North Carolina
North Carolina Wildfire: Map Shows Active Incidents in Area
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A fast-moving wildfire has erupted in North Carolina’s McDowell County, prompting evacuations and raising concerns for residents still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Helene.
The fire, which started after a tree fell on a power line, has already burned through 80 acres and is now 15 percent contained, officials said, per CBS News.
Where Did the Wildfire Break Out?
The wildfire, named the Crooked Creek Fire, ignited near the town of Old Fort, which was significantly impacted by Hurricane Helene last September.
Evacuations have been ordered for residents along several roads, including Bat Cave Road, Pine Cove Road, Cherry Springs Road, and Juliet Drive, according to McDowell County Emergency Management.
Emergency officials said a second wildfire also started north of Marion, North Carolina, but it is much smaller—only two acres—and does not currently require evacuations. That fire is 0 percent contained, according to the North Carolina Forest Service.
Diamond Vances/The Charlotte Observer via AP
Both fires are being fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, increasing the risk of further spread.
Authorities have opened an emergency shelter for displaced residents at 203 East Main Street in Old Fort, urging those in affected areas to leave immediately.
“High winds continue to create dangerous fire conditions,” the McDowell County Emergency Management confirmed. “Firefighters continue to focus on structure protection for multiple homes in the area and continue work on establishing fire containment lines.”
How Much Has the Wildfire Been Contained?
As of Thursday morning, the wildfire is 15 percent contained, according to McDowell County Emergency Management.
Firefighters are making progress in controlling the flames, but the North Carolina Forest Service warned that strong winds and low humidity are still creating dangerous conditions for fire spread.
In the map below, you can see active incidents in the area marked as red, with active incidents in McDowell County. The full data is available at the North Carolina Forest Service website.
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North Carolina Forest Service
Officials are urging residents to stay updated through emergency alert systems such as NIXLE alert system: text 28752 to 888777.
Old Fort, already struggling to rebuild after Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding last year, now faces another challenge with the wildfire threatening homes and infrastructure.
Emergency crews continue to battle the flames, hoping for further containment progress in the coming hours.
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North Carolina
Winter weather advisory issued for North Carolina until Thursday afternoon, according to the NWS
North Carolina
Texas Longhorns Ex Coach Mack Brown ‘Proud’ of North Carolina Following Firing
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While the ending to his time as the head football coach at North Carolina didn’t end the way he may have wanted. Former Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown is essentially back to the life he lived before taking the head coaching job – for a second time in his career – with the Tarheels.
That includes spending the winter and spring in Austin, before moving back to North Carolina where he has a house in the mountains for the summer.
“We were doing that before and it worked,” Brown said during a recent interview with AP News. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I may do some TV, I’ll probably do some podcasts. I enjoyed that. … You can do it from North Carolina just as easy as anywhere.”
At 73 years old, Brown is seemingly enjoying the life of a retired coach. He can live where he wants when he wants. And doesn’t have to deal with the everyday stress that comes with leading a college football program.
This time away from football isn’t anything new to Brown either. Following his firing from Texas in 2013, he spent five years away from coaching, working with ESPN as an analyst. That was before he landed the North Carolina job ahead of the 2019 season.
And while Brown did find success back with the Tarheels, a job he held once before back in 1988 through 1997 before leaving for Texas, it didn’t end the way he wanted. Brown was informed of the University’s intentions to let him go following last season just ahead of the team’s regular-season finale loss to NC State.
This sudden, albeit not surprising decision to move on, came just a day after Brown himself said he’d be the coach in Chapel Hill next season.
“I think the frustration was it was probably more political than anything else,” Brown said of his departure from Chapel Hill. “They knew I was going to be through at the end of the year, but there were some, a lot of people, that weren’t on the same page. So it didn’t really matter in the end.”
Brown’s final game as Carolina’s coach was that loss to NC State, which capped off a 6-6 regular season for the Tarheels and brought to an end the second stint of the program’s winningest coach ever. In 16 seasons at Carolina Brown went 113-79-1.
Add this to his career at Texas, where in 16 seasons he went 158-48, which includes winning a national championship in 2005. Brown’s return to the sideline in 2019 certainly didn’t hurt his already then-inducted status as a College Football Hall of Famer.
As for how he feels about the future of the North Carolina program under new head coach Bill Belichick. Who will oversee a Tarheels program is seemingly finally invested in football. Which doesn’t according to Brown doesn’t make him bitter.
“I’m proud of them that they finally committed. And Bill’s one of the best ever,” Brown said. “So I’m proud for the kids. I’ve got so many friends there, like I do at Texas. So I’m glad they finally stepped up, and now they should have a chance to compete with the best in the country.”
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North Carolina
Sanctuary locations for immigrants proposed in North Carolina – Washington Examiner
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(The Center Square) – Faith-based institutions, schools and hospitals have been proposed as sanctuaries statewide in North Carolina in response to the increased arrests, detainers and warrants served since Jan. 20 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The bill is in the state House of Representatives. A day after its first reading, it moved to the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House where it likely will rest in peace away from the full Republican majority chamber.
Democratic Reps. Maria Cervania of Wake County, Pricey Harrison of Guilford County, Deb Butler of New Hanover County and Renee Price of Orange County led sponsorship of Prohibit LEO w/ICE Churches/Schools/Hospitals. The bill would “prohibit law enforcement agencies and officers from participating in immigration enforcement in North Carolina places of religious worship, elementary and secondary schools, and hospitals.”
Two parts of Section 1 in the legislation intrigue. In one, “Any current or future memorandum, agreement, or contract made between a criminal justice agency or sheriff’s office and United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall be void to the extent that the performance of the memorandum, agreement, or contract would violate subsection (a) of this section.”
And, “Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit criminal justice agencies, sheriffs’ offices, criminal justice officers, or justice officers from enforcing the laws of this state to the extent authorized by the law.”
Require ICE Cooperation & Budget Adjustments became law Nov. 20 through a gubernatorial veto override. The state’s 100 sheriffs, according to the new law, are to hold suspects believed to have illegally entered or be illegally living in the United States. The detainer is up to 48 hours, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement is to be notified.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has posted to social media bountiful information on arrests and pending removals labeled “the worst first” since Jan. 20, the final half-day of former President Joe Biden’s policies inviting immigration through alternative means into the United States. By Jan. 31, ICE had touted 8,276 arrests and 6,577 detainers lodged.
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