North Carolina

Harris Jabs Trump on Economy, Unveils Set of Price-Reduction Proposals

Published

2 years ago

August 16, 2024

Harris Jabs Trump on Economy, Unveils Set of Price-Reduction Proposals

Kamala Harris unveiled a new set of policy proposals aimed at reducing the cost of living for middle-class Americans during her first major policy speech at a Friday rally in North Carolina.

The vice president and 2024 Democratic candidate took a jab at her opponent, Donald Trump, who was in North Carolina — a key battleground state — on Wednesday. Trump hosted a press conference on the economy on Thursday at his private golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, while standing next to a table of common grocery items.

“He offered no serious plans to reduce costs for middle-class families,” Harris told her audience. “No plan to expand access to housing or health care, and that, actually, for most of us, was not surprising.”

Throughout the speech, Harris offered her own proposals to curb high prices in health care, groceries, housing, and child care.

The vice president promised legislation to control price gouging by food companies and support small independent grocers while decrying that “many of the big food companies are seeing their highest profits in two decades” as consumers continue to struggle.

Harris contrasted her plan with Trump’s proposal to implement widespread tariffs on imported goods — which would impact large swaths of fruits and vegetables in the United States — as a plan that would “devastate Americans.”

“It will mean higher prices, on just about every one of your daily needs,” she said of the former president’s push for tariffs. “A Trump tax on gas, a Trump tax on food.”

VP: Now compare what Donald Trump plans to do. He wants to impose what is in effect a national sales tax on everyday products and basic necessities that we import from other countries. That will devastate Americans. It will mean higher prices.. pic.twitter.com/t37HNRVOa2
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 16, 2024

Harris also touted sweeping policies to improve the cost of housing, including the construction of 3 million affordable new homes and apartments during her first term as president, expanded protections against corporate landlords, and a $25,000 credit for first-time homebuyers.

In addition, Harris vowed to restore and expand the child tax credit to $6,000 during the first year of a newborn’s life, as well as an expansion of the earned income tax credit for low-income workers. According to the vice president, the plan would benefit over 100 million Americans.

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VP: There’s one more way I will help families deal with rising costs, and that’s by letting you keep more of your hard-earned money. Under my plan, more than 100 million Americans will get a tax cut, We will do this by restoring two tax cuts designed to help working Americans. pic.twitter.com/V2eqfQslW7
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 16, 2024

Harris contrasted her mission with the tax benefits granted to the ultra-wealthy and corporations under Trump’s first administration and warned that it would happen again if he retook the White House.

“I think that if you wanna know who someone cares about, look at who they fight for,” she said. “Donald Trump fights for billionaires and large corporations. I will fight to give money back to working and middle-class Americans.”

The economy and the financial struggles plaguing everyday Americans have and continue to be a defining issue in the 2024 election cycle. As Trump and Harris fight for dominance on the issue, early polling suggests that voters may have more confidence in Harris’ ability to handle the economy. This week, a survey conducted by the Financial Times and the University of Michigan found that 42 percent of voters trust the vice president’s ability to manage the nation’s financial health, a sharp increase from their outlook on President Joe Biden.

Harris will continue to pitch her vision for the nation’s economic future next week at the Democratic National Convention, where she is expected to be officially crowned as the party’s nominee to take on Trump this November.

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North Carolina

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

Published

11 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

These 4 Western NC towns are among WorldAtlas favorites for 2026

A new list from WorldAtlas named the publication’s top 10 favorite North Carolina towns of 2026, including several locations located in Western North Carolina.

Founded in 1994 by cartographer John Moen and his wife, Chris Woolwine-Moen, WorldAtlas publishes educational materials and articles on geography, sociology, demography, environment, economics, politics, and travel.

Previous Citizen Times articles have covered numerous mentions of Western North Carolina from WorldAtlas, including “idyllic” and “unpretentious” towns, scenic drives, a favorite downtown area, and more. In the new list, published March 9, WorldAtlas writers chose their all-time favorite North Carolina towns ― almost half of which were located in the western region of the state.

Here’s what WorldAtlas had to say about mountain North Carolina towns, plus the full list and more.

What to do in Banner Elk, N.C.

WorldAtlas noted the range of activities offered in Banner Elk throughout the year. The town sits in the Blue Ridge Mountains between the Sugar Mountain and Beech Mountain ski resorts. Writers highlighted the following locations and activities in Banner Elk:

Wildcat Lake, which has a lifeguarded white-sand beach and is used for swimming, non-motorized boating and fishing for largemouth bass, trout, and bluegill
Grandfather Mountain Nature Museum, a museum located at Grandfather Mountain
The Mile High Swinging Bridge, the highest suspension footbridge in the United States, which visitors can cross on foot

What to do in Blowing Rock, N.C.

Also included on the WorldAtlas list, Blowing Rock takes its name from a rock formation where the wind appears to blow upward. The list highlighted the following locations and activities in Blowing Rock:

The town’s namesake, “Blowing Rock,” is a rock formation known for views of Johns River Gorge and the surrounding forest
Fishing, spelunking and rock climbing opportunities in the area
Moses H. Cone Memorial Park, also known locally as “Cone Park,” which has hiking trails and is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Memorial Park on Main Street, where town events and concerts often take place

What to do in Brevard, N.C.

Brevard, also known as the “Land of Waterfalls,” is home to more than 200 waterfalls located across Transylvania County. WorldAtlas highlighted the following locations and activities in Brevard:

Museums, trails, rock climbing and the surrounding area’s many waterfalls
Guided Jeep and hiking tours to view waterfalls throughout Transylvania County
Veterans History Museum of the Carolinas, a museum displaying artifacts from U.S. military conflicts
Transylvania Heritage Museum, a museum focused on local history and genealogy

What to do in Hot Springs, N.C.

Hot Springs’ name comes from the natural springs that attract visitors from across the state and region. The springs are commonly visited by hikers seeking relief after traveling along the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the town. WorldAtlas highlighted the following activities and events:

Kayaking on the French Broad River
Trailfest, a celebration of hiking typically held in April
French Broad River Festival, a celebration of the French Broad River held each year on the first weekend of May
White-water rafting and ziplining opportunities in the area
Fishing, skiing, sport shooting, golf, disc golf, biking and horseback riding opportunities throughout the area
A range of accommodations including campgrounds, privately owned cabins, apartments, suites and cottages, with options from basic to luxury experiences

WorldAtlas’s best towns in North Carolina

The full list of WorldAtlas’s favorite North Carolina towns of 2026 included:

Banner Elk
Beaufort
Blowing Rock
Brevard
Davidson
Edenton
Hot Springs
Seagrove
Manteo
Wrightsville Beach

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

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North Carolina

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

Published

23 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

‘It was dire’: NC State professor returns from Qatar after being trapped during Iran war

An North Carolina State University professor is back home Monday night after he was trapped in the Middle East as war with Iran broke out.

Rich Spontak was stuck in Qatar while traveling from Bangkok to Spain and was forced to stay in the country for about a week. Several travelers were trapped for days in the Middle East after Iran’s
Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several defense leaders were
killed in joint strikes by the United States and Israel.

Spontak, like many travelers, found himself stranded in the Middle East after the initial attacks, which quickly entangled more surrounding countries, including Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, where seven U.S. service members were killed in retaliatory attacks from Iran.

Spontak said there were times he thought he wouldn’t make it out.

“I would just keep looking out and looking for the missiles,” Spontak said. “Some people that I met along the way were hit by shrapnel from the missles. It was dire.”

Airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed, according to flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Azerbaijan also shut the southern sector of its airspace on Thursday after accusing Iran of a drone attack that injured four civilians and damaged an airport building.

Lilia Austin, a Chapel Hill woman who was part of a group of 100 women who went to Israel for a trip the day before Khamenei was killed, also returned home on Sunday after she left Israel through Egypt.

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North Carolina

Gov. Stein proposes $1.4B ‘critical needs’ budget for North Carolina

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Gov. Stein proposes .4B ‘critical needs’ budget for North Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. (WLOS) — With North Carolina still without a new state budget, Gov. Josh Stein is urging state lawmakers to approve a $1.4 billion “Critical Needs Budget.” Stein says this budget will address the state’s most urgent priorities while the General Assembly works on a full spending plan.

“North Carolina has gone nearly two and a half years without passing a new state budget – the only state in the country to finish 2025 without one[…]This budget invests in critical public safety, education and health care services for the people of North Carolina that cannot wait,” Gov. Stein said in a press release Monday.

A major part of Stein’s proposal is $319 million to fully fund Medicaid, which provides health coverage to over three million North Carolinians. This program also supports rural hospitals, nursing homes and statewide health care providers, per the release.

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The “Critical Needs Budget” would target public safety staffing and pay. According to the governor’s office, North Carolina currently ranks 49th in starting salaries for state troopers and correctional officers, and low pay has contributed to staffing shortages and vacancy rates. This budget would bring pay raises to correctional officers, law enforcement officers, probation and parole officers and more.

Stein’s proposed budget calls for raising starting and average teacher pay, as well as increasing pay for senior teachers and other education staff. The governor’s office said the state remains in the bottom 10 nationally in average teacher pay.

The budget proposal also includes pay increases for state employees and a cost-of-living adjustment for retired state employees, citing rising inflation costs and increasing health care premiums. Stein’s plan also includes targeted funding to maintain essential services, such as support for child care access and affordability.

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