CHIPLEY, Fla. — A man faces several charges including DUI manslaughter after the Florida Highway Patrol says his pickup truck struck three utility workers Wednesday evening as they were repairing lines damaged by Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle. Two of the workers — George Cecil, 52, of Colerain, North Carolina, and James Ussery of Chipley, Florida — died in the crash. A third man, Ryan Barrett, 22, of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, was critically…

CHIPLEY, Fla. — A man faces several charges including DUI manslaughter after the Florida Highway Patrol says his pickup truck struck three utility workers Wednesday evening as they were repairing lines damaged by Hurricane Michael in the Florida Panhandle. Two of the workers — George Cecil, 52, of Colerain, North Carolina, and James Ussery of Chipley, Florida — died in the crash. A third man, Ryan Barrett, 22, of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, was critically…

Hurricane Willa came ashore in Mexico as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of up to 120 mph Tuesday night, the Associated Press reports. Towns along the Mexican coast were cut off and officials are still working to figure out the extent of the damage from Willa, according to the Weather Channel. But now the storm’s remnants are headed north and are expected to bring rain, wind and some coastal flooding to the Carolinas…

CHIPLEY, Fla. — Two utility company linemen are dead and a third is critically injured after a pickup truck pulling a U-Haul trailer hit them while they were repairing lines damaged by Hurricane Michael in Florida’s Panhandle. Related: Hurricane Michael leaves destruction in its wake in the Southeast The Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release the crash happened Wednesday evening near Chipley, which is north of Panama City. Sgt. R.C. Livingston says the…

The federal Small Business Administration wants businesses and nonprofits that may be struggling because of lost income from Hurricane Florence to consider applying for low-interest loans even if they aren’t in a disaster-declared county. The SBA can make “economic injury” loans to businesses and nonprofits in 18 counties that are contiguous to any of the 31 North Carolina counties declared disaster areas so far. Wake County was not in the disaster declaration, but because it’s…

By Sarah Krueger, WRAL reporter Durham, N.C. — A Durham woman blames the city for flooding in her home after Hurricane Florence that caused an estimated $30,000 in damage. “I get a little nauseous. Just the feeling of being here is a little uncomfortable for me,” Alicia Ellis said of going into her basement, which was swamped during Florence. “It was about 5 feet high in here and a lot of mud and debris.” The…

WAKE FOREST, N.C. (WTVD) — Triangle students are hosting a food drive to help the victims of Hurricane Florence. Wake Forest Middle School collected goods for middle schoolers and their families in Wilmington who were affected by the hurricane. Canned goods and other nonperishable goods will head to the coast. The school’s principal said they wanted to wait to help in the recovery efforts because they knew the need would be ongoing. The food drive…

Just before noon Friday, the town of Fort Mill announced a boil water advisory has been lifted after water quality tests show the water is safe to drink. Robert Willett Just before noon Friday, the town of Fort Mill announced a boil water advisory has been lifted after water quality tests show the water is safe to drink. Robert Willett

Voters in 28 counties impacted by Hurricane Florence will have more flexibility to vote using absentee ballots. Kim Strach, the executive director of the State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement, has issued an emergency order to address concerns that displaced residents could find it harder to vote this year. The order allows more time for absentee ballots to be received by county election offices. While the ballots must still be postmarked by Election Day,…