Latest news with #HeleneRecovery
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC Senate, after monthlong pause, passes billions in Helene aid — without business grants
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contractors sort debris pulled from the bottom of Lake Lure in Rutherford County, North Carolina on April 14, 2025. Vegetative and man-made debris was washed into Lake Lure after Hurricane Helene devastated the region. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo by Michael Davis) North Carolina senators approved a massive hurricane relief package Monday, thawing out a bill that had been frozen for a month and passing it with major changes. Senate Republicans' proposed aid for western North Carolina lays out vastly more money than the bill passed by the House in May — around $2.46 billion in total. And it makes changes to several major line-items in the House version's, which totaled $464 million. Among the most notable changes: the removal of a $60 million grant program for small businesses, a longtime request as many storefronts struggle to reopen due to flooding and lost tourism. In the new bill, $700 million in spending is sent to the state's Helene recovery fund. Of that money, $465 million is appropriated, leaving the rest for future aid. The remaining money includes federal funding and money to qualify municipalities for competitive grants, among other purposes, according to Fiscal Research Division staff at the General Assembly. Lawmakers have redirected more than half a billion dollars from local aid, road repairs and other state programs toward Helene relief. House lawmakers and advocates in the region have for weeks requested that the Senate take up the bill and pass it, as the mountains continue to recover from Helene. The aid package sat in committee for a month as leaders in the House and Senate negotiated the state budget; they have yet to come to an agreement. On Monday, they got their wish, as Senate Republicans fast-tracked it through committee and onto the floor. The aid package passed in a unanimous vote. But the removal of business grants, as well as an array of other differences, will spark frustration — and could lead to even further delay. 'This allows us — on transportation funds, on private roads and bridges — to address some of those issues,' Sen. Ralph Hise (R-Mitchell) said. Senate Democrats said they had reservations about the changes to the House's bill, which received unanimous support. And they were dubious that House Republicans would agree to the Senate's changes. 'I certainly don't think the House is going to concur with them, because they haven't been pre-negotiated with the House,' said Sen. Graig Meyer (D-Orange) in an interview. 'They've basically admitted that.' If the bill clears the Senate this week, it will return to the House, who must agree to the changes to send it to Gov. Josh Stein's desk. Both chambers will debate a flurry of legislation this week in what is widely viewed as a final push before they leave Raleigh for weeks. Hise, asked by reporters Monday about why the Senate had removed money for small business grants, cited the state's 'emoluments clause.' The North Carolina constitution declares that 'no person … is entitled to exclusive or separate emoluments or privileges from the community but in consideration of public services.' Hise argues that includes a grant program, in which the state would select specific businesses to receive money, falls under that umbrella. 'We have not found a way to successfully get around that concept,' Hise said. He said he planned to bring forward a constitutional amendment on the matter, which would require approval from the legislature and a majority of voters. It's unclear what that timeline would look like. Senate Democratic leader Sydney Batch (D-Wake) said in an interview that if Republicans 'were that concerned,' they should have discussed the issue with the House 'instead of just jettisoning the entire bill.' 'This is literally playing with our western North Carolinian neighbors' lives and livelihoods and welfare,' Batch said. 'Only to get political chips and negotiations while we go into a budget debate.' Past legal analyses of the state's emoluments clause have come to different conclusions than Hise. The North Carolina attorney general's office under Mike Easley, a Democrat, wrote in a 1999 opinion to legislative leaders that natural disaster grant programs for farmers, homeowners and small businesses would benefit 'the public good.' And a 2019 legal review from UNC professor John Orth found that 'emoluments … may include benefits or privileges granted in consideration of public services more generally.' One western Democrat, during floor debate Monday, pointed out that one private business in the region — the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad — was set to receive money in the same bill. 'That is something this body has refused to do since last October,' said Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe).
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Spartanburg Co. shares new Helene recovery data
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – The Spartanburg County Emergency Management is asking residents what the community needs to recover from Hurricane Helene. Emergency Management shared in a media release that newly updated Helene data revealed many members of the community still have a lot of unmet needs. Data from the agency revealed that, as of June 2025, more than 500 properties in Spartanburg County have still not recovered from Helene. These unmet needs can range from tree damage to shorted HVAC systems, but data further shows that a majority of community needs focus on debris assistance and home damage. A majority of people seeking aid are also over the age of 65. 'At this time, there are more unmet needs than resources,' said Emergency Management. To help address community needs, Emergency Management established a new Long Term Recovery Group that is dedicated to Helene Recovery. The group has officially partnered with the Spartanburg County Foundation, United Way and others. For anyone still requiring assistance from Hurricane Helene, Emergency Management asked that they provide information regarding their needs. Spartanburg residents can find the link to share their needs here. Emergency Management asks county members to donate or volunteer with a local non-profit, such as Rebuilding Together, Eight Days of Hope, Team Rubicon and more, if in a well enough position to assist their community. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gov. Stein signed a $524 million Helene relief package. Where is the money going?
RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The first bill Josh Stein signed into law as North Carolina governor was a Hurricane Helene relief package worth more than $500 million. The package was about half of what Stein originally requested from state lawmakers, but those legislators promised more help is on the way. 'This bill shows that when we work together, we can get really good things done for the people of this state,' said Stein during a bill signing ceremony in Raleigh on Wednesday night. Gov. Josh Stein shares his vision for NC with inaugural State of the State address The biggest portion will go to farmers, $200 million to cover crop losses. $120 million will help pay for a home reconstruction and repair program while $20 million will be used to pay for debris clean up. $9 million will be used to pay for a learning program to make up lost schooling time for students in western North Carolina. Remaining dollars will go toward helping people get rehoused after being displaced by previous storms in eastern North Carolina. House Speaker Destin Hall said the General Assembly is already planning to pass another relief package. 'This is the fourth bill we've passed on Helene Recovery,' Hall explained. 'It's not the last one, passing this today, it's going into law. Tomorrow we'll begin working on the next round of relief for Helene because it's going to be a long recovery with incredible devastation in western North Carolina.' NC Senate passes bill easing concealed carry gun restrictions Western NC is also still waiting on federal aid which will cover the lion's share of recovery costs. Stein said he continues to work with the state's DC delegation to get money to the state. 'It's really complicated because the federal government has appropriated funds but it hasn't allocated funds and even when it has allocated funds, it has not distributed the funds,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
NC House passes $500 million Helene Relief Bill
RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCT) — The North Carolina House of Representatives passed House Bill 47, known as the 'Disaster Recovery Act of 2025,' with strong support Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. House Bill 47 allocates $500 million for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina, bringing total relief funding from the General Assembly to more than $1.1 billion. Key funding provisions include: $140 million for rebuilding and repairing homes $150 million to assist farmers and restore farmland $100 million for repairing private roads and bridges $55 million for small business infrastructure grants $20 million to remove millions of cubic yards of debris $10 million to support essential volunteer organizations $10 million for volunteer fire departments $10 million for rental assistance $5 million for travel and tourism marketing 'Ensuring Western North Carolina recovers swiftly and responsibly remains our top priority in the House. For that reason, House Bill 47 is the first legislation voted on and approved this session,' Speaker Destin Hall said. 'I am proud of the work the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery, our Western NC delegation and others accomplished to pass this crucial legislation, and I'm encouraged by the overwhelming support it received today.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Part of I-40 in western NC to open by March; more federal support for Helene Recovery
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WNCN) — On Monday, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein announced that Interstate 40 in the western part of the state will reopen two lanes by March 1. This announcement comes after a visit by the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy surveyed Helene Recovery in the area. 'Today, I am pleased to announce that we will reopen two lanes of I-40 by March 1,' Governor Stein said in the statement, 'I am proud of NCDOT's focus on this challenge and the roadworkers who have worked tirelessly to reopen roads and keep people safe. Reopening these lanes will help reconnect North Carolina and Tennessee and allow us to welcome back visitors to bolster the economy.' During Secretary Duffy's visit, he announced that the USDOT and U.S. Forest Services have partnered their efforts to help USDOT obtain a 'special use' permit to use rock from Forest Service land to extract materials. This partnership will allow the N.C. Department of Transportation to get construction materials from nearby rivers in western N.C. instead of transporting them from 20 to 50 miles away. This permit is a commonsense solution to reduce the time it would take to rebuild the highway and significantly cut down on costs 'President Trump directed me to build infrastructure faster, better, and more affordably,' said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. 'That is why, when we recently identified a path to reduce I-40's construction costs and timeline by as much as two-thirds of the original Biden-era estimate, I immediately asked my team what we could do to help. Today's announcement will help ensure we deliver this critical project more efficiently for the American people. Too often, the federal government creates obstacles that slow recovery and drive up costs. This time, we're cutting through those burdensome barriers to get the job done, ensuring USDOT's full support for our state partner's success every step of the way throughout this project.' The federal government will continue to work alongside state and local officials to provide resources and aid to help the western N.C. community recover. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
