Category Archives: State/Regional

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is on the defensive in Virginia’s race for governor

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is on the defensive in Virginia’s race for governor

HOPEWELL, Va. (AP) — Republican Winsome Earle-Sears says she’s running her campaign for Virginia governor like a military-style operation. And at this point, a few months away from the November election, it’s looking like a campaign on the defensive. The lieutenant governor is facing a Democratic Abigail Spanberger, a former congresswoman who has more campaign money and a unified party behind her. Earle-Sears has replaced a pastor with little political experience who had been her campaign manager. And her team has failed to gain traction with big money donors. An Earle-Sears victory would make her the first Black woman in U.S. history to serve as a governor.… Continue Reading

CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police

ATLANTA (AP) — A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a Georgia man who opened fire Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. The 30-year-old shooter tried to get into the CDC’s headquarters but was stopped by guards. He then drove to a pharmacy across the street and opened fire. The official spoke anonymously Saturday because they are not authorized to publicly discuss the investigation. The official says the shooter was armed with at least five guns. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding.… Continue Reading

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

A beloved tourist attraction in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains will be demolished starting later this month. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge sustained severe damage from Hurricane Helene last year. It collapsed on one end and buckled in several other sections. The town says two engineering firms concluded the bridge was beyond repair. Demolition will begin Aug. 18. The Flowering Bridge was created in 2013 by a group of volunteers who sought to transform the historic bridge into something beautiful. The group says it will try to use pieces of the bridge in future gardens.… Continue Reading

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

Iconic North Carolina tourist attraction damaged by Helene will be demolished

A beloved tourist attraction in western North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains will be demolished starting later this month. The Lake Lure Flowering Bridge sustained severe damage from Hurricane Helene last year. It collapsed on one end and buckled in several other sections. The town says two engineering firms concluded the bridge was beyond repair. Demolition will begin Aug. 18. The Flowering Bridge was created in 2013 by a group of volunteers who sought to transform the historic bridge into something beautiful. The group says it will try to use pieces of the bridge in future gardens.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

North Carolina Gov. Stein signs stopgap budget bill and vetoes opt-in bill helping school choice

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has signed a stopgap spending measure as lawmakers remain stuck in a budget impasse. But he also vetoed a bill Wednesday that would otherwise sign off on state involvement in a federal tax credit program to boost school-choice options. Stein criticized the spending plan for not providing enough pay raises or covering increased Medicaid expenses. The new law includes funds for state construction projects and employee benefits. The tax-credit program bill approved by Republicans seeks to opt in to the financial benefits within President Donald Trump’s new law for donations to K-12 scholarship organizations.… Continue Reading

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

North Carolina DMV audit recommends reforms to reverse customer wait times, worker morale

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s Division of Motor Vehicles is the subject of two new audits looking to address long wait times for customers and low morale for workers. Republican Auditor Dave Boliek released them on Monday. The DMV struggles to keep up with the state’s growing population, leading to customer frustrations. It’s not unusual for customers to camp outside driver’s license offices in the wee hours. Boliek recommends making the DMV an autonomous agency separate from the Department of Transportation for better control over budget and operations. Other suggestions include using outside instructors for driving tests and creating “pop-up” license offices.… Continue Reading

The Justice Department seeks voter and election information from at least 19 states, AP finds

The Justice Department seeks voter and election information from at least 19 states, AP finds

NEW YORK (AP) — The Justice Department is ramping up an effort to get election data from the states. According to an Associated Press tally, the department’s voting section has requested copies of voter registration lists from state election administrators in at least 15 states. And department lawyers have contacted officials in at least seven states to propose a meeting about forging an information-sharing agreement related to instances of voting or election fraud. The unusually expansive outreach has raised alarm among some election officials. That’s because states have the constitutional authority to run elections and because federal law protects the sharing of individual data with the government.… Continue Reading

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

North Carolina Senate race sets up as a fight over who would be a champion for the middle class

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democrats still in the dumps over last year’s elections have found cause for optimism in North Carolina, where former Gov. Roy Cooper jumped into the race for that state’s newly open seat with a vow to address voters’ persistent concerns about making ends meet. Republicans, meanwhile, are hardly ceding the economic populist ground President Donald Trump held in carrying the state last year. In announcing his candidacy for Senate on Thursday, Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley credited Trump with fulfilling campaign promises to working Americans. Cooper’s plainspoken appeal represents the latest effort by Democrats to find their way back to power.… Continue Reading

Michael Whatley, RNC chairman endorsed by Trump, launches Senate bid in North Carolina

Michael Whatley, RNC chairman endorsed by Trump, launches Senate bid in North Carolina

GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has launched his campaign for North Carolina’s open U.S. Senate seat. Whatley made his formal announcement on Thursday. He already has President Donald Trump’s endorsement and access to a strong fundraising network. Whatley could face Democratic former Gov. Roy Cooper in what’s expected to be one of the most competitive and expensive 2026 contests. The winner will succeed GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, who recently announced he would not run for a third term. Whatley has led the state Republican Party and was elected the national chairman last year. Cooper announced his candidacy earlier this week. National Republican strategists say Cooper’s entry makes North Carolina a more challenging seat for the GOP to hold.… Continue Reading

Fireflies are lighting up summer skies. But the glowing bugs are still on the decline

Fireflies are lighting up summer skies. But the glowing bugs are still on the decline

NEW YORK (AP) — More fireflies than usual are lighting up summer evenings in the U.S. Northeast. But scientists say the lightning bugs are still on the decline. A particularly wet spring may have created the ideal conditions for young fireflies to grow into adults and set summer nights aglow. There are over 2,000 known firefly species across the globe. While evenings in the Northeast may seem brighter this summer, the bugs are actually waning at a faster rate than ever before. To look out for fireflies, consider turning the lights off at night and avoid spraying front lawns with insecticides.… Continue Reading

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