Repeated flooding leaves small North Carolina town looking for answers about its future

Nov 6, 2018
The Atlantic hurricane season officially has a few more weeks to go, but already this year has been deadly and destructive. The mainland U.S. took a hit from Hurricane Michael in October and Hurricane Florence the month before. Florence devastated many parts of North Carolina, including areas far from the coast. For many small communities, […]
A roadway is flooded by remnants of Hurricane Matthew on Oct. 11, 2016 in Fair Bluff, North Carolina. The town was devastated again by Hurricane Florence in 2018. 

Weather and trade tensions worry tobacco farmers

Oct 23, 2018
Farmers in North Carolina face losses from recent storms and Chinese tariffs.
A tobacco field in North Carolina. China is the largest consumer of the state’s tobacco.
Travis HEYING/AFP/Getty Images

Weather and trade tensions worry tobacco farmers

Oct 23, 2018
Farmers in North Carolina face losses from recent storms and Chinese tariffs.
A tobacco field in North Carolina. China is the largest consumer of the state’s tobacco.
Travis HEYING/AFP/Getty Images

Strong demand for cleanup crews in North Carolina

Oct 18, 2018
After recent storms, residents are still struggling to get back to normal amid mountains of debris.
“This is heart wrenching, you know?” says Randy Campbell, who with his crew clears debris after disasters. “We just come in and help clean it up and make some money doing it.”
Andy Uhler/Marketplace

Strong demand for cleanup crews in North Carolina

Oct 18, 2018
After recent storms, residents are still struggling to get back to normal amid mountains of debris.
“This is heart wrenching, you know?” says Randy Campbell, who with his crew clears debris after disasters. “We just come in and help clean it up and make some money doing it.”
Andy Uhler/Marketplace

U.S. cotton farmers are suffering from two years of depressed prices — China, weather and yoga pants are mainly to blame

Dec 29, 2017
The trendiness of synthetic fiber yoga pants is hurting American cotton farmers. But deep in the heart of North Carolina, cotton researchers are designing new fabrics to stay competitive.
NC Cotton Farmer David Dunlow in one of his fields.
James Morrison/ for Marketplace

What it takes for one apparel company to make its clothes in the U.S.

May 29, 2017
"It’s almost like letting go of a child," the American Giant CEO says of sending the company's pieces to market.
American Giant CEO Bayard Winthrop at Carolina Cotton Works in Gaffney, SC examines fabric for his line of casual clothing. 
Leoneda Inge

For public good, not for profit.

North Carolina repeals 'bathroom law'

Mar 30, 2017
The law was projected to cost the state more than $3.76 billion over dozen years.
North Carolina is about to repeal its controversial bathroom bill.
MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images

Boeing workers defeat union plans in South Carolina

Feb 16, 2017
The state has the lowest unionization rate in the U.S. Why?
A new Boeing 787 Dreamliner being built for Air India is seen on the production line at a Boeing facility in North Charleston, South Carolina.
PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images

In Charlotte, it's especially tough to climb the economic ladder

Dec 21, 2016
Research shows low-income children in NC have just a four percent chance of rising to the top
Voters outside a polling place in Charlotte, North Carolina.
LOGAN CYRUS/AFP/Getty Images