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

Don’t leave home without your umbrella or rain jacket today. A large low pressure system to our west is pulling a lot of moisture into the Carolinas as we start the week, leading to rain.

As the rain adds up, localized flooding could be a concern. The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for much of the area through tomorrow morning. Much of central North Carolina should see 1.5 to 3.5 inches of rain through the first half of this week.

The rest of the week will be hotter and drier, with summer-like conditions arriving by Friday.!

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.