North Carolina
Harris Jabs Trump on Economy, Unveils Set of Price-Reduction Proposals
Kamala Harris unveiled a new set of policy proposals aimed at reducing the cost of living for middle-class Americans during her first major policy speech at a Friday rally in North Carolina.
The vice president and 2024 Democratic candidate took a jab at her opponent, Donald Trump, who was in North Carolina — a key battleground state — on Wednesday. Trump hosted a press conference on the economy on Thursday at his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, while standing next to a table of common grocery items.
“He offered no serious plans to reduce costs for middle-class families,” Harris told her audience. “No plan to expand access to housing or health care, and that, actually, for most of us, was not surprising.”
Throughout the speech, Harris offered her own proposals to curb high prices in health care, groceries, housing, and child care.
The vice president promised legislation to control price gouging by food companies and support small independent grocers while decrying that “many of the big food companies are seeing their highest profits in two decades” as consumers continue to struggle.
Harris contrasted her plan with Trump’s proposal to implement widespread tariffs on imported goods — which would impact large swaths of fruits and vegetables in the United States — as a plan that would “devastate Americans.”
“It will mean higher prices, on just about every one of your daily needs,” she said of the former president’s push for tariffs. “A Trump tax on gas, a Trump tax on food.”
Harris also touted sweeping policies to improve the cost of housing, including the construction of 3 million affordable new homes and apartments during her first term as president, expanded protections against corporate landlords, and a $25,000 credit for first-time homebuyers.
In addition, Harris vowed to restore and expand the child tax credit to $6,000 during the first year of a newborn’s life, as well as an expansion of the earned income tax credit for low-income workers. According to the vice president, the plan would benefit over 100 million Americans.
Harris contrasted her mission with the tax benefits granted to the ultra-wealthy and corporations under Trump’s first administration and warned that it would happen again if he retook the White House.
“I think that if you wanna know who someone cares about, look at who they fight for,” she said. “Donald Trump fights for billionaires and large corporations. I will fight to give money back to working and middle-class Americans.”
The economy and the financial struggles plaguing everyday Americans have and continue to be a defining issue in the 2024 election cycle. As Trump and Harris fight for dominance on the issue, early polling suggests that voters may have more confidence in Harris’ ability to handle the economy. This week, a survey conducted by the Financial Times and the University of Michigan found that 42 percent of voters trust the vice president’s ability to manage the nation’s financial health, a sharp increase from their outlook on President Joe Biden.
Harris will continue to pitch her vision for the nation’s economic future next week at the Democratic National Convention, where she is expected to be officially crowned as the party’s nominee to take on Trump this November.
North Carolina
NC to receive nearly $70M in FEMA funds, Madsion County manager says $14M hasn’t arrived
MADISON COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — Senator Tedd Budd’s office announced nearly $70 million in public assistance FEMA funds for Helene recovery toward the North Carolina Department of Transportation, cities and counties.
Madison County Manager Rod Honeycutt created a color-coded spreadsheet of projects, both paid and unpaid. Honeycutt said he sends the spreadsheet to federal leaders’ offices, including Budd’s, regularly to ensure staff are aware of what’s not reimbursed.
Honeycutt estimates about $14 million in reimbursements from FEMA haven’t come through.
As for the $1.9 million just approved for Madison County’s emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement, Honeycutt said the county doesn’t have it yet.
NORTH CAROLINA TO RECEIVE $70M IN ADDITIONAL FEMA FUNDING AS NOEM FACES CRITICISM
“It’s coming back to our fund balance,” said Honeycutt. “And we know it will take six more weeks for it to get through the state and to the county.”
Honeycutt estimates that within six months, FEMA will resolve all reimbursements. He said debris removal jobs along the French Broad River have been delayed as FEMA continues to review the applications.
In Marshall, the town has leased store spaces on Main Street, along with signs advertising leasing available. But longtime resident, artist and business owner Josh Copus is optimistic that Marshall and its community will thrive once again. He acknowledged that FEMA funds and reimbursements to clean up have been an important part of the area’s recovery.
MORE THAN $3.5M HEADED TO BURKE COUNTY FOR CONTINUED HELENE RECOVERY
“I would say our town is 50% fixed and our town was 100% destroyed, so 50% is pretty good,” Copus said.
The awards include:
- Biltmore Forest: $2.5 million for debris removal reimbursement.
- Buncombe County Sewage District: $1.57 million reimbursement for line repairs, vacuuming, line replacements and riverbank restoration.
- Old Fort: $1.15 million Westerman Street Waterline for potable water reimbursement.
- Mitchell County: $11.9 million for debris contractors, tipping fees and debris monitoring reimbursement.
- Buncombe County: $3.5 million toward labor costs for 836 laborers during and after Helene reimbursement.
- Asheville: $5.6 million for North Fork Treatment Plant repairs reimbursement.
- Lake Lure: $1.48 million for lake safety repairs reimbursement.
- Madison County: $1.9 million for emergency protective measures, including laborers, equipment reimbursement.
North Carolina
2026 primary turnout report released for eastern NC counties; see your county’s numbers
Here are the voter turnout numbers for the 2026 primary election, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
Hyde County had the highest voter turnout, while Onslow County had the lowest turnout. Check out what the voter turnout in your county was below:
BERTIE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
31.85% (3,911 out of 12,280)
CARTERET COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
29.06% (16,543 out of 56,931)
CRAVEN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
18.63% (14,119 out of 75,778)
DUPLIN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
21.93% (6,981 out of 31,832)
EDGECOMBE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
18.16% (6,428 out of 35,396)
GREENE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
19.70% (2,147 out of 10,900)
HYDE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
37.27% (1,123 out of 3,013)
JONES COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
25.91% (1,805 out of 6,966)
LENOIR COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
16.73% (6,251 out of 37,371)
MARTIN COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
17.61% (2,858 out of 16,228)
ONSLOW COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
11.44% (14,816 out of 129,537)
PAMLICO COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
24.03% (2,446 out of 10,180)
PITT COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
15.71% (19,429 out of 123,705)
TYRRELL COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
30.49% (723 out of 2,371)
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
28.66% (2,312 out of 8,067)
WAYNE COUNTY
Ballots Cast:
21.49% (16,408 out of 76,358)
North Carolina
Statewide tornado drill has NC schools and workplaces practicing safety
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 6:41PM
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — North Carolina schools and businesses took part in a statewide tornado drill Wednesday morning as part of Severe Weather Awareness Week.
The National Weather Service led the drill at 9:30 a.m., broadcasting it on NOAA Weather Radio and the Emergency Alert System. Schools, workplaces and households across the state were encouraged to join in.
The National Weather Service didn’t issue a follow up alert to mark the end of the drill. Instead, each school or business wrapped up once they felt they had practiced the procedures thoroughly.
Wednesday’s drill also replaced the regular weekly NOAA Weather Radio test.
SEE | New warning for parents amid new ‘fire-breathing’ social media trend
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