Will Michaels

NC Military Bases Brace For Teacher Furloughs

Will Michaels — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:04:23 +0000

Teachers at North Carolina's military bases are preparing for up to five furlough days due to cuts from the sequester.

The Department of Defense says instructors and other nine-month employees can expect mandatory days off after the next school year starts. Marilee Fitzgerald is the director of the Department of Defense Education Activity, which oversees schools at military bases.

Changes At Duke Energy Substations Crack Down On Copper Thieves

Will Michaels — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:10:08 +0000

Duke Energy Progress has completed upgrades to substations in Durham and Greensboro designed to cut down on copper thefts.

The company has changed the wire it uses, added security cameras and installed more lighting to keep thieves away. Authorities have reported frequent copper thefts from the Parkwood Tie Station in Durham and the Main Substation in Greensboro. The metal goes for nearly $3.00 a pound in resale.

NC Farmers Wait For Details Of Federal Farm Bill

Will Michaels — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:31:52 +0000

Farmers in North Carolina and around the country are keeping their eyes on Washington, where Congress is crafting a new Farm Bill.

The Senate's version cuts more than $2 billion in agricultural spending per year, but includes about $100 billion in subsides over the next five years. President Obama has asked Senators to find more ways to save money, including cuts to a farm insurance program.

UNC Researchers Map American Eating Habits

Will Michaels — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:55:23 +0000

Researchers at UNC-Chapel Hill are gathering massive amounts of nutritional information to create a better picture of what Americans are eating.

Scientists are looking at caloric data for every packaged food on the shelves and comparing that to food sales in order to see how they work into Americans' diets. Professor Meghan Slining says the research will show how quickly manufacturers change ingredients in each product and how that changes nutrition.

Shearon Harris Shutdown Likely To Come Up At Annual Assessment

Will Michaels — Mon, 20 May 2013 11:49:07 +0000

An annual public meeting about the Shearon Harris nuclear power plant will likely raise questions about the recent decision to shut down the reactor.

NC Rep. Jones Calls For US To Stop Funding Afghanistan

Will Michaels — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:35:23 +0000

North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones is among those calling for an end to U.S. spending in Afghanistan.

Duke Study Shows No Contamination Near Fracking Wells In Arkansas

Will Michaels — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:31:36 +0000

New tests near hydraulic fracturing sites in Arkansas show no evidence of methane leaking into groundwater supplies. A study released Wednesday from Duke University found no negative effects on drinking water near fracking operations.

Aquatic Plant Pest Spreads To Eastern NC

Will Michaels — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:06:22 +0000

An invasive plant called hydrilla is spreading from the Piedmont toward lakes near the coast.

Biologists say the aquatic weed first found in Wake County is now on river banks in northeastern North Carolina and in lakes near Wilmington. Dr. Rob Richardson is a crop science professor at N.C. State University. He says the plant grows in thick patches, which can cause problems in drinking water supplies.

"Large mats have, at times, clogged turbines," says Richardson.

NC State Uses Herbs And Spices To Clean Produce

Will Michaels — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:00:00 +0000

Researchers at N.C. State say oils extracted from herbs and spices could act as a natural disinfectant for fruits and vegetables.

A joint project with the University of Tennessee aims to find an alternative to chlorine used on produce grown for mass consumption. Dr. Penelope Perkins-Veazie is a horticultural science professor at N.C. State's research campus in Kannapolis. She says pungent spices tend to be best at fighting harmful germs.

"They have a very distinct odor, like cinnamon, for instance," Perkins-Veazie says.

Duke Identifies Shortcomings In HIV Vaccine

Will Michaels — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:29:39 +0000

Researchers at Duke University are using a flaw in an HIV vaccine in order to develop new formulas to fight off the virus.