Pet care service company provides livable wage

Published

10 months ago

January 30, 2024

Pet care service company provides livable wage

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — For the last 15 years, the N.C. General Assembly has not granted a pay raise for minimum wage workers at the beginning of the year.

As a result, North Carolina is one of about 20 states that will not see a boost in its minimum wage, remaining at $7.25 an hour.

A Chapel Hill man feels fortunate he’s working for a company that provides a livable wage.

What You Need To Know

North Carolina’s minimum wage remains at $7.25

North Carolina last raised its state minimum wage in 2008

Lawmakers had set the goal of raising public employee minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2018 but have not publicly considered any bills that would raise the private sector minimum wage

“Just starting my morning cup of tea, which is very important for an Englishman,” Robert Kelly said.

Kelly starts his day around 7:30 a.m. He has a cup of tea and chats with his pups.

“Just finished my morning snack, which is an apple, which my dog, Brighton, loves apples. Named after my favorite soccer team in England, Brighton and Hove Albion,” Kelly joked.

And before you know it, the London native is out the door.

“But because it’s a bit boggy and rainy out on the trails, I need to put boots on,” Kelly said.

Kelly works for Walk and Wag — a pet care service.

He works 40 hours each week, caring for around 10 clients a week, ranging from dogs, cats, chickens and even dragon lizards.

Kelly says caring for domestic animals full time affords him a great lifestyle.

Working at a pet care company allows Robert Kelly to work mostly from home. (Spectrum News 1/Jatrissa Wooten)

“We’ve lived in this house since about 2007 when we moved back here from France. We’ve actually owned the house since about 1996,” Kelly said.

Prior to this, Kelly was a DJ then a teacher making a mediocre salary. But Walk and Wag allows Kelly to stay in his home.

“My property taxes in Chapel Hill (are) off the bloody charts,” Kelly said.

Working for the pet care company, Kelly says it’s like having a 9 to 5 job with a lot more freedom and flexibility.

Team members are available 365 days a year but can choose whether they want to work part or full time.

“In the same sort of geographic area of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, little bit of Durham, too,” Kelly said.

Kelly says he hates that North Carolina did not raise its base salary.

“Disgusting that the minimum wage is $7.25,” Kelly said.

The pet care team member explains double that amount still isn’t enough.

“But even $15 or $16, frankly, I think it’s too low,” Kelly continued. “But I’m European, so, you know, I have a different take on these things.”

Kelly says he lucked out with Walk and Wag and says not only does he receive more than a livable wage doing something he loves, he gained family.

“So much of it is not just about how you relate to the pet, but it’s how you relate to the owners, because you become part of their extended family,” Kelly said.

In 2021, the legislature raised most state employee minimum wage to $13 an hour and $15 by the following year.

Lawmakers had set the goal of raising public employee minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2018 but have not publicly considered any bills that would raise the private sector minimum wage.

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NC Lottery Lucky For Life, Pick 3 Day results for Nov. 24, 2024

Published

7 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

The NC Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Nov. 24 drawing

07-11-14-26-48, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Nov. 24 drawing

Day: 2-7-2, Fireball: 8

Evening: 8-0-3, Fireball: 9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Nov. 24 drawing

Day: 3-1-6-5, Fireball: 8

Evening: 6-9-0-6, Fireball: 9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from Nov. 24 drawing

02-12-20-22-29

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from Nov. 24 drawing

07-19-21-31-35

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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North Carolina

Ustby, Donarski lead No. 16 North Carolina women over Villanova 53-36 in Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal

Published

15 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Ustby, Donarski lead No. 16 North Carolina women over Villanova 53-36 in Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal

Associated Press

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski scored 14 points apiece, and Ustby added 14 rebounds to lead No. 16 North Carolina to a 53-36 victory over Villanova in a semifinal game at the Women’s Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday.

The Tar Heels (5-1) play Indiana in the championship game on Monday. The Hoosiers upset No. 18 Baylor 73-65 in Sunday’s first semifinal.

Ustby made 6 of 8 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer for North Carolina on the way to her first double-double of the season. Donarski hit 6 of 10 shots with a pair of 3-pointers.

Maddie Webber led the Wildcats (4-2) with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Lara Edmanson pitched in with 11 points and seven rebounds.

The Tar Heels held Villonova’s leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe to two points after she came in averaging 16.6 per game. Bascoe missed all seven of her shots — three from distance — and made 2 of 4 at the free-throw line.

Ustby had seven points and Donarski scored five to guide the Tar Heels to a 17-7 lead after one quarter.

Donarski scored five more in the third quarter to help North Carolina turn a 30-18 lead at halftime into a 44-23 advantage heading to the final period.

North Carolina shot 40% from the floor, made 5 of 17 from beyond the arc (29.4%) and 4 of 6 at the foul line.

Villanova shot 23.5% overall but made 5 of 18 from distance (27.8%) and 7 of 10 free throws.

The Tar Heels scored 15 points off of 21 Villanova turnovers. They turned it over 14 times but it led to only three points for the Wildcats.

North Carolina outscored Villanova 30-14 in the paint and never trailed.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

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North Carolina

People gather for NC Museum of History's annual American Indian Heritage Celebration in Raleigh

Published

24 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

People gather for NC Museum of History's annual American Indian Heritage Celebration in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — November is Native American Heritage Month, and it’s a time to celebrate the traditions and cultures of the many Native American communities across North Carolina.

On Friday and Saturday, the North Carolina Museum of History held its annual American Indian Heritage Celebration. People learned about Native American history through live performances, food, art, storytelling and more.

Since the history museum is closed for renovation, the celebration was held at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.

“Our songs, our dances, our stories, our language–it’s all medicine to us,” Community Programs Coordinator of NC Museum of History Kaya Littleturtle said at last year’s celebration. “Medicine is anything that makes you well be it physical, spiritual, emotional, all those things are medicine. We hope is that people come out here and they learn about those things, to help uplift us as a people. We hope that it inspires them to go get engaged with things to help uplift them as a people.

This was the 29th year of the celebration.

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