North Carolina
Fire ant season expected to keep pest companies busy in NC
NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) — It’s the season of pollen, spring temperatures, and it can also mean so some not so friendly neighbors coming out of the woodwork.
Pest control companies in the Triangle are already getting calls for complaints of fire ants. We tagged along with Will Adkins from Pest and Termite Consultants to a house in Knightdale. They showed us one medium-sized colony in the yard, estimated to be home to at least 50,000-100,000 ants.
Adkins says when it gets to be bad, it’s important not to try and clear it out yourself.
“We’ve had some old folks that say, oh, you know, just put a little gasoline on it that’ll take care of it, but that’s not very environmentally friendly,” Adkins says.
Instead, Adkins uses a bait in a ring around the mound to kill off the colony within 24 hours.
Red and black fire ants are both common in North Carolina, and can cause anaphylactic shock especially for vulnerable kids, elderly, and pets.
If you accidentally stumble upon their colony, getting away fast can help.
“They can’t fly like hornets or yellowjackets, they’re not going to be able to move to you as quickly so getting away from the mound is key, brushing them off is essential,” says NC State Entomologist Christopher Hayes.
Hayes says they’re also paying attention to hybrid fire ants, a potent combination of both red and fire ants spreading across the state.
SEE ALSO | NC homeowners encouraged to check now for bats, make repairs to keep them out
“Not only are they quick spreading and aggressive, but they’re more resistant to cold; they can spread in colder climates faster because they emerge sooner,” he explains.
In just the past decade their territory has expanded, to now include 77 out of 100 North Carolina counties, including portions of western North Carolina where it used to be too cold for them to inhabit.
Fire ant season typically lasts throughout the summer.
SEE ALSO | Climate Ready NC
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North Carolina
North Carolina Republican operative shaping the state’s early voting plans is reassigned
North Carolina state Auditor Dave Boliek has reassigned a staffer working on state election preparations following reporting illustrating how the longtime Republican operative was using his position to shape county’s early voting plans.
North Carolina
North Carolina man accused of shooting and killing another tourist inside of a Broward Airbnb, police say
A Fourth of July trip to South Florida ended in tragedy after a 21-year-old North Carolina man was shot and killed inside a Hollywood Airbnb, according to police.
Investigators say Jaydon Williams, 21, was shot multiple times early Saturday morning at a vacation rental in the 1900 block of Funston Street. Hollywood police have arrested 21-year-old Devian Blount, also of North Carolina, and charged him with first-degree murder.
Officers responded to the home around 1 a.m. Saturday, following reports of a shooting. They arrived to find Williams suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Memorial Regional Hospital, where he died.
According to the arrest report, Williams was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend at the time of the shooting. She told investigators she heard someone accuse Williams of stealing, followed by a verbal argument and several gunshots.
The incident has left neighbors shaken in the typically quiet Hollywood community. While some residents noted they were aware that the home operated as a short-term rental, others expressed concerns about the property’s transient nature.
“That’s a bad idea to me to have an Airbnb in this neighborhood where so many people and kids live,” said neighbor Dorell Green. “Different types of people come and go. You don’t know who is coming or leaving.”
Ivette Santana, another resident, said her primary concern is the violence. “I don’t care about the Airbnb,” Santana said. “My problem is the shooting over there.”
Blount is being held without bond at the Broward County Jail.
CBS News Miami has contacted Airbnb to determine if the property remains in operation. We are also working to contact the property’s owners.
The video above is a live stream of WBTV and affiliated programming, and may not be directly related to the article below.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – A sickness causing explosive diarrhea across the United States has been reported in North Carolina.
State health officials confirmed on Tuesday, July 7, that at least 145 cases of cyclosporiasis had been reported in North Carolina since May 1.
According to the state’s health website, cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a parasite known as cyclospora. Sickness is often brought on by consuming food or water that is contaminated with the parasite.
The state’s website says it usually takes a week for symptoms to show up after consuming the contaminated food or water.
Among the symptoms are:
- Watery diarrhea with frequent, sometimes explosive bowel movements
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- Stomach cramps/pain
- Bloating
- Increased gas
- Nausea
- Fatigue
Health officials said cyclospora is often associated with fresh herbs and produce that are served uncooked. They said because those items often go uncooked, it is imperative for them to be cleaned prior to eating.
According to the CDC, healthy people who contract cyclosporiasis usually recover without treatment but may have symptoms for a few days to a month or longer. In other cases, the sickness can be treated with antibiotics.
As of mid-June, the CDC reported cyclosporiasis cases in 17 states. At that point, no deaths had been reported.
Also Read: One US state is now reporting 700+ cases of ‘explosive’ diarrhea linked to parasite
Copyright 2026 WBTV. All rights reserved.
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