Helene

For many people with disabilities, recovery after a disaster is extra difficult. WNC grassroots groups and agencies are trying to fill the gaps.

Volunteer chainsaw operators stepped up to clean the mess of fallen trees and restore road access. It inspired more people to learn how to use the tool.

A regional initiative to connect communities to solar microgrids is gaining steam and helping offset power bills.

A new state recovery plan for Western North Carolina proposes investing in health care education, small business to spur job growth.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene swept through western North Carolina. Landslides tore apart families and killed dozens. What more could have been done to save lives? And what could be done to save them in the future? Those are some of the questions asked in WCNC's new documentary "Lost Ground: America’s Landslide Crisis."

The state Senate is scheduled to vote this week to require more public notice for property tax increases. The bill stems from higher tax bills that result from a property revaluation process. Some local governments aren't lowering tax rates when property values increase to create a revenue-neutral rate.

It is still unclear whether Markwayne Mullin will continue Kristi Noem’s policies. He still needs to be confirmed by the Senate before taking over DHS.

The state has extended the deadline for the Renew NC program to Jan. 31, citing a need to give residents more time during the holiday season.

In a three-part series exploring chronic absenteeism in the region, WFDD’s Amy Diaz spoke with the school social workers helping students get to class, and above all, recover from the storm.

In a new three-part series about chronic absenteeism in the region, WFDD’s Amy Diaz explores how schools are addressing the barriers that prevent students from coming to class, starting with a focus on mental health.