Rural Economy
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New polls show rising economic anxiety in North Carolina
One sign of the economic anxiety? A majority of people in North Carolina say that costs are higher in President Donald Trump’s second term and that they are cutting back on spending as a result.
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Black workers disproportionately displaced by AI as tech grows
Experts say AI will disproportionately impact Black and brown workers through displacement and the environmental burden of data centers, which are more likely to be located in marginalized communities.
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NC fights back after Trump team cuts $50M in rural education funding
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson says the decision to end the funding mid-stream violates federal law and threatens critical rural education services for more than 23,000 students statewide.
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OPINION: We need to rethink disaster recovery in North Carolina
This Saturday—Sept. 27, 2025—marks one year since Hurricane Helene flooded Western North Carolina with five months of rain in just three days.
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A year after Helene devastated their towns, western NC leaders discuss the road to recovery
Local leaders face significant challenges and argue Washington and Raleigh could do more to help them recover from the $60 billion storm.
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OPINION: Where Western NC stands a year after Hurricane Helene
This week, as we approach the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene–one of the worst natural disasters ever to hit western North Carolina–it’s important to take stock of how we’re doing. Where do we stand and what do we still need?
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One year after Helene, western NC residents reflect on what their communities have been through
Hurricane Helene left at least 108 people dead, over 100,000 homes damaged or destroyed, and over $60 billion in total costs. A year later, communities across western NC are still picking up the pieces.
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Marshall sees small business comeback after Hurricane Helene
Last fall, communities across western North Carolina were devastated by Hurricane Helene. A year later, the town of Marshall has reopened and is forging a path forward.
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How Trump’s ‘One, Big Beautiful Bill’ will impact jobs, investment in rural NC
In the mountains of western NC, local renewable energy company Sugar Hollow Solar is already working through contingency plans to avoid laying off staff.
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A North Carolina bookstore offers a ‘third place’—a growing trend across the US to bring people together
In Murfreesboro, North Carolina, a local bookstore wants to be a ‘third place’—somwehere in town that’s not your home or your workplace. The idea is to bring people together.
