North Carolina
As tariffs set to go into effect, North Carolina could feel impact
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — During a news conference at the White House on Monday, President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico, and China are set to go into effect at midnight.
There will be 25% tariffs on products from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10% tariff on goods from China; this brings the total tariff on imports from China to 20%. Trump has previously cited illegal immigration and flow of fentanyl as reasons behind the implementation of tariffs, instituting a 30-day pause with Canada and Mexico last month as negotiations on those issues continued. Trump has also routinely mentioned trade deficits, as he highlighted efforts to encourage companies to build factories domestically.
“It’s going to be very costly for people to take advantage of this country. They can’t come in and steal our money and steal our jobs and take our factories and take our businesses,” said Trump.
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“If you look at the listing of deficits with each of these countries, we import significantly more than these countries are buying from the United States. And he wants to balance that out. They’re aware they have a lot of imports. He wants most of that to come out of the United States, and that’s what he’s trying to do,” said Thomas Cook, the CEO and Managing Director of the management consulting firm Blue Tiger International, as he assessed the President’s strategy.
As part of Trump’s remarks, he singled out North Carolina.
“I used to go there to buy furniture for hotels, and it’s been wiped out. That business now all went to other countries. Now it’s all going to come back into North Carolina,” said Trump.
Stocks fell sharply following the announcement, which came after the Dow, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 all dropped in February.
Friday, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, a key indicator used by the Federal Reserve, showed inflation cooled slightly in January, though concerns of economic strain were apparent.
“I think that costs are going to go up. You have companies now that are already starting to change their pricing structure,” said Cook.
“These measures will ultimately have an inflationary effect that will be felt very broadly,” said Gaphel Kongtsa, who is the Director of International Policy with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
Last month, Cook spoke with a group of North Carolina business leaders about how to navigate tariffs.
“There could be as much as 20 solutions that’s available to companies that import and export to mitigate the impact of tariffs,” Cook said..
“Many larger businesses I think are taking steps to protect their interests and mitigate risks against tariffs. One way of doing that is stockpiling and finding alternative markets but that sort of avenue is not available to all businesses. Smaller businesses, unfortunately, don’t always have the resources and the capacity to shift and maneuver their operations on such short notice,” said Kongtsa.
Canada is North Carolina’s top international trading partner. According to the EDPNC, through November there was $12.3 billion year-to-date in trade between North Carolina and Canada, a figure which surpassed 2023 figures.
One industry that is particularly vulnerable to tariffs: agriculture.
“Canada is the world’s largest exporter of potash and potash, of course, is a key ingredient in fertilizers. The United States sources nearly 80% of its fertilizers from Canada, and that includes farmers in North Carolina,” said Kongtsa.
According to a 2024 report from NC State University economist Dr. Mike Walden, the agriculture industry in North Carolina had a $111.1 billion economic impact in the state.
In a statement Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said “fentanyl seizures from Canada dropped 97 percent between December 2024 and January 2025” adding “there is no justification for these actions.”
In response to the tariffs placed by the United States, Trudeau wrote in part:
“Canada will not let this unjustified decision go unanswered. Should American tariffs come into effect tonight, Canada will effective 12:01 a.m. EST tomorrow, respond with 25 per cent tariffs against $155 billion of American goods – starting with tariffs on $30 billion worth of goods immediately, and tariffs on the remaining $125 billion on American products in 21 days’ time. Our tariffs will remain in place until the U.S. trade action is withdrawn, and should U.S. tariffs not cease, we are in active and ongoing discussions with provinces and territories to pursue several non-tariff measures. While we urge the U.S. administration to reconsider their tariffs, Canada remains firm in standing up for our economy, our jobs, our workers, and for a fair deal.”
“It’s worth noting that Canada is North Carolina’s largest export market with over $7.7 billion of exports from North Carolina going into Canada each year. These range from pharmaceuticals to auto parts to to engines to plastics. It’s really a very wide range of goods being sold to Canada,” said Kongtsa.
He said Canadian businesses are aware of the importance of the US market, adding the effect of tariffs will be felt by consumers and companies on both sides of the borders.
“These measures will ultimately have an inflationary effect that will be felt very broadly,” Kongtsa said.
The EDPNC reports Mexico is North Carolina’s second-largest import market and third-largest export market, and Chinese companies employ more people in North Carolina than any other state.
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(WLOS) — North Carolina has approved film and entertainment grants for two television series and an independent feature-length film.
According to a release from Gov. Josh Stein, this is expected to create nearly 5,000 jobs and spend more than $113 million during production.
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The productions include season two of “The Hunting Wives,” approved for an award of up to $15 million, filming around Lake Norman and Charlotte, and the new series “RJ Decker” in New Hanover County, which was approved for an award of up to $11.6 million.
The independent thriller “Widow,” which was approved for an award of up to $1.8 million, also recently completed filming in Davidson, Forsyth, Stokes, and Yadkin counties.
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“We are excited to have these new productions in North Carolina creating 4,900 jobs for our state’s crew and film-friendly businesses,” Stein said in the release. “North Carolina remains a top state for film, and these grants enable us to continue our strong tradition of TV and film production excellence.”
Additionally, the romantic comedy film “Merv,” which was filmed in New Hanover County and received a North Carolina Film grant, released on Amazon’s Prime Video on Dec. 10.
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Other productions that were recently filmed in North Carolina include the films “Christy” and “Roofman,” as well as the popular series “The Summer I Turned Pretty.”
“These productions bring direct economic benefits and also raise the state’s visibility among audiences, leading to increased tourist activity and visitor spending over time,” said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley.
North Carolina coach Bill Belichick has fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens and special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer.
“We want to thank Coach Kitchens and Coach Priefer for their commitment and many contributions to our program and student-athletes,” Belichick said in a statement, per ESPN. “We wish them both nothing but the best in their future endeavors.”
Kitchens, the former Alabama quarterback and head coach of the Browns in 2019, was the Tar Heels’ interim coach in 2024.
Belichick brought Priefer to UNC after two decades in the NFL, and two years out of football.
Under Kitchens, North Carolina’s offense ranked 119th in scoring (19.3 PPG) and 129th in total offense (288.8 YPG).
The Tar Heels finished 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the ACC.
Kitchens won Alabama’s Mr. Football honor in 1992 as the quarterback at Etowah High School.
Kitchens shared the quarterback duties at Alabama with Brian Burgdorf in 1995 before taking over full-time under center for the Crimson Tide in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
After three more college stops, Kitchens entered the NFL as the Dallas Cowboys’ tight-ends coach in 2006 and stayed in the league for the next 17 seasons, including as Cleveland’s head coach in 2019, when the Browns went 6-10.
North Carolina
Ex-senator’s wife, 75, found escaped inmate cowering in the backseat of her car: ‘I was shaking like a leaf’
The 75-year-old wife of a former Republican North Carolina senator had a frightening start to her week when she discovered an escaped inmate hiding in the backseat of her car, according to local reports.
Marie Steinburg, married to ex-State Senator Bob Steinberg, left her Edenton home for work around 7:30 a.m. Monday when she unlocked her Honda Civic and found 23-year-old accused thief Charles Babb cowering in the backseat, with a blanket wrapped around his orange prison jumpsuit.
“I headed out the door, and I clicked the unlock, and it must have scared the guy, because the next thing I know, I saw something moving in my backseat,” the startled senior said, WTKR reported.
“I kept backing up little by little by little because I thought, I don’t know what this man is going to do.”
Babb — who police said escaped from the Chowan County Detention Center Sunday night — then jumped out the car.
While residents were urged to lock their doors and windows, stay inside, and avoid interacting with the armed and dangerous fugitive, Steinburg said she remained calm and began talking to him.
“I figured if I was nice to him, he’d be nice to me,” she said, WAVY reported.
“I just figured that was the thing to do because I didn’t know if he was really dangerous,” Steinburg explained, adding that “he kept saying, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m so cold.’ And, you know, I was startled and I know he was too. And I said, “Well, hey, let me go in and get you a coat.’”
Steinburg said Babb then turned and raced down the driveway — reportedly leaving behind his prison sandals and a face mask — as she ran inside, called out to her husband, and dialed 911.
“I got in as fast as I could,” she recalled, according to WTKR.
“I was shaking like a leaf, and I could barely get the key in the lock, but I did.”
The Edenton Police Department apprehended the convict nearby shortly thereafter.
Police did not give details on how Babb escaped jail, other than to say he used a make-shift edged weapon. He was being held on felony breaking and entering and larceny charges before his breakout, according to the Daily Advance.
Her husband, who advocated for prison reform during his 10 years in office, praised his wife for how she handled the terrifying situation, believing a higher power was looking out for them.
The couple added that they will never forget to lock their car doors again.
“Oh let me tell you, if I don’t, [my husband] is gonna,” a relieved Steinberg said.
“It’s one of those things that we learned.”
The Chowan County Sheriff’s Office has since launched an investigation into Babb’s jailbreak.
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