Local News
Keep up-to-date on the latest news from Richmond County
Forest fire burns 100 acres on North-South Carolina state line
Written by William R. Toler
HAMLET― As planes circle overhead, crews from two states are working to contain a forest fire near the state line.
Unemployment benefits trickle out as ranks of jobless grow
Written by Lindsay Marchello - Carolina Journal News Service
RALEIGH — North Carolinians who have filed for unemployment insurance because of COVID-19 won’t see payments for at least two weeks, state officials said during a Friday, April 3 news conference. The head of the state’s employment office also said roughly 41,000 people have gotten payments.
Still no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Richmond County
Written by Press Release
ROCKINGHAM — As of 2 p.m., April 3, 2020, Richmond County does NOT have a case of COVID-19.
State law makes manicures, haircuts a crime, limits stylists’ options post-pandemic
Written by Kari Travis - Carolina Journal News Service
Editor’s note: Some names in this story have been changed to protect identities.
Jane, a Raleigh-based cosmetologist, wanted to keep working when her salon closed March 25. She didn’t know providing in-home manicures was illegal.
Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest temporarily closed to the public due to overcrowding during COVID-19 pandemic
Written by Press Release
RALEIGH — Effective at 5 p.m. Friday, April 3, Rendezvous Mountain Educational State Forest will be temporarily closed, restricting all public access until further notice.
IRS-Criminal Investigation warns of possible COVID-19/Economic Impact Payment scams
Written by Press Release
GREENSBORO — The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service will begin distributing COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments in the next few weeks. IRS–Criminal Investigation and the United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of North Carolina warns North Carolina taxpayers to be alert about possible scams relating to these payments as well as other malicious attempts to defraud people relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
State Health Plan will cover costs associated with COVID-19
Written by Julie Havlak - Carolina Journal News Service
RALEIGH — North Carolina teachers and other state employees won’t pay out-of-pocket for coronavirus treatments through June 1.
State officials not releasing unemployment payment data
Written by Don Carrington - Carolina Journal News Service
RALEIGH — A weekly report issued Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor says 73,597 North Carolina workers should receive unemployment insurance benefits for the week ending March 21.
Local musicians switch to online venues, raise money for out-of-work bar staff
Written by William R. Toler
ROCKINGHAM — With their venues being closed and audiences capped by government mandate during the COVID-19 pandemic, musicians are having to be creative.
Many have taken to what’s being called “quaranstreaming” — putting on live concerts from their homes via social media, including several who often perform in Richmond County, such as Mark McKinney and Company and Acoustic on the Rocks.
Higher ed leaders seek financial help, regulatory reform to tackle COVID-19 pandemic
Written by Lindsay Marchello - Carolina Journal News Service
RALEIGH — Money topped the list of needs from North Carolina’s institutions of higher education in a meeting Thursday, April 2, of the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Education Working Group.
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N.C. in dire need of protective gear to combat virus, health workers say
Written by Julie Havlak - Carolina Journal News Service
RALEIGH — Worries about the safety of health care workers and the shortage of protective gear dominated the second meeting of the House Select Committee on COVID-19 Health Care Working Group on Thursday, April 2.
Another COVID-19 case misidentified as Richmond County; 2 boards cancel meetings
Written by William R. Toler
ROCKINGHAM — Despite showing up on a map produced by the New York Times, Richmond County has yet to have a confirmed case of COVID-19.
Businesses may have trouble surviving COVID-19 recommendations
Written by Julie Havlak - Carolina Journal News Service
RALEIGH — North Carolina will have to ramp up its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic before thinking about restarting its economy, a roadmap by Scott Gottlieb warns.
NCDA&CS offers online resources and activates Agriculture Assistance hotline to answer ag community’s COVID-19-related questions
Written by Press Release
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers online resources for farmers, agribusiness operators and others who work in the agricultural industry to assist with COVID-19 concerns.
