ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - As summer ends and the new school year approaches, teachers in Onslow County are preparing their classrooms with help from a local initiative.

The Adopt a Teacher program, started in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, supports educators by providing necessary supplies. Kristin Greer, a parent who founded the program’s Facebook page, said it was created to assist teachers who faced new challenges during the pandemic.

“They were expected to do more than usual,” Greer said. “That’s why we created the social media page to help with classroom necessities.”

Many Onslow County schools remain closed, limiting teachers’ access to their classrooms until early August. First-grade teacher Tiffany Rochelle, excited to decorate her classroom, emphasizes the importance of creating a welcoming environment.

“We make anchor charts, decorate bulletin boards, and celebrate student birthdays to build a sense of community,” Rochelle said.

The Facebook page, which has thousands of followers, allows teachers to post their Amazon wish lists. Community members and fellow educators can then fulfill these requests.

“A lot of what you’ll find on teachers’ lists are items to make the classroom inviting and comfortable,” Rochelle said.

Marisha Merchant, a teacher at White Oak High School, shared her positive experience with the program. In 2023, a real estate agency adopted her, providing $300 to $400 worth of supplies.

“To have those random items show up from people I don’t know makes me feel appreciated and valued,” Merchant said.

The National Education Association estimates that teachers spend between $500 and $750 of their own money each school year.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) -A federal judge has issued a ruling on two provisions of North Carolina’s abortion law that had been on hold since she issued an injunction against them last year.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles issued a 33-page order Friday where she upheld the part of the law requiring hospitalization for abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

She struck down a separate requirement for abortion providers to document the existence of an intrauterine pregnancy. That had also been blocked by the injunction.

She wrote that requirement is unconstitutionally vague and violates the plaintiffs’ due process rights. She concluded the opposite about the hospitalization requirement.

Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and Duke Health Dr. Beverly Gray had filed suit against those two provisions and others in North Carolina’s 2023 abortion law.

PAMLICO COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - North Carolina’s coast is no stranger to hurricanes. For people with homes near or along it, there are federal and state grants available for disaster relief.

But one Eastern Carolina woman has been waiting since 2012 to get some kind of resolution with her family home. Our WITN Investigates team has been talking with her for months, along with Pamlico County and state leaders to find a solution.

Charlene Midgette grew up in her family home on Swan Point Road outside Bayboro, but it’s now overgrown and rundown.

“It’s very frustrating, and I hate to see the property look like this,” said Midgette, looking at the neglected property.

We met with her in November of last year. She told us her grandfather built the house in the 1940′s, but it floods very easily.

“There’s a river at the end of the street, and the water rises, and it doesn’t have to be a hurricane. If we have a rainstorm, the water comes up at the end of the road,” she explained. “At the other end of the street, the water comes up from the river.”

That’s why, back in 2012, a Hazard Mitigation Program offered by Pamlico County at the time piqued her interest. Its goal is to make communities more resilient and less susceptible to damage from future disasters.

Midgette applied for it, hoping to elevate her property. But a contractor said it wasn’t possible, citing “termite and water damage.” The cost to repair the issues was estimated at $35,000 to $45,000.

So - onto the next option.

“They asked if I wanted to be involved in a buyout, and I told them yes,” she said.

A buyout, meaning the county would buy the property through state grant funding and tear it down. She signed the paperwork for that - a $44,000 offer - in October 2019 but never received any of that money.

Midgette says her sister, who lived in a trailer also on the property, was even told by a contractor to move out for the buyout to happen. She did, but there was still no movement from the county.

“My sister had to relocate because of the promises that they made, which wasn’t easy for her or for me,” Midgette said, sadly.

If she had the chance to do it all over again knowing what she knows now, Midgette says she would have chosen to not move forward.

“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know when to receive money, and it’s been this long,” she said.

Pamlico County officials say they tried their best to help homeowners, and even were successful in elevating and acquiring several dozen houses. But a mixture of reasons, including a shortage of contractors and the response to Hurricane Florence meant they couldn’t get to all of them within the timeline that the state allowed.

Fast forward to today - and our WITN Investigates team has been calling the state and county to learn answers. We found out the state is now more involved in hazard mitigation efforts.

When asked if it’s normal for property acquisition to take this long, Don Campbell with North Carolina Emergency Management had this to say: “That is, unfortunately, the hallmark of the Hazard Mitigation Program.”

Campbell says the state got involved because counties were struggling to handle efforts on their own.

“We recognized after Hurricane Florence that our counties really did not have the technical capacity to do all of that, and so we worked with FEMA to create what we call our state-centric program,” Campbell said.

Campbell says there are a lot of steps that have to be taken in order for the process to move forward.

“The applications are not even due to the federal government until one year after the disaster because of those other programs have to work through NFIP and some of those other processes. FEMA then has to review each one to decide - does it have a cost/benefit analysis to it? And does the cost of raising it or acquiring it outweigh the potential damages down the road? And so, because of that, they really do have a long tail of being able to raise their hand and say, ‘Yes, I’m interested in an acquisition or an elevation,’ to the day that it is finally elevated or acquired.”

Even with that explanation, it feels as if this process should be moving faster.

In March of this year, Midgette signed an agreement with a contractor through the state for them to acquire the property. She continues to wait for a finalized contract, which the state says is on its way. Though she says communication is still wanting.

“Whenever I call them, I can never get a straight answer. I’m always being referred to someone else,” she said with exasperation. “Whatever they ask me to do, I try to do it. But they’re not upholding their end of the bargain.”

Midgette added that WITN’s involvement has seemed to move the process forward.

“Nothing was getting done until I contacted you and started asking for some help. I couldn’t get any answers; I couldn’t get anything. But when you stepped in, I started getting answers, I started getting names, I started getting phone numbers,” explained Midgette.

She may be getting answers, but the waiting game continues, and Midgette is eager to reach a conclusion that’s been a decade in the making.

“We’ll just wait and see what happens,” she said with a sigh.

Rebuild NC helped build Midgette a new home in 2021, but between 2012 and 2021, she stayed with her husband.

The state sent WITN a timeline with steps that need to be taken before everything is finalized. Based on that information, it won’t be long before Midgette can reach the end of this long journey.

We will keep in touch with her and the state to see when - and if - something happens.

CARTERET COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - A woman will spend at least the next five years behind bars after pleading guilty to providing drugs to a man who died from them.

Carteret County District Attorney Scott Thomas says that Melissa Mastropierro, 42, of Atlantic pled guilty to death by distribution of controlled substances in the death of Pawnee Schmitz, 30, of Davis.

Mastropierro was sentenced to between 5.8 and 8 years in prison.

It was back on May 29th that deputies went to a home on Community Road in Davis after Schmitz’s father reported finding his son unconscious on the bathroom floor.

Investigators say that drug paraphernalia and two small bags, one with meth, the other with fentanyl, were found close to Schmitz’s body. His death was confirmed to be from meth and fentanyl toxicity.

A search of his phone by deputies found that he had several conversations with others related to drug purchases the night before his death.

Mastropierro was arrested alongside three others.

DURHAM, N.C. (WITN) - An Amber Alert for a missing boy from Durham has been canceled after police say the 9-year-old was found safe and his mother was taken into custody.

Friday, the Durham Police Department says Geon King-Parriett and his mother, 33-year-old Mariah King, were found in the 2200 block of South Roxboro Street.

The boy is safe and his mother is in police custody.

Previous story below:

An Amber Alert has been issued for a missing Durham boy.

Durham police say they’re looking for 9-year-old Geon King-Parriett who they believe is with 33-year-old Mariah King.

Police believe she took Geon around 202 South Benjamine Street and she left on foot.

Geon is a Black male, 4 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 100 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a black hoodie and sweatpants.

Mariah is described as a Black female, 5 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. Police say she has brown hair in a bun with a ponytail and brown eyes and was last seen wearing gray sweatpants and a black crop top.

Anyone with information can contact the Durham Police Department at 919-475-2511 or call 911.

PITT COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - One animal shelter in the east is not taking in cats and kittens for the next 30 days due to numerous cats in its care having a contagious virus.

Pitt County Animal Services says its shelter is stopping intake services for felines to effectively quarantine and treat the cats in its care with feline calicivirus, or FCV. Intake will stop Friday and go through August 26.

The shelter says there are 84 cats in its care, and approximately 47 have been diagnosed with the virus. Pitt County Animal Services says the shelter’s veterinarian, Dr. Krystel Riggione, created a treatment plan for the affected cats who were quarantined.

FCV can cause contagious upper respiratory infections, also called the “cat flu.” The virus can also cause oral diseases and limping syndrome, according to county animal services.

The healthy 37 cats were cleared by the vet, quarantined and are now available for adoption, the shelter says.

Pitt County Animal Services protocol is to vaccinate health cats with a vaccine that protects them against feline herpes, calicivirus and feline panleukopenia.

The shelter says sick cats will get vaccinated once its vet clears them. After they are treated and vaccinated, animal services says the cats should have a normal prognosis and life expectancy and will move to the health quarantine section and be available for adoption.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - As the 2024 Olympic Games kick off globally, North Carolina native Lauren Perdue Britt reflects on her 2012 victory.

Considered one of the fastest swimmers in the world, Perdue Britt spoke with WITN’s Celeste Ford, highlighting how growing up in Greenville contributed to her success.

“I was on the 4x200 freestyle relay. I swam in the preliminary morning heat of the relay, where I was the lead-off leg. My job was to get out in front of the competition as best as I could,” Perdue Britt said.

Her swimming career began with the Greenville Swim Club, now known as East Carolina Aquatics, on the East Carolina University campus. Perdue Britt credits her parents, faith, and Coach Casey Charles for her success.

“At 15 or 16, when she made her first Olympic trial cut, she was special and different. We had other talented swimmers, but Lauren stood out,” Charles said.

Perdue Britt describes making the 2012 Olympics as a miracle, having undergone back surgery just three months prior to the trials. Her most cherished memory remains winning the gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay.

“My favorite memory is winning my gold medal in the 4x200 freestyle relay. It’s incredibly special to me as my only gold, and I keep it very safe. It means the world to me,” Perdue Britt said.

This year, Perdue Britt will support Team USA from her home in Charlotte, watching with family and friends.

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - One city in the east is asking the public to avoid an area of a busy roadway due to gas line repairs.

Jacksonville Public Safety wants the public to avoid Western Boulevard near Henderson Drive and Samaria Drive.

It says crews are working to repair a natural gas line that was damaged.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) - Harris Teeter temporarily closed delis at each of its U.S. locations on Friday due to a listeria concern amid a Boar’s Head recall.

The supermarket chain -- which is based in and operates nearly 70 locations in North Carolina -- announced Friday, July 26 that all in-store delis will close for the time being. The closures are in response to a nationwide Boar’s Head recall that affects several of the deli meat brand’s products, including ready-to-eat deli meat and liverwurst, that are used by Harris Teeter.

“In response to the Class 1 recall on specific Boar’s Head products, Harris Teeter has activated its standard recall protocol which includes immediate removal of product and customer notification,” the company said in a statement. “Out of an abundance of caution, Harris Teeter has voluntarily and temporarily suspended select operations throughout its Fresh Foods Market departments for thorough cleaning and sanitation.”

Harris Teeter’s Fresh Foods Market departments were expected to reopen later on Friday, officials said. The grocery chain is expected to provide updates on its website here.

Boar’s Head on Friday recalled more than 207,000 pounds of products due to a potential listeria contamination. Listeria is a foodborne bacteria that can cause mild to severe infections if consumed.

The Boar’s Head listeria contamination was identified during sample testing carried out by the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service, the company said. The testing was done on an unopened liverwurst product. Additional items produced “on the same line and on the same day as the liverwurst” were also being recalled, according to the recall announcement.

Below are the Boar’s Head products that were recalled Friday:

• 3.5-lb. loaves in plastic casing, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head Strassburger Brand Liverwurst MADE IN VIRGINIA.” The products were shipped to retailers bear sell by dates ranging July 25 to Aug. 30 printed on the side of the packaging.
• 9.5-lb. and 4.5-lb. full product, or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head VIRGINIA HAM OLD FASHIONED HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10″ on the product packaging.
• 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10″ on the product packaging.
• 6-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head EXTRA HOT ITALIAN CAPPY STYLE HAM” with sell by date “AUG 10″ on the product packaging.
• 4-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10″ on the product packaging.
• 2.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF SALAMI” with sell by date “AUG 10″ on the product packaging.
• 5.5-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head STEAKHOUSE ROASTED BACON HEAT & EAT” with sell by date “AUG 15″ on the product packaging.
• 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head GARLIC BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10″ on the product packaging.
• 3-lb., or various weight packages sliced in retail delis, containing “Boar’s Head BEEF BOLOGNA” with sell by date “AUG 10″ on the product packaging.

Click here to read the full recall announcement on the USDA’s website.

Watch continuous news coverage below:

WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN) - More than 50 recreational sites are checked weekly by Sound Rivers volunteers, and 18 failed this week.

Sound Rivers say the sites that failed this week were through the lower Neuse and Tar-Pamlico watersheds. 

These sites are:

Neuse Watershed:

• Maple Cypress boat ramp in Grifton
• Glenburnie Park in New Bern
• Town of Bridgeton Park
• Upper Broad Creek at Black Beard Sailing Club in New Bern
• Lawson Creek Park in New Bern
• Slocum Creek boating access in Havelock
• Pierce Creek at the Sea Harbour Yacht Club in Oriental

Tar-Pamlico Watershed:

• Sunset Park in Rocky Mount
• Tar River Reservoir in Rocky Mount
• River Road boat ramp in Tarboro
• Town Common in Greenville
• Wildwood Park in Greenville
• Port Terminal in Greenville
• Yankee Hall Road boat ramp at Pactolus
• Mason’s Landing in Washington
• Havens Gardens in Washington
• Dinah’s Landing at Goose Creek State Park
• Cotton Patch Landing on Blounts Creek

“A Swim Guide fail means elevated levels of fecal bacteria in the water, which can come with increased risk of gastrointestinal illness and skin infections for pets and humans alike,” said Clay Barber, Sound Rivers program director.

Swim Guide is an international water-quality program conducted locally by Sound Rivers to keep North Carolina’s waterways fishable, swimmable, and drinkable.

Sound Rivers’ staff test samples for E. coli in fresh water and enterococci in salt water and pass/fail results are released to the public, providing an easy way to find out where it’s safe to swim.

For more information on Sound Rivers and the Swim Guide program, visit here.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN)  – An Eastern Carolina man says “this will help with retirement” after winning big during a recent lottery drawing.

“I just close my eyes and point at random numbers,” laughed John Ross, of Brunswick County, after winning the $25,000 a year for life prize with a $2 ticket Online Play purchase.

The 56-year-old said he checked his numbers Friday morning and was thrilled to find he matched all five white balls in the July 14th drawing. “The day of the drawing was actually my wife’s birthday,” Ross said. “It’s hard to believe.”

Ross decided to take a lump sum rather than the actual $25,000 a year for life.

After taxes, Ross took home $278,851.

Ross plans to use the money to pay bills and donate to charity.

OAK ISLAND, N.C. (WITN) - Recreational water quality officials with the state are telling beachgoers in one town in the east to avoid certain sites in the area.

The town of Oak Island is telling surfers and swimmers to be aware of floodwaters being pumped into ocean surf and to avoid the sites.

Recent heavy rain caused flooding in parts of Oak Island and other nearby communities. To help minimize flood damage and make sure roads are accessible for emergency vehicles, floodwater has been pumped into the ocean near Crowell Street by the town.

This water can contain waste from wildlife and pets, oil and gas from parking lots, and waste from sewers or septic systems.

The town says this notice does not imply that disease-causing organisms are in the water, but to serve as caution to beachgoers that there may be an incrase risk of containmination that could have adverse impacts on your health.

The town says officials will have signs at the discharge near the beach to warn the public. The signs will be removed 24 hours after pumpking stops. Stae officials will also tell the public once signs are removed.

EMERALD ISLE, N.C. (WITN) - A town in the east says a woman has drowned while visiting the area.

On Thursday, Emerald Isle Emergency Services responded to the area of 1500 Ocean Drive for a water rescue, according to the town.

Emergency crews from Emerald Isle and Indian Beach responded.

The emergency call came in around 4:15 p.m. for someone getting pulled into the water. Emergency responders found two victims and a bystander rescuer between 50 and 60 feet from the shore in the water.

The town says first responders brought the two victims and bystander back to shore.

A 29-year-old woman who was visiting the area died, according to officials. The other victim and the bystander were both treated by emergency services and released.

ATLANTIC BEACH, N.C. (WITN) - Officials in one Eastern Carolina town say they’ve received the letter of final determination from FEMA for preliminary flood insurance rate map panels.

Atlantic Beach town officials say these panels will be effective as of January 17, 2025.

A web app has been created by the Carteret County IT Department/GIS Division to help property owners compare the current effective and preliminary flood maps for the area.

Information is also available on the GIS website and NC FRIS.

If you have any questions about how these map changes affect your property, you can call the Planning and Developement Department at (252)726-4456. You can also contact NC Emergency Management State NFIP Coordinator Steve Garrett at (919)825-2316.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WITN) - The N.C. Department of Transportation is installing and upgrading pedestrian signals with an enhanced safety feature.

NCDOT says they are adding a “leading pedestrian interval,” also known as LPI to traffic signals. This feature gives pedestrians a three to seven-second head start to enter crosswalks before motorists. This will allow pedestrians to better establish themselves to drivers who must yield before making a left or right turn.

NCDOT’s Western Region Signals Engineer Nick Zinser says “This change makes pedestrians more visible for drivers. It’s a safety enhancement, and it can be done at a low cost by reprogramming the existing equipment at our traffic signals.”

LPI use is already common in the downtown areas of Charlotte and Raleigh, but NCDOT is working to add this feature statewide.

Since making the policy change earlier this year, the NCDOT estimates that 20% of over 3,500+ intersections in the state now have a leading pedestrian interval for improved safety.

ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) - Deputies say a man has been arrested and charged after failing to install a pool after being paid.

The Onslow County Sheriff’s Office says on July 11 it got a report about a contractor, Sandy Mobley, not installing a pool after being paid.

Deputies say he was hired and paid $6,825.00 to start the pool installation on May 15, but failed to start that day and put the work off to a later date. He failed to start that day as well and deputies say he refused to refund the customer’s money or do any work.

During the investigation, another person told authorities she paid Mobley $15,000.00 to install a pool at her home on August 2, 2023. Deputies say the 32-year-old Richlands man pushed the start date back to November 6, 2023 but never installed the pool.

On Sunday, Mobley was arrested and taken before an Onslow County magistrate, who charged him with two counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

After his first appearance, he was given a $5,000.00 seured bond.

SNOW HILL, N.C. (WITN) - Rep. Don Davis has officially endorse Vice President Kamala Harris for president.

“Today, I announce my endorsement and support of Vice President Kamala Harris for president. I also believe Governor Roy Cooper, an eastern NC native, would be an excellent choice for vice president. The stakes of this presidential election are incredibly high, with far-reaching implications.”

“At the same time, the administration and Congress must address the concerns of the southern border. These issues cannot be overlooked. I will continue to advocate for comprehensive immigration reform, including securing the border and other issues impacting eastern NC families.”

President Joe Biden announced his withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race Sunday.

Governor Cooper’s name is one of several that has been floated as a possible running mate for Vice President Harris.

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - A national organization is hosting an event to honor fallen heroes.

The North Carolina chapter of Rolling Thunder will be holding their annual Ron Relay and Chapter Fallen Members Memorial Ride.

The ride will kick off Saturday August 31st at the New River Harley Davidson, located at 2394 Wilmington Highway in Jacksonville. Registration begins at 9am for adults and 11am for kids. There will be a $20 fee for each bike and a $10 fee for each passenger.

All proceeds go to Wreaths across America.

For more information, visit www.rollingthundernc5.com.

Copyright 2024 WITN. All rights reserved.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WRAL) - A van ran into a Raleigh convenience store Friday morning, plowing through the glass double doors and ending up inside.

Our NBC affiliate in Raleigh, WRAL, says police officers responded to the Breeze Through 76 at 3405 Poole Road, including a bomb squad robot. It could be seen rolling across the parking lot toward the broken windows.

Officials say a bomb squad didn’t find a threat.

Police say the bomb squad unit was used as a “precautionary measure due to an unconfirmed report of a hazardous device in the vehicle,” but inspectors found no hazard inside the van.

No injuries were reported at this time.

The news outlet says it has asked police for the identity of the driver.

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) - The action and inspiration of the 2024 Paris Olympics is just around the corner and there’s no better way to watch the drama than on a big movie screen or from the comfort of your own home.

WITN and AMC Theaters in Greenville will be providing several opportunities to catch the gold medal-worthy competition with a bucket of popcorn and soda.

Just head over to AMC’s website here, there you can see the available tickets for finals happening in Pairs... just imagine seeing Simone Biles and Team USA gymnastics winning the gold medal.

You can also catch stories of North Carolina coaches, athletes, families, and students from two Univerisity North Carolina Chapel Hill students reporting from the games in Paris.

Rising juniors and seniors Kya McGhee and Spencer Haskell are two of 20 students, who will provide Olympic coverage for North Carolina and WITN.

While seeing the Eiffel Tower is at the top of most Paris bucket lists, these students are ready to work the moment they hop off the plane. They’ve prepared for months. You can catch their first report tonight at 6 p.m.

The opening ceremony starts today on WITN at 7:30 p.m.