North Carolina
Black men are getting 70% of monkeypox cases in North Carolina—and only 24% of the vaccines
One other epidemic, one other highlight on inequality. We’re lower than two months into the monkeypox vaccination marketing campaign—and solely about three months since instances began showing within the US—and the the panorama of an infection and vaccination mirrors the structural inequities of healthcare at massive.
A quintessential case examine is obtainable by knowledge launched by North Carolina’s well being division, which offers demographic perception into monkeypox testing, an infection, and vaccination. Based on the findings, the overwhelming majority of instances of monkeypox are recorded amongst Black males who’ve intercourse with males, although white males have a tendency to check extra, suggesting a fair increased proportion of instances might be recognized in Black sufferers. However on the subject of vaccines, the tables flip, and it’s white males who’re receiving probably the most doses.
Essentially the most instances, the fewest vaccines
The information set is comparatively small, however telling. To date, North Carolina has analyzed data for 111 instances of monkeypox, about 3,000 vaccines, and 162 assessments.
Out of the instances, 71 (or about 70%) have been amongst Black males, and 21 (19%) amongst white males. However white sufferers additionally acquired extra assessments, and lots of extra vaccines: out of three,048 administered within the state, 2,039 went to white males.
Annalisa Merelli
Georgia has shared much more placing knowledge: Out of the 466 instances for which the state had racial knowledge, 382 (or 82%) have been amongst Black sufferers.
Though this knowledge is just reflective of two states, much less detailed data collected by the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) level to an identical discrepancy. Evaluation of about 1,000 instances for which race was accessible confirmed solely 41% of instances occurred among the many white inhabitants (although it represents 62% of the inhabitants), whereas Black and Latinx sufferers, who’re a couple of third of the inhabitants, made up greater than half the instances. The CDC hasn’t supplied a racial breakdown of vaccinations, however has famous that the variety of infections occurring amongst Black males is rising.
This sample is just like different outbreaks, notably covid. Though 23% of the deaths for covid, and 20% of the instances, occurred amongst Black Individuals (who’re solely 13% of the inhabitants), they remained the group with the bottom vaccination ranges, at 59%.
That is additionally consistent with the racist distribution of monkeypox vaccines globally.
African international locations, which have recorded probably the most monkeypox instances and deaths, and till a couple of week in the past have been alone in reporting any fatalities from the virus, have but to obtain any doses of vaccine.

North Carolina
North Carolina neighbors report a noisy party — but instead of the owners, police found the ‘lawn guy’ hosting
A massive party at a $4.3 million mansion in Weddington, North Carolina — allegedly held without the owner’s permission — landed one man in jail. WSOC-TV reports that 37-year-old Michael Brown broke into a client’s home and held a graduation party for his son while the owners were away. Brown was charged with breaking and entering, property damage and obtaining property by false pretenses. He has since posted a $10,000 secured bond.
Brown, however, maintains his actions weren’t criminal. “I didn’t break the law, I just broke some rules, probably, with my owners…but I didn’t break the law,” he told WSOC-TV reporters.
Officers say they were called to the million-dollar mansion on Twelve Mile Creek Road last Saturday night after neighbors reported blocked roads, loud noise and a traffic hazard. When they arrived, they say Brown first claimed to be the homeowner, then the homeowner’s grandson, before finally admitting he was the landscaper.
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Landscaper defends actions, but family say he crossed the line
Brown claims the party was a graduation party for his son and his son’s friends. He told reporters that they were aiming to create a “positive environment” and generate a little income.
But deputies found far more than just a wholesome celebration. “It was mostly teenagers and young adults. We estimate anywhere from three to four hundred people were at the house, and a lot of underage drinking was going on,” Lieutenant James Maye stated.
Deputies also seized more than $3,000 in entrance fees, which Brown says was used to cover security costs. He strongly denied charging a cover fee or telling police he owned the home.
“I never spoke to them about anything, about who stayed there or who owned the place. It wasn’t my right to tell them that, because it’s private property,” Brown told reporters.
The homeowners’ son, Jante Burch, claims Brown has taken advantage of his parents’ generosity and insisted his parents didn’t know about the party, saying, “He’s a liar, number one; clearly he told multiple stories to the officers.”
While Brown insists he won’t lose the Burch family as a client, Burch disagrees.
“In fact, not only has he lost a client, he’s probably lost all of the other clients that he had gotten in that neighborhood,” Burch [told reporters}(https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/homeowners-son-speaks-out-after-massive-unauthorized-party-familys-mansion/LRDCKMMRZBBJJHAITWL3JKOSLU/).
Brown has since posted a $10,000 bond and faces charges of breaking and entering, property damage, and obtaining property by false pretenses. There’s no public record yet of any court appearance or scheduled hearing date; the case appears to still be in the pre-trial phase.
Read more: Americans are ‘revenge saving’ to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. Here’s how to quickly earn 280% more on your cash
How to vet in-home service providers
Incidents like this raise big legal and financial questions for homeowners. If a party is thrown at your home, who is responsible if something goes wrong? If a party is thrown on your property without your consent, you’re typically not liable for damages or illegal behavior that occurs, as long as you didn’t authorize it or turn a blind eye to it.
Still, proving that you didn’t know can be difficult, which is why vetting service providers is so important. And this situation highlights just how quickly trust can be abused when the wrong person gains access to your home. Here are a few ways to protect yourself when hiring someone to work in your home:
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Check references: Ask for references and search for online reviews. A legitimate business should have a visible online presence and a verifiable track record.
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Verify licenses and insurance: Landscapers and contractors are usually required to carry liability insurance and may need a license. Double-check the requirements in your state and verify they have the required documentation.
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Be cautious: Just because someone seems friendly and trustworthy doesn’t mean they are. Don’t provide more access than needed, and set up security cameras when you’re away.
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Watch for red flags: Avoid anyone who pressures you for cash payments, can’t provide references, doesn’t have a business name, or seems evasive when you ask about past clients.
Above all, trust your instincts. If something feels off, it likely is. Installing security cameras while you’re away and changing the locks after ending a relationship with a service provider can help limit your risk and ensure your property remains secure.
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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
North Carolina
Top Taps: North Carolina breweries win big at U.S. beer championship
Breweries from all over America submitted their suds with the hopes of being named the best beer in the country, and North Carolina made a strong showing in 2025.
The U.S. Open Beer Championship was held in Oxford, Ohio, this week, and the championship medal winners were announced in over 100 different beer categories.
From IPAs and stouts to fruity beers (and even root beer) — North Carolina has some of the best. Breweries from the Tar Heel State were represented in the winners list of over 40 categories.
RELATED >> These Charlotte-area breweries take home World Beer Cup medals
Take a look at the categories featuring winners from North Carolina. (Breweries based in the Charlotte area are marked with an asterisk.)
3: American Strong Pale Ale
Gold: Green Envy – Fullsteam Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Lucid AF – Liquid Mechanics Brewing – Colorado
Bronze: Electri-Fly IPA – Wild Ride Brewing – Oregon
14: Session IPA
*Gold: Gentle Giant – Primal Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Sesh Coast Lager – Evans Brewing Co – California
Bronze: Corporate Estate – Celestial Beerworks – Texas
16: Fruit IPA
Gold: Mastiff – Boss Dog Brewing – Ohio
Silver: Regal Beagle – Boss Dog Brewing – Ohio
*Bronze: The Big O – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
19: New England/Juicy IPA
*Gold: Planet Pulp – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Uncurious – Druthers Brewing Co. – New York
Bronze: Meet Me at Doo Wops – Lost Shoe Brewing – Massachusetts
21: Experimental IPA
*Gold: Lil’ SLURP – NoDa Brewing Company – North Carolina
*Silver: EZ Baked – Replay Brewing – South Carolina
Bronze: Byclops – SDB Brewing Company – California
23 (A-B): Single Hop IPA
Gold: Gold Top – Brink Brewing – Ohio
*Silver: Island Hopper IPA – Pilot Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Bury Me In Strata – The Southern Growl Beer Company – South Carolina
28: Oatmeal Stout
Gold: Thunderball – Eudora Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: Not a Cure for Baldness – Buck Bald Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Overnight Oats – Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery – Texas
37: English Summer Ale
Gold: Farmhouse – Crystal Lake Brewing- Illinois
Silver: Approachable Blonde – Municipal Brew Works – Ohio
*Bronze: Yarnburner – Neoteric Brewing Company – North Carolina
39: ESB
Gold: Pub Ale – Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Pale Ale – Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
Bronze: My Turn Katie ESB – Lakefront Brewery – Wisconsin
50 (A-B): Strong Scottish Ale
Gold: Hammer Throw – Lost Province Brewing Co – North Carolina
Silver: Wallace Tavern Scotch Ale – Market Garden Brewery – Ohio
Bronze: Mulligan – Grand Junction Brewing Company – Indiana
Bronze: Old Crank – Schoolcraft Brewery – Michigan
54: American Brown Ale
Gold: Throwback Brown – Hodad’s Brewing Company – California
Silver: Not a Planet – Site-1 Brewing Co – Nebraska
Bronze: Buster Brown Ale – Dingo Dog Brewing Company – North Carolina
56: German Altbier
Gold: Alternative Medicine – Lakeville Brewing Company – Minnesota
Silver: Waha Negra – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Rubber Chicken Red – Franklins Restaurant Brewery and General Store – Maryland
57: German Kolssch
Gold: Lake Hopp’r – Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. – Florida
Silver: Brandstafter – Incendiary Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Kolsch – Union Bear Brewing – plano – Texas
60: French and Belgian Saison
Gold: Le Saison – Vista Brewing – Texas
*Silver: New Slang Belgian Saison – Americana Beer Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Little Batteau – Braided River Brewing – Alabama
63: Belgian Dubbel
Gold: Dubbel Down – Braided River Brewing – Alabama
*Silver: Belgian Dubbel – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Coriolis Effect – Loose Ends Brewing – Ohio
Bronze: Chugboat Island – Buckstin Brewing Company – Texas
65: Belgian Quadrupel
*Gold: Belgian Quad – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Two Brewers are Better Than One – Silver Harbor Brewing – Michigan
Bronze: Nakatomi Nights – Flix Brewhouse-SAT – Texas
67 (A-E): Belgian Lambic
Gold: Squared Pants – 2 Silos Brewing Co – Virginia
Silver: Stupid Sexy Flanders – Sun King Brewery – Indiana
Bronze: Faithful Instruction – Monday Night Brewing – Georgia
Bronze: The Forever Echo of Your Laugh – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
70: Leipzig-Style Gose
Gold: The Dare – Druthers Brewing Co. – New York
Silver: Gose – Ponysaurus Brewing – North Carolina
72: Contemporary Gose
Gold: Aloha State of Mind – COVA Brewing Company – Virginia
*Silver: Huckleberry Cheesecake Gose Pilot Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Punk Fuzz – MachineHead Brewing Co. – California
74: Smoothie Sour
Gold: Reapers Eye – Atrium Brewing – Kentucky
Silver: Lovely Patrol: Double (POG Juice) – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
Bronze: Beach Vibes – Savage Craft Ale Works – South Carolina
78: American Amber
Gold: De Nada – Appalachian Mountain Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Can I Pet Your Dog? – Ope Brewing Co – Wisconsin
Bronze: Elbow Bender – Wagon Wheel Brewing – California
79: California Common Beer
Gold: 1915 – Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. – Florida
*Silver: Last Day at the Office – Neoteric Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: 1702 Steam Engine – Mountain Layers Brewing CO. – North Carolina
81: German-Style Pilsener
Gold: An Honest Man – New Berlin Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: A Cold One – Reformation Brewery – Georgia
Bronze: Shimmer Pils – Discretion Brewing – California
Bronze: Pils – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
82 E: Rice Lager
Gold: Migoto Rice Lager – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
Silver: Rice Lager – Ponysaurus Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Rice Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
84: Munchner Helles
Gold: Helles Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
Silver: High Point Helles – Wild Leap Brew Co – Georgia
Bronze: Haus Helles – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
85: Munchner Dunkel
Gold: Flannel Weather – The Bier Garden – North Carolina
Silver: Penn Dark – Penn Brewery – Pennsylvania
Bronze: Decrepify – Geisthaus Brewing Company – California
88: German-Style Schwarzbier
*Gold: Shrouded Reflections of Moonlight 760 Craft Works – North Carolina
Silver: Schwarzbier – Union Bear Brewing – Plano – Texas
Bronze: Black Lager – Frost Town Brewing – Texas
95 (A-B): Dark Lager
Gold: 13 Degrees – Confluence Brewing Company – Iowa
Silver: Rain Czech – Clouds Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: El Lauro Muro – Brink Brewing – Ohio
97: American-Style Wheat Beer
Gold: Float Trip – Piney River Brewing Co. – Missouri
*Silver: Uncle John’s – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: 5G – Saddle Mountain Brewing Company – Arizona
Bronze: Whoopty Whoop Hefeweizen – Wild Ride Brewing – Oregon
99 a: American-Style Fruit Beer – Raspberry
*Gold: Anniversary Stout – Model A Brewing – South Carolina
Silver: Fresh! Raspberry – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Bronze: Razz Becky – Pondaseta Brewing Co. – Texas
99 C: American-Style Fruit Beer – Orange
Gold: Bell’s Oberon Light – Bell’s Brewery – Michigan
Silver: Anytime Wing Man – Flix Brewhouse Oklahoma City – Oklahoma
*Bronze: Zest A Peel – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
99 J: American-Style Fruit Beer – Strawberry
*Gold: Strawberry Shandy – Southern Range Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Belly Flop – Lucky Bucket Brewing Company – Nebraska
Bronze: Bella Brie – Inside the Five Brewing Company – Ohio
100 L: Fruit Wheat Beer – Mixed
Gold: POG Slammer – Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery – Texas
Silver: Blender Bender – Berry – Ledgeview Brewing Company – Indiana
Bronze: Mebane Skyline – Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
100 M: Fruit Wheat Beer – General/Other
Gold: Banana Wheat – Whistle Hop Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Blueberry Cobbler Payday – Side Hustle Brewing Company – South Carolina
Bronze: Pineapple Mana Wheat – Maui Brewing Co – Hawaii
108: Coffee Beer Light
Gold: Cowboy Coffee – Lost Province Brewing Co – North Carolina
Silver: Blue Boathouse – Fox River Brewing – Wisconsin
Bronze: Spill The Beans – Blue Heron Brewery – Ohio
115: Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter
Gold: GSO Barrel Select Stout 2024 – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
Silver: 3 year Barrel Aged Family Reserve Sleepy Bear – Werk Force Brewing – Illinois
Bronze: Eclipse – Frey Ranch – FiftyFifty Brewing Co. – California
117: Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter Specialty
Gold: Maple Grenade – Silver Harbor Brewing – Michigan
Silver: BA Pumpkinhead – Pontoon Brewing – Georgia
Bronze: Ammo Can: Lima One – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
120: Barrel-Aged Fruited Sour Beer
Gold: Daydreamer – Vista Brewing – Texas
Silver: The Virtue of Patience – Bold Monk Brewing Co – Georgia
Bronze: Angels in the Architecture – Bold Monk Brewing Co – Georgia
Bronze: Black Angel – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
135: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
Gold: Kellermeister – Brink Brewing – Ohio
Silver: Bobby Beer – Oklawaha Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Pleasing Gene – Little Brother Brewing – North Carolina
136 (128+137): Brett Beer
Gold: Free Range Farmhouse – Sun King Brewery – Indiana
Silver: All of the Positions – Forbidden Root Columbus – Ohio
Bronze: Coming To Fruition: Cherry – Oregon City Brewing – Oregon
Bronze: Beauty In The Cracks – Twin Leaf Brewery – North Carolina
141: Peanut/Peanut Butter Beer
Gold: Dark Aura – Third Eye Brewing Company (Hamilton) – Ohio
Silver: Not Sorry – Southern Ohio Brewing – Ohio
Bronze: D’s Nuts – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
142: Nut Beer
Gold: Scattered Castles – Project Halo Brewing – Texas
Silver: D’s Hazelnuts – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Pistachio Cream Ale – Platt Park Brewing – Colorado
144: Historical Beer – C: Grodziskie
Gold: Smocze Pragnienie – Allusion Brewing Company – Pennsylvania
Silver: Grodziskie – Goldfinger Brewing Company – Illinois
Bronze: Smoke Over Lublin – Mountain Layers Brewing CO. – North Carolina
147: Root Beer: A – Kids
Gold: Marsh Water Low Tide Brewing – South Carolina
Silver: Bright Penny Root Beer Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: No Label Root Beer No Label Brewing Co – Texas
151: Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage: E – Wheat Ales
Gold: Yuzu Ginger Shandy – Best Day Brewing – Colorado
Silver: Gruvi Weekday Wit – Gruvi – Colorado
*Bronze: Wheat Without Worry – Primal Brewery – North Carolina
(VIDEO: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery opens second location)
North Carolina
Why is NC seeing so much rain and flooding in July?
There has been a head-spinning amount of flooding this month, and not just in North Carolina.
It includes Texas, New Mexico, Illinois, New York, New Jersey and Missouri. The Texas floods were from the remnants of a tropical storm.
The flooding in central North Carolina was from Tropical Depression Chantal. In parts of Chapel Hill, there was more rain than we saw from Hurricane Fran in September 1996.
It doesn’t always take a tropical system to cause major flooding.
Earlier this week, New Jersey and New York saw one of the most intense storms in their histories. The flooding wreaked havoc on airports, subways, roads and more. The rain on the East Coast had nothing to do with a tropical storm.
Also, people don’t have to be in a floodplain to get bad damage. For example, 43% of repeatedly flooded North Carolina buildings are outside of designated FEMA flood zones.
WRAL News looked ot examine why we’re dealing with more dangerous rain events and why the state has had so much rain in July. Some areas of central North Carolina saw between 9 to 12 inches of rain, which is more than double some areas’ normal monthly rainfall.
Wet July: Storms leave behind damage in Sanford as residents grow concerned over torrential month
WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell explained what’s happening. She said there is a lack of sinking air to prevent storms. Fronts have stayed north and west, so central North Carolina has stayed hot and humid.
“We’re just stuck in this hot, humid, stormy pattern, so we’ve got a lot of energy in these storms and they’re able to dump some pretty intense rainfall,” Campbell said.
The Atlantic hurricane season tends to peak on Sept. 10. Activity in the tropics tends to ramp up in August, Campbell said.
August and September tend to report more flash flood reports than July in central North Carolina, Campbell said.
Anyone who doesn’t have flood insurance because they don’t live on a floodplain should know that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s [FEMA] flood maps are outdated. They rely on 1970s data.
WRAL Climate Change reporter Liz McLaughlin has been digging into this and more.
“[The maps] really only take rivers and coastal flooding into account and really ignore small waterways that now overflow,” McLaughlin said. “And, it doesn’t take climate change into account, so people are really underestimating their risk.”
The trends over the past few decades have shown increasing intensity in rainfall.
Since 1970, rainfall intensity has increased by 21% in the Triangle. It means more rain in less time. It includes:
Rising temps: Warmer air holds about 4% more water vapor for every 1°F of warming, so downpours get heavier.
Record ocean temps: Oceans absorb 90% of global warming, super‑heating the fuel for systems like former Tropical Storm Chantal
The climate is changing – our maps and infrastructure may not be keeping pace – but North Carolina residents can.
There are still simple steps you can take right now, to make sure you’re prepared.
Contractors showed us what to look for around the house before a storm hits. WRAL has also highlighted weather tools and alerts you can sign up for to stay informed.
If the worst does happen, WRAL 5 On Your Side has extensive reporting on how you can respond.
WRAL meteorologist Kat Campbell and WRAL climate change reporter Liz McLaughlin contributed to this story.
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