State and Regional News

Hurricane Helene hit the reset button on one town’s goal of becoming an outdoor tourism mecca

Hurricane Helene hit the reset button on one town’s goal of becoming an outdoor tourism mecca

By ALLEN G. BREED and BRITTANY PETERSON Associated Press OLD FORT, N.C. (AP) — Morning mist is still burning off the surrounding mountains when they appear: Small groups of helmeted riders on one-wheeled, skateboard-like contraptions,…

North Carolina Medicaid patients face care access threat as funding impasse continues

North Carolina Medicaid patients face care access threat as funding impasse continues

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Medicaid patients face a threat of reduced access to services — before separate changes approved within President Donald Trump’s spending-reduction law are implemented — as…

One year later, western North Carolina still recovers from Hurricane Helene

WPTF StaffSep 25, 2025
One year later, western North Carolina still recovers from Hurricane Helene

SPRUCE PINE, N.C. (NCN News) — It has been one year since the worst storm to ever hit North Carolina devastated the western part of the state. Hurricane Helene was not even on the list…

North Carolina legislature passes ‘Iryna’s Law’ after refugee’s stabbing death

North Carolina legislature passes ‘Iryna’s Law’ after refugee’s stabbing death

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — In response to the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on Charlotte’s light rail system, the North Carolina legislature gave final approval Tuesday to a criminal justice…

North Carolina Republicans push for tougher bail rules and potentially new execution methods

North Carolina Republicans push for tougher bail rules and potentially new execution methods

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican legislators are poised this week to approve criminal justice measures designed to toughen bail rules, restrict magistrates’ powers and evaluate offenders’ mental health after…

Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina a year ago. Some students never returned to school

Hurricane Helene hit North Carolina a year ago. Some students never returned to school

By MAKIYA SEMINERA of The Associated Press and LAURA HACKETT and JOSE SANDOVAL of Blue Ridge Public Radio SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) — When 12-year-old Natalie Briggs visited the ruins of her home after Hurricane Helene, she…