North Carolina Public Radio WUNC - WUNC News Archive

E-Prescribing

Rose Hoban — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:48:26

In 2006, officials from Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina piloted an "e-prescribing" program for some doctors around the state. The program allows doctors to submit prescriptions directly to pharmacies.

Today, the insurer says it's expanding the voluntary E-prescribing program to all the physicians in the state. The program allows doctors to do more than just write a prescription.

"They have access to information around the patient's medication history, around their benefits, around what co-pays may be applicable, around what other alternatives could be applicable for that patient as well," said Blue Cross vice president Ron Smith.

The program is coming at a good time. Last week, Congress passed legislation that provides incentives to doctors who prescribe electronically, and eventually, penalties for those who don't.

Coming Around On Year-Round

Dave DeWitt — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:39:20

More than 40,000 elementary and middle school students attend year-round schools in Wake County. Most began a year ago, when widespread year-round school assignments began.

It’s been a tumultuous time since Wake Schools made the decision to assign students to year-round calendars for space purposes. A parents group protested and then sued. The case of making such assignments mandatory is still hung up in the courts.

But for many parents, the anxiety over the new schedule has given way to acceptance, or even preference for the year-round experience.

Dave DeWitt reports.

New Beach Driving Rules Unpopular On OBX

Leoneda Inge — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 07:25:19

For generations, beach lovers visiting the Cape Hatteras National Seashore have been able to walk and drive almost anywhere they want.

It’s a way of life – not just for avid fishermen but for families, hauling all the children, food and blankets needed for a comfortable day on the beach.

Seasonal closures along this stretch of the Outer Banks aren’t new. But since a consent decree was approved in U.S. District Court this spring, other sections have been recently off-limits to off-road vehicles and beach walkers.

There are no hard numbers to prove this issue has stopped people from visiting the Outer Banks, but some say it’s a public relations nightmare. Leoneda Inge reports.

OBX Tourism Hit Hard

Leoneda Inge — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 06:54:42

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is one of the top vacation destination spots in the state. In fact, most of the visitors to these nearly 140 miles of barrier islands come from out of state. But with a tight economy, high gas prices and restrictions on beach driving, tourism in the Outer Banks is slowing down. Leoneda Inge reports that Outer Banks residents are working to preserve their economy no matter what threats are lurking.

Controversial Biotech Grant

Leoneda Inge — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:06:12

The North Carolina Biotechnology Center has received a controversial grant for a campaign supporting a National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in Granville County. The Golden Leaf Foundation knew is had a tough decision to make. But foundation president Valeria Lee says in the end, they approved $260,000 for an education campaign:

"Because it’s been a project of grave concern to the community and I am aware of that and our board was aware of that. The community is concerned. And that was one of the reasons our board wanted to be certain that the facts were there."

Many residents living near the proposed Bio-Agro-Defense lab say they’re afraid of contamination to the water supply if Homeland Security chooses Butner over four other sites across the country. Those who support the facility see it as an economic engine in the field of biotechnology.

Salmonella Investigation

Yasmeen Khan — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:29:21

State agriculture officials are working to crack the case of a nationwide salmonella outbreak. Fourteen North Carolinians became sick with salmonella in recent weeks -- from the same strain of bacteria that sickened more than one-thousand people nationwide. Six local cases are linked to one Charlotte-area restaurant. Joe Reardon with state division of Food and Drug protection says his office is testing samples of produce from the restaurant and its distributors to find the culprit.

"So we're gonna work day and night. We have suspended all other activities in our micro-laboratory to focus just chiefly on this. We want to see if we can work hard to find any particular issue there and then to address it and remove these products nationally so we can get this behind us."

Reardon says his office is looking into everything that customers ate -- including onions, hot peppers and spices. He added that none of the products are from North Carolina.

Lawmakers' Last Week?

Laura Leslie — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:01:22

State Lawmakers are hoping to wrap up their session by the end of the week. They have a lot of work to finish first. House Speaker Joe Hackney and Senate leader Marc Basnight say they’re planning to adjourn for the year Friday. But there’s a laundry list of high priority legislation still making its way through the process. Some bills are in final negotiations, like a gang prevention measure and an anti-bullying proposal. But a lot of others are only halfway through, including measures to reform annexation, repeal the land transfer tax, and rewrite wastewater laws. Ethics reforms, hog waste legislation and an updated video poker ban are still in the pipeline, too. And a comprehensive drought management package requested by Governor Mike Easley hasn’t even made it through one chamber yet. It’s on the schedule for the House session this evening.

Burn Patient Care

Rose Hoban — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:01:18

When patients experience burns, especially severe burns that extend over large parts of the body, they need intensive care from many people, doctors, surgeons, social workers, therapists. The best place to get this kind of multi-disciplinary care is at a burn center. But across the country, burn centers are closing. UNC Hospital is bucking that trend. This month, they’re expanding their burn unit, adding 10 intensive care beds, with more to come. Rose Hoban reports.

NC Guard Families

Eric Hodge — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 10:07:07

Families of members of the North Carolina National Guard can find more help at a new center in Greenville. The facility opens today and is one of several state funded sites that can assist with job placement, legal questions, health issues and more. Major Matt Handley says the family center makes assistance more accessible.

"Really especially now, its very important with our four dollar a gallon gasoline that somebody that lives a couple of hours from Fort Bragg can then get to one of these that's a little bit closer to home."

Handley says the center will serve active duty military families as well as those from the Guard and Reserves.

Helms Laid to Rest

Dave DeWitt — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 08:56:07

Jesse Helms was laid to rest yesterday. He died last Friday at the age of 86. Helms spent 30 years in the U-S Senate. His funeral drew political luminaries and regular citizens to Hayes-Barton Baptist Church in Raleigh. WUNC's Raleigh Bureau reporter Dave DeWitt was there.

Jesse Helms' Funeral

Catherine Brand and Dave DeWitt — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 17:53:49

Jesse Helms' family, friends, and Washington colleagues gathered at Raleigh's Hayes Barton Baptist Church for his funeral today. Dave DeWitt attended the funeral and spoke with Catherine Brand.

State Budget Passes

Laura Leslie — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:43:45

State lawmakers will take a final vote today on a compromise budget plan. The measure passed its first vote in both chambers with strong bipartisan support. But opponents say it may not be economically realistic. Laura Leslie reports from the state capitol.

Jesse Helms Funeral Today

Dave DeWitt and Yasmeen Khan — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:35:09

Former Senator Jesse Helms will be laid to rest today. Thousands are expected to gather for his funeral this afternoon. Dave DeWitt is covering the event for North Carolina Public Radio. He spoke with Yasmeen Khan about what mourners have been saying about the long-serving Republican leader.

Jesse Helms Remembered

Dave DeWitt — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:59:09

Senator Jesse Helms today. He was first elected to the US Senate in 1972 making him the first Republican Senator in North Carolina since the Civil War. During his time in office he fought against civil rights and public financing for the arts. He proudly wore the nickname Senator No. Helms spent 30 years in the senate before retiring in 2002. He died on July fourth at the age of 86. Hayes-Barton Baptist church will be the site of both the public viewing today and the funeral on Tuesday. Helms was a longtime member of the Raleigh church.

Senator Jesse Helms Dies

Laura Leslie — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:32:32

Former US Senator Jesse Helms died early this morning in Raleigh. He was 86.

The five-term Republican first won his seat in 1972. Dubbed "Senator No" for his hard-line conservatism, Helms became a right-wing icon, revered by his party.

Helms was a lightning rod for political controversy, known for his rants against "pointy-headed liberals," his fight against the Voting Rights Act in 1982, and his "racial quota" campaign ad that helped him defeat an African-American challenger, Democrat Harvey Gantt, in 1990.

Helms opted not to run for re-election in 2002. He retired in 2003, and had been in failing health in recent years.