Jan. 10, 2024

About four years ago, we left our offices and went home for the weekend and we didn’t come back. 

The first COVID-19 case arrived in NC on March 3, 2020. Soon after, its exponential growth forced Gov. Roy Cooper to declare a state of emergency. Schools shuttered. And we went into hibernation as a people. 

The virus is still with our schools, where kids are recovering from pandemic where symptoms linger for weeks, months, or even years.

It is, in fact, still with all of us. 

State data show a spike in hospitalizations and ER visits for respiratory infections in recent weeks. Every metric we have shows COVID to be spiking too. 

But this isn’t 2020. We have a vaccine. It’s effective and safe. And new studies show the vaccine to be a remarkable protection against long COVID. Many folks have been vaccinated before, but haven’t gotten the latest vaccines, which arrived in the fall. Click the graphic below or click here to find a vaccine in NC. 

Here’s what else you need to know about today in NC:

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AP Photo/Alex Brandon

It’s been a remarkable week already in American politics. 

The presumed Republican candidate for president in 2024 is in legitimate danger of campaigning this year from a jail cell. In a key court hearing Tuesday, Donald Trump’s attorney argued that he couldn’t be prosecuted for his involvement in a plot to overturn the 2020 election and declare him the winner. 

It doesn’t seem to be going over well with the courts. COURIER’s Keya Vakil breaks down this most important story for us. 

More NC news:

We love New Bern. 

This eastern NC city sits at the confluence of the Neuse and Trent rivers. It’s an old gem with a view. And stuff to do. 

Check out our guide to a day in New Bern. Start with a chill matcha at Bella’s Cafe, wander through history at Tryon Palace, grab some Pepsi swag, cruise around on a trolley or carriage, hit up Cypress Hall for drinks and grub, and end the day with a sunset at Persimmons‘ waterfront restaurant.🍵 

Two sisters from Fayetteville have opened the city’s first cupcake vending machine! How did we not think of this before? 😆

Located in the Cross Creek Mall, the refrigerated vending machine holds up to 170 homemade cupcakes with flavors like banana pudding, salted caramel, red velvet, and chocolate (single cupcakes are $3, a pack of 4 is $12).

Photo via Cherokee NC Chamber of Commerce

There’s an incredible amount of history in North Carolina. 

So we took a look at the places where it happened, the Native American villages, the segregation-era schools, and more. Check out our guide to 10 historic NC buildings here and share it with the history-lovers in your life!

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