WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued the following news release: ASHEVILLE, NC, October 25, 2024 U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today visited Asheville, North Carolina, to hear firsthand from local, state and Tribal officials, emergency managers, food bank staff and volunteers, and impacted producers on the region's relief and recovery efforts and highlighted resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help producers, families, and communities  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: RALEIGH, N.C. Homeowners and renters in 39 North Carolina counties and tribal members of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians who applied for FEMA disaster assistance following Helene in North Carolina should be aware that FEMA representatives may call from unfamiliar area codes and phone numbers or show SPAM or no caller ID. It is important to answer the call.  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: RALEIGH, N.C. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is hiring people in Durham, Hickory and Asheville, North Carolina to support their community's recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. A wide range of skills and expertise are needed, including planning, communications, logistics and community engagement to name a few. Many FEMA employees began their care  more

FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, Oct. 25 -- The U.S. Army Reserve Command issued the following news: KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany Members of the 729th Transportation Battalion, old and new, gathered for a ceremonial returning of the unit colors, early on a Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024, in New Haven, Conn. The 729th Railway Operating Battalion deactivated in 1976. Their last days were chaotic, according to U.S. Army Reserve Col. (Ret.) Vincent Palmeri, an alumnus of the 76th Division, the co  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 -- The U.S. Department of Justice issued the following news release on Oct. 25, 2024: A federal jury convicted a Tennessee business owner yesterday for fraudulently billing federal health care programs approximately $35 million for medically unnecessary injections, which were administered over the course of approximately eight years to a population of opioid-dependent patients. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Michael Kestner, 72, of Nashville,   more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency issued the following news release: RALEIGH, N.C. A new Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) will open Saturday, Oct. 26 in Fairview (Buncombe County) to assist North Carolina survivors who experienced loss from Tropical Storm Helene. The Buncombe County DRC is located at: Cane Creek Pool 590 Lower Brush Creek Rd. Fairview, NC 28730 Open: 8 a.m. 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday In addition to the fi  more