NC House Votes To Override Cooper’s Veto of Easy Access Gun Bill

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NC House Votes To Override Cooper’s Veto of Easy Access Gun Bill

Today, the NC House voted to override Governor Cooper’s first veto of the session concerning legislation aimed at easing gun restrictions in our state. The House voted 71-45 to override the veto of Senate Bill 41, which would remove all handgun purchase permit laws, and allow for increased access of gun owners on church and school grounds. Governor Cooper vetoed the bill on Friday after it was ratified by the House and Senate.

If enacted, the bill would eliminate the current requirement for handgun owners to apply for permits through county sheriff’s offices, which mandates criminal background checks and allows sheriff’s offices to determine whether an applicant should be permitted to own a handgun.

According to Governor Cooper’s office, the bill would remove the authority of sheriffs to deny a permit if they believe an applicant exhibits signs of mental illness, is aware of unrecorded domestic abuse incidents in a national database, or demonstrates other indicators that the applicant could pose a threat to themselves or others.

What do you think about the new bill?

Do you think it would make our state safer?

Charlotte Among the Most Electric-Vehicle-Friendly US Metropolitan Areas in 2023

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Charlotte Among the Most Electric-Vehicle-Friendly US Metropolitan Areas in 2023

The electric revolution marches on, with the US set on achieving new growth milestones every year. Changes in global transportation and mobility are being driven by the climate change issue, with the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) viewed as a vital point in decreasing carbon emissions. Recently, StorageCafe conducted a study to identify the best-equipped metro areas for EVs.

We rated over 100 metropolitan areas based on 17 key metrics such as the number of EVs, availability of public chargers, price of electricity (expressed as an eGallon), dedicated highway systems (HOV and HOT lanes), condition of roads, clean energy, EV insurance costs and local incentives.

While California may be the poster child for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, there are other cities quietly making significant strides towards an electric future. The Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan area is on track to getting a reputation for being EV-friendly and now ranks 23rd among the best places to own an electric vehicle.

Here are a few key findings about the Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia metropolitan area:

  • The metro area saw an impressive 53% year-over-year increase in electric vehicles in 2021, with over 9,300 EVs on the streets.
  • The metro is also picking up the pace in providing the right infrastructure to stimulate EV uptake. There are now 0.3 public charging stations per 1,000 households. Moreover, renters also have greater convenience these days as nearly 4.7% of apartment buildings offer charging stations.
  • With an eGallon costing roughly $1.1 and insurance rates averaging around $105 per month, owning an electric car in Charlotte is not only environmentally friendly but also affordable.
  • Charlotte can boast that 85.5% of its public transportation runs on clean fuel, although only 1.2% of the area’s power is derived from renewable sources.

What do you think? Will your next car be electric? You can find the full report, together with how experts answered some questions about the current infrastructure and electric car proliferation, here:https://www.storagecafe.com/blog/the-best-places-in-the-us-for-electric-vehicles/

Hickory, NC Named The #1 Most Beautiful and Affordable Place To Live in America

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Hickory, NC Named The #1 Most Beautiful and Affordable Place To Live in America

Travel and Leisure has just unveiled their latest rankings, and guess what? Hickory, North Carolina takes the crown as the most stunning and budget-friendly place to call home in America! Greenville, South Carolina and Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina have also secured spots in the coveted top ten.

Considering affordability, natural beauty, and overall quality of life, these rankings offer a comprehensive perspective for those dreaming of a fresh start in a new locale.

In describing the nation’s top city, Travel and Leisure notes:

“Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hickory is a family-friendly destination known for its ample hiking trails and Southern charm. Currently ranked as the cheapest place to live in the U.S., Hickory has a median home price of $161,000. This affordable neighbor to the east of Asheville and north of Charlotte is popular with retirees, but it’s also becoming more attractive to young families; a steady stream of residents has been flocking here for its newfound fame as a technological hub for Google and Apple.”

The top 10 list includes:

  1. Hickory, NC
  2. Grand Rapids, MI
  3. Greenville, SC
  4. Louisville, KY
  5. Knoxville, TN
  6. St. Louis, MI
  7. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
  8. Raleigh-Durham, NC
  9. South Bend, IN
  10. Pittsburgh, PA

Do you agree with the list? 

 

NC Just Unveiled $1 Billion School Behavioral Health Action Plan to Address Youth Health Crisis

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NC Just Unveiled $1 Billion School Behavioral Health Action Plan to Address Youth Health Crisis

Today, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, along with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, unveiled the $1 billion North Carolina School Behavioral Health Action Plan. This initiative seeks to address the pressing mental and behavioral health challenges faced by young people through strategic investments in schools.

Schools serve a vital function in promoting student well-being by offering easily accessible behavioral health support. This is especially crucial in North Carolina, where over half of the young people with mental health issues are not receiving the required care, and a similar percentage of the state’s counties lack a child psychiatrist.

“Addressing the youth mental health crisis requires a commitment to meeting children where they are,” said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. “That’s why we are investing in our schools, so our teachers and school staff have the tools they need to help prevent behavioral health crises through early intervention and prevention.”

The total investment specifically includes:

  • Increasing capacity of schools to identify and address behavioral health needs through student-focused prevention and support services.
  • Training school personnel to better recognize and respond to emerging behavioral health issues.
  • Establishing school-based telehealth pilot programs to expand behavioral health care access for approximately 10,000 students in high need and rural districts.
  • Flexible funding to local School Health Advisory Councils to support coalitions of parents, school staff and community members investing in behavioral health resources to meet local needs.
  • Connecting schools and families with behavioral health partners in their community.
  • Funding a new statewide electronic health record system to secure student health records and enable records to transfer when students move.

What do you think about the new plan?

Bojangles Crowns Ultimate Biscuit Maker in Charlotte in Roll-off Competition

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Bojangles Crowns Ultimate Biscuit Maker in Charlotte in Roll-off Competition

Bojangles, best known for its made-from-scratch, buttermilk biscuits, invited the top 12 out of 4,500 Certified Biscuit Makers to its headquarters for a good, old-fashioned bake-off – the first time the chain has held this unique competition in three years. Restaurant leaders nominated the best bakers from both franchise and company-owned restaurants to compete for the title of Biscuit Maker Champion. 

On Thursday, March 19, the contestants matched up in the Bojangles test kitchen. Each was given the same area, ingredients and equipment to showcase their biscuit-making skills. The competition was timed – each contestant getting 10 minutes – and judged closely by trained officials on speed, efficiency and quality of the biscuits. The judges considered how closely the contestants followed the delicate, 49-step process, as well as the resulting biscuits, in their review. 

“At Bojangles, our biscuit makers go through a rigorous process to be the ones who bake our prized biscuits in the restaurants, so to be recognized as one of the top 12 across our 800-store footprint is pretty impressive,” said David Whitaker, chief operating officer for Bojangles. “This competition is truly a battle of the best – and it’s inspiring to see the love that goes into making every single scratch-made biscuit our fans know and love.” 

Family and friends gathered outside the kitchen windows to root for their baker. The 500+ biscuits made during the competition were shared with the crowd and donated to Roof Above, a local organization that provides street outreach, day services, emergency shelter, and permanent supportive housing in Charlotte.

The top three biscuit makers from both teams were crowned, with first place champions receiving $1,000 each, and all other finalists each winning $500. The contestants included: 

Company Restaurant Finalists Franchise Restaurant Finalists
1st – Will Smith (Charlotte, NC)  1st – Mary Thompson (Forest, VA) 
2nd – Madison Smith (Knoxville, TN)  2nd – Edith Chavez-Nava (Yadkinville, NC) 
3rd – Stephen Allen (Wilmington, NC)  3rd – Cornelius Smith (Myrtle Beach, SC)
        Giovanni Picciolo (Sanford, FL)         Lori Mahan (Lexington, NC)
        Jasmine Gray (Burlington, NC)         Breanna Naysmith (Knoxville, TN)
        Wes Clark (Boiling Springs, SC)
        Kayden Austin (Lithonia, GA)

 

The contestants traveled to Charlotte for the competition, where Bojangles treated them to two days’ worth of fun, including a team-bonding dinner, awards ceremony and luncheon. 

North Carolina’s First Citizen Bank Agrees To Buy Silicon Valley Bank for $16.5 Billion

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North Carolina’s First Citizen Bank Agrees To Buy Silicon Valley Bank for $16.5 Billion

In a significant move following the largest US banking collapse since Lehman Brothers, North Carolina’s First Citizens Bank & Trust Co. has agreed to acquire Silicon Valley Bank’s (SVB) deposits and loans in their entirety.

According to an official press release from the FDIC, “today’s transaction included the purchase of about $72 billion of Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, National Association’s assets at a discount of $16.5 billion. Approximately $90 billion in securities and other assets will remain in the receivership for disposition by the FDIC. In addition, the FDIC received equity appreciation rights in First Citizens BancShares, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina, common stock with a potential value of up to $500 million.”

The estimated cost of SVB’s failure to the Deposit Insurance Fund is around $20 billion, with the final cost determined upon the termination of the receivership.

The high-profile collapse of SVB, a prominent player in the tech and venture capital sector, occurred on March 10, marking the largest US bank failure since the global financial crisis.

The downfall was triggered by clients withdrawing billions from their accounts and a dramatic drop in the value of previously considered safe assets, such as US Treasury bills and government-backed mortgage securities. This came in response to the Federal Reserve’s aggressive interest rate hikes. Struggling to meet clients’ withdrawal demands and fund new lending, the bank unsuccessfully attempted to raise $2.25 billion.

The collapse of SVB sent shockwaves through global banks and was identified as a catalyst for Credit Suisse’s eventual downfall and emergency rescue by domestic rival UBS.

Despite the ensuing market volatility, many analysts argue that the unique flaws that left SVB and Credit Suisse vulnerable were not indicative of a broader market issue. Nevertheless, the loss of investor confidence has undoubtedly had a considerable impact on the financial landscape.

4 Scenarios Where Photographer Insurance Comes in Handy

Sharon Anderson
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4 Scenarios Where Photographer Insurance Comes in Handy

When you’re running a business as a photographer, it’s essential to ensure you have the right insurance to protect your investments and livelihood. Though many people think insurance is only necessary if something bad happens, having the right coverage in place can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re protected in any situation.

This blog post will look at four scenarios where photographer insurance comes in handy. Let’s dive in to learn more about how this insurance can benefit you.

What Is Photographer Insurance?

Before diving into the scenarios when photographer insurance is helpful, let’s briefly discuss what photographer insurance is and what types of coverage are available. Photographer insurance typically covers equipment damage, professional liability, injury protection, and business interruption for photographers. Photographer insurance also provides coverage for legal defense costs if someone sues you for negligence or copyright infringement related to your photography services. 

1 – Equipment Damage

If you’re a professional photographer, you need protection in place should something happen to your expensive equipment. The best way to do this is with photographer insurance, which not only helps cover lost or stolen items but can also come in handy when your camera or other tools get damaged.

Insurance for such events can mean that minor damage repair costs are covered, and lost income due to any repairs is also taken care of. This will provide you with peace of mind whenever disaster strikes.

2 – Professional Liability

If someone claims that they have suffered damages as a result of your work as a photographer—even if it wasn’t intentional—you could be sued for negligence or copyright infringement. Professional liability coverage can help defray the costs of legal defense fees should this happen.   Though this type of coverage isn’t required by law, it can be beneficial if worse comes to worst and there are legal repercussions from your photography services.      

3 – Injury Protection     

Another benefit of photographer insurance is injury protection—specifically, protecting yourself in case one of your employees gets injured while on the job or transporting equipment to a job site. This type of coverage typically includes medical expenses related to injuries sustained by employees while performing their duties as photographers for your business.     

4 – Business Interruption     

Lastly, photographer insurance also protects against unexpected disruptions due to circumstances outside of your control, like natural disasters or even pandemics, that may force businesses like yours to close temporarily or permanently due to a lack of resources (or customers). If this happens, business interruption coverage provided by an appropriate policy may offer some financial support until operations can resume normally.  

Invest In Photographer Insurance For Peace Of Mind

While no one likes thinking about worst-case scenarios when embarking on any new venture—especially one as creative and rewarding as being a professional photographer—it pays off big time to consider getting some form of photographer insurance just in case something goes wrong down the line. It could save you from financial ruin in an emergency and provide much-needed assurance knowing that no matter what life throws at you, you have someone looking out for you and your business.

Massive Solar Storm Produced Aurora Borealis Over North Carolina Mountains Last Night

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Massive Solar Storm Produced Aurora Borealis Over North Carolina Mountains Last Night

A major geomagnetic solar storm peaked late last night across most of North America. The storm was so strong that resulting Aurora Borealis was even seen as far south as the North Carolina mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway for one of the first times in years.

Here’s a stunning shot showing the Aurora in a pink hue over North Carolina mountains taken by Asheville photographer James O. Reynolds:

Although last night’s light show over Asheville didn’t compare to what those in more northern latitudes witnessed:

Have you ever seen the Aurora before?

Blue Star Blitz Festival and Races Returns To Fort Mill for 7th Year

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Blue Star Blitz Festival and Races Returns To Fort Mill for 7th Year

Soak up sunshine at Blue Star Blitz, a celebration of outdoor recreation. The annual festival at Fort Mill’s Anne Springs Close Greenway offers something for everyone. Trail runners may compete in the 5K or 10K, and mountain bikers, even youth riders, may register for the short-track MTB races. For less competition but equal excitement, register for the un-timed hiking challenge or the youth scavenger hunt.

For those not looking to register for active pursuits, Blue Star Blitz offers laid-back entertainment. Appreciate the fresh air and live music. Air Tropicali will perform at 10:30am, and U-Phonik will take the stage at 12:30pm. Bring a blanket or chairs to enjoy a picnic lunch from our food truck, and ages 21 and older may sample craft beer at tents and pour stations set up by local breweries. 

New this year is the Recover Closed Loop Tour. Bring old cotton or polyester tees to the Recover booth at the event. Recover will recycle them into new gear, and those opting to donate will be entered to win a free Recover product of their choice. The Greenway uses Recover race tee shirts for the Blue Star Blitz event, which are made from recycled materials. The Greenway loves being green!

Find the full schedule of events, pricing and list of participating breweries on the Greenway’s website here. Members and non-members are welcome to attend this event.

Cost of Living in Charlotte is 4% Lower Than National Average

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Cost of Living in Charlotte is 4% Lower Than National Average

When you’re considering a move to a new city, one of the first things you ask yourself is – how far will my money go?

Apartment List answers that question in a new report and interactive data tool examining differences in cost of living across the U.S. With this tool you can compare cost of living in many of the nation’s largest cities along six dimensions: housing, groceries, utilities, transportation, healthcare, and other miscellaneous goods & services.

Some highlights include:

  • The overall cost of living in Charlotte is 4% lower than the national average. This ranks 55th out of the 100 large cities included in the report.
  • Across the county, housing is by far the most impactful expense when it comes to overall cost of living. In Charlotte, housing costs are 13% lower than the national average.
  • As for the other cost of living components: when compared to the national average, groceries in Charlotte are 3% cheaper, transportation costs are 5% cheaper, health care is 12% more expensive, and utilities are 9% cheaper.

Here’s a comparison between New York (where many of transplants are coming from) and Charlotte:

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