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North Carolina officials issue warning over Helene-hit community

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North Carolina officials issue warning over Helene-hit community


Western North Carolina suffered another setback after Hurricane Helene battered the region and left many residents dead in September.

Over the weekend, minor flooding and rain destroyed roughly 20 makeshift roads and bridges erected as temporary solutions in Boone and Newland after Helene wiped out whole infrastructural systems, according to relief group WNC Strong’s comments to a local news outlet.

As temperatures are expected to drop below freezing in the region, nearly 700 families are still living outside in tents in the hard-hit area. Benjamin Vanhok said nobody has helped the 15 families his organization has identified that are “completely displaced.”

“It’s not over,” the WNC Strong representative said. “It’s only going get worse before it gets better.”

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With the weekend flooding, some residents in the rural area are completely stranded from accessing the emergency services and are completely reliant on grassroots efforts to receive vital supplies.

“They’re stranded again and they will be stranded for the next week until this cold snap passes,” Vanhok noted. “With military-style trucks, they can get across and get them out, but them taking their own cars, they can’t.”

Avery County Manager Phillip Barrier, who represents the city of Newland, warned that more than 20 residents in the county are unreachable by first responders after nearly a dozen emergency footbridges built by volunteers after Helene washed away over the weekend.

“There are several people that we can’t get emergency access to,” he told NBC News during an interview, noting that recovery efforts have “been super slow.”

Likewise, residents in Yancey County, another community devastated by Helene, said Monday that “the need for a bridge or a safe road does not seem to be a priority,” noting the dearth of infrastructure has left “close to 75 families stranded.”

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“It seems this community has been overlooked,” one Yancey County resident wrote in a Facebook post. “… My son and his wife are expecting a baby, and have to go in and out with the worry of getting stuck, or with the fear of the bridge being underwater, like it is now. My mother-in-law is on oxygen and luckily was able to make it to the hospital a couple of weeks ago by ambulance.”

Dominick Gucciardo walks to his home in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024, in Yancey County, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Bridges for Avery, the volunteer group that constructed many of the makeshift bridges for residents, is back at work building new infrastructure for those affected.

“For many, these footbridges are the only way home,” according to the organization.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Bridges for Avery and WNC Strong are just two of the countless private grassroots efforts that emerged as the primary source of help for North Carolina residents after Helene struck.

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“These small towns in the heart of Appalachia is what made the area so special,” WNC Strong posted on Instagram. “We exist to help rebuild the region in multiple ways. Right now we’re seeking more local businesses we can partner with to bring back to life economically.”





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North Carolina advisory group recommends legalizing marijuana

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North Carolina advisory group recommends legalizing marijuana


North Carolina advisory group recommends legalizing marijuana for adults

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PUMP STATION AND IS NOT INTENDED FOR PUBLIC USE. A NORTH CAROLINA STATE ADVISORY GROUP WANTS LAWMAKERS TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA FOR ADULTS IN A TIGHTLY REGULATED SYSTEM. THE RECOMMENDATION CAME IN AN INTERIM REPORT FROM THE NORTH CAROLINA ADVISORY COUNCIL ON CANNABIS. THE GROUP SAYS LEGALIZATION FOR ADULTS 21 AND OLDER WOULD MAKE CANNABIS USE SAFER BY REPLACING UNREGULATED SALES WITH TESTED, CONTROLLED PRODUCTS. IT COULD ALSO GENERATE MILLIONS IN TAX REVENUE FOR THE STATE, ACCORDING TO THE MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT, NORTH CAROLINA IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF STATES THAT DO

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North Carolina advisory group recommends legalizing marijuana for adults

Updated: 9:46 PM EDT Apr 6, 2026

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A North Carolina state advisory group wants lawmakers to legalize marijuana for adults in a tightly regulated system.The recommendation came in an interim report from the North Carolina Advisory Council on cannabis. Officials said legalization for adults 21 and older would make cannabis use safer by replacing unregulated sales with tested, controlled products.It could generate millions in tax revenue for the state.According to the Marijuana Policy Project, North Carolina is one of a handful of states that do not allow either medical or recreational use of marijuana.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here

A North Carolina state advisory group wants lawmakers to legalize marijuana for adults in a tightly regulated system.

The recommendation came in an interim report from the North Carolina Advisory Council on cannabis. Officials said legalization for adults 21 and older would make cannabis use safer by replacing unregulated sales with tested, controlled products.

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It could generate millions in tax revenue for the state.

According to the Marijuana Policy Project, North Carolina is one of a handful of states that do not allow either medical or recreational use of marijuana.

Watch:NOWCAST streaming newscasts

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NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |

Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here

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Carrie Everett, crowned Miss North Carolina in 2024, dies of stomach cancer, family says

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Carrie Everett, crowned Miss North Carolina in 2024, dies of stomach cancer, family says


Carrie Everett, who was crowned Miss North Carolina in 2024, has died of stomach cancer, family members tell WRAL News.

Everett’s parents told WRAL News their daughter died late Sunday night, asking for privacy. They shared the following statement:

“Carrie Everett transitioned on Easter Sunday with her family and friends surrounding her with love. The family is spending time together as they celebrate her memory. They ask that you continue to pray for them [and] celebrate her memory.”

Everett attended North Carolina Central University, where she majored in vocal performance. She was diagnosed with stomach cancer in July 2025, when she was 21, after scans found masses in her abdomen.

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In March, family members posted on a GoFundMe page that Everett’s chemotherapy treatments weren’t working and shared plans to move her out of state for treatment. 

Everett spoke to WRAL News last year after the diagnosis, sharing her plans to go back to college and her dreams of becoming a gospel singer.

A year earlier, after claiming her Miss North Carolina title, she told WRAL News her parents immigrated to the United States from West Africa. Growing up, she said her family struggled with finances, and the journey to the crown was a challenging one, and many of the gowns she wore during the pageant were borrowed or from thrift stores. 

Everett was the fourth Black woman to win the title since the pageant began in 1937. She dreamed of working in girl’s education and creating accessibility for future generations.

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UNC basketball coach candidates: 10 names to consider as search hits roadblocks

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UNC basketball coach candidates: 10 names to consider as search hits roadblocks


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Tommy Lloyd signed a new deal.

So did Nate Oats.

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Dusty May is a “no” as well.

So where does North Carolina turn now for its open men’s basketball coach position? Here are 10 names to consider:

Billy Donovan, Chicago Bulls

Donovan is the big fish still swimming in the pond. Can UNC hook him? Donovan has been linked since the Tar Heels fired Hubert Davis on March 24. The Bulls’ season ends April 12, and they won’t be in the playoffs. Is UNC willing to wait and miss out on the first week of the transfer portal? For the right fit, why not? Plus, the Bulls are reportedly set for a front office shakeup, so it may be time to jump ship.

After 11 years away from college basketball, is Donovan ready for a return to campus? College ball is basically pro ball, anyway now. He’d be the candidate most UNC fans are pinning their hopes on after other high-profile rejections.

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Mark Byington, Vanderbilt

Byington, 49, played at UNC Wilmington and was an assistant at Virginia and Virginia Tech, so he’s got some familiarity with the state and ACC. He may not have the name recognition as some of the other coaches linked to the job, but he’s averaged 25 wins across his past four seasons as a head coach, including 27 victories this season in his second year at Vanderbilt

He’s never made a Sweet 16, but he’s never been at a program like North Carolina, either.

Todd Golden and Nate Oats had never been to a Sweet 16 before coaching at Florida and Alabama, respectively. Now, they’re two of the best coaches in the sport.

Sean Miller, Texas

Miller is a winner. He’s coached in 14 NCAA tournaments, reached the Sweet 16 nine times and the Elite Eight four times.

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Miller spent five seasons on Herb Sendek’s NC State staff, so knows the state. His firing at Arizona will raise some red flags with his involvement in 2017 Adidas FBI probe, but if Rick Pitino, Will Wade and Bill Self (among others involved) can still coach at the top level, why shouldn’t Miller?

He just finished his first season at Texas, going 21-15, taking the Longhorns from the First Four to the Sweet 16, and a last-second tip-in away from the Elite Eight.

Ben McCollum, Iowa

McCollum is a proven winner at multiple levels and a program builder. The 44-year-old coach won four Division II national championships before jumping to the Division I level. He’s won more than 80% of his games, leading Drake to 31 wins before making the move to Iowa and taking the Hawkeyes to the NCAA Tournament this season. Imagine what he could do with a blue-blood program?

Scott Drew, Baylor

Two years ago, Drew claimed a spot near the top of Kentucky’s wish list. He turned down the Wildcats, a humbling blow to UK. Two years later, you must wonder whether Drew would benefit from a restart. His Baylor team went 16-16 and got trampled within the Big 12. Drew last reached a Sweet 16 in 2021, when he produced a national title.

Take the macro view, and Drew’s Baylor accomplishments are phenomenal. He rescued from the trash bin a program that had been rocked by a deadly scandal. He took the Bears up, up, up, until they reached the top of the sport.

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Zoom in, and you realize Drew’s best days at Baylor are behind him. He’s still widely respected, and if Drew, 55, is ever going to leave Baylor, right now is likely his last best chance.

Josh Schertz, Saint Louis

Schertz was in the mix for the NC State job before saying he was staying with SLU. Would UNC make him reconsider?

Like McCollum, Schertz cut his teeth coaching in Division II, reaching four Final Fours at Lincoln Memorial. His 2024 Indiana State team was electric — and an NCAA Tournament snub before reaching the NIT final. He’s rebuilt Saint Louis in just two seasons and plays a brand of basketball that’s easy on the eye.

Grant McCasland, Texas Tech

All but one of his 12 seasons as a head coach have been in Texas. It’ll likely be hard to pry him East, especially with the deep pockets in Lubbock.

But he’d be an interesting option. Another former Division II and JUCO head coach, McCasland’s teams win. He won the NIT at North Texas in 2023 and led Texas Tech to the Elite Eight in 2025. Had JT Toppin not gotten hurt this year, who knows how far the Red Raiders could have advanced.

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Jerry Stackhouse, Golden State assistant

Stackhouse is a candidate if the Tar Heels stay in the family, His Vanderbilt tenure was up and down, and before the Commodores really dipped into the NIL space. He had two winning seasons in his five years in Nashville, but that 28-60 SEC record will be hard for UNC fans to swallow.

Mike Malone, former NBA coach

An underrated possibility, the 54-year-old Malone is a championship-caliber coach and has a daughter who plays volleyball at UNC. He’s been around the Tar Heels’ basketball program at times and has history as a college and NBA coach. Malone led the Denver Nuggets to an NBA title in 2023.

T.J. Otzelberger, Iowa State

If UNC wants to build its identity around defense, Otzelberger is the guy to do it. The 48-year-old coach has produced top-10 defensive units in four of his five seasons at Iowa State. The Cyclones are elite at creating turnovers. The Heels would have a clear identity and structured program under Otzelberger. Considering what he’s built in Ames, this could be UNC’s safest, most reliable option.

USA TODAY Sports reporters Blake Toppmeyer and John Brice contributed to this report.



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