VOLUME 10 ISSUE 2 | THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2025
NSJONLINE.COM
COURTESY WEAR BLUE
Wear Blue uses running to honor fallen service members and help their families heal from their loss.
Group brings together Gold Star families, running
the
BRIEF this week
Helene-affected N.C. highway reopens Waynesville A stretch of Interstate 40 through the western North Carolina mountains reopened to traffic last weekend, months after Hurricane Helene’s historic flooding collapsed portions of the road, partially restoring the major travel connection with eastern Tennessee. Flooding in the Pigeon River gorge in Haywood County washed away over 1 mile of I-40’s eastbound lanes in late September. Although usually a four-lane road, large portions of the section will operate for now with just one narrowed lane in each direction, with a 35-mph speed limit, according to the state Transportation Department. A concrete curb separates traffic, and periodic breaks provide access to emergency vehicles. The state had hoped to restore traffic on I-40 in early January, but that got delayed when more asphalt from eastbound lanes fell in mid-December.
Tariffs against Canada, Mexico go into effect Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump’s long-threatened tariffs against Canada and Mexico went into effect Tuesday, putting global markets on edge. Imports from Canada and Mexico will now be taxed at 25%, with Canadian energy products getting tariffed at 10%. In addition, the 10% tariff that Trump placed on Chinese imports in February is doubling to 20%. In response, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his country would slap tariffs on more than $100 billion of American goods over 21 days. Mexico and China didn’t immediately detail any retaliatory measures.
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Crews continue fighting wildfires across NC, SC Lighter winds have helped contain large blazes in Polk County and near Myrtle Beach
By Erik Verduzco The Associated Press MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Lighter winds Monday helped crews in South Carolina and North Carolina battle wildfires that caused evacuations and threatened hundreds of homes over the weekend. Officials said Tuesday
there were approximately 180 wildfires in North Carolina on Tuesday, fewer than the 200‑plus that were active the day before. Hundreds of firefighters across South Carolina managed to keep a large blaze in Horry County near Myrtle Beach from destroying any homes despite social media videos of orange skies at night and flames engulfing pine trees just yards away. Volunteers distributed cases of water and food to firefighters See FIRES, page A8
House bill would raise teacher pay $50K Starting teacher pay under H.B. 192
The legislation would also study school funding By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A bill filed in the North Carolina House seeks to raise teacher pay, bring back master’s degree pay and establish a study of school funding. House Bill 192, titled Raise Teacher Pay & Dollar Allot. Study, was filed Feb. 25 by Rep. Erin Paré (R-Wake). “Proud to file this bill today to raise starting salaries for our teachers to $50k, restore master’s pay, and study a dollar allotment system for pay so local districts have more flexibility to pay more
Children of fallen service members also receive mentoring By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A national nonprofit is bringing together families of fallen members of the military in an active way: running. The group, Wear Blue: run to remember, is engaging communities across the country and abroad to honor the fallen through running events. But Wear Blue offers much more through its Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program (GSYMP), which matches Gold Star and surviving children who have lost a parent or sibling in military service with an active-duty or recently transitioned service member mentor.
for hard to hire positions, for example,” said Paré in a post on X. She also thanked the other primary sponsors, Reps. Donny Lambeth (R-Forsyth), Tricia Cotham (R-Mecklenburg) and Mike Schietzelt (R-Wake). The legislation would implement a new monthly salary schedule for the 2025-26 fiscal year starting at $5,000 per month ($50,000 a year based on a 10-month pay rate) for beginning teachers. The current starting teacher salary is $41,000. The rate would increase based on years of experience up to $6,823 for those with 25 years or more of experience. The bill would also reinstate education-based salary supplements that had previously been eliminated, including a 12% supplement for National Board-certified teachers, 10% for those with master’s degrees and additional amounts for See BILL, page A3
“The Wear Blue Gold Star Youth Mentorship Program pairs children of fallen military service members with military-connected mentors, fostering a connection built on shared experiences and understanding,” Lisa Hallett, Wear Blue co-founder and executive director, said in a statement to North State Journal. “The program promotes healing, resilience, and personal growth through physical activity, meaningful relationships, and enduring remembrance.” GSYMP has received support from Boeing, The Bob Woodruff Foundation and The USAA Foundation. Hallett added, “Each step taken together is a tribute to the sacrifices made and a commitment to the future, ensuring that the children of our See GOLD STAR, page A2