Enewsletters

Bidenflation

Inflation has reached a 40-year high, and it has increased every month of Joe Biden's presidency.  The consumer price index (CPI), a key inflation indicator, surged 7.5% over the past year, which is the highest reading since February 1982. 

I've also heard from many of our farmers in North Carolina who are feeling the squeeze of inflation with higher prices for fertilizer, seed, fuel, labor, and more.  This is a real problem not only for producers who are paying more than ever before to produce our food and fiber, but also for consumers who can expect grocery prices to increase even further in 2022.

Inflation fueled by Washington overspending – combined with the ongoing supply chain crisis – continues to hurt hard-working Americans.  I recently joined Southern Farm Network to discuss what needs to be done to get our country's economy back on track and more.  You can listen to my interview here.

ALERT: NC Updates K12 Mask Mandate Guidance

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) updated their K-12 school guidance to recommend school districts "consider moving to voluntary masking at the discretion of local authorities as universal masking is a less important tool in lower risk settings like schools." Masks will still be recommended following a COVID exposure.  This guidance is effective starting on March 7th.

I'm glad North Carolina is making this commonsense change to help our students return to normalcy in the classroom.

This Week's Feature Story

In remembrance of the EF-3 tornado that devastated portions of Brunswick County one year ago this past week, I would like to highlight the story of Phyllis O’Connor’s traveling quilts.  According to WECT, Phyllis O’Connor and her husband, Richard, were tragically killed in the storm which also scattered close to 30 handmade quilts she was storing at home that were set to be donated to charity.  Following the storm, "people far from Ocean Ridge have participated in the hunt for 28 handmade quilts scattered into the wind after the EF-3 tornado tore apart portions of Brunswick County. The quilts were handmade by members of the Ocean Ridge Quilting Club and were poised to be donated to the Rose House, a recovery center for women."  

"The quilting piece kind of became the positive side,” said Maggy Schlink of the Ocean Ridge Charities Association. “In every tragedy there is some kind of light — and so we try to focus on that to help people get through the tough times.”

This positive outlook on a tragic disaster is a true testament to the character of our community and the ability to come together in support of one another when times get tough.  I'm glad to see the recovered quilts will now have the chance to serve their original purpose as they are donated to the Rose House.

In Honor of President's Day... 

"Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." –  George Washington  in a letter to James Madison | Sunday, March 2, 1788