Laurie A. Luebbert News

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New poll: 64% of voters say ‘U.S. is currently in a recession' as mortgage rates soar

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 30, 2022

The government might still be in a state of denial, but two out of three average American voters describe the economy as being in a recession.

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Cooper: 'A State of Emergency is needed' so North Carolinians can prepare for storm

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 29, 2022

Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) and state emergency management officials announced that North Carolina is now under a State of Emergency as Hurricane Ian approaches.

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Beasley opposes Graham's 15-week ban on abortion: 'It will cost North Carolina women their lives'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 23, 2022

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham’s (R-SC) recent bill is a proposal that would effectively ban abortions beyond the first 15 weeks of pregnancy, excluding cases of rape or incest, or those threatening the life of the mother.

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Smithfield resident concerned about 'people almost drowning because of the landslides' in Puerto Rico

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 22, 2022

Hurricane Fiona made landfall far away from North Carolina, but people in the Tar Heel State are worried about relatives who live in Puerto Rico.

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Opioid crisis worsens in North Carolina as rival cartels double down on distribution

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 21, 2022

The crisis at the Southern border of the U.S. continues to be driven by the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels, according to analysts and U.S. border officials, fueling an opioid crisis whose death toll is still climbing.

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N.C. income lower than US median, which has ‘remained roughly the same' in era of high inflation

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 20, 2022

If you wonder where that extra money that made up your last raise has gone, it’s not your imagination.

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Witness to massive truck fire under 1-95: ‘I’ve been deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and I have seen IEDs’

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 16, 2022

Interstate-95 northbound in Dunn, North Carolina, has reopened about a day after a truck fire and explosion shut down one of the main north-south routes on the East Coast.

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WSJ editorial board on Newsom's green energy plan: 'The culprit is the left’s climate policies, not climate change'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 15, 2022

As California continues its march toward green energy, the state’s policies, which might sound good in theory, could ultimately make life very uncomfortable for Americans, even those beyond the Golden State’s borders.

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Inflation 'eating up wage gains since April 2021,' N.C.'s average household income down by $2,847

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 13, 2022

With a -3.4% wage inflation for August 2022, North Carolina's average household income has seen a $2,847 year-over-year loss, bringing the state's current average household income down to $80,879 a year from $83,726.

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Victim-turned-activist in New Bern: ‘Just trying to bring awareness’ to problem that ‘rocked our world’

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 13, 2022

Brittany Cass nearly lost her life when she was hit by a drunk driver nine months ago; now, she is trying to end impaired driving.

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Biden administration: Loan forgiveness 'is paid for, and far more, by the deficit reduction' so far this year

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 12, 2022

The Biden administration has assured people that President Joe Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan won’t have any negative effect on their lives.

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Lankford calls bond reduction in fatal DWI case 'ridiculous'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 6, 2022

The reduction in the bond for a woman charged in a fatal DWI case in June from its original $500,000 has angered some who think $75,000 is too low given that Amber Whitaker is alleged to have killed an 8-year-old and injured three others.

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North Carolina college tuition, along with the rest of the country, sees 'a 173% increase in the last 40 years'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 6, 2022

Statistics show that the average annual rate of college tuition inflation is 8%, with the cost of public U.S. universities nearly tripling since 1980.

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Traveling artist on stolen goods: Trailer 'was there just hours before was gone'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Sep 1, 2022

A Georgia potter didn’t have an opportunity to sell his wares during Cary’s Lazy Daze Arts Festival this past weekend because thieves made off with his trailer full of pottery before he even got set up.

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Raleigh parent to drivers after car strikes child walking to school: ’Just slow down'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Aug 31, 2022

Parents and schoolchildren need to be aware that not all drivers take the extra care they should when they are near schools.

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Owner of vacant lot in Lillington has been charged for water, sewer services; 'I had zero water usage -- zero sewer usage'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Aug 30, 2022

When Melinda Berryman bought a vacant lot, she figured on paying property tax, but not other city services.

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Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation helps teachers, schoolchildren start year right

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Aug 27, 2022

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Public School Foundation made $45,000 in school supplies available free of charge this week for teachers to use throughout the year.

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WSJ editorial board calls Biden's student loan forgiveness 'an inflation expansion act'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Aug 25, 2022

As the national debt ticks upward, President Joe Biden keeps adding to it. And, his recently announced student loan forgiveness plan is the latest way he’s doing that.

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In NC, electric cars aren't suitable for long road trips due to charging logistics: 'I thought it would be fun'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Aug 24, 2022

When it comes to purchasing an electric vehicle (EV), Americans are mainly concerned about charging station logistics, as well as the limitations with travel range.

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Inflation costs families $26k more per child: 'This is Joe Biden's recession'

By Laurie A. Luebbert | Aug 23, 2022

The effects of inflation are far-reaching and go beyond such things as going to the grocery store or paying to heat your home. Longer term, parents can expect it to cost thousands more to raise a child.