"You will want to get outside, be on the beach, but please don't go in the water," WRAL meteorologist Anthony Baglione said.
The National Weather Service in Wilmington reported the following number of rescues on Saturday:
- Wrightsville Beach: 23 rip current rescues
- Carolina Beach: 5 rip current rescues
- Kure Beach: 1 rip current rescue
Due to Ernesto's proximity, high rip current risks persist along our coast Sunday.
North Carolina has an average of eight fatalities due to rip currents each year. So far this year, there have been five. All five deaths were in July. Four were in North Carolina and one was in South Carolina.
Wilmington- On his second stop Thursday in North Carolina, President Joe Biden announced his administration was committing $3 billion to replace lead pipes across the country.
"There's no safe level of lead exposure," he said. "None. The only way forward is to replace every lead service line that connects clean water."
The $3 billion commitment builds on the $5.8 billion announced in February for water infrastructure projects around the country. Money for the pipe replacement comes from one of the administration's key legislative victories, the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law that Biden signed in 2021. The infrastructure law includes over $50 billion to upgrade America's water infrastructure.
"No person should fear that their tap water will poison them. Ensuring everyone has access to clean, safe affordable drinking water is a basic human right and a moral imperative," said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
Former President Donald Trump's speech on the economy in North Carolina was highly notable and entertaining for one key reason, Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell wrote on Wednesday in a post on X.
Specifically, he was unable to stick to the actual topic of the speech — despite trying to commit to memory how important it was and audibly disagreeing with his decision to veer away.
"Funniest part of Trump's big 'economy speech' today was that he kept reminding himself aloud that he was supposed to be talking about the economy, but then immediately returned to rambling about tampons or San Francisco crime or whatever," wrote Rampell, posting an excerpt of what Trump said.
"It's important. They say it is the most important subject," Trump said at one point. "I am not sure it is but they say it is. Inflation is the most important but that is part of the economy. Kamala Harris wants to be in charge of the entire U.S. economy, but neither she nor her running mate — another beauty, isn't he? He signed a bill. He wants tampons in boys' bathrooms. I don't think so."
My daughter and a friend spent over two hours in downtown on Wednesday for the Trump rally, and it was a hoot! I just chatted people up about their outfits and signs they were proudly displaying along with their big smiles. There were many more Trumpers outside than in because of the small venue and everyone just stood around for no reason it seemed, other than to hopefully catch a glimpse of his Suburban.
The street was divided in two with expectations of a large protest crowd that didn’t materialize. It seemed so lame with a few Trumpers and a few protestors yelling at each other across the wide street. Most people were just standing around and no one seemed to know what to do. For hours. On the bright side of that though, everyone seemed to just be happy to be there as part of the club. It seemed juvenile in a way that reminded me of baseball card shows or Boy Scout Jamborees. I think what I left with, was that MAGA is getting bored with the hobby, but still finds the social pull to dress up with their friends and go party. The following movie is from 8/14, not 8/16.
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is the second to announce a probe into a website set up by billionaire Elon Musk's political action committee, America PAC, CNBC reported Monday.
The site has been running an online voter registration site that invites Americans to update their details. Complaints state if the voter lives in a swing-state a form gathers personal information, but does not register them.
“Our office is aware of this issue and is looking into it,” said a spokeswoman for Stein on Monday about the website.
Welcome to the governor’s race edition of our Under the Dome politics newsletter.
I’m Dawn Vaughan, The News & Observer’s Capitol bureau chief. This past week, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump both made campaign stops in North Carolina. And both candidates for governor, Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein, gave speeches ahead of the top-of-ballot candidates.
On the same day Robinson was in Asheville with Trump, a group of progressive clergy brought together by Progress NC Action criticized Robinson over his latest campaign ad, in which he takes a new policy position on the state’s abortion law that represents a major change from what he’s been saying for years.
The ad shows Robinson and his wife, Yolanda Hill, talking about the abortion she had many years ago, and then segues to Robinson saying he’ll stand by the current abortion law, which bans it after 12 weeks with exceptions.
“Honestly, I have no faith in Mark Robinson’s new commitment to uphold the state’s current abortion law allowing access up to 12 weeks,” the Rev. Chalice Overy said at a news conference. Overy said that Robinson has “given no explanation of what has sparked his change of heart from earlier in the year, when he outlines a plan to get it down from 12 weeks to six weeks, and then go on from there.”
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – On Aug. 13-14, representatives from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), including Principal Chief Michell Hicks and members of the Tribal Council, traveled to Hollywood, Fla. for a meeting held with the leaders of the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The meeting marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing efforts to establish a new inter-tribal alliance focused on advancing tribal sovereignty, economic development, and preserving sacred lands.
During the meeting, substantial progress was made, with the delegation beginning the drafting process for an accord that will outline the collective goals of this emerging alliance. This accord is set to become a cornerstone of a united effort to protect and advance the interests of Indigenous peoples across the country.
“It’s always powerful to sit down with our fellow tribal leaders – people who share our values, our commitment to sovereignty, and our vision for the future,” said Chief Hicks. “These are Nations that have consistently demonstrated their strength, resilience, and success. Whether it’s through thriving economies, cultural preservation efforts, or strong governance, each of our tribes has proven time and again that we can adapt, prosper, and lead. I’m genuinely excited about the progress we’ve made because this is about building something that will benefit not just our Nations, but all Indigenous people. It’s personal for us – it’s about our future.”
Thanks for stopping by NC OT! Wishing all a fine week.
