Receive the morning news briefs delivered to your email inbox every morning. Click here to sign-up.
NC Health Officials Taking Over Mental Health Agency
North Carolina health department officials say they've taken over temporarily the leadership reins of a regional managed-care mental health agency after state reviews this year criticized its spending and executive pay habits.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced late Monday its actions involving Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Solutions, the largest of the state's seven such regional agencies.
Audits determined Cardinal spent excessively on salaries and severance for top executives, conferences and Christmas parties. The Cardinal board fired its CEO Richard Topping earlier this month. DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen says Cardinal now must repay to the state $3.8 million in severance to Topping and three other executives who also stepped down.
New Testing Brings Total Of GenX-Contaminated Wells To 85
North Carolina officials say tests have detected elevated levels of an unregulated compound at 34 additional wells near a chemical company's manufacturing facility.
The Fayetteville Observer reports the results announced Monday bring the total number of wells contaminated by the potentially harmful GenX compound to 85. The verified results from 107 tests conducted last month also found 48 wells with a level of the chemical below the state's health goal.
Traces of GenX also have found in two municipal wells used by the Bladen County water system, around 3 miles from The Chemours Co. plant.
The state is suspending Chemours' permit to discharge wastewater into a neighboring river on Nov. 30, after the Wilmington, Delaware-based company failed to report an October spill of a GenX precursor.
Duke Energy: Coal Ash Costs Like Tire Disposal
The country's largest electric company says charging North Carolina consumers the full, multi-billion-dollar cost of cleaning up coal ash dumps is comparable to tire stores charging customers an extra fee to dispose of an old set of radials.
Duke Energy Progress President David Fountain said Monday the Duke Energy Corp. subsidiary is simply passing along clean-up costs that regulators have dictated.
He spoke at the opening day of hearings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission on whether the company can raise power rates by an average 9.5 percent. Duke Energy Progress wants to charge North Carolina consumers an extra $305 million a year.
Lane Closures Begin On Business 40
The Business 40 improvement project continues this week in the Triad.
Construction on the Peters Creek Parkway section began last month, and will be completed by next fall. But inside lanes in both directions will be closed as workers begin constructing a new overpass there. It'll eventually replace the current bridge over Business 40.
While the distance of the lane closures will be relatively short, rush hour traffic delays are expected beginning Tuesday morning. They'll continue through mid-January.
North Carolina University Chancellor To Take Medical Leave
Western Carolina University Chancellor David Belcher says he is going on medical leave effective Dec. 31 because of his brain cancer.
Belcher has been battling brain cancer since April 2016, and he announced in August that it had returned. In a statement sent to the university on Monday, Belcher said the effects of his brain tumor have worsened and have impacted his speech and communication skills.
Also, Belcher said his medical team concluded that the latest treatment regimen isn't working as hoped.
UNC System President Margaret Spellings will appoint an acting chancellor.
Belcher became Western Carolina's chancellor on July 1, 2011.
300x250 Ad
300x250 Ad