North Carolina

North Carolina residents impacted by Helene likely to see some voting changes

Published

1 year ago

October 7, 2024

North Carolina residents impacted by Helene likely to see some voting changes

RALEIGH, N.C. — Voters in western North Carolina impacted by Hurricane Helene’s devastation may see several changes to how they can cast their ballots in the coming weeks after the state’s election board approved an emergency resolution that modifies voting rules.

The resolution unanimously passed by the North Carolina State Board of Elections, which has both Democratic and Republican members, on Monday comes less than two weeks after Helene destroyed large swaths of western North Carolina — displacing residents, damaging homes and washing away roads.

In a critical presidential election that may hinge on which way the battleground state swings, that widespread disruption also presents major problems for how residents can cast their votes by Nov. 5.

Still, the board reiterated several times during Monday’s meeting that it was committed to ensuring early voting and Election Day happens on schedule across the state, while also making sure “no one is denied the right to vote because of these logistical problems,” said board chairman Alan Hirsch, who is a Democrat.

“I’m generally very hesitant to make changes to the normal running of our election,” said Republican member Stacy Eggers IV, who is from Boone in western North Carolina. “But these have been tailored to give flexibility to the county boards to meet those specific needs.”

The resolution outlines 13 counties in western North Carolina that have polling places or mailing services that were “severely disrupted” by Helene, either because of damage, inaccessibility, using locations for disaster relief or lack of staff. As of Monday, all county elections offices were open, executive director Karen Brinson Bell said.

One of the biggest changes in the resolution allows voters to turn in absentee ballots by 7:30 p.m. to Election Day polling places operated by their county elections board. Displaced voters may also turn in ballots to another county’s elections board by the same deadline. Previously, voters could only turn in absentee ballots to their county elections board or the state board on Election Day.

The resolution also expands opportunities to pick up an absentee ballot in-person from a county elections office until the day before the election.

Absentee ballot distribution already faced issues before Helene hit North Carolina. A legal battle over whether to include Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s name on ballots after he suspended his presidential campaign — which ultimately resulted in taking off his name and reprinting ballots — caused about a two-week delay in September.

With a bipartisan majority vote, county elections boards in the affected areas can approve several changes to Election Day polling locations. Measures that could be considered — which need approval from the state board’s executive director — include transferring voters to other in-county precincts, creating out-of-precinct polling locations in other counties and establishing multiple voting locations within a precinct.

Similarly, those boards can also make changes to early voting sites affected by the storm. Those modifications can include adding new sites or removing ones that are inaccessible, as well as adjusting site hours.

Voters in the area must be notified of changes by mail, according to the resolution. Boards must also share the changes with local media, county political parties and on their county website.

To address a potential lack of poll workers, counties are authorized to select election officials from other counties who are registered to vote in North Carolina. Assistance teams may also be deployed to emergency relief shelters to help voters with absentee voting.

Despite calls from civil rights groups to extend voter registration deadlines in states impacted by Helene, the resolution didn’t include a measure to do so. That decision, along with possible adjustments to what the state board approved, will be left to the state legislature to consider when it reconvenes on Wednesday to pass disaster relief legislation.

In the coming weeks, Bell said the board may need to consider further actions as the affected counties continue to experience disruptions through Election Day.

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North Carolina

NC Made: Durham’s Old Hillside Bourbon toasts Black heritage one bottle at a time

Published

3 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

NC Made: Durham’s Old Hillside Bourbon toasts Black heritage one bottle at a time

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — Bourbon is more than a business for Jesse Carpenter — it’s a tribute to the city that shaped him.

“This is Durham. This is where I’m from. This is where I grew up,” said Carpenter, Chief Product Officer of Old Hillside Bourbon.

The company he co-founded with childhood friends takes its name and identity from one of Durham’s most iconic institutions-Hillside High School, one of the oldest historically Black high schools in the nation.

“We graduated Class of 1993 from Hillside High School,” Carpenter said. “Concord and Lawson Street. It’s the old Hillside.”

The idea took root during the pandemic when Carpenter proposed starting a bourbon company to those same friends.

“I had an idea to start a bourbon company, and they were on board,” he said. “Friends from 30 years ago, and now we’re doing this business together. It’s awesome.”

From 300 Cases to 10,000

What began as a pandemic-era idea has evolved into a rapidly growing business.

In its inaugural year, Old Hillside distributed 300 cases; this year, the company anticipates 10,000. The bourbon also earned Best in Show at the 2023 TAG Global Spirits Awards, impressing even the most discerning craft bourbon critics.

“Let me focus on the aroma — layers of oak, vanilla,” one reviewer commented on the Bourbon Banter YouTube channel, concluding with, “I think it’s a great taste.”

SEE MORE NC MADE STORIES

A Bottle Full of Stories

Beyond its flavor, Old Hillside stands out for the history embedded in its label. Each vintage pays homage to a chapter of Black American history that might otherwise remain overlooked.

The inaugural bottle features a photo of the old Hillside High building, symbolizing the school’s deep community ties. A second flavor pays tribute to the African American jockeys who dominated the Kentucky Derby before the Jim Crow era effectively pushed them out of the sport. The company’s latest release honors the Harlem Hellfighters, the renowned all-Black military unit that served with distinction in World War I.

It’s a storytelling approach that Carpenter and his team are actively working to spread across North Carolina. Brand ambassadors Corey Carpenter and Amire Schealey are on the front lines of that effort.

“More bars and restaurants — tackling different markets,” said Corey Carpenter. Schealey added that the team is “setting up tastings at different ABC boards to build up our brand and presence around the state of North Carolina.”

Like many acclaimed bourbons, Old Hillside is distilled and bottled in Kentucky. But its founders are quick to point out where its true spirit comes from.

“Old Hillside is a lifestyle,” Jesse Carpenter said. “Not just a school-friendship and camaraderie. That’s what we do.”

SEE ALSO | NC Made: Raleigh jewelry brand AnnaBanana grows from UNC dorm room to statewide success

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North Carolina

State and local leaders discuss ‘child-care crisis’ in NC

Published

16 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

State and local leaders discuss ‘child-care crisis’ in NC

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — State and local leaders gathered in Durham on Thursday to discuss how they say North Carolina’s ‘child-care crisis’ is taking a toll on our communities.

“We’re demanding recognition,” former childcare provider DeeDee Fields said. “We want fair compensation. We want health protections and a retirement pathway for the workforce that makes all the work possible.”

Childcare is one of the biggest expenses North Carolinians face, with infant care more costly than in-state college tuition per year, according to data. Childcare for a four-year-old costs nearly $8,000 a year.

Since 2020, North Carolina has seen a record loss of licensed childcare programs. Durham County, for example, experienced a 14% drop.

“I think a lot of people are making these tough choices about what makes the most sense for their family,” Nylah Jimerson said.

Jimerson used to work as a nanny before she became a parent. She’s one of more than a quarter of parents in North Carolina who left the workforce to stay home to care for children.

As North Carolina is the only state without a new budget, childcare is top of mind for State Sen. Sophia Chitlik, who co-authored a package of bills that aims to better support the industry, including making childcare more affordable.

“The ‘Child Care Omnibus’ is part of a series of bills that have budget requirements and budget asks in them,” Chitlik said. “But we’re not going to know until we get a state budget. The most urgent and important thing, in addition to those subsidies, is raising the subsidy floor … so I hope that there is bipartisan consensus that would be worked out in a state budget.”

North Carolina could remain without a budget until the legislature is back in session in April.

“We have got to do something about childcare,” Sen. Natalie Murdock said. “We shouldn’t be in this position … we have to have a sustainable model and program because it’s about our children.”

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North Carolina

Lawmakers discuss solutions to solving a 'child care crisis' in NC

Published

1 day ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Lawmakers discuss solutions to solving a 'child care crisis' in NC

State and local leaders are meeting in Durham to talk about solutions to what lawmakers call a “child care crisis” in North Carolina. There will also be local leaders discussing other solutions to improve child care services and make them more affordable.

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