State/Regional

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina House members have advanced a Republican package to boost state recovery funding after Hurricane Helene by another $500 million. Committees met Tuesday and Wednesday to consider and vote on the legislation. A House floor vote is expected next week. The package remains less than half of what new Democratic Gov. Josh Stein sought in new recovery spending earlier this month. Senate Republicans also will have their own Helen spending ideas. The legislature already appropriated close to $1 billion since last fall to address the historic flooding. Both Stein and Republican lawmakers want to get more Helene spending out the door early this year.

WAYNESVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A section of Interstate 40 in western North Carolina that collapsed during Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding will reopen to traffic by March 1. Gov. Josh Stein made the announcement Monday while visiting the roadway’s shuttered portion and meeting with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. The primary road connection between North Carolina and eastern Tennessee was severed in late September as flooding in the Pigeon River gorge washed away eastbound lanes. An effort to get it open in early January got pushed back. One lane in each direction will reopen to traffic at a reduced speed.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein has asked state legislators to double their spending to date on Hurricane Helene recovery and approve it now. The new Democratic governor unveiled his nearly $1.1 billion request Monday. He’s seeking bipartisan support from the Republican-controlled General Assembly. The proposals in part would provide grants to struggling businesses, help repair and rebuild homes, clean up farm debris and replace revenues spent or lost by local governments. Stein says waiting too long would cause more business closings, housing construction delays and students falling behind. This package could bring an early test for how the Democratic governor and GOP legislative leaders work together.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina officials charged with leading recovery efforts in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene have told state lawmakers that they need more money. And they need it soon. Officials leading the Governor’s Recovery Office for Western North Carolina called on the federal government Wednesday to provide more funds to the state’s recovery in a future funding bill meant to address wildfires in southern California. Funds from the state legislature were also requested. Another recovery official asked for millions of dollars from the state legislature Thursday to complete construction on houses in parts of eastern North Carolina damaged by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Florence in 2018.

SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He made the remark Friday during a trip to two disaster zones, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation’s central organization for responding to disasters. Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states. He spoke while visiting North Carolina, which is still recovering months after Hurricane Helene, on the first trip of his second term. He planned to visit wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles later in the day.

BUCYRUS, Ohio (AP) — As the future of social media platforms such as TikTok remains unknown, a younger generation of farmers is relying on social media to connect with audiences outside agriculture. For some farm influencers, revenue from social media platforms can augment income from farming and can help them connect with audiences that want to better understand where their food comes from.

BOSTON (AP) — Heavy snow is expected to blanket large portions of the Eastern U.S. while much of the country will endure dangerously cold temperatures in the coming days. Winter storm warnings issued by the National Weather Service are already in effect for parts of the Mid-Atlantic and will begin Sunday afternoon in New England. Up to a half-foot of snow is expected in areas from Maryland to Maine. That will be followed a blast of frigid air forecasted for the Rockies and Northern Plains into New England. The Gulf Coast and Southeast could see an unusual wintry mix of snow, sleet and freezing rain starting Monday in Texas.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein kicked off his term in office by praising the resilience of residents following Hurricane Helene. And he pledged to “cut through red tape to help people rebuild quicker.” The Democrat also offered an upbeat message about working with the Republican-controlled General Assembly on a host of issues. They ranged from creating jobs and recruiting teachers to smashing drug rings and combating the ravages of fentanyl. Stein spoke Saturday during a televised address from the House chambers of the old Capitol building. A larger outdoor inauguration ceremony had been scheduled but was canceled because of winter weather.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s public inauguration ceremony scheduled for Saturday for new Gov. Josh Stein and other statewide elected officials has been canceled because of approaching winter weather. The state inaugural committee announced the decision Wednesday. It was supposed to be held on the grounds of the old Capitol building in Raleigh. Stein and Council of State members were to be sworn in publicly. A little snow with sleet and freezing rain is anticipated for Friday and Saturday. Stein and several Council of State members already have taken their official oaths in private or in small ceremonies. A block party for Saturday also was canceled but may be rescheduled.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina governments are receiving over $1.65 billion in federal block grant money to help address historic levels of damage caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina. Officials say the money is from Community Development Block Grant funds contained in a bill approved by Congress last month. Most of the grant money will go to North Carolina state government, with the remainder to the city of Asheville. Gov. Josh Stein and the head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development held a public event Tuesday in Asheville to discuss the funds.