SUMMARY: As the holidays approach, concerns about Christmas tree availability arose due to Hurricane Helen’s significant damage in Western North Carolina, a major supplier of real Christmas trees. True Blue Nursery in Pully’s Island confirms it will have live trees available this season, easing worries after their vendor reported damage but assured they would remain operational. Western North Carolina produces 20% of the nation’s real Christmas trees, with farmers cultivating Frasier Firs across 40,000 acres. Initial fears have subsided, and customers can expect similar prices to last year, encouraging early orders to secure trees.
Halloween is only three days away, but people are looking ahead to the holidays, thinking about the perfect Christmas tree.
One Pawleys Island nursery said having real Christmas trees this year was unpredictable due to Hurricane Helene hitting where they receive their Christmas trees from in western North Carolina.
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www.thecentersquare.com – By Frank Berte | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-03-28 11:12:00
(The Center Square) – At a U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform hearing, Rep. William Timmons R-S.C., discussed what he said are the dangers of increased government spending, saying that America’s $36 trillion debt and $1.8 trillion annual deficit are unsustainable for the country.
Timmons stressed the importance of bipartisan fiscal scrutiny, stating that all government expenditures, specifically defense and public broadcasting, must be evaluated. He also pointed to the internet’s reshaping of media consumption and closer social interconnectedness as factors in reexamining federal funding.
“We have an existential threat. We cannot continue down this path financially,” Timmons stated during the hearing.
Watch the full video here:
Rep. Timmons (R-SC) speaks in the a U.S. House Oversight and Government reform hearing about government spending
SUMMARY: Several wildfires are ongoing in the Carolinas, notably the rapidly spreading Table Rock Complex Fire, which has consumed over 4,500 acres, and the Persimmon Ridge Fire, affecting over 1,500 acres. These fires have been prioritized for federal firefighting resources, allowing for increased containment efforts. Crews are engaging in difficult hand-built containment due to debris from Hurricane Helene blocking heavy equipment access. In North Carolina, 500 firefighters are working on various fires, including the Black Cove fire at 3,288 acres (17% contained). A state of emergency has been declared in Haywood County due to multiple uncontrolled wildfires.
SUMMARY: U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 to allow state prisons to use cellphone jamming technology to block contraband phones. The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) has long advocated for this technology to prevent inmates from engaging in illegal activities like ordering hits, dealing drugs, and facilitating trafficking. Despite its prohibition, contraband phones continue to be a problem. The technology could ensure 100% prevention, compared to the current 70% solution. However, concerns over potential interference with emergency calls have slowed its implementation at state levels.
