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NC lawmakers weigh parking lot reforms that would impact stormwater runoff

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NC lawmakers weigh parking lot reforms that would impact stormwater runoff


A proposal at the North Carolina General Assembly could reshape how parking lots are built and help reduce pollution from paved surfaces like roads and driveways.

House Bill 369, known as the Parking Lot Reform and Modernization Act, advanced last week in the House. The current version of the bill focuses on two changes: limiting local parking mandates and banning the use of certain toxic pavement sealants.

As rain drenches much of the state this week, the environmental stakes are hard to ignore. Stormwater runoff from paved surfaces is one of the leading sources of water pollution in North Carolina, carrying oil, chemicals and other contaminants into streams and rivers.

In a blog post, Catawba Riverkeeper Ellie Riggs called the proposed bill “a critical step to protect waterways, businesses, and communities from runoff and flooding.”

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According to the U.S. Geological Survey, just one inch of rain on an acre of pavement can generate more than 27,000 gallons of runoff. 

“Reducing unnecessary pavement and banning toxic sealants are crucial steps to protect our waterways,” Riggs wrote.

What the bill would do

The current version of HB 369 includes two main provisions:

  • Parking reform: Cities and counties would no longer be allowed to require more parking spaces than a developer chooses to build. It also limits local authority to mandate oversized parking spaces, except in cases like handicapped or diagonal parking. Supporters say the change could reduce unnecessary pavement, lower development costs and allow for more flexible land use.
  • Pollution prevention: Beginning in 2026, the bill would ban the sale and use of pavement sealants containing high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. Studies show these chemicals, found in coal tar-based products, can be harmful to human health and aquatic life. Several cities in North Carolina and across the U.S. have already banned these products.

The bill also includes a $5,000 appropriation to the Department of Commerce to help educate property owners about potential savings from reducing the size or number of parking spaces.

What changed from the original draft

Earlier versions of the bill also included language aimed at limiting how local governments regulate stormwater during redevelopment projects. Specifically, it would have prevented cities and counties from requiring new runoff controls on areas that were already paved or developed, particularly for small-scale residential projects.

That draft language allowed local governments to require stormwater capture for up to 50 percent of runoff from an entire redevelopment site and encouraged the use of incentives for capturing more. Supporters argued the section would help promote redevelopment by setting clear limits on what could be required.

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However, some environmental advocates and local officials raised concerns that it could weaken efforts to manage flooding and water pollution, especially in areas facing growing stormwater challenges.

In response to those concerns, lawmakers removed the stormwater language from the most recent version of the bill. Stormwater rules would remain unchanged, leaving cities and counties with the authority to require runoff controls as they see fit.

The bill remains under consideration in the House State and Local Government Committee. It must pass both the House and Senate before becoming law.



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North Carolina

North Carolina man extradited to Pa. for $100,000 ATM theft spree: police

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North Carolina man extradited to Pa. for 0,000 ATM theft spree: police


A 42-year-old North Carolina man on Tuesday was extradited to Pennsylvania after state police said he stole more than $100,000 from ATMs in Snyder and Union counties.

Between Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, Antoni J. Garcia-Cordoba, of Raleigh, North Carolina, stole from four ATMs at Central Penn Bank and Trust locations, state police said.

In a five-hour span, Garcia-Cordoba took $43,000 from three separate ATMs in Snyder and Union counties, according to a police report. On Oct. 1, he stole an additional $58,000 from an ATM in Titusville, bringing the total amount stolen to $101,000.

Garcia-Cordoba is charged with two counts of corrupt organizations – employee, a first-degree felony, and two counts of theft by unlawful taking, a third-degree felony.

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After being in custody at a jail in Boone County, Missouri, Garcia-Cordoba was extradited to Union County on Tuesday.

He is being held in the Union County Prison after being unable to post $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026.



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11 firefighters and 2 others injured after North Carolina house fire and explosion

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11 firefighters and 2 others injured after North Carolina house fire and explosion


SALISBURY, N.C. — Eleven firefighters and two other people were injured in a house fire explosion in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, officials said.

Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell said firefighters did not have life-threatening injuries but were getting treated for contusions, concussions and smoke inhalation following the fire Monday evening. Two other people were taken to the hospital, but Parnell said he didn’t know their conditions and couldn’t confirm whether they were in the house at the time of the fire.

The Salisbury Fire Department responded to the single-family home around 5 p.m. and found it engulfed in flames.

Eleven of the 22 firefighters at the scene went inside the house to search for occupants and “get water on that fire,” which preceded the explosion, Panell said at a news conference.

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“It was enough force that the outside walls blew out, the roof came up and went back down,” Parnell said.

An investigation of the fire and explosion is continuing.



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Harrison Bertos scores in OT to help Washington beat N.C. State 3-2 and win first Men’s College Cup

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Harrison Bertos scores in OT to help Washington beat N.C. State 3-2 and win first Men’s College Cup


CARY, N.C. (AP) — Harrison Bertos scored 1:54 into overtime after Washington blew a two-goal lead in the second half, and the Huskies beat North Carolina State 3-2 to win the Men’s College Cup at First Horizon Stadium on Monday night.

It was the first national championship for unseeded Washington (16-6-2), who became the first team to win six road matches in the tournament — beating six seeded teams along the way under the guidance of coach Jamie Clark. The Huskies won in their second trip to the final after losing 2-0 to Clemson in 2021.

No. 15 seed N.C. State (16-3-4) made the final for the first time behind coach Marc Hubbard. The Wolfpack were aiming for the school’s first national championship since Jim Valvano led the men’s basketball team to the title in 1983.

Zach Ramsey scored unassisted with 1:12 remaining in the first half and Washington took a 1-0 lead into the break. It was only the second time this season that N.C. State trailed at halftime.

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Ramsey scored into an empty net after Wolfpack goalkeeper Logan Erb couldn’t corral the ball at the top of the box. It was Ramsey’s second goal of the tournament.

Richie Aman sent a cross to the center of the goal and Joe Dale knocked it in for a 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute.

Donavan Phillip answered in the 66th, scoring with an assist from Nikola Markovic to cut it to 2-1 with his fourth goal of the tournament. The Wolfpack entered 11-0-1 when Phillip scores.

Taig Healy scored the equalizer with 3:28 remaining with assists from Justin Mclean and Calem Tommy.

Egor Akulov had an assist on Bertos’ winner.

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Huskies keeper Jadon Bowton, the only remaining player from the 2021 squad, had five saves.

Erb saved six shots for N.C. State, which was the last school to concede a goal this season.

The temperature was 28 degrees when the match between two teams that had never faced each other began.



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