North Carolina
Youth football cheerleading league in North Carolina takes flak for offering rifle in raffle
![Youth football cheerleading league in North Carolina takes flak for offering rifle in raffle Youth football cheerleading league in North Carolina takes flak for offering rifle in raffle](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/09/Screen-Shot-2022-09-04-at-6.11.06-PM.png)
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A nonprofit group in North Carolina elevating cash for younger athletes and cheerleaders stoked backlash after providing a rifle as a prize in a fundraising raffle.
The raffle held by East Henderson Youth Soccer and Cheerleading League (EHYFCL) in East Flat Rock, North Carolina, acquired criticism from some locals for providing the winner an FN15 Patrol Carbine, in accordance with native ABC affiliate WLOS.
“We aren’t providing an assault rifle; we’re providing an FN15 Patrol Carbine,” a spokesperson for EHYFCL advised Fox Information Digital. “That is an Armalite 15 fashion rifle, not totally computerized, which by definition excludes it from being labeled as an assault rifle. We’re following all ATF pointers; the merchandise is being held at an FFL, the recipient should full an ATF type 4473 and go an NICS background test earlier than taking possession of it.”
Some critics took challenge with the prize selection, believing it’s inappropriate for a youngsters’s league. Soccer gamers within the East Henderson league are 5 to 13 years outdated, and members on the cheer crew are ages 4 to 13, in accordance with the group.
“I used to be actually shocked after I acquired the message that the youngsters have been going to be promoting an assault rifle due to what’s happening at faculties across the nation,” an nameless involved mother or father advised WLOS. One other native mother or father who wished to stay nameless mentioned, “I assumed it was in very unhealthy style for them to decide on a weapon that’s getting used towards youngsters.”
NORTH CAROLINA RAFFLE SUSPENDED AFTER OFFERING AR-15 TO RAISE MONEY FOR HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLERS
East Flat Rock Park in East Flat Rock, North Carolina
(CREDIT: Google Maps)
The group additionally took flak from customers on Fb, who mentioned the raffle was all the things from “unhappy” and “unhealthy” to “disgusting” and “deplorable.”
Leaders of EHYFCL additionally replied to the criticism in a Fb put up Thursday, writing “in response to complaints made each publicly and ‘anonymously’ relating to our raffle.”
Explaining that they’re at the moment taking functions for an official fundraiser, the group wrote, “When you’ve got a positive strategy to elevate sufficient cash shortly to get us by means of the remainder of the season and nonetheless have sufficient to start out up subsequent season, we want you to make use of that vitality in a optimistic approach.”
AFTER TEXAS SCHOOL SHOOTING, TEACHERS WEIGH IN ON HOW TO STOP THE VIOLENCE
After clarifying that their group isn’t affiliated with the varsity district or the county, the group mentioned, “The referees aren’t volunteers, the [law enforcement officers] and first responders for the youngsters’s security aren’t volunteers.”
“The usage of the sector, stadium, and amenities aren’t free, the misplaced uniforms, mouthpieces, chin straps, ear pads, bows, and socks aren’t free,” the group continued. “Tools isn’t free, the insurance coverage isn’t free, and all the opposite charges the league should pay aren’t imaginary.”
“If we’re not elevating sufficient cash, we’re compelled to lift charges,” group leaders added.
EHYFCL advised WLOS they “are at the moment elevating funds to buy new gear and to have the power to sponsor youngsters in our neighborhood who can not afford the registration charges.”
The raffle winner should be a minimum of 21 years outdated and go a background test, a league spokesperson additional defined, including that “the AR raffle has taken place three years consecutive and brings in probably the most assist we now have ever had.”
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The controversial raffle in Henderson County, North Carolina, comes months after an AR-15 raffle to profit highschool wrestlers at Chase Excessive College in neighboring Rutherford County was suspended amid issues about rising gun violence nationwide.
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North Carolina
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper backs out of consideration to be Harris’ running mate
![North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper backs out of consideration to be Harris’ running mate North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper backs out of consideration to be Harris’ running mate](https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_nbcnews-fp-1200-630,f_auto,q_auto:best/rockcms/2023-10/231010-roy-cooper-jm-1457-e8449b.jpg)
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper has informed Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign that he does not want to be under consideration in her search for a vice presidential candidate, the governor said Monday night.
Cooper said in a statement explaining his decision that although he was taking himself out of consideration for the role, he’s still backing Harris’ candidacy.
“I strongly support Vice President Harris’ campaign for President,” Cooper said. “I know she’s going to win and I was honored to be considered for this role. This just wasn’t the right time for North Carolina and for me to potentially be on a national ticket.”
“As I’ve said from the beginning, she has an outstanding list of people from which to choose, and we’ll all work to make sure she wins,” he added.
The New York Times first reported that Cooper was withdrawing his name from consideration.
One source directly involved in Harris’ search for a running mate said Cooper took himself out of the mix because he wants to run for the U.S. Senate in 2026. The source said Cooper never indicated to the campaign that he wanted to be vice president and told Harris aides that he did not want to be considered.
NBC News previously reported that interviews with some Democratic insiders pointed to Cooper, along with Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona and Gov. Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, as top contenders to join Harris on the Democratic ticket.
Other governors, including Kentucky’s Andy Beshear and Minnesota’s Tim Walz, and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are among those who have also been floated as potential running mates.
The Harris campaign previously said she plans to select a running mate by Aug. 7.
North Carolina
Feds approve Cooper plan to relieve up to $4B in NC medical debt, as Harris weighs in
A plan unveiled at the beginning of this month by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to leverage Medicaid funds to help North Carolinians struggling with medical debt has been approved by the federal government.
On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved a plan that has the potential to relieve $4 billion in existing hospital medical debt for people in the state, according to a news release. In order for the plan to take effect, hospitals would need to sign on.
“Unlike most other debts, medical debt is not intentional because people don’t choose to get seriously ill or have an accident,” Cooper said, according to the news release.
“Medical debts are often beyond people’s ability to pay, ruining their credit, keeping them from getting credit cards, loans and jobs and sometimes driving them into bankruptcy. That’s why we’re working with hospitals and federal partners to help relieve the burden of medical debt for North Carolina families,” he said.
Vice President Kamala Harris — who appears set to become the Democratic presidential nominee for the November election, and has been considering Cooper as a possible running mate — has been “coordinating” with state officials on the medical debt plan, The Washington Post reported.
“No one should be denied access to economic opportunity simply because they experienced a medical emergency,” Harris said in a statement sent as part of a news release Monday.
“Yet today, more than 100 million Americans struggle with medical debt — making it more difficult for them to be approved for a car loan, a home loan, or a small-business loan, which makes it more difficult for them to just get by, much less get ahead.”
“I applaud North Carolina for setting an example that other states can follow by advancing a plan that has the potential to relieve $4 billion in medical debt for two million individuals and families. This critical step also strengthens financial assistance for emergency medical procedures moving forward,” Harris said.
Harris wrote that over $650 million in medical debt had been forgiven through the American Rescue Plan, which was passed under the Biden administration.
The News & Observer has contacted several hospitals and the North Carolina Healthcare Association, which represents hospitals, regarding their stances on the plan.
UNC Health “continues to have discussions with state and federal officials,” UNC Health spokesperson Alan Wolf said in an email.
“We support efforts to reduce medical debt and we expect to receive more details on the approved plan soon,” he said.
Medical debt relief provided
According to Cooper’s news release, hospitals that opt in to the plan must implement the following to be eligible for enhanced payments offered under the plan:
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For those on Medicaid, relieve all unpaid medical debt dating back to Jan. 1, 2014.
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Relieve all unpaid medical debt that has become virtually impossible to collect dating back to Jan. 1, 2014, for people not enrolled in Medicaid whose income is at or below at least 350% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or whose total debt exceeds 5% of their annual income. A family of two at 350% of the FPL makes about $71,000 a year.
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Provide discounts on medical bills for people at or below 300% FPL.
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Automatically enroll people into financial assistance, known as charity care.
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Not sell medical debt of people making below 300% FPL to debt collectors.
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Not report debt covered by policies laid out in the plan to a credit reporting agency.
Patients of participating hospitals will not need to take any actions to benefit from medical debt relief, according to the news release.
Plan to leverage Medicaid funds
When the state expanded Medicaid in December, it implemented a mechanism that allowed hospitals to receive higher federal reimbursements in return for paying the state’s share of costs under the expansion bill.
The federal government covers 90% of Medicaid coverage costs for the expansion population, while the state covers 10%. This funding mechanism was called the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program.
The medical debt relief plan further leverages federal funds by providing higher HASP payments to hospitals that choose to implement the plan.
Hospitals often only collect a small fraction of the medical debt they are owed, Cooper said during a press conference announcing the plan on July 1.
However, large debts that remain on the books can prevent people from buying a home or getting a credit card and sometimes can lead people into homelessness and bankruptcy, he said.
North Carolina has one of the highest percentages — 13.4% — of adults with medical debt, according to KFF, a health policy organization. About 20 million people — or nearly 1 in 12 adults — owe a combined total of at least $220 billion in medical debt in the United States, KFF says.
North Carolina
Officials warn against swimming in French Broad River due to dangerous bacteria
![Officials warn against swimming in French Broad River due to dangerous bacteria Officials warn against swimming in French Broad River due to dangerous bacteria](https://cdn.abcotvs.com/dip/images/15114897_072924-wtvd-dirty-nc-river-vid.jpg?w=1600)
NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) — A North Carolina river is deemed ‘too dirty’ to swim in.
People are advised to refrain from swimming in the French Broad River near Asheville for 24 to 48 hours, or until the water is less muddy.
Samples showed high levels of bacteria, including e-coli from recirculating water. According to officials, it’s because of the recent heavy rains.
“What we recommend for folks to do is…find somewhere else to go swim,” Anna Alsobrook, the watershed science and policy manager at MountainTrue, said. “We’ve seen everything from ear infections to GI issues (to) sinus infections.”
Officials are also telling people to avoid ingesting any water until the quality level improves, which could be in a matter of days.
French Broad River flows from North Carolina into Tennessee.
SEE ALSO | NC farmer losing crop because of unsafe levels of chemicals in water
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