VOLUME 11 ISSUE 24 | THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2026
NSJONLINE.COM
PJ WARD-BROWN / NORTH STATE JOURNAL
The speaker speaks U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), right, joined Laurie Buckhout, who is running for North Carolina’s 1st Congressional District, at a campaign event Tuesday in Greenville.
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Helene camps cost $500K-plus daily after storm
BRIEF this week
House Ethics panel recommends censure of N.C.’s Edwards Washington, D.C. The House Ethics Committee recommended Monday that Rep. Chuck Edwards (R-N.C.) be censured after finding that he engaged in persistent unprofessional and inappropriate conduct toward two young female aides in his congressional office. A censure registers the House’s deep disapproval of a lawmaker’s conduct that does not meet the threshold for expulsion. Edwards, 65, has denied that any of his conduct was intended as a sexual or romantic advance, but the committee said his behavior would “lead a reasonable observer to interpret it as such.” It also described his actions as “beyond inappropriate.” The panel highlighted numerous examples of actions it considered improper, including Edwards providing the young women with lavish and recurrent gifts, making comments regarding their appearance and dress, inviting them to intimate dinners and vacations, and sending notes regarding his affection.
Iran, Oman working to reopen Strait of Hormuz Cairo Iran and Oman are inching toward a deal to reopen the disputed Strait of Hormuz and potentially help bring an end to the war. The emerging agreement calls for ships to enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, two regional officials told The Associated Press. Any deal, though, appears contingent on the United States lifting its blockade on Iran’s ports.
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An audit found $111 million was spent over seven months
Second wave of third-party mailers hits North Carolina Ready to Register’s second batch contains more errors, many sent to long-deceased individuals By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — A third party sending voter registration mailings has sent another round of faulty letters to North Carolina citizens. North State Journal (NSJ)
confirmed a second mid-July mailing from “Ready to Register” was again sent to deceased individuals in the state and included an outdated voter registration form. NSJ contacted the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), and a spokesperson said they were not yet aware of the new round of mailings. The first round of mailSee MAILERS, page A2
By Jessica Taylor For North State Journal RALEIGH — Operating costs of base camps set up in western North Carolina following Hurricane Helene reached more than half a million dollars each day, totaling over $111 million over seven months when facilities were operational, according to a new state audit. The camps were created to provide essential support such as shelter, food, water, showers, restrooms and laundry services. Additional support was given to disaster relief staff, utility crews, first responders and state employees. “These base camps were an essential service in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Helene,” NC State Auditor Dave Boliek said in a press release. “Now that we are in the long-term rebuilding phase of recovery, and knowing
Data center moratoriums spreading throughout NC “A lot of these data centers are coming into communities and not necessarily meeting people where they are.” Colton Overcash, Vertex Strategies founder
More than two dozen North Carolina counties and towns are blocking the facilities By A.P. Dillon North State Journal RALEIGH — As pushback over data center facilities has grown, so has the list of North Carolina counties and towns enacting moratoriums on the facilities. Based on public records, resolutions and official meetings, at least 11 counties and 17 towns have enacted a moratorium, typically one year in length. Other activities include Lee County and Sanford add-
ing specific data center regulations to their Unified Development Ordinances in April instead of a full or temporary moratorium. Other jurisdictions, such as Weaverville, have adopted zoning provisions classifying data centers/crypto mining as restricted uses. Stokes County approved a project amid opposition and a lawsuit, while Vance and Edgecombe counties have considered proposals but have not enacted moratoriums. Campaigns to get moratoriums deployed in North Carolina have included environmental advocacy and citizen-led groups, but notably the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL). See DATA CENTER, page A3
that future emergencies will strike, it is essential that we, as a state, have discussions on associated costs. “$111 million is no small total, and the absence of key metrics raises a clear need to assess how these camps are utilized and consider the full return on the expense.” The rapid response special report of the 55 base camps found the daily costs to equate to roughly $516,000, with total costs amounting to $111.06 million between Sept. 27, 2024, and April 30, 2025. A one-night stay in a single bed cost roughly $800, with individual meals costing about $41.67. North Carolina Emergency Management (NCEM) was charged $85 an hour for general staff and $12,100 for site coordinators each week. According to NCEM, base camp costs were determined by preexisting disaster contracts and the urgency of deployment. Camps were set up in conjunction with disaster See HELENE, page A3