Motorcycle Accident Injury Attorneys in Durham, NC

One of the world’s largest aviation engine makers has for the second time in the past 12 months committed to spend tens of millions of dollars in North Carolina.

On Wednesday, GE Aerospace announced it will invest $100 million at its four North Carolina sites — in Wilmington, Durham, the Ashe County town of West Jefferson, and Asheville — as part of the company’s plan to hire 5,000 U.S. workers and spend close to $1 billion across 16 states this year.

This money is in addition to the $46 million GE Aerospace pledged to invest in its four North Carolina locations last April.

Based in Ohio, GE Aerospace is the official successor of General Electric, the 133-year-old conglomerate that recently split into three separate public companies around aviation, health care and energy. Previously named GE Aviation, the engine manufacturer opened its Bull City site near Research Triangle Park in 1993.

This week’s separate $100 million pledge includes $52 million for the GE plant in Wilmington and $16 million in Durham to support production of the company’s commercial LEAP engine, which is used by Airbus and Boeing. The company says its Durham facility spans 500,000 square feet and employs nearly 400 workers.

The company now has close to 2,000 employees statewide, a spokesperson told The News & Observer, with more than 20 current open positions.

“This investment means that North Carolina will have just as big of a role to play in the future of flight as it did in its creation,” GE Durham plant leader Kristen Neubauer said in a statement referencing the state’s role in the first Wright Brother’s flight.

General Electric is among the four manufacturers who dominate the global aircraft engine market, along with Rolls-Royce, CFM International, and Pratt & Whitney.

On Wednesday, the White House mentioned the latest GE Aerospace news in a statement championing President Donald Trump’s domestic economic policies. Last April, GE Aerospace committed to invest $650 million in facilities worldwide — including around $450 million in 14 U.S. states — under then-President Joe Biden.

Most of the flash flooding that occurred in the afternoon receded by the evening hours.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- A busy day of weather as heavy rain and thunderstorms battered parts of Wake and Durham Counties on Sunday..

In Western Wake County near Highway 540, heavy rain fell off-and-on through much of the evening hours.

Those wet conditions created issues on Triangle roadways, where cleanup crews could be seen clearing storm drains along Atlantic Avenue in Raleigh, a low-lying part of the city known to flood due to its proximity to Crabtree Creek.

Most of the flash flooding that occurred in the afternoon receded by the evening hours.

There is a tornado watch in effect until 1:00 a.m. for most of central North Carolina.

In Western North Carolina, the strong line of storms turned deadly when a tree was toppled in the high winds, splitting a single-wide trailer in half, killing two children. No injuries were reported from the storms in the Triangle.

SEE ALSO | Tornado Watch vs Tornado Warning: What they mean during severe weather

Lows will only drop into the low 50s tonight. A secondary cold front will pass through late Sunday, keeping things cool on Monday.

A breezy north wind and cloud cover will keep highs Monday in the low 60s.

The cold front will move through the region late Sunday, bringing cooler, drier air as we head into the first day of Spring on Thursday, Mar. 20.

See latest weather alerts here

SEE ALSO | Dozens dead as massive storm brings tornadoes, wildfires, blinding dust across US

Around the Carolinas

There is severe weather damage in Perquimans County, which is near Elizabeth City.

It happened around 3 a.m. at Longview Estates during a Tornado Warning.

At least three people were hurt and seven mobile homes were flattened.

The National Weather Service is on the way to determine if this was the result of a tornado.

Looking Ahead

High pressure will move in on Tuesday, bringing back the sunshine. Highs will be warmer, around 70 degrees, during the afternoon.

Another storm will begin swinging across the central US on Wednesday.

This storm system will swing another cold front through our area on Thursday. Highs will be cut short from their potential during the afternoon, likely only reaching into the low 70s before the front crosses and cools things off once more. There could be a few showers on Thursday afternoon as the front moves in.

Friday is cooler behind the front with highs around 60 degrees. Next weekend looks great, as of now.

Saturday will feature partly cloudy skies and highs in the upper 60s. Sunday is also partly cloudy but highs will rise into the lower 70s.

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Wake Forest, NC (March 15, 2025) – A motor vehicle collision with injuries occurred on Saturday evening at the intersection of Durham Rd and Capital Blvd. The incident took place at approximately 6:27 p.m., prompting a swift response from local emergency services.

Emergency responders from the Wake Forest Fire Department arrived promptly at the scene to assess and treat individuals injured in the crash. The exact number of vehicles involved and the severity of injuries sustained have not been disclosed at this time. Authorities are actively investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision. Traffic disruptions were reported in the area as emergency crews worked to manage the scene and clear the roadway. Motorists were advised to seek alternative routes to avoid delays.

Our thoughts are with those affected by this incident as they recover from their injuries.

Car Accidents in North Carolina

Car accidents are a significant concern in North Carolina, with intersections like Durham Rd and Capital Blvd in Wake Forest being particularly susceptible due to high traffic volumes and complex traffic patterns. The state's Department of Transportation reports that intersections are common sites for collisions, often resulting from factors such as distracted driving, speeding, or failure to yield.

In the aftermath of such accidents, victims may face physical injuries, emotional distress, and financial burdens, including medical expenses and lost wages. It's crucial for those involved to seek immediate medical attention, even if injuries seem minor, as some conditions may not present symptoms immediately. Additionally, documenting the accident scene and consulting with legal professionals can aid in recovery and ensure that victims receive appropriate support and compensation.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a vehicle collision, reaching out to Local Accident Reports can provide assistance and guidance during this challenging time.

Being injured in an accident can be an extremely disruptive, frightening, confusing, and overwhelming time in a person's life. Having a source of support to help navigate the complexities of the legal system and obtain justice is crucial. Local Accident Reports provides victims with the resources they need to move forward and secure the justice they deserve.

If you or someone you love has been injured in a preventable accident, contact Local Accident Reports to be connected with a skilled accident attorney in your area who can answer your questions and provide legal guidance.

The clocks sprang forward last weekend and North Carolina is leaping right into pollen season.

The state Department of Environmental Quality, which measures the amount of pollen in the air, says numbers have been rising for tree pollen already, and grass and weed pollen are coming.

The state operates a pollen sampler on Reedy Creek Road in Raleigh from late February to mid-November.

Samples are collected Monday through Friday except for holidays, the state says, and pollen reports are issued based on the previous 24 hours. The sampling device, mounted on the roof of the Nature Research Center, is a rod coated in grease that catches airborne pollen for one minute every 10 minutes. Analysts look at the samples under a microscope and issue a report on the amount of tree, grass and weed pollen found on the collecting rod.

Thursday’s pollen report shows high levels of tree pollen, with low grass and weed pollen levels.

Dr. Robert Bardon, associate dean of extension and a professor of Forestry & Environmental Resources at N.C. State University, has developed a formula for predicting when Raleigh’s trees begin to release their magic dust.

Starting Feb. 1, every day the high temperature exceeds 55 degrees, the excess is added to a running total. At around 300, Bardon says, pollen starts to fall. At 636 excess degrees, tree pollen production peaks. Last year, that happened the first week of April. Three days to a week later, it’s over.

Using his formula, pollen began dropping Wednesday, March 12.

As of Thursday, March 13, the state said, juniper, cedar, cypress, elm and oak trees are contributing the most pollen.

All but the cypress are listed by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America as among the trees that cause the most allergy symptoms.

▪ Pine tree pollen — the one that covers everything in a crunchy coating of bright greenish-yellow — typically is the worst in North Carolina in April. Pine pollen tends to be thickest in the early mornings on warm, dry, breezy days, NCSU says. On those days, it looks like yellow smoke and feels like a sandstorm.

▪ Grass pollen has been up and down in March already, but usually peaks in April.

▪ Weed pollen usually peaks in summer, except for ragweed pollen, which is the most dense in fall.

Researchers at NCSU have said that climate change is causing plants to produce higher concentrations of pollen for longer periods than in the past, meaning allergy sufferers have more symptoms.

Pollen production varies based on temperature, geographic location and plant type

Kelly Oten, an assistant professor and extension specialist at NCSU’s College of Natural Resources, said in 2023: “Warmer spring temperatures cause plants to respond sooner, therefore causing the pollen season to start sooner. Meanwhile, warmer fall temperatures elongate the growing season, causing the pollen season to last longer.”

Compared to 30 years ago, Oten said, pollen season is about a month longer now.

This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 9:11 AM.

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- Ava Grace Cummings is still on cloud nine after placing 2nd in the 2025 Regeneron Science Talent Search. The Johnston County teenager is a senior at the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham.

"I was kind of shocked. I was stunned. I wasn't expecting to get top 10 at all," she said.

She centered her research for this national science contest around Native American myopathy, which is also known as stac3, which is a muscle disorder. Cummings tested adult flies and larvae and found that combining the experimental drug Tirasemtiv and a common nettle herb improved movement.

"Just bringing more resources and more advocacy and more awareness to medicine within these areas. I was able to contribute to that by looking at this disease that's specific to my tribe and also using our traditional practices and finding a solution," said Cummings.

She was taught to take pride in her culture and is a member of both the Lumbee and Coharie tribes.

"One of the approaches I used in my project was bridging western medicine and also traditional indigenous practices," she said.

Cummings draws inspiration from both her parents. Her mother is into herbal remedies, including making elderberry syrup at home.

"What I have often told my children is the creator has given us everything to survive and sustain. You just have to know what is good for what," said Synora Cummings, Ava's mother.

Jason Cummings is Ava's father and he works as an engineer.

"Those roadblocks of segregated schools and not being able to get the best education are not there anymore. We can go get the best education in the world," he said.

Ava's love for science started in first grade as she competed in many science fairs over the years. When she's not researching, she enjoys playing the piano. Cummings is the oldest of three children and plans to graduate in May from high school.

The $175,000 she won from the Regeneron Science Talent Search will go towards her college tuition. She was accepted into Yale University and has high hopes of majoring in bio-medical engineering. Cummings hopes to one day advocate for healthcare access and medicine.

"In underserved and rural communities including the Lumbee Tribe and my people. I definitely want to be able to work with them in the future," she said.

Regeneron Science Talent Search is produced by the Society for Science. Maya Ajmera, CEO of the Society for Science, is a Raleigh native.

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