North Carolina News Summary

North Carolina has launched a new disaster recovery program for rental properties affected by Hurricane Helene, aimed at assisting landlords and tenants in 29 western counties. According to WCNC Charlotte, the Small Rental Rehabilitation Program is part of the Renew NC initiative announced by Governor Josh Stein, who emphasized the need for affordable rental units for low- to moderate-income families.

In Cary, town manager Sean Stegall resigned amid financial transparency issues, with reports revealing questionable spending practices, including over $37,000 for a councilmember's tuition and a significant hotel bill for a conference, as reported by ABC11.

Meanwhile, Governor Stein announced $270 million in infrastructure investments from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to repair water systems in western North Carolina, highlighting the need for resilience against future flooding.

This funding will support 58 projects across 26 counties impacted by Hurricane Helene, according to the Carolina Journal. Finally, the North Carolina State Health Plan will increase premiums to address a deficit and shift focus to managing chronic diseases, affecting around 750,000 state employees and retirees, as reported by The Business North Carolina.