Zachary Turner

Hurricane Helene destroyed thousands of state-maintained roads and bridges. But the storm washed away even more private crossings, leaving homeowners stranded. Nine months later, many folks still aren’t able to access their homes. A new engineering class at UNC Charlotte aims to fix that.

June 1 marked the start of hurricane season, which runs through November. While we still have time before peak season in mid-August, many counties across the state are still recovering from past storms.

Immediately after Hurricane Helene, volunteers rushed to western North Carolina to remove debris and deliver supplies. But while volunteer support has tapered off, communities are still navigating long-term recovery from the flooding.

Decades ago in west Charlotte, the state built a highway that disrupted an established, predominantly Black neighborhood. Since then, residents have dealt with noise, stormwater and debris from the road — without clear communication about who to contact for each issue. Residents are still asking for relief.

Charlotte City Council voted unanimously Monday to update the city’s climate and energy goals. The updated plan also includes a climate risk assessment, which identified extreme heat as the number one climate risk that threatens city residents.

The Strategic Energy Action Plan, or SEAP, is a blueprint for powering the city while reducing carbon pollution. It aims to improve air quality, lower energy costs and help people move around — all while minimizing Charlotte’s contribution to global warming.

The EPA awarded Solar for All grants to fund projects that expand community and residential solar in low-income and disadvantaged communities to lower energy costs. In North Carolina, the state’s EnergizeNC program is preparing to launch later this year.

Hurricane Helene flooded the Carolinas during peak tourist season last year. Now, the outdoor outfitters — those who remain — are gearing up for an uncertain summer.

The EPA announced plans Wednesday to roll back drinking water standards for so-called “forever chemicals.” In North Carolina, water treatment facilities across the state have spent millions to upgrade filtration systems to treat PFAS pollution.

Every five years, the city updates its plan to reduce carbon pollution and energy usage. Charlotte City Council got its first look at the updated plan during Monday’s meeting.