5 Benefits of Water Damage Restoration Services

Robert Tilman
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5 Benefits of Water Damage Restoration Services

Floods and water damage are common in Charlotte, North Carolina, mostly flash floods. Based on the findings of FEMA, 83 percent of water hazards in this place are flash floods. That is because Charlotte receives more precipitation in a year compared to Seattle. It means water damage can create havoc in your home and the common reasons include storm bursts, flooding, underground leaking, leakage of pipes, and damaged gutters and roofs. 

According to an article published on https://www.huffingtonpost.ca, there are ways to prevent water damage in your home. For instance, you can landscape your garden and yard with vegetation and flowering plants to reduce soil erosion. Besides, you need to hire restoration experts. Here are the five benefits of the same: 

  1. Fast restoration 

When your home in Charlotte is damaged due to floods, the living conditions become intolerable, and therefore, you need a quick restoration service. When it comes to experienced and trained restoration professionals, they respond to your complaint fast and get rid of the water, dry up your living space, and disinfect your home. 

If there is any necessary repair work, the crew will do that as well. Companies in the restoration business for decades have sufficient workforce or crewmembers too and apt tools to do the job in a few hours. 

  1. Reduced costs and fewer losses 

When your home, room, walls, roof, furniture, and appliances are damaged due to excessive floodwater, the cost could rip you off financially. How fast you call the experts could mean the difference between just sanding off and covering a stained wall with a coat of paint and finally having to rebuild the whole part of a damaged wall in your Charlotte home. 

If you call any Charlotte restoration service immediately, it would help in trimming down the overall cost of repair or damages, as the water would be cleared and your property dried off within a few hours. 

  1. Safe mold remedy 

Mold development is one of the greatest problems after water damage in your house. Mold can grow anywhere, on the walls, ceilings, or below the wooded siding. Most of the mold growth is poisonous and noxious allergens, therefore, unsafe if you try to remove them on your own. 

However, when you hire professional restoration experts, they will ensure all mold growth is fully removed to prevent your home from further mold development in the days to come. 

  1. Expert advice about water damage 

When your house is water damaged, it is not easy to figure out whether your wall, wet carpet, damaged furniture, bookshelf, and appliances could be reused or not. The experts will do a reality check of your entire property and furniture after water damage and inform you about the extent of the harm caused. 

  1. Insurance claim assistance 

There are some restoration experts, who have experience in managing insurance papers, forms, and policies. These restorers will help you to document your losses appropriately so that you receive a fair claim amount from your insurance provider. In case of a despite, the restoration experts will furnish proof of water havoc or damage in your house. 

Conclusion 

Now that you know how professionals help you after water damage, you can hire them for clearing the water, drying, and disinfecting your flooded house.

Why Charlotte Residents Purchase Boating Products Online

Charlotte Stories
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Why Charlotte Residents Purchase Boating Products Online

When it comes to buying upgrades and accessories for your boat, Charlotte residents tend to go online to access a wide range of products and services. The popularity of online shopping in the area has been on the rise for many years. This isn’t a surprise, as younger generations move into adulthood and start owning boats more and more and they have already been brought up with digital technology.

The Benefits of Buying Boat Accessories Online

There are many reasons why online shopping continues to soar in terms of popularity. People these days head online to purchase all sorts of accessories and items for their boats such as those from Aerial Wakeboarding. Online shopping for specialist items like this has been growing in popularity over the years and is set to continue its upward trajectory as those who were born in the digital age become adults and start making more purchases.

Some of the key benefits include:

Lower Costs

One of the many benefits of making purchases of boating accessories online is the lower cost, as people can often get much lower prices on all services and products online. For those who are on a budget, the savings that can be made online make it far more viable to make purchases via websites, and most will often get additional discounts by signing up for the retailer newsletter or looking for online discounts and voucher codes.   

More JohnsChoice

Another thing that has helped to boost the popularity of going online for boat accessories is the fact that they have far more choice. By going online, they can enjoy a tremendous choice from a huge variety of specialist boating retailers. This makes it easier for them to access and purchase the products they need with many online businesses that they can make their purchases from.

Total Convenience

For many people, much of their time is taken up with work, family commitments, and other things that they have going on in their lives. This means that they have little time for themselves, which includes time to go out shopping, standing in queues, and going from one retailer to another. By shopping for boat accessories online, these people can save a lot of time and inconvenience, as they can browse and shop from the comfort and privacy of their own homes.

Speedy Delivery

Another reason why people now go online to purchase items is that they can get their items delivered quickly, easily, and conveniently to their door. This is particularly useful when purchasing larger boat accessories, as these can otherwise prove troublesome to get back to their intended destination.

The Modern Solution for Shoppers

There is no doubt that online shopping has become a modern solution for shoppers in Charlotte and other cities around the country. When people have other financial commitments such as rent, bills, and other commitments, the ability to save money on products like boat accessories becomes all the more important, and this is what online shopping offers. 

Coronavirus Relief Survey: 84% of Americans Want Another Stimulus Check

Charlotte Stories
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Coronavirus Relief Survey: 84% of Americans Want Another Stimulus Check

84 percent of Americans want another wave of stimulus checks, according to WalletHub’s new Coronavirus Relief Survey, released today. This nationally representative survey shows how Americans view the government’s aid efforts so far, particularly the stimulus package.

Below are additional highlights of the survey:

Key Stats

  • Many people are at risk of going broke: Nearly 160 million Americans are less than three months away from running out of money.
  • Stimulus checks feed vices: Almost 24 million Americans will buy drugs, alcohol or tobacco with their stimulus money.
  • Americans want unemployment insurance to match wages: Around 56 percent of Americans don’t think people’s unemployment income should be more than their previous income.
  • People are generous during the pandemic: A third of Americans say they will donate part of their stimulus money to coronavirus relief.
  • The young want checks based on financial impact: Millennials are 25 percent more likely than baby boomers to think that stimulus checks should only be given to people experiencing income loss.
  • Americans think non-impacted businesses shouldn’t get aid: 70 percent of Americans believe that government help should only be given to businesses with a revenue loss.

The complete survey results can be found at https://wallethub.com/blog/coronavirus-government-money-survey/73544/.

Sustain Charlotte Is Hosting Virtual Earth Day Celebration This Evening

Steve
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Sustain Charlotte Is Hosting Virtual Earth Day Celebration This Evening

Happy Earth Day everyone!

To honor the day, Sustain Charlotte will be hosting a virtual celebration of Earth Day and Sustain Charlotte’s 10th Anniversary this evening at 5pm.

Leaders of the organization will share their history and what they are doing to make the Charlotte region a cleaner and healthier place to live. During the virtual event, they will also ask attendees to share what they’re doing to celebrate Earth Day, and share announcements about ways that people can get involved in supporting a healthier planet while they’re social distancing.

“The first Earth Day was a response to an urgent and growing human health crisis. And as we find ourselves in the middle of another health crisis, celebrating our planet (and human impact on it) has never been more important,” said Sustain Charlotte’s Executive Director Shannon Binns.

You can register for today’s local Earth Day event for free here.

The Past and Future of Gambling in North Carolina

Robert Tilman
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The Past and Future of Gambling in North Carolina

North Carolina vs International Online Casinos – Where is it Going?

Few states seem to dislike gambling quite as much as North Carolina, and the United States is generally more restrictive than comparable Western nations such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and other European countries. But with a new, and sizeable, casino given the go ahead to open in the state, might it finally be following the trend and liberalize its laws regarding gambling both in the real world and at online casinos? It would make sense, given players from the US can already take advantage of international online casinos.

North Carolina’s Gambling History and International Online Casinos

Laws restricting gambling in North Carolina actually predate the War of Independence, with gambling debts exceeding £100 being invalidated (1749) in a bid to dissuade people from excessive gambling. This was tightened up in 1753 when gambling debts were entirely invalidated and daily losses were capped at 40s (that’s 40 shillings, or £2 at the time), with the cap falling to 5s a decade later.

Since then the state has had a pretty tight grip on gambling, and taken legislative measures against it. When 1800 rolled around table games and card games, in public, had been banned. There have been a few exceptions to this stringent approach, with lotteries (often aimed at fundraising for good causes) popping up now and then in the 19th century.

Whilst legal attitudes in North Carolina have stayed rooted in opposition to gambling, to a certain extent these preferences have been sidestepped by technological progress. The advance of the internet and the proliferation of international online casinos means that even US players can win real money playing slots, or table game classics such as blackjack, poker, baccarat, and roulette. The international scene has plenty of great casinos and games to try, not to mention welcome bonuses. So players in America can take full advantage of the online slots, roulette, blackjack, and other games that are far more tightly regulated when it comes to real world casino gambling in their own state.

Just as newspapers, retail, broadcasters, and sport have had to take into account the new reality presented by the internet, so international online casinos make something of a mockery of stringent state and national legislation. As we’ll explore in more detail below, even North Carolina’s traditionally antagonistic view of gambling may be changing.

International online casinos aren’t going anywhere, and online gambling is something that US authorities can either welcome (and the associated tax returns likewise) or leave to other nations.

Recent Changes and the State of Online Gambling

A longer lasting lottery was founded in 2006: the North Carolina Educational Lottery, which includes scratch cards and multi-jurisdictional games. The vast majority of the proceeds are spent in prizes and educational spending.

The United States is generally more restrictive when it comes to gambling than many nations in the West, and North Carolina is one of the most hardline states when it comes to wagering. Nationwide, this is changing somewhat, as new casinos are established and laws regarding gambling become liberalized. That’s not to say that gambling in NC is impossible. You can play the lottery, bingo, and engage in charitable gambling. Plus sports betting has recently been permitted (although you must be within specific casinos to do this).

Speaking of which, you can play at casinos in North Carolina, but there is a requirement: these must be on designated casinos within Indian lands. State laws forbid gambling at domestic online casinos (overseas online casinos are a murky grey area).

North Carolina remains one of the most restrictive states when it comes to gambling, which suggests that online gambling may stay off-limits. But other states have been opening things up, and a new casino recently received federal approval, so perhaps there’s a glimmer of light for the prospect of online gambling.

If online casino betting is opened up in North Carolina this could prove advantageous for players in a number of ways. The fact that brick-and-mortar casinos take up real estate means that they come with heavier associated costs (heating, staffing, rent, and so forth) whereas online mobile casinos do not. Because of this, the house edge tends to be lower at online casinos, meaning that players stand a better chance of finishing ahead.

There’s another advantage that ties into the tribal rivalry (explained further below) seen in North Carolina. When differing providers feel like competitors in the same marketplace, this can cause tensions to flare up. Because the internet is an ephemeral space, such conflict does not occur.

International online casinos are readily available, and the absence of US providers simply means that players from the US play online slots, roulette, and blackjack at casinos from Canada, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere. Companies in other countries make profits, and treasuries in other nations receive the associated tax. There has been a general trend of loosening the relatively tight laws around online gambling in the US in recent years, and if this continues it may prove beneficial even for states that have historically taken a dim view of wagering.

New Casino in Kings Mountain, near Charlotte

Perhaps one of the reasons for North Carolina’s reluctance to embrace gambling is that objections can be raised from unexpected sources. Some of the question marks raised against a casino proposal were by the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, who had already enjoyed success in operating casino games in North Carolina. The permission granted for a tribe based in South Carolina has raised concerns about competition, prompting the Eastern Band to pen a formal protest some years ago.

One more advantage of gambling online at international casinos is that it neatly avoids the political rivalry of different tribes in this area. Indeed, instead of visiting competing real world casinos, online casinos enable players to simply pick up and play using their mobile devices (and even desktops don’t require one to leave one’s home, which is especially handy during the tedium of a lockdown).

However, despite the objections, in March 2020 the green light was given by the federal government for the proposed $273m new casino to be constructed 35 miles from Charlotte. This enormous new gambling complex is set to be a boon for the local economy, creating more than 3,000 jobs. It also marks success after decades of work for the South Carolina-based Catawba Indian Nation (this will be their first official casino).

The casino will be built in Kings Mountain, just off I-85. In a statement, Catawba Chief William Harris expressed gratitude for the decision, adding that the site was close to current tribal land holdings and in an ancestral area that has been occupied by the Catawba since time immemorial.

Increased competition can drive down casino profits, as establishments compete to win and retain players. When considering gambling laws it’s easy to only think about technological process and liberalization, but sometimes local considerations, even ones that go back centuries and more, are just as important.

And it’s not just a question of history; the money generated by tribal casinos can fund substantial projects, including hospitals, schools, and youth centers. This also lends financial stability to tribes, who otherwise (in this example) may rely on seasonal tourism.

Five Ways To Increase Property Value

Robert Tilman
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Five Ways To Increase Property Value

When you invest in a property you’re committing to a pretty long-term deal. But, more and more people are jumping on the trend of buying a house, just to flip it a couple of years down the line.

And that’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with being money-savvy and investing your hard-earned cash the right way.

So, when it comes to investing money in a property, you can only imagine that things can be a bit tricky. That’s why we’ve gathered a list of five things that are worth the investment when it comes to home improvements, and will actually increase the value of your property.

Let’s get down to business, shall we?

Convert your garage into living space.

With the rise of small homes taking over the world, more and more people are looking for small, sustainable living spaces that won’t take up half of their monthly paycheck just to rent.

You can transform your garage into a tiny apartment and rent it out, which instantly generates you money, or you can invest in building an entertainment room too. You should also check out these loft apartment conversion options if you’re looking to maximize your living space.

The thing is, you can convert your garage into whatever you see fit, and that’s only going to make you money in the long term. So, what’s the dream room you’ve never had?

Don’t forget to invest in curb and garden appeal.

There’s something in having a great looking home. And that’s why people appreciate it when they see home has been kept in an overall great condition.

That’s why investing in improving the curb appeal of your home is worth it. Whether you would add outdoor water features, install a fake turf, or resurface the driveway, it’s always going to have a return on your investment

But don’t forget that you can knock down some walls too.

And no, we’re not talking about building up a whole new part to your house. But instead, hire an architect who can help you improve the current layout of your home. 

Knocking down some old-school hallways and opening up the living space can make an old house feel like a new build, so it’s worth the extra effort, time, and money that you’ll put into it. 

Just make sure you have the original plans for the house or apartment, so you know which walls you can knock them down safely. Once you have this info, it’s a matter of hitting it with a hammer, cleaning up, and freshening. 

Invest in new kitchen appliances.

By far one of the most important features for any home is the kitchen. It also turns out to be one of the most expensive rooms to renovate too. 

That’s why home buyers appreciate it when the kitchen has new, high-quality appliances. This is also the investment that by far will give you the biggest return of investment. 

Remodel the bathroom.

Just like the kitchen, people love a good looking bathroom. A renovated bathroom can make a used home feel like brand new. 

Consider investing in a walk-in shower or a nice tub for the biggest return of investment. 

NC Records Highest Single-Day COVID-19 Death Toll As Protesters Crowd Streets

Charlotte Stories
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NC Records Highest Single-Day COVID-19 Death Toll As Protesters Crowd Streets

Today, the NC Department of Health reported the highest single-day death toll from COVID-19 as protesters took to the streets of Raleigh to protest North Carolina’s ‘Stay at Home Order’.

34 additional COVID-19 related deaths have just been reported, bringing the total death toll in North Carolina to 213. There are currently 6,951 confirmed cases and 427 people hospitalized with the virus.

Amid this tragic news, hundreds took to the streets in Raleigh late this morning to protest the continued ‘Stay at Home Order’, which is now set to expire on April 29th.

There are now 611 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 8 deaths in Wake County where the protests are taking place today.

What do you think about today’s protest and our current ‘Stay at Home Order’?

Foundation For The Carolinas Starts $50 Million Fund For Healthcare Workers Who Die From COVID-19

Steve
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Foundation For The Carolinas Starts $50 Million Fund For Healthcare Workers Who Die From COVID-19

E4E Relief, a subsidiary of Foundation For The Carolinas, has announced a $50 million fund to support families of fallen healthcare workers who lose their lives to COVID-19. The Brave of Heart Fund was launched with initial contributions of $25 million each from the New York Life Foundation and the Cigna Foundation.

The Fund will provide charitable grants to surviving families of healthcare workers and volunteers who lose their lives while caring for others during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be administered by E4E Relief, the nation’s leading provider of charitable employee relief funds and a wholly owned subsidiary of Foundation For The Carolinas.

New York Life and Cigna aim to grow the Fund to more than $100 million through additional individual and corporate donations. The New York Life Foundation will also provide up to another $25 million as a dollar-for-dollar match for donations received from individuals, and Cigna will also provide free emotional and behavioral health services for surviving family members. Charitable donations from individuals and corporations to the Fund are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law, and can be made at www.BraveofHeartFund.com.

Family members of fallen healthcare workers who died from COVID-19 and who are experiencing a financial impact – such as loss of income, funeral expenses or medical bills – are encouraged to apply for charitable grants beginning in May 2020 at BraveofHeartFund.com. Visit the website for full eligibility requirements, as well as information regarding Cigna’s emotional and behavioral health services.

“When tragedy strikes, large or small, people want to help. The Brave of Heart Fund is an overwhelming example of this, with New York Life and Cigna rising to the occasion to support fallen healthcare workers,” said E4E Relief CEO Holly Welch Stubbing. “In addition to this vital effort, E4E Relief provides employers of all sizes the ability to support employees impacted by the pandemic and other catastrophic disasters.”

“Healthcare workers are truly on the frontlines of this pandemic,” said Michael Marsicano, president and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas. “Through the Brave of Heart Fund, the generosity of New York Life and Cigna, and the efforts of our E4E Relief team, we hope to honor these fallen heroes and provide much-needed support to their families across the nation.”

Foundation For The Carolinas initially began offering employee assistance programs after the attacks of 9/11. Companies nationwide steadily began opening funds at FFTC to support their employees during times of unexpected hardships, such as catastrophic illnesses and natural disasters. E4E Relief became a wholly owned subsidiary of FFTC in 2014, and now serves more than 4 million employees across the globe.

E4E Relief anticipates awarding more than $125 million in charitable grants on behalf of its clients throughout the nation to help workers affected by the pandemic. A number of companies have established new employee relief funds in recent weeks, including Petco and the Cincinnati Reds, among others.

“In tough times, true heroes are revealed. The heroes today are not only the courageous and selfless frontline healthcare workers and volunteers who, without hesitation and without question, have put themselves in harm’s way to help those who desperately need it, but also their families who are living with the anxiety and fear of what may happen to their loved ones in the days ahead,” said Ted Mathas, Chairman and CEO of New York Life Insurance Company. “The Brave of Heart Fund is our way to honor these heroes by doing what New York Life and Cigna do best – supporting these individuals and their families with financial and emotional support and being there when we are needed most.”

“As we’ve seen in the past, trying times bring out the best in us, as individuals and communities. Our nation’s healthcare workers and volunteers are embodying this every day, as they answer the call of duty with bravery and selflessness,” said David M. Cordani, Cigna President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to partner with New York Life to support the families of these American heroes who give so much while treating others. Through the Brave of Heart Fund, we will bring greater peace of mind to these families, by helping to relieve the emotional and financial burdens they will face in the aftermath of this health crisis.”

To learn more, visit BraveofHeartFund.com.

York County Finalizes Deal To Bring Panthers To Rock Hill and Build $1 Billion “Football City USA”

Charlotte Stories
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York County Finalizes Deal To Bring Panthers To Rock Hill and Build $1 Billion “Football City USA”

The massive deal to move the Carolina Panthers headquarters from Uptown Charlotte to Rock Hill was finalized last night in a 4-3 vote by the York County Commission.

The county agreed to help the team with an estimated $1 billion 2-phase infrastructure plan to build what the Panthers are calling “Football City USA” and what York County is calling “Project Avalanche”. The deal includes Rock Hill foregoing all property tax revenue for up to 30 years.

According to The Herald, yesterday’s public meeting was held on a Zoom call. Members of the public brought up 2 main concerns during the call; York County giving the Panthers extra property, and the sheer scale of the decision during a pandemic.

“This is the biggest property tax giveaway in the history of York County, maybe in South Carolina,” noted Councilwoman Christi Cox. “And we did it during a pandemic.”

Councilman Joel Hamilton also remarked that while he does understands public concern, he wouldn’t want to explain decades from now why the York Council turned down a billion-dollar deal because of Zoom.

“An investment like this has never been seen in York County,” he said.

The sprawling $1 billion complex will hopefully see its first phase opening by August 2022.

It will be built on a 200-acre parcel just off I-77 between Dave Lyle Boulevard and Eden Terrace.

Courtesy of the Carolina Panthers

According to Panthers officials, it will feature an orthopedic sports medicine facility, 2 practice fields, including an indoor stadium with 10,000 seats.

The new project will also likely attract a new corporate headquarters and several residential projects.

What do you think about the Panthers moving down to South Carolina?

Officials Warn The True Number of COVID-19 Cases in Mecklenburg County May Now Be Over 24,000

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Officials Warn The True Number of COVID-19 Cases in Mecklenburg County May Now Be Over 24,000

Mecklenburg County Health officials have just announced that there could already be over 24,000 cases of COVID-19 in our city.

In today’s press release, health officials said that due to a restricted ability to test individuals who display only the worst symptoms (only 19,400 people have been tested over the past month), today’s confirmed case count of 1,231 could represent “as little as 5-10%” of the true number of cases in our county.

“If we’re going to start releasing some of the pressure on some of the restrictions that we’ve seen across the country, we’ve got to have better testing available to us, and better contact tracing. At this time in this county, we do not have that,” said Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Gibby Harris.

Harris also noted that an infant under 1 year old has tested positive for COVID-19.

The county is urging residents to continue to social distance and created the following graphic to drive home the point:

According to the CDC, patients with confirmed CoVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms of:

  • fever
  • cough
  • shortness of breath

CDC believes at this time that symptoms of CoVID-19 may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 after exposure.

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