BBB Shares Consumer Tips Ahead of Independence Day

RALEIGH, N.C. (July 2, 2024) - As we approach Independence Day, the Better Business Bureau serving Eastern Carolinas (BBB) wants you to be prepared for potential scams that could affect your celebration. "Travel, rental and online shopping scams are always prevalent in the summer," said Mallory Wojciechowski, president and CEO of BBB. "Being well informed on identifying fraud and scams is the best defense consumers have to keep their personal

Uncertainty Of Funding Once Again Risks Election Security

WASHINGTON - The federal government has sought to bolster election security for years through a popular grant program, but the wildly fluctuating funding levels have made it difficult for state officials to plan their budgets and their projects. Rising misinformation and disinformation about elections, often fueled by conspiracy theories, as well as threats against election workers, make the grants especially important, according to elections officials. But U.S. House Republicans are

Outrage After Letter Suggests HBCU Merger

By Cash Michaels Contributing writer Supporters and alumni of both Shaw University and St. Augustine's University (SAU) are alarmed about a June 17th letter to the "Falcon Nation" from Brian Boulware, Chairman of SAU's Board of Trustees, where he alleges the Raleigh business community is pressuring both historically Black universities to merge so that Shaw U's 28 acres in downtown Raleigh can be used for future commercial and residential development.

Florida A&M, a dubious donor and $237M: The transformative HBCU gift that wasn’t what it seemed

NEW YORK (AP) - It would have been the largest-ever private gift to a historically Black college or university: $237 million - far beyond the recipient's endowment. The money was promised by a 30-year-old who had recounted his rise from a childhood in foster care to becoming, as he put it, Texas' "youngest African American industrial hemp producer." And so, the first weekend of May, Florida A&M University celebrated Gregory

Yellen announces efforts to boost the housing supply as high prices create a crunch

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Biden administration is announcing new steps to increase access to affordable housing as still-high prices on groceries and other necessities and high interest rates have dramatically pushed up the cost of living in the post-pandemic years. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will promote the new investments on Monday during a visit to Minneapolis. The investments include providing $100 million through a new fund over the next three years to support affordable housing financing,

Innovative EV Charging Tech Company Selects Durham for its Global Headquarters

RALEIGH, N.C. - IONNA, LLC, an electric vehicle charging station developer, will create more than 200 jobs in Durham County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $10 million to establish its global headquarters in the City of Durham. "IONNA's decision to make Durham County its home validates our global reputation for the Electric Vehicle industry," said North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. "This cutting-edge company and

Family Dollar likely headed for divorce from owner Dollar Tree. What does it mean for NC?

Carolina Public Press  - As Dollar Tree looks for a buyer for the North Carolina-founded Family Dollar franchise, what comes next for shoppers relying on its cheap goods remains unclear. Based in the Charlotte area since Family Dollar's foundation in 1959, Virginia-based Dollar Tree purchased the chain in 2015 for $8.5 billion, then shuttered its North Carolina headquarters in 2018. Dollar Tree, which has struggled to incorporate Family Dollar into

Greater Focus On Crime, Juvenile Justice

STATELINE-For decades, state legislators and criminal justice advocates have worked to change the juvenile legal system, striving to expand access to rehabilitation and keep young people from returning to crime. During this year's legislative session, nearly every state has considered some form of juvenile justice legislation, according to a National Conference of State Legislatures database. These efforts across at least 43 states plus Washington, D.C., have seen varied levels of

The Long, Contentious Journey To The First Juneteenth

By Henry Louis Gains (The Root) "The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present

Protect Your Child From The Dangers Of Online Gaming And Social Media

According to research from the Entertainment Software Association, 70% of families have at least one child who plays video games. Mobile is becoming a critical segment of the game industry. NPD Group reports that 59% of U.S. gamers age 2+ play across devices, on dedicated gaming consoles, desktops, laptops or mobile devices. And 34% of gamers who play exclusively one system do so on a mobile device. While online gaming