www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-02-20 14:19:00
(The Center Square) – More than 2,000 households remain in FEMA transitional housing as western North Carolina this weekend begins its 22nd week of recovery from Hurricane Helene.
Another 173 are licensed in the mobile housing units of the agency.
Money and volunteer help has poured in and has at the same time not been enough. Lawmakers on the federal and state levels continue to work on legislation to appropriate more. Interstate 40, a key commerce route between Asheville and Knoxville, Tenn., is scheduled to reopen to two-way traffic a week from Saturday.
In the update provided Thursday by the Office of Emergency Management, $385.7 million has been approved for individual assistance and $9.7 million for FEMA rental assistance funding. The update says 3,529 households are receiving rental assistance.
Disaster unemployment assistance disbursed to date is $21 million.
There have been 6,507 private roadway and bridge projects awarded; 4.4 million cubic yards of debris removed; and 231,813 cubic yards of waterway debris removed.
National Flood Insurance Program payments are $127.1 million.
The storm made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Dekle Beach, Fla., on Sept. 26. It dissipated over the mountains of the state and Tennessee, dropping more than 30 inches in some places and over 24 consistently across more.
SUMMARY: Elon Musk appeared at a conservative conference outside Washington, brandishing a chainsaw to symbolize his efforts to reduce the size of the federal government. He touted his role in government efficiency, particularly with cuts at the IRS, which has laid off 6,000 workers. Although officials claim tax return processing is unaffected, concerns about delays remain. Musk proposed a $5,000 taxpayer dividend funded by the cuts and claimed support from President Biden. He also faced accusations of ties to Russia, amid tensions over Ukraine and Trump’s strained relations with President Zelensky. Musk dismissed these claims and continued advocating for budget cuts.
Billionaire Elon Musk appeared at a conservative gathering outside Washington waving a chainsaw in the air, showing openness to auditing the Federal Reserve and accusing Democrats of “treason.”
What we’re watching: These bills from NC lawmakers could go the distance
by Sarah Michels, Carolina Public Press February 21, 2025
Less than a month into the 2025 legislative session, lawmakers have filed nearly 300 bills. Before the filing deadline next month, there will likely be another couple hundred bills presented.
Not all will survive the grueling legislative process, particularly considering North Carolina’s divided government.
After the 2024 election barred GOP legislators from a supermajority by one seat, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein may be able to deny many Republicans’ wishes with his veto pen.
Several bills will probably attract more attention than others.
Current law bars North Carolinians fromcarryingconcealed deadly weapons, including handguns, without a permit outside of one’s property. House Bill 5 removes that restriction for adults 18 and older.
It also abolishes firearms from the statutory list of deadly weapons — a list that includes daggers and stun guns.
The bill loosens some additional concealed-carry restrictions. If passed, state residents could carry a concealed weaponat a public event where admission is charged and at parades and funeral processions. Elected officials would be allowed to have a concealed firearm while performing official duties if they have a permit.
Anyone who carries a hidden weapon must have their ID with them and present it to law enforcement if approached.
Those convicted or charged with certain crimes, dishonorably discharged from the military, ruled by a court to be mentally ill or addicted to a controlled substance are not allowed to have a concealed firearm without a permit under this proposed legislation.
Senate Bill 50 is a twin bill in the other chamber, which suggests a higher priority level for this legislation.
Other gun-related bills this session:
House Bill 38, also known as the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, bans gun dealers from creating a record of people in the state who own firearms.
House Bill 9 bans local governments from regulating firearm use on private property as long as it is “conducted with reasonable care.”
House Bill 28 creates a new crime to be treated as a separate offense under the law: possessing a firearm or weapon of mass destruction while attempting or committing a felony.
Helene on the horizon
As Helene recovery continues, the legislature begins work on its next funding package.
Thus far, lawmakers have passed three relief packages that collectively dedicate $1.1 billion to the recovery effort, though not all of the funds have been specifically allocated.
As it stands, the fourth package draws $275 million from the State Emergency Response and Disaster Relief Fund.
The latest Helene relief package from the General Assembly would withdraw $275 million from a state emergency fund. Colby Rabon / Carolina Public Press
While the bill is continually being amended, some of the current allocations include:
$140 million for home reconstruction and repair
$75 million for farmers to resume production and protect against future flood damage
$100 million for repair of private roads and bridges
$55 million for small business infrastructure grants
$20 million to local governments for outstanding debris removal
$10 million to supplement rental assistance payments
$5 million for targeted media campaigns to get tourists back in Western North Carolina
The bill is set to be heard on the House floor as early as Tuesday.
‘Breathtaking legislation’
Last year, Republican legislators told future Democratic Attorney General Jeff Jackson he couldn’t make an argument in court that would invalidate any law passed by the General Assembly.
Now, with House Bill 72 and Senate Bill 58, they’re extending that limitation to presidential executive orders.
One of the most common actions of attorneys general is joining their counterparts in other states in opposition to presidential actions like executive orders.
Some North Carolina Republicans would end the practice as the second Trump administration settles into power.
Democratic state Sen. Graig Meyer, who represents Caswell, Orange and Person counties, said he’s been very critical of the bill, which he called “breathtaking legislation.”
“If you don’t want your attorney general to be able to sue the federal government over things that may be unconstitutional … then you actually want a king,” he said. “But even in just blunt political terms, it’s a very short-sighted bill. Because what if, in four years from now, we’re in the reverse situation, and they have a Republican attorney general and a Democratic president?”
Hold the phone
Lawmakers have had it with technology in classrooms.
Or, at least, that’s what they appear to be saying with bills in the House and Senate requiring school boards to create cellphone or wireless communication-free educational environments.
Enter House Bill 87, which aims to eliminate or severely restrict student access to cellphonesduring class.
Senate Bill 55 goes a step further, including tablet computers, laptops, paging devices, two-way radios and gaming devices as banned technologies.
Election bills in abundance
Coming off an intense election cycle, lawmakers are looking to make a few changes.
House Bill 31 would establish Election Day as a North Carolina holiday for general statewide elections.
House Bill 66 would reduce the number of early voting days in North Carolina. Current law requires early voting to begin 20 days before the election. The proposed bill would allow for nine days.
Several local bills align odd-year municipal elections with even-year state and federal elections. Others extend mayoral terms from two to four years.
Finally, House Bill 85 would ban staffers found to not have exercised “due care and diligence” from future election work.
SUMMARY: A fire broke out in Holly Springs around 3:45 AM, leaving one person dead. Four people were inside the home, and three managed to escape. Fire crews are still investigating the cause of the fire, with multiple agencies involved, including fire marshals and forensic teams. The victim was located during a search, and authorities are working to determine the relationship of the occupants. The home was severely damaged, with the roof and walls destroyed. The investigation continues, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
A fire tore through a Holly Springs home around 3:45 AM this morning. Fire investigators say one occupant died. There were four people inside the home at the time of the fire and everyone escaped except for one. The cause of fire is under investigation.
WRAL is your Raleigh, North Carolina news source. Check out our videos for the latest news in Raleigh, local sports, Raleigh weather, and more at https://WRAL.com
#localnews #northcarolina #breakingnews
