Charlotte North Carolina News

The ballots for North Carolina’s upcoming election have had a number of delays as cases on amendments and party affiliation wound their way through the court. Just as ballots were finally on track to meet September’s deadline for printing, Hurricane Florence came along. Now state leaders are trying to ensure those hit hard by the storm can still easily vote.   The state’s deadline to register to vote is coming up on Oct. 12. While many…

North Carolina has suddenly become a hot spot for some of the largest mosquitoes in the country — known as “mega mosquitoes” — due to the rancid puddles left behind by Hurricane Florence. USA Today called it an “outbreak” and described them as “blood-thirsty,” “aggressive” and “monstrous pests.” The species, called Gallinippers, can grow 20 times larger than more common mosquitoes and have a sting that is painful enough to feel like you’ve been stabbed,…

A battlefield dedicated to the first Patriot victory of the American Revolution remains flooded and indefinitely closed two weeks after Hurricane Florence made landfall, according to the National Park Service. Moores Creek National Battlefield in North Carolina was under 10 feet of water at the height of the storm and “much of the park remains flooded,” said a National Park Service update released Thursday. Among photos posted by the park service on Facebook is one…

Katelen Harvey and Roy Gregg thought they had escaped the destruction of former Hurricane Florence unscathed, when a falling tree crashed through the roof of the modest, brick house they were renting in east Charlotte. While the couple and their 22-month-old daughter were not hurt, the storm has left them homeless. Thousands of homes and structures were damaged during the storm, according to the American Red Cross, leaving many without permanent housing. More than 1,900…

The U.S. flag that gained national attention as it was ripped to shreds on a live cam during Hurricane Florence is up for auction today and bids are already in the thousands. Images of the flag refusing to surrender to the storm’s wind gusts came to represent “who we are as America,” owner Richard Neal told McClatchy reporter Matt Martinez as Hurricane Florence approached the coast. Neal, a Charlottean, owns the Frying Pan Tower light…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Atlantic’s warmer waters triggered the unusual number of major hurricanes last year, according to a new study that predicts the region could see a couple of extra whopper storms each year by the end of the century. Six major hurricanes — with winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph) — spun around the Atlantic last year, including Harvey, Irma and Maria which hit parts of the United States and the…

This family is homeless after Florence destroyed their home. Here’s how they are surviving. Sep 27, 2018 The remnants of Hurricane Florence pushed a tree on Katelen Harvey’s home driving her family out. They’ve struggled to find affordable housing. By

The calm skies after Florence did not last long. Much of the Carolinas was forecast to see severe weather Thursday, with “lines and clusters of thunderstorms this afternoon across the foothills and Piedmont of the Carolinas and northeast Georgia,” according to the National Weather Service. The nasty weather materialized in the form of a tornado, which was spotted in Anderson County, SC, WeatherNation reported in a tweet that was shared by the NWS. A hazardous…

UNC-Chapel Hill has created a $2 million emergency fund to support UNC students affected by Hurricane Florence, university officials announced Thursday. Chancellor Carol Folt said the pool of money will consist of $1 million in revenue from the sale of UNC trademarked items and the rest from private fundraising. “We really want to send that clear message that we’re really here for our students,” Folt said. “We know an event like this can put stresses…

North Carolina farmers and livestock growers will suffer more than $1.1 billion in losses as a result of Hurricane Florence, the state Department of Agriculture said Wednesday. The largest losses will be among farmers who grow crops such as corn, soybeans and tobacco. The state estimates the value of damaged and destroyed row crops at nearly $987 million. Hurricane Florence came ashore just as farmers were beginning their fall harvests and lingered for several days,…