WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – For the second time in three years, Wilmington, North Carolina topped metro areas across the country when it came to where Americans moved in 2024, according to a study by United Van Lines.

The company released its 48th Annual Movers Study this week, with Wilmington topping the list of Metropolitan Statistical Areas with an 83% of moves being inbound and 17% outbound, ahead of Springfield (Missouri), Myrtle Beach (South Carolina) and Flagstaff (Arizona). You can see the list of highest-ranking cities by clicking here to visit the United Van Lines website. Wilmington also topped the same study in 2022.

When it comes to the most popular states seeing more inbound moves, the UVL study found “..West Virginia was the state with the highest percentage of inbound migration (66%), among states experiencing more than 250 moves* with United Van Lines”, according to a news release. North Carolina came in at #5 for most inbound moves. For the seventh year in a row, the study lists New Jersey with having more residents than any other state moving out, at 67% outbound.

According to the news release, the 2024 study “…shows for the first time in decades, the primary driver for moving interstate was a desire to be closer to family (28%)” than other reasons.

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ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WECT) – During his second day in office, Former North Carolina Attorney General and now our state’s governor, Josh Stein signed five Hurricane Helene recovery executive orders.

Stein says each order will address issues that need immediate attention.

This comes as more than 12,000 people are without safe housing, and an estimated 8,000 private roads and bridges need to be repaired or replaced in Western North Carolina.

“We want every dollar dedicated to recovery whether federal, state, local or charitable to be spent as efficiently, impactfully and quickly as possible,” said Stein. “Folks have to have a safe place to live.”

The first executive order will increase the supply of temporary housing.

The second order will enable the state to repair private roads and bridges faster. Stein says that’s necessary for people and especially emergency vehicles to access homes.

The third order creates the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina, or GROW NC. Which is now a division within the office of the Governor for the next year.

The fourth order establishes a governor’s advisory committee to advise GROW NC to meet the community’s needs quickly and cost-effectively.

The final order authorizes 16 additional hours of leave for state employees to volunteer for storm-related efforts.

“The needs facing this region are vast and require immediate attention,” said Stein. “I pledge to do everything in my power as governor to accelerate recovery and the rebuilding of a more resilient region for the long haul.”

Stein says the total losses are estimated to be close to $60 billion dollars. All of the orders are effective immediately.

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DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Could you give up eating your favorite meat for a whole month? The mayor of North Carolina’s fourth-largest city is challenging people in the Bull City to do so.

Durham’s mayor Leonardo Williams issued the ‘Bull City Veganuary Challenge’ at the end of December. He’s hoping the initiative will encourage people to adopt a plant-based diet for January.

The challenge is getting big support from Durham Public Schools, Downtown Durham Inc., Durham Public Schools Foundation, and other community partners to show a community-wide effort in pushing the benefits of plant-based eating, according to information from the mayor’s office.

Mayor Williams says it started as a one-day thing and turned into a month-long initiative after restaurants and schools wanted to be a part of the challenge.

“We do it just to renew ourselves. We already have a lot of restaurants with vegan options anyway. So this is something we do. And now, you know, we have these initiatives working together.”

• Durham Public Schools is having a Student Art Competition focused on plant-based eating. Entries to the competition will be displayed around various small businesses in Durham throughout January.

• The Northern High School Culinary Program will allow students to compete in the Junior Vegan Chef Challenge and develop high-quality, plant-based entrees consistent with school lunch nutrition guidelines

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The Veganuary Challenge is not only aimed to have a positive impact on your health but on the environment as well.

Click on Bull City Mayor’s Veganuary Challenge for more information.

Check here for a list of vegan restaurants in Durham.

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