South Carolina
BRIEFS: Spartanburg County could get another data center
Proposed project needs to pass two more votes before approval by county council
Ben Ledbetter
Ben Ledbetter, MPA, is a former journalist. Down Ballot covers local and state news in the U.S.
Mental Health
Feds restore mental health funds
Rural communities stand with vulnerable neighbors in Minnesota; Mothers, daughters, Girl Scouts traveled to Richmond to watch the first woman become governor of Virginia; Measles cases climb in NC; Duke Energy Plans to Build a Massive Natural Gas Power Plant in Davidson County, NC
North Carolina
DEQ Division of Water Resources awards more than $1.5M for stream restoration, water management, recreation projects
Down Ballot Staff Reports RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources has awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to support stream restoration, water-based recreation and water management projects across North Carolina. The grants were awarded to nine local governments through the
North Carolina
Brunswick County Commissioners approve purchase of 380 acres for future raw water reservoir
Land is in the Leland area near the Northwest Water Treatment Plant
Minnesota
Unrest continues in Minnesota; Former inmate buys N.C. prison; UNC Charlotte faces racial discrimination claim
Helena Moreno sworn in as the Crescent City's second woman mayor
ICE Minneapolis shooting
Feds bar Minnesota from investigating Minneapolis ICE shooting
Many L.A. fire survivors face insurance delays and can’t return home a year later
Dry conditions widespread across North Carolina
Down Ballot Staff Reports RALEIGH – Dry conditions are widespread in North Carolina, according to the latest update from the North Carolina Drought Management Advisory Council released on Thursday. All or parts of 32 counties in central and western North Carolina are considered in severe drought, or D2 conditions. Another 53
Newspaper closure
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says it will cease operations in May
The news coincides with the closure of the Pittsburgh City Paper last week.
Public Health
Measles reported in Buncombe as public health officials worry about spread in the face of declining vaccination rates
The 3 cases are part of a surge in illnesses – chickenpox, whooping cough and flu – that can be prevented or contained by immunizations
Gun violence
Gun violence dropped to its lowest level in decades
Virginia conservation group sues EPA over PFAS, Mamdani builds team in NYC, Faculty at NC colleges report anxiety over threats to academic freedom
Mental Health
Clinicians part of mental health calls in Golden State
Virginia Lawmaker Weighs in on White’s Ferry Impasse; Danville, Va. city council member continuing recovery following attack
Proposed FEMA Downsizing
Report proposes halving FEMA
2 NC municipalities in Carteret and Hertford counties must redo elections; DHS adding funding in hopes of getting more local law enforcement agencies to work with ICE