Public Assistance Coverage

Two men wanted after multiple shootings in Oxford; police asking for assistance

Oxford police are asking for public assistance in locating two men they say are responsible for a shooting spree over two days in the city. According to police, multiple shootings occurred between 4:30 p.m. Sunday and 1 a.m. Monday on Forest Avenue.

WRAL staff

Search for sexual assault suspect in Durham, victim shares story

The suspect is accused by Durham police of sexually assaulting six women between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. since March.

Wrong number: To get help with rent, applicants struggle with confusing, complex processes

A billion-dollar rental assistance effort that has struggled at times to get enough applicants listed incorrect phone numbers, for months, that people could call for more information on the program in two North Carolina counties.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Pandemic mortgage assistance program still in starter's blocks after nearly 5 months

U.S. government said it opened an online portal Friday, now states have to submit plans. Unclear when homeowners can apply.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Wake program helps those struggling to pay rent, utility bills amid pandemic

Wake County and the City of Raleigh are providing more than $33 million in federal aid to people struggling with paying their rent during the pandemic.

Senate budget would cut off food aid to 133,000

A provision tucked deep within the 362-page Senate budget proposal would mean the end of federal food assistance for tens of thousands of low-income North Carolina households.

Laura Leslie

Proposed Wake budget includes property tax increase

Wake County Manager Jim Hartmann rolled out a $1.26 billion proposed budget for 2017-18 that includes more money for area schools, raises for county employees and a property tax increase for residents.

House tentatively OKs food stamp crackdown

After several hours of debate over two days, House lawmakers voted Wednesday to tentatively approve new requirements and new penalties for people receiving food stamp benefits.

Laura Leslie

New welfare reform bill targets lottery winners

A bill unveiled Wednesday in the state House would require social service officials to cross-check their food stamp rolls with lottery winners every month.

Laura Leslie

Food stamps work rule to begin again in 23 counties

Food stamp recipients in North Carolina's largest counties who remain out of a job in the new year may see their benefits end as a result of federal rule changes.

Tyler Dukes

McCrory signs bill outlawing sanctuary cities in NC

Gov. Pat McCrory on Wednesday signed into law a measure that prohibits any North Carolina county or municipality from restricting local law enforcement's ability to cooperate with federal immigration officials.

Leyla Santiago and Matthew Burns

Round 2 of municipal elections coming next week

Get ready for another round of elections.

Critics say proposal to cut food benefits will hit rural areas hard

A bill on Gov. Pat McCrory's desk would mean less food assistance for unemployed people. Supporters say the measure would encourage the jobless to look harder for work, but critics say it would increase hunger, especially in rural areas.

Laura Leslie

After last-minute changes, lawmakers end overtime session

This year's session ran 13 weeks past the end of the fiscal year June 30, making it the longest legislative session since 2002.

Laura Leslie and Mark Binker

Opponents believe House bill targets undocumented immigrants, poor

A controversial measure addressing immigration and food stamps stirred some intense debate when it was taken up in the state House on Tuesday.

Candace Sweat and Mark Binker

'Sanctuary city' ban, food stamp crackdown passes Senate

The N.C. Senate gave tentative approval Thursday to a proposal banning local "sanctuary" ordinances and limiting food assistance for able-bodied but unemployed adults.

Laura Leslie

Feds: NC food stamp approval among slowest in nation

The federal government is again threatening to withdraw operational funding for North Carolina's food stamp program - this time over the speed at which the state health agency is approving applications.

Tyler Dukes

One year later, records request languishes at DHHS

More than a year after WRAL News requested correspondence from the head of the state's massive and often troubled social services system, state health officials have still failed to produce a single record.

Tyler Dukes

NC FAST rollout continues amid myriad of challenges

Months after social services workers quelled a case backlog that jeopardized millions of dollars of federal funding, progress toward the full rollout of the system known as NC FAST continues across the state's 100 counties.

Mark Binker and Tyler Dukes

Fact check: GOP Senate candidates make some questionable claims

No separation of church and state? And are we advertising federal benefits in Mexico? WRAL News fact-checks the statements made during Wednesday night's GOP Senate debate.

Mark Binker and Matthew Burns

NC FAST backlogs cost NC $21M and counting

Leaders of the Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday that problems with the state's new benefit system, NC FAST, have cost about $21 million to address. And that figure may be just the beginning.

Laura Leslie

Cases remain in queue, but DHHS says food stamp deadline met

State officials said Tuesday that they have erased all but 375 cases from a backlog of food stamp applications the imperiled federal funding to run the program.

Matthew Burns and Laura Leslie

State working up to deadline on food stamp backlog

State DHHS officials were expected to release details Tuesday regarding whether the state met a federal deadline for clearing its backlog of food stamp applications.

Matthew Burns

Deadline looms for giant Guilford backlog

Guilford County officials say they're calling in extra help to process 8,100 backlogged food stamp applications before a critical deadline next week.

Laura Leslie

Guilford backlog jeopardizes NC meeting food stamp deadline

Secretary of Health and Human Services Aldona Wos told lawmakers Wednesday that the state was on track to meet an upcoming deadline of clearing its backlog of food stamp applications until learning that Guilford County had a number of cases that hadn't even been entered into the state's computer system.

Laura Leslie