Here's what you need to know today.

For Faylene Whitaker, H-2A visa workers are the heartbeat of her farm. H-2A visa workers are seasonal foreign workers who come to the United States for a few months for temporary agricultural work. The USDA reports over 378,000 H-2A visa positions were approved in 2023 in the United States, up from 48,000 positions certified in 2005. 
“They are so important to the economy of the United States and the safe food,” Whitaker said.

Your Weather Planner

After a wet Mother’s Day weekend, more rain is on the way through the first half of this week. As the rain adds up, watch for the possibility of ponding on roads and even localized flooding in some areas.

Things may dry up a bit by late morning and midday Tuesday. Through the first half of this week, an additional 1.5 to 3.5 inches of rain is expected for much of eastern North Carolina.

Drier weather along with hotter temperatures are forecast by the end of the week.

Get the full forecast of areas around the state:
Charlotte | Triad | Triangle | Coastal | Mountains


Watch the latest local news and get your Weather on the 1s.

Around North Carolina

1. N.C. professor sees similarities between Pope Leo XIV and Pope Francis

Steve Harmon, historical theology professor at Gardner-Webb, calls Robert Prevost, now known as Pope Leo XIV, the first of many things. He’s the first American pope, and the first pope with a higher education degree from a U.S. university. He took the same path as many of Harmon's students. Harmon traveled to Vatican City as part of the press pool reporting for Good Faith Media.

2. Ousted N.C. election chief urges civility toward 'caretakers of our democracy'

The former North Carolina elections director who was ousted this week after a politically motivated move by Republicans said Friday that she hopes the new leadership will approach elections in a nonpartisan way and called for an end to verbal attacks against those who oversee the voting process.

3. Feds say Western Carolina University breaking Trump order on transgender students

Western Carolina University faces a federal investigation after the U.S. Department of Education accused the school of not following the Trump administration's executive order to not recognize transgender women and female students.

Around The Nation

1. US and China take a step back from sky-high tariffs, agree to pause for 90 days

2. Pope Leo XIV celebrates first Mass as details emerge of how votes coalesced in the conclave

3. Another issue disrupts Newark's airport as Trump's transportation secretary plans reducing flights

 

Editor's Pick - Taking care of your hummingbirds and hummingbird feeders

With the beginning of spring comes the arrival of the ruby-throated hummingbird to North Carolina. These tiny, feathered friends are making their way northward into the United States after wintering in Central America. Hummingbird food is easy to make and attracts the birds. Change the food in your feeder on a regular basis. Wash the feeder and keep it clean during the season.