North Carolina
As NC earns praise for economic performance, some workers feel there are areas for improvement
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — In the past few years, groundbreakings and high-profile job announcements have become routine occurrences in North Carolina, as some of the world’s biggest companies open or expand operations in the state.
“The tech sector in particular likes our higher educational programs because they can rely on a steady stream of people coming into the workforce,” said economist Dr. Michael Walden of NC State University.
Walden added that the state’s efforts to establish partnerships between community colleges and businesses have also paid dividends.
“Businesses that come here, for example, if they need skilled workers, maybe in a factory, our community colleges will set up individualized training programs for them,” said Walden.
North Carolina has earned national praise for its economic performance, being named the top state for business by CNBC in 2022 and 2023, and second-best in 2024. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the statewide unemployment rate of 3.7% is markedly lower than the national rate of 4.3%.
“There’s a little bit of a chicken and egg. There are good jobs to be had here, a high quality of life. And so, I think companies see that talent want to move here and then I think that the state has made investments,” said Dr. Gerald Cohen, Chief Economist of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise.
The state’s comparatively lower cost of living has also been attractive in both enticing workers and keeping talent in state. According to the US Census Bureau, North Carolina saw the third-largest population increase between July 2022 and July 2023, adding nearly 140,000 residents.
“I think we have a very, very well-developed business recruiting model. It’s a combination of a positive public-private sector group that recruits,” said Walden, who said he believes the state will make an effort to attract renewable energy companies moving forward.
Room For Improvement?
Still, there are areas where some feel the state could improve.
“Investing in our K-12 education system so that we’re building out that pipeline, so it’s not that we need people to come from outside the state. It’s having people come from within the state,” said Cohen.
Though the overall business environment has attracted start-ups and entrepreneurs, local funding doesn’t quite stack up compared to other major cities.
“They’ll end up going to the Bay Area to get (Venture Capital) VC financing. So that’s kind of something (where) we have less of an infrastructure at this point,” Cohen explained.
Workers have also expressed concerns. According to a report from StartFleet.io, North Carolina has the second-lowest union participation rate.
“We have that voice and we do use it,” said Grant Welch, NC Legislative Political Director for Communications Workers of America.
Welch has worked in the telecom industry for 25 years. Members of the union are on strike against AT&T, holding a rally in Raleigh last week. The union alleges the company has failed “to bargain in good faith.” In a statement, AT&T wrote in part:
“Our goal is to reach fair and competitive agreements that recognize the hard work our employees do to serve our customers, with market-based pay and benefits tied to cost of living and projected inflation data. This is true for all employees, management and non-management alike.”
In North Carolina, collective bargaining for public sector employees is prohibited. Welch said he believes those efforts limit workers’ rights, as he calls on the state to step up in ensuring safety.
“Our state does not require breaks. It does not require lunch periods. We fall short in that,” said Welch.
In 2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that North Carolina was one of just six states with more than 200 fatal work injuries.
“When you look at everything and you look at some of the tragedies we’ve had over the course of the past few years, especially in the building trades, you know, we’ve had multiple deaths,” said Welch.
Willie Brown, a public works maintenance specialist with the City of Durham, serves as President of the NC Public Service Workers Union, UE Local 150.
“We have a lot of workplace safety concerns (ranging from) heat to COVID (exposure),” Brown said.
Brown said he believes improved working conditions are needed to attract workers and keep up with population growth.
“If you bring in 20,000 more people but don’t hire more people to pick up 20,000 more people’s trash, then what? Because that’s what’s happening,” Brown said. “The city is outgrowing the workforce and that’s what’s happening wherever you go. The work is growing, the pay is not, and the city is growing.”
North Carolina follows the federal minimum wage of $7.25, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finding that 1.1% of all hourly workers 16 and older made minimum wage or lower, a drop from 1.3% in 2023. While acknowledging the overwhelming majority of companies pay above that level, Welch would like to see the rate raised, as well as have the state implement more enhanced unemployment benefits.
“We’re not against wealth. We want these companies to succeed. Their success, again, is our success, right? We’re working. We want to be at work,” said Welch.
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North Carolina
North Carolina couple accused of causing vulture invasion sued by furious town: ‘Not good neighbors’
A North Carolina couple accused of luring hordes of vultures to their home and unleashing chaos on neighbors for years is being hauled to court by fed-up town officials desperate to end the feathered frenzy.
The Town of Hillsborough slapped residents Kenneth and Linda Ostrand with a civil petition, seeking a court order to shut down their relentless bird-feeding habit, blamed for allegedly drawing dozens of winged scavengers to their home and terrorizing their small town for the past two years.
“They’re a little spooky to be frank,” concerned neighbor Holden Richards told WTVD.
“Everybody thinks they’re ugly and stuff but they’re not good neighbors. They have sharp talons, so they’re not great animals to have perching on your house. I watched them pick tiles off my neighbor’s roof and I found tiles from my roof in my front yard, so I have a feeling that’s exactly where they came from.”
The bird-brained couple is accused of leaving out food scraps for vultures, allegedly reeling in the feathered predators that have swarmed and roosted near their house, leaving foul-smelling droppings on neighbors’ homes and vehicles and causing widespread property damage deemed a risk to public safety.
The complaint, filed in March, also claims the twisted pair named the birds of prey – with eerie photos submitted to the court showing dozens of vultures circling their Queens Street home, the outlet reported.
“I’m pretty sure that every one of my neighbors has probably called,” Richards said, pointing to a flood of complaints made to town officials since May 2024.
The Ostrands reportedly filed a motion to dismiss the town’s case last month, denying the accusations.
Linda Ostrand, a longtime wildlife rescuer, told WTVD she is being unfairly targeted by her community and claimed the circling creatures were already an issue before she moved into the neighborhood.
“It’s sort of, it’s ridiculous, is what it is,” Linda said, noting the town changed an ordinance after the initial wave of complaints to ban wildlife feeding beyond standard feeders.
“If people didn’t have vultures around here you would hear them screaming bloody murder about the town not cleaning up the animals that have been hit by cars, because that’s what they do, they are nature’s garbage disposal,” she continued.
“I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, tell the vultures that this is a no-feed zone. I just don’t know.”
No court date has reportedly been scheduled for the couple’s fight with the town.
North Carolina
Businesses worry of potential impacts as Marion tightens water restrictions amid drought
MARION, N.C. (WLOS) — The City of Marion is tightening water restrictions as drought conditions persist across western North Carolina, prompting local businesses to prepare for possible impacts on daily operations.
The drought monitor released on Thursday, May 14, shows that extreme drought now covers 90% of western North Carolina.
ASHEVILLE IS MORE THAN 7 INCHES BELOW AVERAGE RAINFALL THIS YEAR, DATA SHOWS
As the region continues moving into a hotter and drier pattern, the City of Marion officials announced Stage Two water shortage restrictions less than a month after issuing a Stage One Water Advisory.
Businesses in Marion said the quick escalation is raising concerns about what could come next if drought conditions persist.
“They put us in stage one at the end of April and already it’s not through, it’s not the end of May and they’re already putting us in stage two,” said Barbara Brown, owner of Bruce’s.
Under the Stage Two restrictions, watering lawns, gardens and golf courses will be prohibited. Washing cars, filling residential swimming pools and serving water in restaurants except upon request will not be allowed.
Brown said her restaurant is already taking steps to conserve water.
“We check the bathrooms often to make sure people have turned the water off because we have found from time to time, people leave them running,” she added.
She said she worries stronger restrictions could eventually force businesses to make bigger operational changes.
“I’m concerned that eventually we might have to go to paper plates, paper cups, silverware,” Brown said.
Other businesses are also considering adjustments.
Kat Garner, a tattoo artist at Blue Ridge Tattoo, said water shortages could affect how the shop operates day to day.
LEADERS URGE WATER CONSERVATION AS DROUGHT DEEPENS ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA
“We would definitely be reduced to using distilled water for everything, which would become harder if everyone’s buying it out, so that would definitely make things a little bit more difficult,” Garner said.
The Stage Two water restrictions are set to begin Friday, May 15, at 8 a.m. and will last until further notice.
North Carolina
Police: North Carolina man charged after high-speed chase in Erie County, arrested in the Town of Perry
PERRY, N.Y. — A North Carolina man is in custody after a chase that started in Erie County and ended with an arrest in Perry.
Wyoming County Sheriff’s deputies say Ericson Vasquez-Moran, 22, rammed a Border Patrol vehicle in Erie County around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday before taking off. The suspect was spotted in Warsaw on Route 20A, but a chase was called off due to high speeds.
Then around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday, deputies say Vasquez-Moran called 911 from Perry to surrender.
He’s charged with speeding, failure to keep right, unlawful fleeing a police officer, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment in the second degree.
Vasquez-Moran was given an appearance ticket for the Village of Warsaw Court and was released to the custody of the United States Border Patrol.
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