Category Archives: Triangle/Local

Lantana: The sun-loving, pollinator-friendly powerhouse

Lantana: The sun-loving, pollinator-friendly powerhouse

I have grown to love lantana. I never really had anything against it. It’s just the fact I haven’t had a lot of sun areas in my landscape and lantana can take up a fair amount of room if it is happy. Most of North Carolina is hot throughout the summer and we certainly have drought periods. Lantana is made to order for these conditions. Lantana is in the verbena family and is sometimes called “shrub verbena.” It comes in various sizes from 1 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide according to my friends at the Cooperative Extension Service. It loves full sun, moist, but well-drained soil to fully perform. Lantana grows particularly well in the piedmont and thrives on the coastal plain and coast of North Carolina. It is even salt tolerant.… Continue Reading

Record-breaking heat wave scorches Southeast US

Record-breaking heat wave scorches Southeast US

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Residents in the Southeast U.S. are no strangers to hot weather in the summertime, but the sweltering heat this week set at least one record, and forecasters urged residents to limit being outside if possible and to hydrate. The all-time high temperature record at Tampa International Airport was broken on Sunday when the thermometer hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The previous record had been 99 degrees Fahrenheit set in June 2020. The National Weather Service said Tuesday that the prolonged heat wave was expected to peak in the southeast U.S. at mid-week.… Continue Reading

Wiley Nickel exits North Carolina Senate race the day after Roy Cooper announces candidacy

Wiley Nickel exits North Carolina Senate race the day after Roy Cooper announces candidacy

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel has decided to quit his bid for a Senate seat in North Carolina after Democrat Roy Cooper announced his candidacy. Nickel endorsed Cooper on Tuesday, citing leadership and inspiration by the former two-term governor. Cooper launched his campaign on Monday to succeed retiring Republican Sen. Thom Tillis. On the GOP side, Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley is expected to run with Donald Trump’s support. Nickel had formally launched a Senate campaign in April, but his activities were always overshadowed by what Cooper decided to do next. Nickel hinted at future political endeavors in his Tuesday statement.… Continue Reading

Heat advisories and warnings issued for Southeast and Midwest as temperatures and humidity soars

Heat advisories and warnings issued for Southeast and Midwest as temperatures and humidity soars

The National Weather Service has issued heat advisories for the southeastern United States. The advisories cover areas from central Florida to Virginia through the weekend. Temperatures are expected to reach the upper 90s, with heat indexes between 105 and 110. Extreme heat warnings are in effect for eastern North Carolina and parts of South Carolina. Forecasters warn of dangerously hot conditions, with temperatures approaching 100 degrees in parts of the Carolinas. Over 30 million people could be affected. The Midwest is also experiencing extreme heat, with watches in place for Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. Storms in Iowa have triggered flash flood warnings.… Continue Reading

Crocosmia: From Sweet Melissa’s grandparents to your garden

Crocosmia: From Sweet Melissa’s grandparents to your garden

We have enjoyed growing the very colorful Crocosmia-“montbretia” or “Coppertips”- a summer-blooming flower that reminds me of a miniature gladiola. Crocosmia grows from corms which are sort of like bulbs that store nutrients. Crocus, Dalias, Anemones, and Gladiolus do too. We have had them in our landscape for decades. This flower grew abundantly in Sweet Melissa’s grandparents’ landscape in Pittsboro and she transplanted a few bulbs to our yard. The few are now many. Melissa’s paternal grandparents, Marvin and Myrtle Reeves were special people. Everyone who knew them said so. That makes our crop of Crocosmia extra special.… Continue Reading

Lumbee tribe of North Carolina sees politics snarl recognition by Washington

Lumbee tribe of North Carolina sees politics snarl recognition by Washington

The Lumbee Tribe in North Carolina is pushing forward on its fight for federal recognition even as political roadblocks appear to snarl their efforts. President Donald Trump issued an executive order early in his term directing the Interior Department to create a recognition plan, but the Lumbee are still waiting for word. Federal recognition would grant the tribe access to health care, grants and land rights. Critics argue the Lumbee lack sufficient historical proof, while supporters say the formal process is too slow. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis introduced a bill for recognition but it’s up against federal spending cuts and political tensions.… Continue Reading

How to watch two meteor showers peak together in late July

How to watch two meteor showers peak together in late July

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s almost time to catch summer’s double meteor showers. The Southern Delta Aquariid and Alpha Capricornid meteor showers peak in the early morning of July 30. With minimal interference from moonlight, the meteors should appear bright and clear if viewed away from city lights. Each shower is expected to produce up to a dozen visible meteors per hour. The Alpha Capricornids may have tails that linger longer in the night sky. Viewing of each shower lasts through August 12. The next major meteor shower, the Perseids, will peak in mid-August.… Continue Reading

Livingstone student dragged from his car and punched by Florida officers says he was scared and confused

Livingstone student dragged from his car and punched by Florida officers says he was scared and confused

A Black college student is still recovering after being punched and dragged from his car by Florida law officers during a traffic stop. His lawyers said Wednesday that William McNeil Jr. suffered a concussion and a pierced lip. The encounter has sparked nationwide outrage. Footage shows McNeil asking to speak to a supervisor before officers broke his window and forcibly removed him from the vehicle. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is defending the officers, suggesting the video was shared to create division. Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump criticized the officers for escalating violence and called for accountability. The sheriff says the video lacks context.… Continue Reading

Black-Eyed Susan: A Cheerful Bloom From North Carolina to Norway

Black-Eyed Susan: A Cheerful Bloom From North Carolina to Norway

Black-eyed Susan may be native to North Carolina, but its golden blooms have found their way around the world—even to the hills of Norway, where I recently spotted them thriving among the snow-capped peaks. Hardy, cheerful, and largely unbothered by pests, this adaptable member of the sunflower family brightens up gardens from summer through fall. It’s beloved not just by gardeners, but by pollinators like bees and butterflies—and come autumn, even finches stop by for a snack. Whether you’re planting in clay or sand, sun or part shade, Black-eyed Susan earns its place with easy care and sunny disposition.… Continue Reading

North Carolina’s first standalone children’s hospital set to bring 8,000 jobs to Apex

North Carolina’s first standalone children’s hospital set to bring 8,000 jobs to Apex

APEX, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina’s first standalone children’s hospital will be built in a bedroom community of Raleigh. UNC Health and Duke Health announced the Apex location on Thursday. The announcement follows their January agreement to jointly develop the 500-bed pediatric hospital. The campus will also include outpatient care, over 100 behavioral health beds, and a research and education center. The project is expected to bring 8,000 jobs to the area and will be incorporated into a mixed-use development location. A campus construction groundbreaking is set to begin in 2027, with an estimated cost of $2 billion to $3 billion.… Continue Reading

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