By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The catastrophic flooding and destruction caused by Hurricane Helene in western North Carolina likely caused at least a record $53 billion in damages and recovery needs, Gov.…

By MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press HOT SPRINGS, N.C. (AP) — About three weeks after Hurricane Helene pummeled western North Carolina, the Hot Springs Community Center was still caked in mud. A paper sign hung on the door…

By THOMAS BEAUMONT and JILL COLVIN Associated Press GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on Tuesday hurled a series of personal attacks at Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “lazy” — a word long…

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI Associated Press With former President Donald Trump’s encouragement, Republicans are voting early again, flocking to the polls for in-person voting ahead of Election Day and helping break records for ballots cast before November in…

By BILL BARROW and MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press SWANNANOA, N.C. (AP) — Surveying storm damage in North Carolina, former President Donald Trump on Monday blasted federal emergency responders whose work has been stymied by armed harassment and a…

By Mike Raley Our friend Rufus delights in discussing his love for Rhododendrons. Rufus, after all, is a learned man with deep North Carolina mountain roots and the rhododendron is a fixture on the sides…