Name: North Carolina farmers raking in the 'brown gold'
Uploaded: 2021-04-20T23:17:22-0400
Duration: 143327
Description: North Carolina's piney landscape is fertile ground for what many call "brown gold."

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North Carolina's piney landscape is fertile ground for what many call "brown gold."



THE CH >>> GROUNDS FOR WHAT THEY CALL PINE DOLE. IT'S BIG BUSINESS ACROSS THE SOUTH, RAKING IN ABOUT $200 MILLION A YEAR. IT'S A CRIME IN OUR STATE TO STEAL THE PINE STRAW. SHOWING US THE HARVEST THAT DOESN'T JUST PUT MONEY IN THE BANK, BUT A BOOM FOR THE SYSTEM. SOUNDS MUCH LIKE DISTANT OCEAN WAVES. A SEA OF THESE GREAT CONFERS SWEEPS ACROSS THE SAND HILLS. >> THEY JUST FILTERED THE WIND. >> Reporter: HE'S A MAN OF GOOD TIMBER. >> WE'RE IN GREAT DEMAND. >> Reporter: THE LANDOWNER WHO RAISES NORTH CAROLINA'S STATE TREE, THE PINE FOR ITS BEAUTY AND BROWN CARPET BOUNTY. >> I THINK IT WILL BE WISE TO HANG ON TO YOUR TIMBER AND LET IT PRODUCE AN ANNUAL CROP. HE SELLS AS MULCH. AT $3 TO $6 A BAIL, MONEY DOES FALL OFF THESE TREES. >> THAT EQUATES TO AS MUCH AS $1,200 PER ACRE PER YEAR IN GROSS INCOME. >> Reporter: COMPARED TO ABOUT $5,000 FOR CLEAR CUTTING AND MATURE LONG STANDING, WHICH TAKES ABOUT 50 YEARS TO RAISE. HE HAS AN INCENTIVE TO LET IT STAND. >> I CAN STILL SHOW YOU WHERE I COULD MAKE MORE MONEY ON PINE SAW THAN CUTTING THE TIMBER. >> Reporter: MIKE WILSON GAVE UP PEACH FARMING WITH 600 ACRES. AN ECO SYSTEM HE LONGS TO PROTECT. >> WELL, DON'T GO AROUND PILFERING OTHER PEOPLES PINE NEEDLES. STEALING PINE STRAW IS A CLASS A FELONY. >> WE HAD SOME TROUBLE OF PEOPLE STEALING IT. >> Reporter: FIVE YEARS AGO THE NEEDLE THIEVES STUNG MIKE WILSON. >> IT WAS A DARK RAINY NIGHT AND LOADED IT RIGHT OUT OF THE TRAILER. >> Reporter: BUT THEY WERE CAUGHT AND CONVICTED. CLAYTON TODD LOADED UP HIS STRAW THE LEGAL WAY. HE BOUGHT IT AND HIS FLOWER BEDS LOVE IT. >> SUPPOSEDLY IT DOES NOT ATTRACT BEATLES, BUGS, TERMITES, AND THE STUFF LIKE THAT. >> Reporter: THE LONG NEEDLES SHINE IN THE SUN AND IN THE WIND. THEN THEY LET GO, LEAVING A TREASURE INTO THE SHADOWS.

Bryan Mims

Michael Joyner

Sydney Franklin

North Carolina farmers raking in the 'brown gold'

Get the latest WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast whenever you need it, including the DUALDoppler5000 and the 7-Day Forecast.

Hello everyone. I'm meteorologist, Mike Mays in the WRL severe weather center with our forecast update for this Friday night. Now, we have some light rain in the area that will last through about midnight or so. But tomorrow morning should wake up to some fog 7 a.m. overcast and some fog. 58 we start to see rain redevelop across the area 9 1011 AM and by 11 a.m. it may be around a 60% chance for rain. It will be mild. The temperature hovers in the low sixties at this point and hour by hour, keep the umbrellas handy. Tomorrow, we think the bulk of the rain will come in the morning. There may be a bit of a lull in the afternoon from two to about six. It may end up being a 20% chance of rain, but we put a cushion of 30% just in case some sprinkles or drizzle forms later on in the evening. For Saturday and Saturday night, the rain does pick up and it will be, it will be a warmer day. We'll have spotty areas of rain during the afternoon. Most widespread rain in the morning. 67 is our forecast high, low sixties tomorrow evening. So with it being a little bit more humid, it will be a day where you possibly open up the windows. I will probably turn on the air conditioning because it will probably be a little on the warm side. So what we're watching for that cold front to the west won't move by until Sunday night. There will be little waves of low pressure coming in in the upper atmosphere from the southwest that will help spur the growth of some rain across the area. And the models do a horrible job at timing these little upper level disturbances. So there's really no consensus on when they'll come on by. So we're giving our best estimate and when we would see that. So our forecast for the day tomorrow, we're expecting our high at 6769 in Fayetteville. We see rain. This is the time stamp for about five o'clock in the afternoon. Rain will be coming in Saturday night, 58 at Boone 74 at Wilmington. And then on Sunday rain the first part of the day, a breezy and warmer day. 71 in Raleigh 72 Fayetteville, 57 at Boone. And then on Monday, it will be a breezy day, 63 the high in Raleigh 66 Fayetteville 48 at Boone. And the model indicates some snow showers and the highest salvations. We'll see if that actually does pan out. So our forecast for the rainfall totals. This is what the models are going our in house future cast about 3/10 the American model, about 14 tens, 4200 s and the European model in 1600 of an inch for the Nam. So we're not talking about a great deal of rain, not like the last event that we had that brought over two inches of rain for a lot of folks. So some early rain then fog overnight. Lows will be in the FS to the north. 54 Siler City, 57 in Raleigh, about 60 54 in Robbins. And then for the day tomorrow, keep the umbrellas handy highs in the six to about 70 in Fayetteville, 67 in Raleigh 70 in Goldsboro. Your seven day forecast, we have that possibility of rain on Sunday, Monday, partly to mostly cloudy Tuesday, it will be cooler. 58 the coolest day, Wednesday and Thursday. And by Thursday morning, there could be a light freeze with that 32 and then the first day of Hanukkah. Next Friday, the high temperature 55. That's our forecast update for this Friday night. Have a great weekend. I'll see you on Monday.

WRAL WeatherCenter Forecast

Nightly N.C. Education Lottery drawings during the 11 p.m. News.

Good evening. I'm Rocky G. Welcome to tonight's drawings for Friday, December 1st 2023. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. Your first number eight, second number is seven. Third number is four and our pick three. Fireball number is two. Joining me for tonight strong is our ait from the Con and Jones L LP. Now let's move to Carolina pick for your first pick for number is a nine second number zero. Third number is nine. Again, fourth number is four and our pick for fireball number is one turning now to the Carolina cash five. If no one wins the top prize tonight, tomorrow's top prize is estimated at $156,000 and your first cash five. Number 13, 2nd number is 43. 3rd number is 36 4th number, 31 5th and final number tonight. 25 the North Carolina Education Lottery has contributed over $10 billion. Education. Thanks for your support. Get your winning numbers every night right here on your exclusive station for the North Carolina Education Lottery. Thanks for playing and good night.

Evening Pick 3 Pick 4 and Cash 5

Tuesday and Friday Mega Millions Drawing.

>> ACROSS AMERICA WITH MEGA JACKPOTS, IT'S MEGA MILLIONS. WELL, IT'S OF AMERICA. I'M JOHN CROW IS FRIDAY, DECEMBER. FIRST IN TONIGHT'S MEGA MILLIONS JACKPOT IS AN ESTIMATED A NEW TIES. 355 MILLION DOLLARS TO WIN THAT JACKPOT. YOU MUST MATCH THESE 5 WHITE. PLUS THAT GOLD MEGA BALL. NOW THEY SAY THEY CAN MAKE YOU A MILLIONAIRE TONIGHT. OUR FIRST WINNING NUMBER TONIGHT IS 47 FOLLOWED BY 52. UP NEXT, WE HAVE 12. YOUR NEXT NUMBER IS 49 YOUR FINAL WHITE BALL NUMBER FOR THIS FRIDAY EVENING IS. 65 NOW FOR THE MAKEUP ON AND THAT IS 12 AGAIN TONIGHT.

Mega Millions Drawing

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings are held at 3 p.m. daily. They can be seen as live or on-demand video.

Good afternoon. I'm Roy G. Welcome to today's drawings for Friday, December 1st 2023. Let's get started with Carolina pick three. Your first number is one second number one again. Third number is zero and our pick three. Fireball number is three. Joining me for this afternoon. Strong is our A from the Con and Jones. Now, let's move to Carolina pick for your first pick. Four. Number is six. Second number zero. Third number is 94. Number is two and our pick for fireball number is nine. The North Carolina education lottery has contributed over $10 billion to education. Thanks for your support. Get your winning numbers each day right here on your exclusive station for the lottery.

Daytime Pick 3 and Pick 4 Drawing

The family of 15-year-old Delvin Ferrell, who was stabbed to death at Southeast Raleigh High School on Monday, is speaking live at a press conference. 

<p>This is a tragedy that, that, that, you know, I think that the message to Devin friends is grieving. I think it is important for the community and the school to, to wrap their arms around the, the, the, the, the, the young people and to his friends and let them know that, you know, to keep, you know, to keep Devin name, you know, alive, you know, and they, and they, and they, and they keep them positive memories for them and to make sure that no one is, you know what I'm saying, that, you know, and not to, you know, get caught up in the media bureaucracy that's going everything that's going on, the circus that's going on surrounding it, you know, to let it play out in the justice system, there's support services, I mean, the support service, you have to have community, culturally competent, support people, meaning that when you have community, culturally competent support to support people, I mean, if you have, you know, someone from, uh, carry that, that, that has it, that went to uh University of North Carolina and she's never been down in this community. She cannot, she cannot support our Children and I'll stand firm on that. This, you have to understand that, you know, that some of our Children, they go to school, they may not have eaten their breakfast or they, you know, lunch may be their only meal. So how can you really support our kids? You know, and say that you truly understand what they're going through because as a community, this family alone in the last two years, we lost a niece, you know, in 2021 to gun violence and now we lost Devon, but there's been no support. It's like, ok, you put them in the schools, you know what I'm saying? But what about, you know, in the families, you know what I'm saying? You send them back home for what, you know what I'm saying? To, to, to heal themselves, healing needs to take place all around across the board other than the defendant. Who else or what else do you feel like? Needs to be held accountable for demon's death? I think that I think us as a community as a whole, I think that the school system, I think the law enforcement, I think that collectively we all need to come together and try to figure out a way how can we avoid more, in more incidents like this, as I stated, you know, there have been, there been over a period of last three months, there've been four or five kids underneath the age of 18 that's been, you know, lost the balance in the city, you know, and that should be a public outcry. How, uh you mentioned the community really coming together during this time, what's been helping you and your family just to stand here and this, I think, I think my sister who, uh her faith, her faith in God, you know, her faith, she's, she's the backbone. You know what I'm saying? You're talking about a woman who has, you know, triple cancer, who has lost a daughter, you know, during COVID who lost a granddaughter, uh, due to gun violence and just lost another grandson. So you, when you look at her strength and stuff like that, how can you not be strong? How can you not stand strong if you know, how can you not stand on faith if you could if you believe in God or not? But you know, she, she's living, you know, you know, proof, you know what I'm saying that, you know, there's some faith in something and she, and she sends her prayers out to the, to the, to the uh alleged, uh alleged, the alleged family members as well. She, you know, she, she sends her prayers out to the family. So we got two more questions and that's it. Do any of you all wanna maybe share like a favorite memory of Devin or how you hope he'll be remembered and his smile, smile. Always you get his smile. Because he always had a smile on his face no matter what. So his smile was definitely gonna miss him. You know, like about to like what she was saying, his smell and like everything about him really show me that's all I gotta say. Younger brother, older brother. Are you all mad at the school system for why this knife got in or how they handled anything? What do you think about it? I mean, it's a tragedy, you know what I'm saying? Like, you know, I think that they have to take a look at some things and figure they have to figure it out. You know, they have to make sure that this, you know, this type of incident doesn't happen again. One of the concerns um shared among the parents as well is just the, you know, are the students getting enough resources. I understand there may be some high risk students at that school or students who uh the area, I mean, is there but there's enough resources. I don't personally I haven't really looked deep into the resources, but from my understanding, from the mere fact that, you know, I think that there's so certain programs like the social emotional learning programs that they can implement in the school system, their mentors, their, their, you know, their credible messages that they could bring in the school system, they could put pair mentors in the school, they could put high risk intervention. It's a couple of things that they could implement in the school system in the city to try to avoid, to try to put people in, you know, in inside the system, the school system to try to make sure to, to, to deescalating situations like this before it becoming a crisis. All right. Thank you. All. So I make sure I know how to spell that. Can you hold that picture for me one time? Excuse, excuse me, let me, let me see. I mhm. You too. Yeah. OK. Yeah I yeah body right that it's just a tr I heard you guys.</p>

'Keep Delvin's name alive:' Family speaks out after 15-year-old killed in stabbing at Southeast Raleigh High School

Witnesses sent video to WRAL of smoke billowing out of the building. Sky 5 is live at the scene.

Yeah. Ok. Yeah. Yeah. Ok. Yeah. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Ok. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Sky 5 flies over heavy smoke near south Raleigh recycling center

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday plans to name a replacement for State Auditor Beth Wood, who previously said she would step down in the wake of charges related to her use of state-issued vehicles.

A qualified successor uh professional to succeeded her in this critical role. The state auditor is our watchdog. The person entrusted to make sure that taxpayer dollars are being minded and efficiently invested. The auditor serves as the lead evaluator of state government, local governments, the judiciary, among others, evaluating financial controls and performance measures and ensuring that the government is accountable to all of us. The auditor's job is not just about calling out mistakes. It's also about ensuring that public servants can do their jobs, right and well, our state relies on the professionals in the auditor's office to objectively look at state processes, help ensure that best practices are followed and work collaboratively to find solutions that benefit the people of North Carolina. This is a role that's not suited for people who simply want to be in the spotlight or who aren't ready to roll up their sleeves and dive into complicated issues. It takes a smart, hard working person who isn't afraid to get into the details and who isn't afraid to ask the hard questions. I appreciate the service of Auditor Wood and her professional staff. They have built a reputation over the years of independence, finding problems and holding leaders accountable. This has served our state well, in searching for our next auditor, I was gratified by the willingness of some people to disrupt their lives on short notice to step into this important role. I wanted someone known for integrity, intelligence work ethic and willingness to speak truth to power. Someone committed to public service who understands government and believes it should be held accountable. Someone who understands that our ultimate goal is to make sure that government serves people as efficiently and effectively as possible. And I wanted someone to stand before the voters and be accountable for their critical work. I'm confident that I found that person today. I'm announcing that I will appoint Jessica Holmes as North Carolina's next state auditor. Jessica will bring years of government and legal experience to the state auditor's office as well as a deep commitment to public service. Jessica is a native of Pender County fellow North Carolina, Eastern North Carolinian like me, a double tar heel, like me with an undergraduate and law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill like me. She's a talented attorney on the North Carolina Industrial Commission. She's working to ensure all parties and workers compensation claims are treated fairly in accordance with the law. She has worked for our teachers and educators as the general counsel to the North Carolina Association of Educators and she has been elected and re elected by the people of this county. In 2014, she was the youngest person ever elected to the Wake County Board of Commissioners and she was even elected by her fellow commissioners as the chair of the board twice under her leadership and attention to budget and financial details. Wade County managed a budget in excess of $1.5 billion she created and chaired Wake County's first affordable housing and infant mortality task forces and advocated for increasing affordable child care options and for paid parental leave which the state has now adopted. Jessica understands how government can be a force for good but that the details matter and it's important that we do things the right way. I'm confident that thanks to her intelligence, integrity and experience, she will make major contributions to the success of our state. Congratulations Jessica on becoming our next state auditor. And I wanna thank you for the service that you've already given the state and the service that you are about to give. And now I introduce to you our next state auditor, Jess go first. Allow me to say that I want to acknowledge that Beth Wood was the first woman ever elected to serve as auditor in the State of North Carolina. The professional staff that she has put together is excellent, phenomenal and ready to continue to do the work. As for me, I grew up in a small town in rural eastern North Carolina called Maple Hill and Yes. It's as small as it sounds. I grew up loving to climb trees. A bit of a tomboy. I actually have a few scars to still show for it. I remember picking strawberries from my grandmother's garden. I remember my great grandmother told me to go fetch eggs for breakfast from the chicken coop. I remember in the hot North Carolina Sun, we would pick blueberries. My grandmother and I we'd earn about $5 a slat and at the end of each day, she would give me all we had earned so that I could purchase school clothes. And I used we loosely because I probably ate more blueberries than I actually put into the sweat. I also watched my mother who is here with me today heroically fight to support and provide ends meet for five young Children coming from humble beginnings. I know the value of a dollar and how to make it stretch. I also know that you can't turn 15 cents into a dollar. But what I can tell you that as state auditor, I will ensure that every taxpayer dollar get to the people and the causes that we all care about. My administration will focus on accountability, eliminating wasteful spending and ensuring that all money allocated goes where supposed to go. My experiences have led me to this moment and have prepared me for this task. As mentioned, I am a tar heel through and through born and raised right here in North Carolina on good old fashioned North Carolina values and not to shout it out twice. But I am also a double tar Heel. You shot that twice. But as auditor, I will be fair, I will be unbiased and I will put the people first. People need to be able to trust that their government is working hard for them. They also need to be able to trust that their taxpayers, their tax dollars are working hard for them as well. Some people know me as Commissioner Holmes. Some people know me as chair homes. Some people call me deputy Commissioner Holmes. Some people call me Professor Holmes. My family calls me a nickname, but I'm not gonna get to that part, but today I am so proud and honored to stand before you as North Carolina's next state auditor and I just want to thank Governor Cooper for his confidence in me. Ok. Uh, both of us will be glad to answer questions. Let's start here with Gary. Yeah. Um, MS Holmes, are you gonna be seeking the full four year term in 2024? And while you have a lot of you have AJ D behind your name, one thing you don't have is a CPA and many of your predecessors have had certified public accounting experience. Do you see that as any sort of liability or do you feel like that helps you see things differently? Um, I, I think it gives me a different perspective. Coming into the office, I have worked at government in various different levels and direct experience regarding budgets has allowed me to understand the auditing process ensuring that dollars go where they are supposed to go. And I've done that in various levels from government to nonprofit organizations and consulting. I'm sorry. And follow up on the first question. I will absolutely be seeking the four year term for state auditor and I look forward to filing on Monday. Sorry. Um, I just wanna governor, your reaction to the, uh, decision this morning regarding the election law. And also, um, we talked to speaker more about that and they basically this case to go to the State Supreme Court where it seems, they feel like they're looking at the outcome they want. Um, we say all that, well, the law is crystal clear and I'm grateful that these judges followed the law and I hope that the Supreme Court will follow the law as well. A question. All right, one more. LA what do you say to people who say that, that, uh, that the auditor's office should have caught what was going on with auditor law and our mileage? I mean, is that a failure on the part of the office or is that? I mean, I don't even know who audits the auditor. So, what, what are you, what are you talking about? The, what happened to her? Oh, yes. So that happened almost immediately. And an auditor's job is usually to come behind months and years afterwards to uh examine records. But, um, I have confidence in the professionals in the auditor's office and I think, uh I'll let the new state auditor speak, speak for herself. Um I will just note for the record but that I will not be uh accepting or uh receiving a state vehicle. All right. T for maybe one more from anyone. Have you, uh, have you met with Auditor Office of State Auditor staff yet, or is that all you? Um, absolutely. Um, I've had a conversation with the State Auditor Wood and she, um, she and I go away, um, we've had a relationship for a long time and I respect her and the service that she has given to this state over multiple years, decades of service. And I'm really glad that she is willing to, um, hand over the reins and support me in that transition. All right. Last one here. I'm sorry, I just to make clear, II, I believe you'll be the first African American woman on the Council of State. Is that, is that accurate? And if so, uh, what do you think about that? I mean, that's got being, having a first like that. Yes, it is. My understanding that I will be the first African American woman to ever serve on the North Carolina Council of State in our state's entire history that said, um, I'm here today. Not because I'm black or not because I'm a woman, but because I'm the person to do the job and my credentials back that up, that said, I learned this when I was a county commissioner, I had this quote. It's hard to be what you can't see. And when I look at some political offices, it's hard to imagine myself in those offices. So regardless of what this year, what comes of it, I can guarantee you a few things, no one will work harder than I will to get up to speed. And I will by virtue of this office continue in my public service, encouraging girls and women and people that are interested in serving to have the opportunity to do so. And by me serving in this seat, hopefully, um it will allow others to see themselves in it as well. Thank you. Great. Thanks guys. Thank you. Ok. Mhm. Oh, ok, great. Not that a request. That's good. No, so yeah, that's all right. Hm. Ok. There's another sorry.

Replacement named for State Auditor Beth Wood

N.C. High School Athletic Association Commissioner Que Tucker and President Chris Blanton hold a press conference following the winter board of directors meeting in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina farmers raking in the 'brown gold'

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North Carolina farmers raking in the 'brown gold'

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