booking early not only ensures availability but also helps travelers navigate any unforeseen challenges they may encounter along the way. She also says the expertise of travel agents can be particularly beneficial.

Despite the excitement surrounding travel, there’s a sobering reality at the gas pump. Wright warns that motorists can expect to pay a bit more this year, with gas prices 5 to 10 cents higher per gallon than the previous year. Factors such as low temperatures leading to increased road trips have contributed to the rise in prices.

As North Carolinians gear up for spring break adventures, the advice is clear: Plan ahead, book early and be prepared for a memorable travel experience.
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Sarah Rudlang

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March 17, 2024
Daycare director charged with child abuse
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A North Carolina community is reeling after a daycare director was charged with child abuse.
What You Need To Know

A daycare facility director faces several offenses of misdemeanor child abuse

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) arrest warrant states the director created a substantial risk for the children

Community members say they’re in shock after learning about the child abuse charge
According to Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department arrest warrants, Midwood Learning Academy facility director Leslye Denise Torrence faces several offenses of misdemeanor child abuse.

The documents state in February, Torrence created a substantial risk transporting the children in a vehicle without a car seat or seat belt, with the rear driver’s side door left open while the vehicle was in motion.

The Division of Child Development and Early Education at the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) suspended the license for one of the daycare facility buildings.

The DHHS order states they received information related to the health and safety of children at the daycare. Based on that information, the Division of Child Development and Early Education determined emergency action is required to protect the health, safety and welfare of children.

Midwood Learning Academy is located on Central Avenue, close to many businesses and residential homes.

Spectrum News 1 spoke with several people on and off camera about the incident. Many expressed shock about a daycare worker being charged with child abuse charges.

One woman, Cristie, did not want to share her last name, but lives near the daycare facility.

Cristie said it’s concerning to learn someone who has the responsibility to keep kids safe is accused of putting the children in harm’s way.

“It’s sad,” Cristie said. “I work in the children’s hospital, so I’m around kids. We as adults are supposed to protect these babies. You would think they’re in a daycare. They’re supposed to be safe.”

Spectrum News 1 attempted to speak with employees at the daycare about the incident. However, our news reporter was told to leave the property.

Additional updates on this story will be covered by Spectrum News 1.
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Jennifer Roberts

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March 13, 2024
Booze It & Lose It campaign set for week ending in St. Patrick’s Day
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RALEIGH, N.C. – You may be feeling lucky this St. Patrick’s Day, but law enforcement all across North Carolina doesn’t want motorists to take any chances by driving impaired.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s St. Patrick’s Day Booze It & Lose It campaign runs March 11-17.
What You Need To Know

Increased law enforcement will be out on the roads for a Booze It & Lose It campaign March 11-17

The campaign is one of at least a dozen put on by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program to reduce crashes and promote highway safety awareness

Five people were killed in alcohol-related crashes on North Carolina roads during St. Patrick’s Day last year, GHSP Director Mark Ezzell says
The Governor’s Highway Safety Program coordinates at least a dozen campaigns each year to promote traffic safety along North Carolina roads.

While the focus of this campaign is on impaired drivers, GHSP Director Mark Ezzell says his agency focuses on all things traffic safety during the year.

“We also try to do similar campaigns around speeding or seatbelt use or things of that nature to help address issues around driving safety in North Carolina,” Ezzell said. “We know that last year regarding alcohol-related crashes, we lost 357 people on our roads and we lost five during the course of the St Patrick’s Day week, this time last year.”

You’ll not only see increased law enforcement presence, but also additional DWI checkpoints.

That presence will be seen on rural roads as well, areas Ezzell says have become dangerous with increased growth across the state.

“Surrounding metropolitan areas that are growing. And as a result, those rural roads and those local areas are growing. And sometimes the roads were built not for that kind of population explosion that we see,” Ezzell said.

“If you look at the statistics, rural roads are two and a half times more likely to have a traffic-related fatality than urban,” he said.

Ezzell says the campaign will work to keep people safe across the state while educating the public on responsible behavior both on and off the roadways.
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Sarah Rudlang

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March 10, 2024
N.C. man challenges death sentence through repealed Racial Justice Act
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RALEIGH, N.C. — A Raleigh man and nearly 100 others sentenced to death in North Carolina are hoping to get their sentences overturned as part of the state’s repealed Racial Justice Act.

A hearing was held Monday for 37-year-old Hassan Bacote, a Black man convicted of murder and sentenced to death in Johnston County by a majority-white jury in 2009.

The hearings began last week with Bacote’s legal team claiming a pattern of discrimination in jury selection in Johnston County and across North Carolina.
What You Need To Know

Expert historians took the stand Monday in Hassan Bacote’s effort to have his death sentence overturned

Samuel Sommers of Tufts University described how racial bias can affect decision-making in the criminal justice system

The state’s Racial Justice Act, which was repealed in 2013, allowed those on death row to challenge their sentence if race played a significant role in the judgment
Expert historians Samuel Sommers from Tufts University and Crystal Sanders, a professor at Emory University and a Johnston County native, both testified about how there can be racial discrimination in the legal system — even if it’s subtle.

Bacote is looking to get off death row through the Racial Justice Act, a law passed in 2009 then revoked in 2013. It allowed those on death row to challenge their sentence if race played a significant role in the judgment.

Executive director of the Center for Death Penalty Litigation Gretchen Engel says the RJA was about dealing with covert discrimination.

“That sort of subtle, it’s under the radar,” Engel said.

In 2020, the North Carolina Supreme Court ruled that all lawsuits brought under the RJA before its repeal could still move forward.

“My hope is that people understand the truth is being revealed, and that they not look away,” Engel said.

Samuel Sommers took the stand to explain how racial bias can have an impact on decision-making in schools, the workplace and the criminal justice system.

Defense attorney Ken Rose says these expert testimonies are vital in hearings like this because studies show racial discrimination does happen.

“Those studies all converged to suggest that prosecutors do, in fact, use race, sometimes not consciously, sometimes unconsciously, to exclude African American jurors,” Rose said.
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Jatrissa Wooten

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March 9, 2024
Study reveals financial security disparities women face
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A study shows fewer women in the U.S. feel financially secure or confident in their retirement readiness plan than men.
What You Need To Know

During Women’s History Month, Spectrum News 1 is looking at disparities women face when it comes to building generational wealth

A 2023 study from Northwestern Mutual reveals fewer women in the U.S. feel financially secure or confident in their retirement readiness plan than men

That study shows four in 10 women feel financially secure and 44% think they will be financially prepared for retirement, while 61% of men feel they will be financially prepared for retirement

Gen Z and millennial women are more optimistic than previous generations about the future and most likely to say their financial planning needs improvement, the study found
Northwestern Mutual’s Planning and Progress Study in 2023 found four in 10 U.S. women feel financially secure and 44% think they will be financially prepared for retirement. Sixty-one percent of men feel they will be financially prepared for retirement.

The study also found Gen Z and millennial women are more optimistic about the future than older generations and most likely to say their financial planning needs improvement.

Martha Cooper Hudson, an adviser with Northwestern Mutual in Charlotte, says there are many barriers women face, such as the pay gap, while trying to gain generational wealth.

“For women, certain life factors can alter their financial plans compared to their male counterparts. Life expectancy, retirement age, maternity leave, caregiving responsibilities and a variety of other considerations ultimately influence how many women prepare for their financial futures,” Cooper Hudson said.

She recommends women keep the following points in mind when asking for a pay raise:
- Provide evidence of positive performance and successes to validate why a raise is deserved
- Instead of asking for a raise spontaneously, decide when raises and promotions are typically discussed and reevaluated at your company and plan accordingly
- Keep the conversation about yourself and your salary private rather than discussing and comparing coworker salaries
- Rather than accepting a promotion without a raise, do not be afraid to have a discussion about also getting a raise. It’s important to keep in mind that promotions may be necessary to get a raise – these tend to be higher than performance-based raises
Cooper Hudson says there have been successes with women in business and finance.

“Women are opening up businesses at rates higher than their male counterparts. According to eCommerceTips.org, women owned 42% of businesses in the U.S. Between 2014 and 2019, the number of companies owned by women grew by 21%, while all businesses increased by only 9%. Women of color own 50% of women-owned businesses in the U.S.,” she said.
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Siobhan Riley

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March 3, 2024
ECU baseball player makes history after life-altering accident
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BUIES CREEK, N.C. — Two years ago, Parker Byrd was one of the best high school baseball players in the country, ranked 126th. He had a promising future with options to head straight to Major League Baseball with a projected late-round draft pick, or he could go to one of the top college baseball programs in the country and build his stock in the NCAA.
What You Need To Know

Parker Byrd of East Carolina University made history as the first Division I baseball player to compete with a prosthetic leg

Byrd was in a boating accident 19 months ago, leading to the amputation of his right leg

Before his accident, Byrd was the 126th top-ranked high school baseball player in the country

ECU is ranked 11th in the country by D1 Baseball
But 19 months ago, Parker Byrd’s life was changed when he was involved in a boating accident when tubing with his friends. The East Carolina baseball commit lost his right leg in an amputation procedure that created the possibility he would never walk again.

“You know, his mom told him pretty early on, there’s no D-1 guy that’s ever played the game with a prosthetic leg. You could be the first,” Parker Byrd’s dad, Jeff Byrd, said. “I went to Dick’s and bought him a five-pound, actually a 10-pound weight, and he was so weak, he couldn’t even pick up 10 pounds, but I made him start working out in the hospital, because we didn’t want him to quit, we didn’t want him to lose his fight.”

“And as soon as he got home from the hospital, he said, let’s go to the cage,” Jeff Byrd said. “He was in a wheelchair, and he went to the cage in a wheelchair, and all he wanted to do was track pitches, and from that moment, he has figured out what it has taken to get back to this moment right here.”

The moment Jeff Byrd was referring to was the fourth game of the 2024 college baseball season, just a few days following a historic moment in sports.

In game one, Parker Byrd became the first Division I baseball player to compete in a game with a prosthetic leg. He drew a walk Feb. 16 in his team’s win over Rider.

“My family, my mom, kind of implied early on in my accident, she told me keep going, there always has to be a first, why couldn’t it be me, so kind of ever since then, I believed in this dream and knew that one day, it would come true,” Parker Byrd said.

His dream of playing major league baseball may have changed, but now he’s on a path to inspire others.

“Show people I can still play baseball, and just because I lost some limbs doesn’t mean my life is over,” Parker Byrd said. “People that have limb differentials and prosthetics are still athletes.”

For Jeff Byrd, watching his son play baseball again has been awe-inspiring.

“Nineteen months ago, we never thought this day would happen. And just to be able to get in the car and drive to a game, the possibility he could get in the game, is always a big moment for me and his mom and his two sisters just to know he’s back in the game,” Jeff Byrd said. “Aside from the birth of my three children, it was probably the greatest moment of my life. I never thought I’d see him step in the box again.”

Parker Byrd will continue to practice and play for the Pirates as they look to compete for a national championship. His family and friends will be there with him every step of the way, as he looks to become a baseball para-Olympic athlete in the future.
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Evan Abramson

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February 24, 2024
High School Scholar Elijah Wilson has a love of numbers and helping others
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Elijah Wilson loves math.

In the last few years, his love for numbers has helped him find a new passion, tutoring at the Nest Academy, a private school for refugee, underprivileged and at-risk kids in East Charlotte.

Wilson says his family started volunteering at the Nest Academy soon after they opened their doors.

“I’ve always liked volunteering as I’ve grown up,” said Wilson. “Just helping others gives you that sense of purpose in life.”
What You Need To Know

Elijah Wilson loves math

He also has found a passion for volunteering

The Nest Academy asked Elijah to come help tutor math to kids in need

The opportunity has opened Elijah’s eyes to not only helping others, but learning about what others are going through
It’s a purpose that grew as he entered high school. The teachers at the Nest Academy say they saw first-hand his ability to work with students.

“He’s passionate about what he’s doing, he cares about the kids, asks them how they are, connects with them,” said Nest Academy founder M.C. Hildreth. “You know, those are the real hidden angels in our community, the ones that really aren’t boasting about what they’re doing, but are really solid in the fact that they know who they are.”

For Wilson, it’s not just about adding another activity to his college applications. It’s also about the satisfaction of getting to see those lightbulb moments when the lessons finally click.

“It’s very rewarding because, like I said, you can feel comfortable and feel more like you’re able to make more of an impact because you have your own skills to share,” said Wilson.

Wilson isn’t sure what school he wants to go to in the fall yet, but he hopes to study chemical engineering. And of course, continue to volunteer wherever he lands.

Wilson was presented with a $1,000 scholarship by North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham (District 112) on behalf of Spectrum Networks, as part of the High School Scholars program.
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Courtney Davis

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February 22, 2024
Man walking across America to highlight walkability issues
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A 26-year-old man is on an epic journey across the country.
What You Need To Know

Holden Ringer is walking from Washington State to Washington D.C.

Ringer is raising money for America Walks, an organization dedicated to increasing walkability across the U.S.

So far, Ringer walked about 3,700 miles through 13 states since March 2023
Holden Ringer is walking coast to coast in hopes of educating cities about the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety.

“So far, I’ve walked through Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and now we’re in the Tar Heel state of North Carolina,” Ringer said as he walked along Independence Boulevard in Charlotte.

Ringer’s journey started about three years ago. He was studying for a college exam and instead of hitting the books, he found himself surfing the web about those who’d taken on a similar journey.

“There were never any plans that ‘oh I’m going to go do that’,” Ringer said. “Just seeds were planted in that moment.”

Fast forward several months later, Ringer started thinking more about it while he was visiting his parents in Texas.

“I went on a 20-mile walk around Dallas,” Ringer said. “And I just thought to myself, you know what, I can do this every single day for a year.”

In March 2023, Ringer set off on his journey starting in Washington State. And almost a year, 13 states and 3,700 miles later, Ringer is close to reaching Washington D.C.

“I wake up every single morning, very appreciative, and very thankful for this opportunity to do this,” Ringer said. “I get to meet lots of great and wonderful people and see interesting things. But every single day is an opportunity not to try and get killed by a car.”

Ringer says this cross-country voyage has opened his eyes to walkability issues across America. He often finds himself dodging distracted drivers and dealing with poorly maintained or disappearing sidewalks.

“Walkability is also just the ability to cross the street,” Ringer said. “And I don’t think we’re crossing [Independence Boulevard] anytime soon.”

It’s why he’s partnering with America Walks. He’s asking people to donate to the organization that’s dedicated to increasing walkability across the U.S. – including in North Carolina.

“Maybe they don’t donate to America Walks,” Ringer said. “But maybe they do go to a local meeting and try and advocate for more sidewalks and advice for more crosswalks.”

With a couple of hundred miles left to D.C., Ringer hopes his mission encourages other to be active and walk more. He also hopes it inspires other to speak out about safety concerns in their communities.

“I hope people would care about these issues because it could be you, or it could be a loved one that doesn’t make it home at night,” Ringer said.

Ringer says his journey isn’t over once he reaches Washington, D.C.

After spending some time in the nation’s capital, he plans to continue walking northeast to New Haven, Connecticut.
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Nick Buffo

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February 19, 2024
Clemmons art teacher is advocating for heart health
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CLEMMONS, N.C. — Teacher Frann Paige is urging others to be on the lookout for signs of heart disease.
What You Need To Know

The American Heart Association says Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately affected by heart disease and stroke

According to the American Heart Association, the warning signs of a heart attack include chest discomfort, shortness of breath, cold sweat, lightheadedness, nausea and discomfort in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach

Frann Paige, a Clemmons art teacher who was hospitalized after a heart attack, says some of the things she’s done to improve her health include reducing sodium intake, cutting down on caffeine and exercising
Paige is an art teacher at Clemmons Elementary, and her students have become a part of her life.

“The love notes I get and the drawings I get every morning make my day,” said Paige, who was hospitalized in 2015 after a heart attack. “When I was sick in the hospital, I kept saying every day, I want to get back to my classroom. … It was the new normal, but I wanted to get back to what I thought was normal. I needed to get back with the kids.”

February is Heart Health Month, and the American Heart Association says cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women, claiming more lives than all cancers combined.

In June 2015, Paige’s life changed after a doctor’s appointment

“I got there very early. Doctors weren’t really ready yet. And with that, the nurse started taking vitals and within 5 minutes, a doctor ran on with a portable EKG machine and they called the ambulance at the same time. I already had a heart attack and was walking around with it for a few days,” she said.

It was a heart attack she didn’t know she had on the last day of school

“Started really Friday night. And I didn’t go to the doctor until the next Thursday. And the last thing I remember is being wheeled into an emergency room. And then I woke up a month later from an induced coma,” Paige said.

She had every symptom that should have been an alert, but she had an excuse for each one.

“I was pale. My excuse — it was summer. I was hot. My excuse was summer, wasn’t feeling well. The kids gave me something,” Paige said. “But if you take all these symptoms and add them up, I should have known better. I should have known to go to a doctor.”

And heart disease runs in her family.

“My father passed away at an early age of a heart attack. I have aunts with pacemakers. It should have been on my radar. It wasn’t,” Paige said.

Now, she’s urging women to be aware of the symptoms and to have their affairs in order.

“What I can tell you is take your body seriously and know your body,” she said. “Know if it’s not right and you are having more than one symptom.”

“I had a pain, but I had a pain in my jaw, so I made an appointment with my dentist,” Paige said. “I didn’t have a pain in my arm like men have.”

And now, to stay on top of her health, she has a defibrillator that helps regulate her heart, and she makes better decisions day to day.

Paige says some of the things she’s done to better her health are reducing sodium intake, cutting down on caffeine and exercising as much as she can.

The American Heart Association says Black and Hispanic women are disproportionately affected by heart disease and stroke.

As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are more likely than men to experience other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting and back or jaw pain.
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Zyneria Byrd

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February 17, 2024
The Velvet Room: Cinema and speakeasy coming to Wilmington
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WILMINGTON, N.C. — From movies like “Dirty Dancing” to “Talladega Nights,” North Carolina has been the backdrop for many films. “Blue Velvet,” “Scream” and “Iron Man 3” were all shot in Wilmington, a city that’s been dubbed “Wilmywood.”

Wilmywood will soon be opening its doors to its newest independent cinema, The Velvet Room, a theater that will help highlight the history of Wilmington’s vibrant film industry.
What You Need To Know

The Velvet Room Cinema and Bar will play cult favorites, foreign and silent films, and Wilmington productions

Behind The Velvet Room will be The Hideaway Lounge, a 1920s Prohibition-themed speakeasy where customers can have a drink, relax and discuss a good film

The Velvet Room is expected to be open within months
Ian Simpson loves movies and says he watches around five to seven a week. It’s been a passion since he was a kid.

Anthony Durret, left, and Ian Simpson (Spectrum News 1/Natalie Mooney)

“You know, I grew up watching Hitchcock at a young age because my mom loved to show me the old ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’ show and ‘The Twilight Zone’ and it moved into watching a bunch of Hitchcock and then a broad range of films,” Simpson said. “It’s just something I’ve always been interested in and a dream of mine of opening a movie theatre.”

Now, Simpson’s dreams are coming true.

He’s opening The Velvet Room Cinema and Bar with his partner Anthony Durret. The theater will play cult favorites, foreign and silent films and even Wilmington productions.

Simpson says he hopes The Velvet Room can showcase some of the area’s iconic film history. It’s that history that makes Wilmington a perfect place for Simpson’s passion project.

“I saw an opportunity to open kind of a smaller, more independent movie theater,” Simpson said. “Something that a film town could definitely use, but didn’t necessarily have.”

Simpson says he’s excited to see his vision come to life.

Ian Simpson starts an old film projector. (Spectrum News 1/Natalie Mooney)

“You can kind of see where a lot of things will go — we’ve got a couple framed bathrooms here, and we’ve got some of our vintage theater seats sitting around, some posters around,” Simpson said. “And we’re looking to make this a third place where people can, like I mentioned, meet up with their friends, see a good film, enjoy some beverages and tasty treats, snacks, popcorn, and you can see over here, we’ve got an old vintage popcorn machine.”

And that popcorn machine won’t be the only vintage thing in The Velvet Room.

“We’ve also got the speakeasy opening in the back of The Velvet Room where, you know, it has a 1920s speakeasy Prohibition-inspired theme,” Simpson said. “After films you can go to the back with your friends, go grab a drink there, and kind of enjoy an experience that you’re not really able to find anywhere else.”

Simpson started a crowdfunding campaign with a goal of $25,000. That money will go toward finishing the buildout, electric and plumbing work and new equipment. He says they raised $8,000 within the first week.

The Velvet Room is expected to be open within months. (Spectrum News 1/Natalie Mooney)

“The support we’ve gotten on social media and, you know, monetarily, and from people reaching out to help in any way they can has been incredible,” Simpson said. “You know we’ve got people who really want to see this happen and have the same vision as us as far as wanting to see, you know, a more independent and smaller movie theater.”

Simpson says The Velvet Room Cinema and Bar is on track to open within the next couple of months and by summer at the latest. The cinema will open five to seven days a week.

Simpson’s partner, Durret, says the speakeasy will be open just before the cinema and his newest venture, Sip N’ Chill, across the street is open now.

If you would like to donate to The Velvet Room’s crowdfunding campaign, click here.

The Velvet Room and Sip N’ Chill are on Castle Street in Wilmington.
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Natalie Mooney

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February 11, 2024