A South Carolina man executed by firing squad is the first US prisoner killed this way in 15 years

A South Carolina man executed by firing squad is the first US prisoner killed this way in 15 years

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man has been executed by firing squad, becoming the first U.S. prisoner in 15 years to die by this method. Brad Sigmon was pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m. Friday after being shot by three prison employee volunteers with rifles. Sigmon killed his ex-girlfriend’s parents with a baseball bat in their Greenville County home in 2001 in a botched plot to kidnap their daughter. The 67-year-old chose the firing squad because his lawyers said he considered it a better option than the electric chair or lethal injection. He is the first South Carolina prisoner to be executed by bullets.… Continue Reading

North Carolina lawmakers close in on another injection of Helene relief funds

North Carolina lawmakers close in on another injection of Helene relief funds

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators appear to be closing in on legislation to provide more funds to help the mountains recover from Hurricane Helene. A measure advanced by Senate Republicans on Tuesday would spend another $533 million for Helene relief. The House passed a bill last week to spend $500 million. But the Senate measure provides even more funds to address lingering home construction projects from Hurricanes Matthew and Florence, as well as relief from other disasters in 2024. House and Senate leaders say a final supplemental bill could reach Gov. Josh Stein’s desk very soon. Legislators already have appropriated $1.1 billion for Helene relief since October.… Continue Reading

To her, Hurricane Helene debris isn’t trash. It is full of memories — and she’s returning them

To her, Hurricane Helene debris isn’t trash. It is full of memories — and she’s returning them

SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) — U.S. National Guard Capt. Jill Holtz spends much of her free time in Swannanoa, North Carolina, searching for items lost from Hurricane Helene’s severe flooding a few months ago. She hopes to reunite storm victims with their cherished possessions after they lost hope that they’d ever find them again. Holtz finds a variety of items such as photos, family heirlooms and antiques. She keeps them in her trailer and posts her finds to Facebook in hopes that the items’ owners will see. Holtz says hurricane debris isn’t “just trash” and is instead people’s “hearts, their homes, the generations of history.”… Continue Reading

A stretch of a North Carolina highway that collapsed during Helene is about to reopen

A stretch of a North Carolina highway that collapsed during Helene is about to reopen

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A stretch of Interstate 40 through the western North Carolina mountains is reopening to traffic this weekend, months after Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding collapsed portions of the road. The state Department of Transportation said the 20-mile section on the North Carolina side of the border will officially reopen on Saturday and partially restore a major travel connection with eastern Tennessee. Large portions will now have one narrowed lane in each direction and a reduced speed limit, so delays are expected, especially during weekends. The section won’t resume fully to four lanes until late next year at the earliest.… Continue Reading

Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle

Another $500M for Hurricane Helene relief in North Carolina passes key hurdle

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Another $500 million would be spent toward Hurricane Helene recovery efforts in North Carolina in legislation approved unanimously by the state House. The measure would add to the funds the Republican-controlled General Assembly already approved in late 2024 and help with home and road repairs. The $500 million is less than half the amount that Democratic Gov. Josh Stein has requested. The bill next goes to the Senate, where GOP members have their own spending ideas. House Republicans offered a successful amendment Tuesday to address some Democratic concerns. State officials say Helene caused a record nearly $60 billion in damages and recovery needs.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s insurance commissioner is out of the hospital after heart surgery

North Carolina’s insurance commissioner is out of the hospital after heart surgery

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey is out of the hospital 10 days after undergoing heart surgery. The Republican underwent what his department called “elective” surgery to “correct a congenital heart defect.” Causey told a Greensboro newspaper that he had developed an aneurysm. The 74-year-old was released Thursday. Causey said the surgery wasn’t disclosed beforehand in part because he didn’t want to alarm anybody ahead of time unnecessarily. He said the defect was discovered in late 2023. Further examination showed he had developed an aneurysm. Causey was first elected commissioner in 2016. He won a third four-year term this past November.… Continue Reading

Phil Berger’s confirms reelection bid, setting up likely 2026 primary with local sheriff

Phil Berger’s confirms reelection bid, setting up likely 2026 primary with local sheriff

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Senate leader Phil Berger has firmed up publicly plans to run again for his Senate seat next year. It appears to set up a Republican primary in March 2026 in his district against longtime Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page. Page announced last week that he would run for the 26th Senate District regardless of whether Berger wanted to continue representing the area. Berger’s comments on Tuesday go beyond what he told reporters about his political future the day before Page’s decision became public. Berger joined the Senate in 2001 and has been the chamber leader since 2011.… Continue Reading

Arctic air sweeping south over Plains shatters record temperatures in North Dakota

Arctic air sweeping south over Plains shatters record temperatures in North Dakota

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Arctic air gripping the Plains has broken cold-weather records in North Dakota. The capital city of Bismarck dropped to minus 39 on Tuesday, breaking the record of minus 37 set in 1910 for the same date. And late on Monday, Bismarck sank to minus 35, shattering a 150-year-old record low of minus 35 for Feb. 17. A gradual warmup is expected in coming days. Parts of southwestern and south-central North Dakota are forecasted to hit the 50s on Monday. More than 95 million people are in the deep freeze due to a polar vortex.… Continue Reading

Durham woman among soldiers who died in helicopter and airliner crash

Durham woman among soldiers who died in helicopter and airliner crash

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Army has released the name of the third soldier who died Wednesday when an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near the D.C. airport. Cpt. Rebecca M. Lobach, of Durham, N.C., served as an Army aviation officer since July 2019. Her awards include an Army commendation medal and an achievement medal. In a statement released by the Army, her family said she was a distinguished military graduate in ROTC at the University of North Carolina, and was in the top 20% of cadets nationwide. The names of the two other soldiers were released on Friday, but Lobach’s name was withheld at the time at the request of her family.… Continue Reading

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