Mayors return from Nashville as Helene relief bill passes
One of them was Unicoi County Mayor Bubba Evely, who was emotional when speaking about the devastation his county had experienced.
Tennessee General Assembly passes Helene recovery bill
'Just to the industrial park devastation, we've lost about 15% of our gross revenues,' Evely said. 'And until that's rebuilt, you know, we lose property tax. We lose personal property tax. Our sales tax will probably be lower. And so the governor's pledge that this wasn't the end of what the state would do in our meeting yesterday, I was really excited about that. He said he would continue to be here for the counties that were hit hardest.'
Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby told News Channel 11 she was frustrated that it took so long for the session to be held and funds awarded, but she's focused on the future.
'There has been a level of frustration, and we've been saying what we said to the committee for several months now,' Woodby said. 'Whether it be at the local level, the state level and the federal level, all of the northeast, northeast Tennessee mayors have been preaching their concerns to every level of government that we could possibly get in touch with.'
'I cannot speak, and I still don't have an answer as to why it took four months to get us there. But what I can say is that we are truly grateful [for] the bill that passed last night. The main goal now is to not look at the past and what has happened. The main goal now is to see that this bill is passed and that we're accessing the funds to build our communities back.'
Woodby said her priority is ensuring that the community, which has already endured a lot, does not bear the financial burden.
'Everything revolves around money,' Woodby said. 'And we're a small rural county with a small tax base, and our only stream of revenue is our taxpayers. And we do not, and I will not support putting that burden on our taxpayers. That's one reason why we're looking at every option to offset even having to discuss anything about a tax increase on our citizens. It's just not in the cards.'
Evely and Woodby emphasized their gratitude for funding but agreed that this would not cover the total loss – expecting future bills and additional funding.
'I think this is a step forward to kind of give guidance on what's going to be needed and just get us some money moving into our communities,' Woodby said. 'But I do not for a minute think that this will be enough. They will have to look at passing future bills as they get into session next week for their full session, and myself and my colleagues, other mayors will continue to let them know the needs and concerns and the dollar amounts needed here.'
The bills will now go to Gov. Lee's desk for him to sign.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
4 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Do you remember Donald Trump's 2024 promise to Helene victims? You should.
The one-year anniversary of Hurricane Helene's flooding of western North Carolina will arrive on Sept. 27, but to assess what has happened since, consider another date – Oct. 21, 2024. That's when then-presidential candidate Donald Trump rolled into the small, devastated Buncombe County community of Swannanoa. During an outdoor news conference, he ripped the Biden administration's disaster response, which was actually vigorous. 'In the wake of this horrible storm, many Americans in this region felt helpless and abandoned and left behind by their government,' Trump said. But that would change, he promised, once he was back in the White House. 'When I'm president, I will stand with you until the communities are fully rebuilt,' he said. 'Every single inch of every property will be fully rebuilt, greater and more beautiful than it was before. You're going to have better.' It's more than seven months into Trump's presidency and the people of western North Carolina haven't gotten better from Trump's administration. They've gotten less. State officials say the share of federal recovery funds for Helene is running well below what was given for other major storms. With an estimated damage and recovery costs of $59.6 billion, Helene is the costliest storm to ever hit North Carolina. The state asked the federal government to cover 48% of that expense. As of June 30, the latest total available, it has received or been awarded funds covering only 7.9%. For Sandy and Katrina, the federal government covered 78% and 73% respectively. Even storms during Trump's first presidential term brought a more generous response: Maria (2017) 73%; Irma (2017) 32%; Florence (2018) 20%. North Carolina likely will receive more federal assistance, but to be at less than 10% nearly a year after the storm is a failure. And it's a particularly painful failure after Trump pledged to do so much more. Funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has long been plagued by delays and red tape. But Trump has only made the problems worse. In June, he suggested that FEMA should be drastically scaled back and that states should pick up a larger share of the cost of disaster recovery. He also unleashed Elon Musk and his so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut staff at federal agencies. FEMA lost more than 20 percent of its staff. Finally, Trump appointed former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to oversee FEMA as head of the Department of Homeland Security. She has ordered that all contracts and grants exceeding $100,000 get her approval, a requirement that has slowed the flow of disaster relief funds. Marshall, the county seat of Madison County, lost 13 buildings to Helene, including its town hall, courthouse and post office. Mayor Aaron Haynie told me that his town has had three different FEMA staff members as the town's contact person. Filing for grants from the agency has been cumbersome and so far his town 'hasn't seen a dime from FEMA.' When Marshall applied for a grant to rebuild flooded parks, it included a request for funding for shrubs and grass seed. FEMA said it doesn't cover those items. Rather than amend the application, Marshall had to reapply. 'It's just a slow process,' Haynie said. 'There's so much back and forth.' Despite the federal delays, state and local governments along with groups of volunteers have made substantial progress. Most roads are reopened, homes are being rebuilt, massive amounts of debris have been cleared, businesses are open and tourism is coming back. North Carolina can take pride in those results. It reflects cooperation between the Republican-controlled legislature and Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. And it testifies to the resilience of mountain communities and the generosity of volunteers. All that should be honored on the anniversary of an event that has severely tested North Carolina. But it should also be remembered that Trump made promises when he needed votes that he has not fulfilled now that he's in office. He said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war 'in 24 hours,' grocery prices would go down and 'your incomes will soar, your savings will grow, young people will be able to afford a home.' On that October day in Swannanoa, Trump made another promise. He told the people of western North Carolina, 'We're praying for you and we will not forget about you, we will never forget about you.' Ten months later, it is clear he has forgotten. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at nbarnett@ or 919-404-7583.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Helene-hit businesses want grants, but the SBA is 'hamstrung' by lack of federal funding
FLETCHER - Speaking to a crowd of local leaders and media in Bill Moore Community Park on Aug. 20, Gov. Josh Stein said the federal government "has to give much more money" to the region's recovery from Tropical Storm Helene and that state and federal lawmakers need to approve more grant funding for small businesses. "Small businesses took it on the chin," Stein told the Citizen Times. "The economy of Western North Carolina is more dependent on small business than most other regions." His worry is that both the region's economic recovery and physical recovery could slow if funds don't come to the region, a fear shared by residents, businesses and regional leaders. "I shudder to think," Stein said of WNC not receiving more federal funding for Helene recovery. Calls for small business relief have steadily continued after Helene, which caused an estimated $60 billion in damages and killed over 100 in the state. But North Carolina's district leader for the U.S. Small Business Administration Mike Arriola described the agency as having its hands tied by a lack of federal funding for forgivable loans or grants for small businesses on Aug. 20. At the same time, Republican state lawmakers have been wary that passing a small business grant program would require a state constitutional amendment. Nearly a year after the storm, unemployment in Buncombe County, Western North Carolina's urban center, has remained above pre-storm levels and workers have had to navigate closures, staff losses and a shifting national economy. Small businesses are struggling, having lost an average $322,000 from the storm, according to the recently released 2025 Local Business Impact Survey from the regional nonprofit Mountain BizWorks. Of the over 700 businesses surveyed by the nonprofit, 86% of them are are performing at or below pre-Helene levels, according to the report. More: WNC awarded $7.6B in federal, state aid after Helene, report says. More still needed Small business disaster grants were identified as the "most sought-after recovery resource" for small businesses in the survey, but regional officials' hands have been tied as federal funding lags behind requests. As of June 30, the state has been awarded $4.71 billion in federal funding, according to an Aug. 15 report from the Governor's Recovery Office for WNC, or GROW NC. That's around 8% of the estimated $60 billion in damages. Gov. Josh Stein has requested $19 billion in additional federal funding — a request that Congress has yet to consider. A total of $7.6 billion has been provided through federal and state aid. During a Aug. 20 webinar on the Mountain BizWorks study, Arriola said the agency, which would likely distribute said grants, has its hands tied. The directive and funding for a small business grant program through the agency could only come from Congress. "Until... the legislative branch can come up with those specific fixes, (the) SBA is really kind of hamstrung." Arriola said. The SBA provides small business loans through it's disaster relief programs, offering more than $400 million to businesses in WNC, so far. But many small businesses are "already shouldering on quite a bit of debt as a result of COVID," Arriola said. Taking on additional disaster loans could add to previous debt whereas grants wouldn't have to be repaid. "We've pretty much done all within our power," Arriola said of SBA aiding Helene-impacted businesses. Gov. Stein calls for more federal funding for small businesses Small business grant funding has only come through mostly nonprofit programs, though some have been supported by the state. No grant program for small businesses has been approved by Congress. The Western North Carolina Small Business Initiative has distributed $55 million in grants to over 2,100 small businesses with physical damage from the storm, according to a August presentation to the state's WNC Recovery Committee. Funding for the initiative came from Dogwood Health Trust, Duke Endowment and the state of North Carolina Grants were limited to $55,000. Other nonprofits, like Mountain BizWorks, have distributed $6.8 million. Another $55 million program was announced by the state in May, but only funds local governments with infrastructure projects that support local businesses. Rep. Chuck Edwards, a second-term Republican representing most of WNC, introduced the "Helene Small Business Recovery Act" to the House in March. A similar bill was introduced to the Senate by Sen. Thom Tillis, who is retiring in 2026, in April. Though both bills were referred to committee, neither has seen action since their introduction. More: WNC awarded $7.6B in federal, state aid after Helene, report says. More still needed More: WNC's small businesses lost an average of $322,000 due to Helene, nonprofit study says Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@ or message will_hofmann.01 on Signal. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Helene-hit businesses want grants. The SBA is 'hamstrung' by Congress Solve the daily Crossword
Boston Globe
21 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Microsoft reviewing Israeli military's use of its tech amid worker protests
Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up CLIMATE Advertisement How hurricanes, fires, and floods put drugs and medical supplies at risk Bottles of prescription medication on shelves at a Walgreens pharmacy in Deerfield, Ill. Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press When Hurricane Helene barreled across several southern states last fall, it destroyed homes and killed more than 150 people. The storm also took out one of the country's main factories producing intravenous fluid bags widely used in hospitals. The ensuing shortage forced manufacturer Baxter International Inc. to ration supplies and hospitals to use fewer IV bags, illustrating the risks that climate change poses to the pharmaceutical supply chain. Nearly two-thirds of US drug production facilities are located in areas that have had a major disaster like a fire or hurricane in recent years, according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal JAMA on Wednesday. The paper concluded that plants across the drug supply chain, from those that manufacture active pharmaceutical ingredients to packaging facilities, risk disruption as climate change ups the odds of extreme weather. These threats are especially pressing as the Trump administration makes a push to ramp up US drug manufacturing, say the authors of the new research. — BLOOMBERG NEWS Advertisement TECHNOLOGY Google's Pixel 10 phones raises the ante on artificial intelligence Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif. Justin Sullivan/Getty Google on Wednesday unveiled a new line-up of Pixel smartphones injected with another dose of artificial intelligence that's designed to do everything from fetch vital information stored on the devices to help improve photos as they're being taken. The AI expansion on the four Pixel 10 models amplifies Google's efforts to broaden the use of a technology that is already starting to reshape society. At the same time, Google is taking a swipe at Apple's Achilles' heel on the iPhone. Apple so far has only been able to introduce a few basic AI features on the iPhone while failing to deliver on last year's promise to deliver a more conversational and versatile version of its often-blundering virtual assistant Siri. Without mentioning the iPhone by name, Google has already been mocking Apple's missteps in online ads promoting the four new Pixel models as smartphones loaded with AI technology that consumers won't have to wait for more than a year to arrive. Taking advantage of a more advanced processor, Google is introducing a new AI feature on the Pixel 10 phones called 'Magic Cue' that's designed to serve as a digital mind reader that automatically fetches information stored on the devices and displays the data at the time it's needed. For instance, if a Pixel 10 user is calling up an airline, Magic Cue is supposed to instantaneously recognize the phone number and display the flight information if it's in Gmail or a Google Calendar. The Pixel 10 phones will also come with a preview feature of a new AI tool called 'Camera Coach' that will automatically suggest the best framing and lighting angle as the lens is being aimed at a subject. — ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement WALL STREET Hint of mini Labubu launch sends Pop Mart stock soaring 12 percent A giant Labubu figure is seen as people visit the newly opened Pop Mart store selling Labubu toys at a shopping mall in Berlin on July 25. TOBIAS SCHWARZ/AFP via Getty Images Chinese retailer Pop Mart's stock surged more than 12 percent Wednesday, to the highest level since the company went public in 2020, after its CEO, Wang Ning, said a mini version of its wildly popular Labubu dolls would be released as soon as this week. The toothy elves have become coveted accessories around the world, spotted dangling off designer handbags worth thousands of dollars and collected by the likes of Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and Lisa, a member of the K-pop group Blackpink. The mini version will be able to be hung on mobile phones, Wang told investors on an earnings call. Previous new releases have sold out within minutes, crashed the company's website and app, and sparked hourslong lines outside of stores. Most of Pop Mart's revenue comes from China. But during the first six months of this year, revenue from the Americas jumped 1,142 percent from the previous year as Labubu enthusiasm took off around the world, the company reported Tuesday. Sales in Asia outside of China were up 258 percent and from Europe and other regions, 729 percent. The global craze for Labubus drove record revenue for Pop Mart during the first six months of the year, up more than 200 percent when measured in Chinese renminbi. Labubus accounted for more than a third of Pop Mart's total revenue over this period. Pop Mart's stock, which is traded in Hong Kong, has risen more than 650 percent over the past year. — NEW YORK TIMES Advertisement PHARMACEUTICALS Novo's new CEO freezes hiring in push to rein in costs Novo Nordisk headquarters in Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Mads Claus Rasmussen/Associated Press Novo Nordisk A/S implemented a global hiring freeze as the Danish drugmaker seeks to cut costs and regain its footing in the competitive market for weight-loss treatments. The halt will apply across all markets and departments, with the exception of business-critical roles, a company spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Novo's new chief executive, Maziar Mike Doustdar, has signaled that job cuts may be part of a promised revamp, telling reporters last month that Novo needs to exercise greater discipline and prudence on spending. He said he plans to review the company's cost base. The maker of Wegovy and Ozempic is fighting to claw back ground after losing its lead in the US obesity market to rival Eli Lilly & Co. Lilly's weight-loss franchise is poised to overtake Novo's this year and may hold more than half of a $100 billion global obesity market by 2030, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Shah said. Novo ousted its longtime CEO in the second quarter as the foundation that controls the company pushed for an overhaul, and Doustdar took over earlier this month. Novo's workforce mushroomed to more than 78,000 people in recent years as the drugmaker rushed to boost production of its blockbusters Ozempic and Wegovy. — BLOOMBERG NEWS ACQUISITIONS Lowe's buying Foundation Building Materials for about $8.8 billion as it intensifies focus on pro builders A Lowe's home improvement store in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke/Associated Press Lowe's is buying Foundation Building Materials, a distributor of drywall, insulation, and other products, for approximately $8.8 billion as the home improvement retailer intensifies its focus on professional builders. FBM also provides metal framing, ceiling systems, commercial doors, and hardware and other products that serve large residential and commercial professionals in both new construction and repair and remodel applications. It has more than 370 locations in the United States and Canada serving 40,000 professional customers. The acquisition is part of Lowe's move to provide more options for professional builders. The Mooresville, N.C.-based company recently closed on its $1.3 billion acquisition of Artisan Design Group, a provider of design, distribution, and installation services for interior surface finishes, including flooring, cabinets, and countertops, to home builders and property managers. Rival Home Depot has been making similar moves. In June the home improvement retailer announced that it was buying specialty building products distributor GMS for $4.3 billion. GMS Inc. of Tucker, Ga., is a distributor of specialty building products like drywall, steel framing, and other supplies used in both residential and commercial projects. Home Depot's acquisition of GMS came after it purchased SRS Distribution, a materials provider for professionals, last year for more than $18 billion including debt. SRS provides materials for professionals like roofers, landscapers, and pool contractors. — ASSOCIATED PRESS Advertisement
