www.youtube.com – ABC11 – 2025-08-03 12:04:15

SUMMARY: The Khan family’s lives changed when their twin daughters, Amelia and Mackenzie, were diagnosed with juvenile Batten disease, a rare genetic disorder causing vision loss, seizures, and loss of mobility. Devastated but determined, they founded the nonprofit Four Batten Foundation in 2017 to support research and the Batten community. Through an annual online golf auction, they raised over $8 million. After moving to Chapel Hill in 2022, they partnered with UNC researchers, leading to an FDA-approved clinical trial for a tailored drug. Although not a cure, the treatment improved mobility and happiness, enhancing the twins’ quality of life and offering hope for future therapies.

“I didn’t understand how I would ever smile or laugh again,” Karen Kahn said.

More: https://abc11.com/post/juvenile-batten-disease-chapel-hill-family-start-nonprofit-after-twins-diagnosed-rare-disease/17404793/
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ncnewsline.com – Olivia Wuttke – 2025-08-03 05:00:00

SUMMARY: Less than a month after Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, Tropical Storm Chantal caused significant flooding in Durham and Orange County, killing six and prompting a state of emergency. The author, a Gulf Coast native from New Orleans, reflects on lifelong experiences with severe storms, including Katrina and Hurricane Ida, emphasizing the growing threat of extreme weather linked to human-induced climate change. Recent disasters, such as deadly floods in Texas and tornadoes in St. Louis, underscore the urgent need for proactive climate action, improved infrastructure, and federal support. The author calls for serious climate efforts to protect communities and prevent future tragedies.

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The post From Katrina to Chantal, we can’t afford to ignore climate change appeared first on ncnewsline.com

www.youtube.com – ABC11 – 2025-08-02 22:47:53

SUMMARY: After Tropical Storm Chantal flooded the Expedition School in Hillsborough, damaging classrooms, offices, and learning spaces, the community rallied to support recovery efforts. Parents and volunteers, shocked by the extent of damage with water reaching 3 to 6 feet inside the building, pitched in to prepare for the school’s delayed reopening on August 25. Donations of furniture and appliances poured in, with local venues like the Cloth Mill offering temporary classroom space. Parents like Hector Hernandez and Samuel Kamal actively helped set up. Despite the unexpected delay, the community’s unity has highlighted its resilience and determination to get kids back to learning.

The storm pushed the start of the school year back by several weeks after water from the Eno River surged into the building.

https://abc11.com/post/expedition-school-community-rallies-help-hillsborough-recover-tropical-storm-chantal/17404986/
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