"North Carolina families could face longer exposure to contaminated drinking water and power plant pollution as President Donald Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) weakens or delays federal safeguards, according to a new report."

"In Whitted, testing has confirmed the water is contaminated with arsenic and PFAS/PFOS. An effort to connect the residents to the local water system has moved slowly."

"Isaias strengthened into a Category 2 hurricane as it barreled toward the U.S. Gulf Coast on Thursday, prompting orders for tourists to abandon beaches for safer spots inland, sending locals scurrying for gas and groceries and leading fishing crews to secure their boats before the potentially destructive storm’s arrival."

"Isaias became a hurricane less than 20 hours after becoming a tropical storm. It's the first hurricane of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, and the ninth named storm of the season."

"A slate of projects aimed at preserving the future of the iconic Joshua tree has been scrapped after the Trump administration blocked more than $25 million in funding for national parks this year."

"Federal and state regulators in North Carolina propose a fix to repair damage caused by more than 50 years of toxic pollution from a pulp mill."

"Maymead, a company that plans to build a controversial asphalt plant south of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is suing a consulting firm and one of its former employees, alleging they committed fraud, civil conspiracy and deceptive trade practices in spearheading opposition to the project."

"Residents and environmental advocates are challenging a county’s handling of a proposed data center campus, citing concerns over public input, environmental impacts and electricity costs."

"The 255-MW plant in North Carolina was meant to help meet data center demand. Regulators took the rare step of rejecting the permit amid a growing national backlash."