North Carolina
NC Celebrates A Half Century Of Helping Feed Women And Infants – The Rhino Times of Greensboro
In 2024, the State of North Carolina is celebrating 50 years of a well-known food benefits program titled “Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children” – better known as WIC.
The program has grown tremendously over the years, and now Guilford County, to take just one example of that growth, operates a WIC van that takes services to clients rather than making them come down to a county building.
The North Carolina WIC program helps ensure that mothers, babies and young children across the state have the food and other support they need so the youngsters have a strong and healthy start in life.
Over the decades, multiple studies have found that WIC programs improve pregnancy and birth outcomes, resulting in healthier babies.
Also, children who receive WIC support have demonstrated better intellectual development later in life than those who didn’t benefit from the program.
According to state officials, the current WIC program helps out over 230,000 women, infants and children in North Carolina. Each year, the program provides access to supplemental healthy foods, nutrition education, and breastfeeding training – and it also offers support and referrals for health care and social services.
The WIC program brings roughly $200 million in federal funds into North Carolina and allows families to buy approved foods and other items at over 1,500 stores and other food retailers.
Director of the NC Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child and Family Well-Being Yvonne Copeland stated in a Monday, June 10 press release celebrating the 50-year milestone of the program, that it is critical to supporting women, kids and infants in the state.
“WIC supports half of all infants born in North Carolina by providing access to the best resources and services for mothers and children,” she said. “This year, we recognize an incredible milestone in the evolution of maternal and child health care with the 50th anniversary of the WIC program. Since the opening of the first clinic in 1974, WIC has been an unwavering beacon of support committed to improving public health outcomes for women, infants and children.”
In 1974, the federal WIC program provided supplemental food to 88,000 people across the entire country. Back then, their average food benefit was $15.88 per month.
Since then, like many government programs, it has grown exponentially: In 2023, WIC provided food for 6.6 million women, infants, and children nationally whose average food benefit was $56 a month.
WIC food benefits provide a wide range of foods for clients – including fruits, vegetables, whole grain breads, cereals and dairy products.
The monetary value of these benefits can reach up to $240 a month.
WIC is available to pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, and infants and children up to the age of 5.
Foster families with qualifying individuals may also be eligible to receive WIC benefits.
To qualify, NC WIC participants have to live in the state and have a family income of less than 185 percent of the US Poverty Income Guidelines. That’s roughly less than $57,720 in annual income for a family of four.
Those who are receiving Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – also known as Work First – or NC Food and Nutrition Services, automatically meet the WIC Income Guidelines.
North Carolina
North Carolina’s Charming Raleigh Suburb Is A Fast-Growing Town With River Views And A Historic Downtown – Islands
As North Carolina’s capital, Raleigh attracts no shortage of visitors each year for its downtown museums, historic sites, and restaurants. But about 20 miles southeast of downtown Raleigh, there’s another destination travelers might not think to explore: Clayton. With a thriving historic downtown and access to the scenic Neuse River, this often-overlooked Raleigh suburb is growing rapidly, its population increasing by nearly 27% since 2020 (according to World Population Review).
Downtown Clayton centers around Main Street, where restored commercial buildings now house restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues. Visitors can also follow the town’s outdoor sculpture trail, take a stroll through the Clayton River Walk on the Neuse, or get out on the river for some kayaking. With enough to see and do for a full day, Clayton makes an easy road trip from Raleigh and remains accessible to those coming from farther away.
Travelers visiting Clayton from outside the immediate region can fly into Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU) or take an Amtrak train to Raleigh Union Station. Overnight options within town are limited to places such as the Clayton Magnolia Inn, a bed-and-breakfast offering seven guest rooms in a restored 1885 home, and the budget-friendly Comfort Suites Clayton–Garner, a practical hotel with free breakfast. However, travelers looking for a wider selection of hotels can stay in Raleigh or along the I-40 corridor near Garner.
The Clayton River Walk provides the town’s best river views
Begin your trip to Clayton by exploring the Clayton River Walk on the Neuse, a 4-mile trail open to walkers and cyclists, with the trailhead located just a five-minute drive from downtown. Much of the trail passes through forested areas along the Neuse River. You can expect to see wildlife, such as ospreys, along the route, which adds to the trail’s appeal for nature lovers. However, one Google reviewer notes that locals have also spotted bears in the area, making it worth reviewing what to do in the event of an encounter before hitting the trail. You can never be too sure, after all.
The main trailhead for Clayton River Walk includes a parking lot for visitors and is also near a boat access ramp for paddlers. If you’d like to enjoy the calm, peaceful waters but don’t have a personal canoe or kayak, you can rent one or book a group river excursion with Neuse Adventures Canoe & Kayak Rentals, located a 10-minute walk from the parking lot. The company’s FAQ recommends bringing essentials such as water, sunscreen, and extra clothes for the best experience on the river. For another underrated Neuse River destination in North Carolina, consider adding Smithfield to the itinerary.
Clayton’s historic downtown is filled with art and local landmarks
After spending time along the Neuse River, travelers can explore the Clayton Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Along East Main Street, you’ll find preserved 19th- and 20th-century buildings that now hold locally owned businesses. Fare Game, an arcade and bar known for its inventive pizzas, occupies the ground floor of the restored Carroll Building, a former family-owned dry goods store which dates back to 1915. A few doors down, Revival 1869 serves craft cocktails and hosts live jazz shows inside a restored commercial building.
In addition to historic buildings, a must-see while exploring downtown is the Clayton Sculpture Trail. This free outdoor art exhibition features more than a dozen works, most of which are located along East Main Street, with additional pieces on East Front Street and at the Clayton Community Center. Travelers can use the town’s online sculpture map to identify each installation and follow the recommended route. If you’re interested in viewing more public art in North Carolina, Rocky Mount is another town with artsy vibes you’ll want to visit.
Travelers should also check out the schedule at The Clayton Center, a former school complex just one block from Main Street that now serves as a 600-seat entertainment venue. Visitors can purchase tickets to a wide range of events, including comedy shows, live concerts, and theater. In addition to visitors praising the center’s friendly staff, one Google reviewer highlighted the building’s “beautiful architectural details” and the way its vintage auditorium contrasts with the “modern loft-like reception space.”
How to protect yourself against a shark
A safety diver calmly pushes away a shark, explaining how to stay safe if approached. (Credit: @mermaid.kayleigh/@andriana_marine via Storyful)
Claire Hardwick, Storyful
The Atlantic Ocean’s largest tagged great white shark in history recently resurfaced off the coast of North Carolina near the Outer Banks, scientists said.
At nearly 14 feet long, the big fish named “Contender” appears to be heading toward Cape Cod and the eastern coast of Canada, according to a OCEARCH, a global non-profit marine research group tracking shark sightings and migration.
Researchers first tagged the massive great white shark on Jan. 17, 2025 off the Florida-Georgia coast, according to online data from the non-profit.
Most recently Contender breached the surface just before 2 p.m. ET on July 10.
Prior to that, the shark had pinged several times including on April 14 and on April 23.
A ping means the Smart Position and Temperature Transmitting tag attached to the fish’s dorsal fin was spotted above the surface for a brief period as it swam, transmitting a near-live location signal to the OCEARCH shark tracker.
The visit comes at the time of year when great white sharks start migrating north to warmer waters for a larger food supply, as previously reported by USA TODAY.
How much does the largest great white shark tagged weigh?
According to OCEARCH’s shark tracker page, Contender weighs 1,653 pounds.
An adult male, the shark believed to be just over 30 years old.
“Contender’s name is in honor of Contender Boats, a longtime OCEARCH partner, whose industry-leading sport fishing and pleasure boats enable our research missions,” the non-profit wrote on its website.
See live view of tagged sharks that are tracked:
To track Contender and other tagged marine life online, download the OCEARCH Global Shark Tracker App, available on iOS, Android, and on desktop at ocearch.org.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Copper theft is becoming a growing problem across North Carolina, with AT&T officials warning that the crime can leave entire neighborhoods without phone or internet service and, in some cases, disrupt emergency communications.
According to AT&T, the company has recorded 215 copper theft incidents across North Carolina so far this year. Buncombe County alone has seen about 40 incidents over the past two years. Thieves often cut down or dig up communication lines, strip the copper from the wire and sell the metal for scrap.
“It’s problematic, largely from a public safety standpoint,” said Trey Rabon, president of AT&T North Carolina. “If folks need to call emergency services, need to call 911, they’re not able to access the infrastructure necessary to complete that call.”
“Sometimes we see instances where emergency communications are disrupted, communications between public safety agencies are disrupted,” Rabon added. “It has become an acute challenge, particularly in western North Carolina.”
5 CHARGED AFTER AT&T WIRE THEFTS CAUSED WIDESPREAD OUTAGES IN BUNCOMBE COUNTY
Rabon said thieves frequently target both residential and commercial communication lines, taking advantage of remote mountain locations where utility poles are often out of sight from nearby homes.
“In the mountains, oftentimes personal property is not in line of sight for other neighbors,” Rabon said. “Would-be thieves have the ability to climb a pole, disconnect a line, drive to the next pole and disconnect that line.”
In May, five people were charged in connection with multiple copper thefts across Buncombe County that investigators said caused widespread outages. Law enforcement also discovered several wire-stripping sites in Swannanoa and Leicester.
The thefts have also impacted local businesses.
SWANNANOA PIZZA SHOP SAYS INTERNET WIRES WERE STOLEN, FORCING A DAY CLOSURE
In early June, thieves cut and stole internet lines serving Good Pizza Company. Owner George Peyton said the outage forced the restaurant to close because employees could not access essential business systems.
“Nobody could clock in, couldn’t print tickets, couldn’t take phone orders, and that’s about 80 to 85% of the business,” Peyton said.
AT&T officials say one of the most effective ways to prevent copper theft is for communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
“They don’t like to operate in the light of day, and they certainly don’t want to operate with a hyper-aware and vigilant community,” Rabon said.
Anyone who suspects someone is stealing communication wire is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
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