North Carolina
After the only hospital in town closed, a North Carolina city directs its ire at politicians
By Amanda Seitz and Allen G. Breed | Associated Press
WILLIAMSTON, N.C. — Weeds have punctured through the vacant parking lot of Martin General Hospital’s emergency room. A makeshift blue tarp covering the hospital’s sign is worn down from flapping in the wind. The hospital doors are locked, many in this county of 22,000 fear permanently.
Some residents worry the hospital’s sudden closure last August could cost them their life.
“I know we all have to die, but it seems like since the hospital closed, there’s a lot more people dying,” Linda Gibson, a lifelong resident of Williamston, North Carolina, said on a recent afternoon while preparing snacks for children in a nearby elementary school kitchen.
More than 100 hospitals have downsized services or closed altogether over the past decade in rural communities like Williamston, where people openly wonder if they’d survive the 25-minute ambulance ride to the nearest hospital if they were in a serious car crash.
When Quorum Health shut down Martin County’s 43-bed hospital, citing “financial challenges related to declining population and utilization trends,” residents here didn’t just lose a sense of security. They lost trust, too, in the leaders they elected to make their town a better place to live.
People like 73-year-old Bobby Woolard say they don’t believe any politicians – from the local county commissioners to the presidential candidates who will pass through this swing state with big campaign promises in the coming months – care enough to help them fix the problem.
“If you’re critically ill, there’s no help for you here,” Woolard said on a sunny April afternoon while trimming his neighbor’s hedges. “Nobody seems to care. You got a building sitting there empty and nobody seems to care.”
Trouble for Biden’s health care campaign?
The sentiment in this sharply polarized and segregated eastern North Carolina county could hint at trouble for President Joe Biden, who has made health care a key part of his reelection campaign against Republican rival Donald Trump.
His TV campaign ads hone in on Trump’s promises to diminish the Affordable Care Act. On social media, Biden regularly reminds followers of the law he signed that caps the cost of insulin. And in North Carolina, the campaign is narrowly focused on promoting Democrats’ successful efforts to expand Medicaid, which will extend nearly free government health insurance to thousands of people and reduce the indigent population for hospitals.
Biden and Trump are fiercely competing for the state, which also features the most prominent governor’s race of the year. Martin County, where Williamston is located, voted for Trump in 2020.
“Health care is on the ballot this year, and voters will remember that when they reject Donald Trump in November,” said Dory MacMillan, the Biden campaign’s North Carolina communications director.
But Biden’s achievements might not be enough for crucial voters living in towns like this one in North Carolina, where people have a hard time just getting emergency care when they need it.
Nationally, emergency room wait times have ballooned, with the average emergency room visit taking nearly three hours last year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Health care systems are also grappling with a health care worker shortage that worsened after burned-out employees emerged from the pandemic.
Those problems are particularly pronounced in rural communities, where more than 68 hospitals have closed in the last decade. The closures slowed down during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the federal government doled out billions of dollars in extra funds to hospitals. But with that money spent, hospital closures might tick up again, said George Pink, the deputy director of the University of North Carolina’s Sheps Center’s Rural Health Research Program.
Often, it’s emergency room care that residents miss the most, Pink said.
“If you’re having a heart attack, if you’re having a stroke, if you’re giving birth, all those are the kinds of life events where you need access to emergency care quickly and properly,” Pink said. “Those communities that have lost their rural hospitals, they don’t have that.”
A system ‘at risk’
Months before Williamston’s hospital closed, an outside consultant sent a dire warning about emergency care in the county.
The county’s volunteer first responder system was ineffective and long response times that stretched past 15 minutes in some areas were putting “lives at risk,” the consultant told the county’s commissioners last April.
The system was “in desperate need for vision, direction, guidance, command and control, and additional financial support,” the consultant advised the county, according to meeting minutes.
Since Martin General Hospital shut down, things have only gotten worse.
Longer drives to hospitals outside of the county mean ambulances and their crews are tied up for hours sometimes on a run, said Capt. Kenny Warren of the Williamston Fire and Rescue.
“A call that used to take us 20 to 30 minutes is now taking an hour to two hours, depending on where we’ve got to transport to,” Warren said. He added that the agency is staffed with emergency medical technicians, but not paramedics who are trained to provide more advanced care to patients in emergencies.
Warren, however, said he doesn’t think anyone has died as a result.
“Most of the outcomes probably would have been the same anyway,” he said.
In December, first responders arrived on a Williamston street within three minutes of receiving 911 calls that several shots had been fired and a young man might be dead.
They tried unsuccessfully to get a medical helicopter to transport the 21-year-old gunshot victim. The closest option was a six-bed hospital, a 21-minute ambulance ride away. All told, it would take 34 minutes from the time of the 911 call to get him there, according to police dispatch logs. He was transferred from that hospital to a higher-level trauma center where he died a few days later.
The scene of the shooting was just four minutes away from Martin General Hospital’s site.
‘Do you really care?’
More than a dozen Williamston residents interviewed for this story blamed the Martin County Board of Commissioners for failing to prevent the troubled hospital from closing.
Last month, Williamston resident Verna Perry told commissioners that her sister made a 25-minute drive to the closest hospital only to find out she would not be able to get the treatment she needed there.
“Do you really care, commissioners?” Perry asked. “If you cared, you would do something to get us a hospital here.”
Kaitlyn Paxton was seeking treatment for her asthma at Martin General Hospital’s emergency room the day it shut down. She watched staff wheel out patients on stretchers to transfer them to other hospitals.
Since then, she’s had a hard time finding primary care doctors and specialists to replace the ones who left once the hospital closed.
“As far as everyday doctors and appointments, from my personal experience it has been a nightmare trying to find someone,” she said.
She’s used the federally qualified health center, called Agape Health, which is one of a few facilities in the county still offering primary care. More than a thousand of these health centers operate across the U.S. They receive federal government funds and take patients on a sliding pay scale, regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay.
Agape Health added Saturday hours because of an influx of new patients after Martin General closed, said clinic CEO Dr. Michael McDuffie. Last month, Agape reopened one of the orthopedic clinics that shut down along with the hospital.
McDuffie wants to reopen Martin General next, even if just as a stand-alone emergency room.
“It could mean life or death,” McDuffie said. “They need an emergency department here so that it could at least stabilize them.”
The county, which still owns the hospital and land, is consulting with state officials and federal Health and Human Services agency representatives to determine whether the facility can reopen as a Rural Emergency Hospital, said interim County Manager Ben Eisner. Gov. Roy Cooper helped to usher in a new state law that allows North Carolina’s rural hospitals to make the transition.
The Rural Emergency Hospital program was developed by Congress, signed into law by Trump and finetuned by the Biden administration. The designation allows rural hospitals to unlock millions of federal dollars and beef up Medicare payments if they stay open to provide 24/7 emergency care.
“The simple question we’re trying to answer is how do we go from closed to open in a way that makes sense for the citizens of Martin County,” Eisner said.
If successful, Martin County would be the first hospital in the country to reopen its doors after closing with the new federal designation.
“It’s a top priority for us, we live it every day as a community,” Paxton said of getting the hospital reopened. It’ll be top of mind for her when she votes in the presidential election this fall.
Even still, she said: “I do not think it is a top priority for any of them at all – president, senators – any of them.”
Two brand-new 20,000-square-foot studios now compliment the studio’s existing 42,500 square feet of state-of-the-art production space, enhancing Wilmington’s vibrant film scene
WILMINGTON, N.C., Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a grand opening event complete with legendary rock stars, politicians, film industry veterans, and more, Dark Horse Stages, one of North Carolina’s premier production studios, last week officially opened two brand-new sound stages, Stages 3 and 4, adding more than 40,000 square feet of state-of-the-art production space to Wilmington’s vibrant film scene. This significant expansion enhances the infrastructure supporting North Carolina’s film industry, already renowned as a traditional and reliable stalwart in the film space, with experienced production crews as well as stunning and diverse landscapes.
The event garnered more than 550 attendees, including industry leaders, state and local officials, and film professionals, underscoring Wilmington’s status as a key player in the film and television sector.
“We are committed to providing world-class facilities that enable creators to realize their visions,” said Kirk Englebright, President and CEO of Dark Horse Stages. “The turnout reflects the excitement surrounding our expansion and the bright future of film in North Carolina.”
Guests were treated to an unforgettable evening featuring live music, thrilling stunts, and special video messages of congratulations from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect, Josh Stein, currently the state’s attorney general. Rock legend Dee Snider also made a special appearance, revealing plans to bring his production company, Defiant Artists, to North Carolina. To cap off the celebration, Snider electrified the crowd with a powerful performance of his iconic Twisted Sister anthem, “We’re Not Gonna Take It.”
For photos from the grand opening, click here.
For a video highlight from the event, click here.
For a video about Stages 3 & 4, click here.
*Photos should be attributed: Courtesy of Dark Horse Stages
“The expansion of Dark Horse Stages brings tremendous value to North Carolina’s film industry by enhancing our capacity to meet the diverse needs of today’s productions,” said North Carolina Film Office Director Guy Gaster. “The continued evolution of this outstanding facility elevates North Carolina’s appeal as a premier film destination to both major studios and independent filmmakers, alike, providing a modern and attractive entertainment hub that will foster creativity, efficiency, and true collaboration for years to come.”
North Carolina’s winters are
warming at an alarming rate, bringing unpredictable weather, reduced snowfall,
and a host of challenges for agriculture, tourism, and daily life. From
disrupted farming cycles to ski resorts struggling to make snow, the effects of
this climate shift are felt across the state— and experts warn it’s only going
to get worse.
Winter temperatures in North
Carolina have been steadily rising, with significant consequences for
agriculture, local communities and tourism. Since 1970, Raleigh has warmed by
about 5.7°F, surpassing the national average. This warming trend is part of a
broader pattern across the U.S., where winters have warmed by about 4°F on
average since 1970, with meteorological winter —spanning December through
February — being the fastest-warming season.
Jacob Sheff, an atmospheric
scientist at UNC Charlotte, attributes this rise in temperatures largely to
human activity. “The fossil fuels we burn create a blanket around the earth,
and we’re sort of inadvertently making that blanket thicker and thicker,” he
says. “Now, it’s much more difficult for us to have snow here in North
Carolina.” Sheff says that it’s becoming harder to get cold enough for snow as
the overall climate warms.
Warm winter ahead: WRAL Severe Weather outlook doesn’t look good for snow lovers
This prolonged warm season is
impacting agriculture. Michelle Pace Davis, with Pace Family Farms in Clayton,
has noticed the effects of recent erratic weather, from heavy rain to drought.
She also says it’s harder to keep pests at bay. “With these warmer winters,
pests can survive longer and affect our crops more, and that, in turn,
increases costs,” she says.
Warmer temperatures extend the growing season, but
they also bring new challenges for farmers, who now have to contend with pests
that would typically die off in the cold.
The longer warm season also
extends the mosquito and allergy seasons. Lauren Casey, a meteorologist with
Climate Central, notes that warmer winters are affecting health in a variety of
ways. “In the past, we could count on the cold weather to kill off mosquitoes
and keep allergies at bay, but now we’re seeing them stick around longer,” she
explains.
In Raleigh, there are now 27 more days suitable for mosquitoes than
in 1980, which increases the risk of health-related diseases.
“Nearly 14
million kids suffer from seasonal allergies, and longer allergy seasons mean
more suffering from congestion and sneezing,” Casey said.
In addition to the health and
agricultural impacts, warmer winters are bringing more intense rainstorms.
“When it rains these days, it’s raining about seven or eight percent harder
than it used to,” Sheff says. This increased rainfall can strain local water
systems and complicate flood management, especially as more moisture is in the
air due to warmer temperatures.
While milder conditions may
benefit some, the region’s ski resorts are feeling the effects of reduced
snowfall.
“We used to get about six or seven days in a row of weather cold
enough to make snow, but now it’s just two or three,” says Shawn Cassell, marketing
director at Snowshoe Mountain Resort. “We really have to weatherproof ourselves
for those upswings, making more snow in tighter windows than we ever had
before.”
Sheff warns that as the
planet continues to warm, North Carolina — and the world — will face more
disruptions to weather patterns, agriculture, and local economies.
Looking ahead, North Carolina
faces increasingly unpredictable weather patterns. “We’re seeing a rise in
warmer-than-normal winter days, which has a ripple effect on everything from
water supply to pest survival,” says Casey. “With warmer winters, mold season
is lasting longer, as mold thrives in these conditions.”
As these effects become more
pronounced, adapting to these changes will be essential for maintaining the
state’s economy, infrastructure and quality of life.
North Carolina
North Carolina GOP's legislative priorities for this year inch closer to becoming law
North Carolina GOP lawmakers are one step closer to rolling out their legislative-session priorities into law before the year’s end after the state House opted to override one of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s vetoes on Tuesday.
The vetoed bill contains significant funding for private school scholarship grants and a law compelling local sheriffs to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — two issues that Republican leaders have repeatedly emphasized throughout this year’s session. The House’s override, which took place largely along party lines, is part of the General Assembly’s multiday session this week that includes work such as providing more relief to western North Carolina communities still grappling with Hurricane Helene’s aftermath.
About $463 million will go toward the state’s Opportunity Scholarship program under the legislation. It also includes $160 million to address enrollment growth in K-12 public schools and community colleges.
Most House Democrats railed against the private school scholarships and called on Republicans to focus on funding public schools and Helene recovery efforts. In a letter to lawmakers on Monday, Cooper, who is term-limited and leaves office come January, urged GOP legislators to do the same.
“The economy of Western North Carolina needs an infusion of funding now, not months from now,” he said in the letter.
But Republicans say the legislation is necessary to quell lengthy waitlists. Last year, the GOP-controlled General Assembly removed income caps for the Opportunity Scholarship program, which led to skyrocketing demand and 55,000 waitlisted children. Both legislative chambers eventually agreed on a spending deal — the bill Cooper vetoed — in September to eliminate the state’s waitlist.
“We do not need to set up a false choice between hurricane relief and public school funding and funding for the Opportunity Scholarship program,” Mecklenburg County Republican Rep. Tricia Cotham said in support of the bill.
The bill also incorporates language to force North Carolina sheriffs to comply with ICE detainers — requests to hold inmates believed to be in the country illegally — and notify federal immigration agents. Under the new law, those inmates would be held up to 48 hours under a judicial official’s order so they can be picked up by ICE agents.
The legislation comes on the back of President-elect Donald Trump’s electoral victory earlier this month. His campaign stressed illegal immigration as a safety issue and promised mass deportations during his second term — which was referenced during House debate as a reason to support the bill.
“I hope you will take into consideration the overwhelming opinion shown by the voters again of this state and country in this past national election,” Caldwell County Republican and bill sponsor Rep. Destin Hall said.
Opponents to the bill, such as several advocates at an Every Child NC news conference earlier on Tuesday, voiced concern that the law would unfairly target immigrant communities in North Carolina.
“HB 10 is extremely harmful for the undocumented community, and especially children who are attending our public schools here, going to school in fear that their parents might be detained,” said Brandy Sullivan, Southern Wake Liberal Ladies co-founder and a naturalized citizen from Mexico.
The Senate also needs to override Cooper’s veto to have the legislation go into effect.
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