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North Carolina's Outer Banks Reopen To Visitors
North Carolina's Outer Banks have reopened to tourists after Hurricane Maria brushed past the barrier islands and caused some coastal flooding.
Hyde County spokesman Donnie Shumate said in a statement that Ocracoke Island's evacuation order was lifted at 9:30 a.m. Thursday. Hatteras Island reopened Thursday afternoon.
Ferries to Ocracoke from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter are back in service.
Some 10,000 people were ordered off the islands as Maria churned offshore.
The storm pushed water onto the narrow islands from both the Atlantic and the Pamlico Sound, flooding side streets and several stretches of the main highway.
FedEx To Add 800 Seasonal Positions In Greensboro
FedEx plans to hire 800 seasonal workers in Greensboro.
According to The Winston-Salem Journal, the company said in a release that the jobs include package handlers and other support positions.
FedEx expects to add more than 50,000 seasonal positions throughout its network to help with holiday packages.
The company says the majority of workers will be added as seasonal package handlers at FedEx Ground facilities, but that there will be other employment opportunities during the holiday season and throughout the year.
NC Legislators Mull What To Do About Chemicals In Rivers
North Carolina legislators are grappling with the growing knowledge that industries have discharged unstudied chemicals into the state's waters for years.
A special state House committee on Thursday heard from health and environmental experts about the unregulated chemical GenX in the drinking water for more than 200,000 people in and around Wilmington.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Zack Moore says the compound made at The Chemours Co.'s Bladen County plant might be hazardous to humans, but there's been too little research to know for sure.
Disabled Vet To Continue Staying At VA Center After Protest
A North Carolina veteran who camped out in the lobby of a Veterans Administration center after he was discharged against his wishes will be allowed to stay after the facility reversed its decision.
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports VA spokeswoman Sharonda Pearson announced Wednesday that James Donald Francis will be allowed to move back into the Durham Veterans Administration Medical Center's Community Living Center as the hospital searches for a "suitable solution."
The 69-year-old Francis is an Army veteran who lost his legs to Agent Orange-related diabetes contracted in Vietnam. For more than three years, Pearson had been living at the hospital, where he undergoes dialysis treatment, until he found his door locked Monday. Pearson says Francis no longer met the medical criteria for acute in-patient care.
Earls Of Leicester Get Third Top Award At Bluegrass Awards
The Grammy-winning Earls of Leicester took home their third entertainer of the year award in a row at the International Bluegrass Music Awards while the band Volume Five won emerging artist of the year and song of the year for their song "I Am a Drifter."
The awards were given out Thursday in Raleigh.
Flatt Lonesome got its second win in a row for vocal group of the year, while Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper won for the fourth time as instrumental group of the year.
Balsam Range won album of the year, Brooke Aldridge won female vocalist of the year and Shawn Camp won male vocalist of the year. Molly Tuttle became the first ever woman to be named guitar player of the year.