News from the South - North Carolina News Feed
Resilience, tenacity and community were on display in Asheville Watchdog’s photos • Asheville Watchdog
So much of the human spirit in Appalachia centers on community. For hundreds of years we have supported one another during good times and bad. And in 2024, there was plenty of bad.
Our world was turned upside down in September when Tropical Storm Helene caused such unimaginable loss of life and destruction. Even now, nearly three months after the flood waters subsided, we are left with so many questions. How should we rebuild? Will there be more frequent, more intense storms in our future? How can we help those who lost so much?
As a photographer accompanying Asheville Watchdog’s reporters in chronicling Helene’s aftermath, I have seen folks at their best and worst. I’ve witnessed enormous resilience, tenacity and sense of community as fellow residents cope with the loss of loved ones, their homes, their businesses.
Truth be told, those strengths were on display all year, as our region dealt with serious issues, ranging from the federal sanctions against Mission Hospital to a presidential election like none in modern history.
As the year ends, I am sharing a collection of Watchdog images I captured in 2024 that I believe highlight the challenges we’ve faced and our hopes for the future. Some capture the biggest news events of the year and others portray the subjects of the stories our reporters produced.
They include Missy Harris, a former Mission Hospital chaplain who described working under HCA management as a staggering “moral injury”; a woman known as Patient No. 12, whose delay in treatment at the hospital was chronicled by federal investigators; and DeWayne Barton, whose historically Black community is in the crosshairs of the Interstate 26 Connector project.
Light and composition drove many of my choices, such as a photo I took of PEAK Academy Executive Director Kidada Wynn, whose school faced a federal civil rights complaint that John Boyle chronicled in January.
Another image features Compass Point resident Norma Peeler, who figured prominently in a column John wrote about the first year of that permanent supportive housing facility. I chose one photo because it was both whimsical and illustrative of a serious demographic challenge our area faces. And one image, which accompanied a story looking at Buncombe’s recycling challenges, stands as a sobering reminder of just how much waste we generate.
This collection illustrates the tapestry of our community, the year none of us will forget and the commitment The Watchdog has to bringing you stories that matter.
Photographer Starr Sariego’s photos have been featured in exhibitions in Asheville and across the country. Contact her at ssariego@avlwatchdog.org. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed
In Depth with Dan: Answering viewer questions about flesh-eating bacteria, digital licenses
SUMMARY: In this Monday mailbag, Dan addresses viewer questions on three topics. First, North Carolina’s Vibrio bacteria risk in summer coastal waters: cooked shellfish is safe, but raw consumption is risky due to bacteria concentrating in oysters. Second, digital driver’s licenses in North Carolina face delays; although legalized in 2023, full rollout may not occur until 2026, with other states also lagging behind. Lastly, Dan explains flood-damaged vehicles after recent storms: flooded cars must be branded as such, but scams occur. He shares tips to spot flood damage when buying used cars, emphasizing caution and thorough inspection.
WRAL anchor/reporter Dan Haggerty answered viewer questions about a flesh-eating bacteria in North Carolina and the legalization of digital driver’s licenses.
News from the South - North Carolina News Feed
The latest update on Tropical Storm Erin
SUMMARY: Tropical Storm Erin is forecast to become a Category 1 hurricane by Thursday and remain well out to sea through Saturday, near the Lesser Antilles northeast of Puerto Rico. Models show it moving west, then curving north toward Bermuda or Florida, but uncertainty remains high beyond next week. The American and European models suggest it could pass between Bermuda and Hatteras, causing higher surf midweek. Due to large forecast errors, the storm’s exact path is unclear, ranging from north of New York to the Florida panhandle. Residents should prepare hurricane kits and stay updated, with clearer guidance expected by Thursday or Friday.
Will Erin cause problems for the East Coast? Here’s the latest on Monday evening.
https://abc11.com/post/tracking-tropics-tropical-storm-erin-forms-eastern-tropical-atlantic-cabo-verde-islands/17499988/
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News from the South - North Carolina News Feed
Body of missing NC teen found in Florida, family says
SUMMARY: The body of missing North Carolina teen Gio Gio was found in Bradenton, Florida, confirmed by his family. Originally, Gio Gio was supposed to be picked up by relatives after meeting cousins in Florida, but he disappeared after texting his mother for help. His family’s private investigators, not the police, discovered his body near I-75 after police had initially searched the area. Gio Gio’s mother expressed her heartbreak on Facebook, calling it every parent’s worst nightmare. The investigation continues, focusing on the timeline after Gio Gio entered the car with his cousins. An autopsy is pending, with no immediate signs of foul play.
The body of Giovanni Pelletier was found in a retention pond, authorities said, and his mom is living “every parent’s worst nightmare.”
https://abc11.com/post/giovanni-pelletier-body-missing-18-year-old-north-carolina-found-pond-where-last-seen-family-says/17483056/
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