What to know if you’re at risk of having your wages garnished over student loan debt

[caption id="attachment_13092" align="alignnone" width="980"] In this May 5, 2018, file photo, graduates at the University of Toledo commencement ceremony in Toledo, Ohio. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)[/caption] BY  CORA LEWIS NEW YORK (AP) - Millions of student borrowers could begin having their wages garnished as soon as this summer, according to estimates from credit bureau TransUnion. The company predicts that by August roughly 3 million borrowers could move into default, meaning they're

Will ‘The Power Bill Reduction Act’ Make Electric Bills In NC Go Up Or Go Down?

By Lisa Sorg  Inside Climate News Duke Energy can now backslide on its legally mandated carbon emissions reductions, offload a greater share of fuel costs to residential customers and charge ratepayers for financing costs of planned new power plants even if they're never built. On Tuesday the North Carolina House and Senate overrode Democratic Gov. Josh Stein's veto of Senate Bill 266, "The Power Bill Reduction Act." Stein vetoed the

NC House bill would allow fewer trips to the DMV

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2880"] NCDMV Office (photo from https://www.ncdot.gov/)[/caption] By Colin Campbell WUNC State lawmakers are trying to address long lines at the Division of Motor Vehicles by making it easier to renew driver's licenses online. DMV offices have been dealing with a surge in people trying to get a REAL ID under new federal requirements. Rep. Reece Pyrtle, R-Rockingham, says people who get their REAL ID shouldn't have to

Who Is Winning America’s Fight For Democracy?

By Dani Ross Special To The Carolinian This week in Texas, Democrats fled the state to force a pause in the redrawing of its voting maps. Many fled to Illinois where the governor promised protections as their governor promised prosecution. These are lawmakers. These are the people that were elected to represent the best interests of their citizens. In Colorado clerks are receiving requests for "official" government agents to gain

When Power Bills Go Up In North Carolina, Just Remember This Vote

By Will Scott  Environmental Defense Fund The North Carolina General Assembly's vote to override Governor Stein's veto of Senate Bill 266 is a major setback for North Carolina households, clean energy progress and climate leadership. Despite warnings from economists, energy experts and everyday residents, the General Assembly chose to make law a bill that will raise customer energy costs and shift billions in risk and cost from utilities and larger

Trump says he doesn’t trust the jobs data, but Wall Street and economists do

[caption id="attachment_13197" align="alignnone" width="1440"] (AP Photo / LM Otero)[/caption] WASHINGTON (AP) - The monthly jobs report is already closely-watched on Wall Street and in Washington but has taken on a new importance after President Donald Trump on Friday fired the official who oversees it. Trump claimed that June's employment figures were "RIGGED" to make him and other Republicans "look bad." Yet he provided no evidence and even the official Trump had appointed in his

Young Refugees Start Hot Meals Operation To Help Feed Public Housing Residents Displaced By Chantal

By Eli Chen WUNC On a blistering late July morning, about a dozen elementary and middle school-aged kids were busy washing and chopping vegetables at a farm southwest of Chapel Hill. As they rinsed water spinach and chopped shallots, squashes and a large water gourd, an adult supervising them, Hsar Ree Ree Wei, loudly directed volunteers to stir fry the vegetables and cook fried rice. The group is cooking meals

North Carolina lawmakers approve stopgap spending measure amid budget impasse

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina legislators gave final approval Wednesday to a stopgap spending measure to boost state government spending to prepare for fall classes, cover Medicaid expenses and continue construction projects while a Republican agreement on a comprehensive budget still remains distant. The GOP-controlled General Assembly took a break five weeks ago with House and Senate negotiators far apart on working out a two-year, $66 billion budget for

Homelessness Is On The Rise. Here’s How Mecklenburg County And Shelters Are Trying To Stem The Tide

By Elvis Menayese WFAE A recent Mecklenburg County survey found that more people are living on the streets now than at any time since 2010. In a story last week, we spoke to some of those people and covered the death of a man who was living on the streets until he was found dead in uptown. Here, WFAE looks at how the county and shelter programs are responding to

Garner’s First Champions: The Forgotten Story of the Undefeated Women’s Basketball Team of 1978

By: Jordan Meadows Staff Writer In 1978, a team of young women from Garner, North Carolina, accomplished what no one in their school had ever done before. Under the quiet but powerful leadership of Coach Lawrence L. Dunn, the Garner High School Women's Varsity Basketball Team went undefeated in the regular season, dominated the conference tournament, and captured the first state championship in the school's history-in any sport, men's or