Latest news with #NorthCarolinians
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Urgent need for improvements' discussed at NCDMV press conference with Gov. Josh Stein
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Website upgrades, better pay, new positions and more efficient processes were some of the promises made by Gov. Stein and NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine Friday morning as they addressed the widespread issues being felt by customers. They joined Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins at the agency's East Raleigh office to highlight the 'urgent need for improvements' amid statewide challenges and what the future looks like. The press conference began with Sec. Hopkins inviting a DMV customer named Jocelyn to share her personal experience getting her daughter her driver's license. After driving over an hour to make it to the DMV office, she said she pleaded with staff after standing in line outside so long that her feet swelled. She was not only advocating to get them a seat, but to also come in and out of the rain to be helped before they closed. They were the last people served that day, Jocelyn said. As the NCDMV's new leader, Commissioner Tine said there is 'no shortage of opportunities to improve in the department.' As part of a 'Team DMV' plan, Tine said he visited many offices from the mountains to the coast to see where improvements are most needed to make the offices function better for North Carolinians. In that time, he said he observed issued from systems and processes to the physical facilities. At the core, however, he said a great need is making sure staff have what they need from compensation to resources. 'I want us to become a premiere customer service organization and to do that we need to empower our frontline staff,' he added. With a long way to go and many changes yet to be made, Tine said this is just the tip of the iceberg. The future, he said will focus on these four pillars: service, efficiency, agility and accountability. Gov. Stein said stories like Jocelyn's should be unique, but are not. Her story resembles thousands of others, he said. In addition to prioritizing raising pay for the state's DMV examiners, Gov. Stein said efforts are underway to simplify the agency's website and to ramp up efficiency as soon as this summer by creating 85 new positions. See which NCDMV offices are starting Saturday summer hours this weekend 'The DMV is not political. It's about service — service to the people of North Carolina,' the governor said. CBS 17 asked what tangible changes customers can see in these next few days and weeks. Commissioner Tine said the first round of changes can already be seen on the DMV website and encourages people to take a look. Off the top, he pointed to their homepage which directs people to a few questions which can help people determine if that need a Real ID right now. It also displays the message that REAL ID is 'completely optional.' As they work to address a lot of issues head-on, all at once, the commissioner said if people do not have an urgent need for something today, to not come to an office right now. Also coming soon to DMV offices will be changes that target the way appointments are processed and the efficiency of training individuals conducting road tests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
8 recommendations from experts for copperhead safety in North Carolina
Stories by News & Observer journalists, with AI summarization Experts advise North Carolinians to watch where they step, especially in summer when copperheads are active. Knowing the copperhead's appearance — usually brownish-gray with hourglass patterns — and being able to tell them apart from harmless snakes is crucial. Keeping yards clear of debris and using protective gear like gloves while gardening can reduce chance encounters; copperheads may take shelter under porches or near cicada hotspots. If bitten, seek emergency care at hospitals with antivenom and call NC Poison Control if symptoms are mild. For hikers, planning ahead by alerting others to your route and carrying a satellite phone in remote areas helps ensure rapid response in case of emergencies. Always seek medical treatment, but antivenom is not always necessary, doctors say. Here's why. | Published May 8, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella We talked to the medical director of NC Poison Control for his advice. Screenshot this story so you have it on your phone in an emergency. | Published June 15, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Copperheads are NC's most common venomous snake, and sometimes they come a little too close to our front doors. | Published July 18, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella 'Identifying snakes can be tricky, and mistaking a non-venomous snake for a venomous one is common.' | Published March 14, 2024 | Read Full Story by N&O Service Journalism Team, with Nota AI summarization The hiss of cicadas is the copperhead's dinner bell. | Published May 7, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska Here's what a wildlife biologist says you should do in your backyard to deter snakes (and nudge them out when you see one). | Published May 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska Glass (legless) lizards look remarkably snake-like. We talked to wildlife experts to find out how to tell the difference. | Published May 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Copperheads are the only venomous snake you're likely to encounter in the Triangle and central NC. Here's how to identify and avoid them. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Snakes, pollen, wildfires: 8 stories on how to stay safe in NC this summer
Stories by News & Observer journalists, with AI summarization Snakes, pollen, and wildfires are all safety concerns for North Carolinians during the summer. Venomous copperheads are common in central and eastern parts of the state, with copperhead bites sometimes requiring costly antivenom treatment. Wildlife experts recommend keeping yards clear of dense vegetation and debris to reduce snake encounters and suggest leaving snakes alone if you see them. Wildfires have already burned more than 24,000 acres this year, so packing an evacuation kit and tracking fire maps are important steps for residents. Seasonal pollen counts are high in cities like Raleigh and Greensboro; taking precautions such as showering at night and keeping pets out of bedrooms can help allergy sufferers cope. We may be more likely to see snakes this time of year, as the weather warms. Use this information to make encounters less scary. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted For many people with seasonal allergies, spring is a difficult time. It's particularly hard in a few of our state's cities. | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted If you live in the city, do you still need a wildfire kit? The answer is yes. We explain why. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martha Quillin Copperheads are the only venomous snake you're likely to encounter in the Triangle and central NC. Here's how to identify and avoid them. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted To identify a copperhead, you can't just go by color alone. Here's what gives some copperheads a different look. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted So far this year, more than 4,000 wildfires have burned more than 24,000 acres of woodlands in North Carolina. Here's how to track them. | Published May 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martha Quillin Thousands of Triangle customers lost power recently. Don't blame it on the rain or trees. | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted To keep snakes out, you first need to know what brings them in. We have the details. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Opioid impact forum set for June 17
A event designed to show the effects of the opioid crisis in Lee County will be held Tuesday, June 17. The 'Stronger Together: Opioid Impact Forum' will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that day, according to a release from Lee County Community Support Services. The event will take place at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, located at 1801 Nash St. The topic will be Lee County's opioid crisis response. It will include an update on the use of opioid settlement funds and remarks from community leaders. Community organizations and government partners will have an opportunity to share information about resources and services. In July 2021, then-Attorney General Josh Stein announced a $26 billion settlement with the nation's largest drug distributors. As a result, the Lee County Commissioners entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the state to gain access to the opioid settlement funds. Over an 18-year period, Lee County is expected to receive $7.8 million. Since the initial disbursement of funds in 2022, Lee County has made progress in a variety of ways, including increasing naloxone distribution, entering contracts with eligible providers to help with treatment reimbursement and increasing transportation access, the release states. Recent data indicated some improvement with the North Carolina's estimated overdose death rate decreasing by 28% from 2023 to 2024. However, there is still progress that needs to be made. The opioid crisis continues to remain a pressing issue across the county, state and country. For Americans aged 18-44, the leading cause of death is fentanyl overdose. In 2024 alone, an estimated 3,025 North Carolinians and 87,000 people nationwide lost their lives from an overdose. 'Whether you have been directly impacted or simply want to be a part of the change, we welcome and value your presence at this event,' the release states.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Court bans robocall scammer from telecom industry
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — North Carolina and seven other states won a court ruling permanently barring robocall scammer John Spiller from operating in the telecommunications industry. According to Attorney General Jeff Jackson's Press Release, Spiller was also ordered to pay more than $600,000 in costs and attorney's fees for violating the court's order that North Carolina won against Spiller in March 2023. Spiller owned and operated several voice service providers that initiated and facilitated tens of millions of illegal robocalls to North Carolinians, including to people whose numbers were on the Do Not Call Registry. 'This fraudster helped make billions of scam robocalls to steal from people all over the country for years, including here in North Carolina,' Attorney General Jeff Jackson said. 'This is a huge win that will help keep millions of people safe from phone scams and fraud. I'm grateful to the NCDOJ attorneys who led the team that got this done. Anyone who tries to hurt or rip off North Carolinians will run up against my office and be held responsible.' You can read the requests to the court here. You can read the judge's order here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
