Celeste Gracia

Feb 25, 2025 | wunc.org | Celeste Gracia

Thirty probationary staff members were recently terminated from the EPA's regional campus at Research Triangle Park. This comes as thousands of federal employees across the country are losing their jobs as a result of President Trump's cost-cutting efforts. "People are scared. There's no rhyme or reason to these firings," said one EPA employee who spoke under the condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. "It's heartbreaking.

Jan 24, 2025 | wunc.org | Celeste Gracia

New rates for homeowners insurance will go into effect on June 1. The North Carolina Department of Insurance announced the new rates on Jan. 17. The insurance industry says inflation and climate change are driving up costs. WUNC Host Will Michaels spoke to WUNC Environmental Reporter Celeste Gracia about the new rates. This conversation has been lightly edited and expanded to provide additional context and details. Before we talk about the new rates, how did we get here?

Jan 16, 2025 | wunc.org | Celeste Gracia

A coalition of conservation groups is asking the U.S. Forest Service to amend the Nantahala-Pisgah Forest Plan after Helene's catastrophic damage in western North Carolina. In November, the Forest Service estimated Helene damaged more than 187,000 acres in both national forests - losses that could lead to increased threats of wildfire and impacts on watershed health. the current Forest Plan drastically underestimates how much natural disturbances would impact the forests.

Dec 4, 2024 | wunc.org | Celeste Gracia

Clean water advocates and private citizens are calling on state environmental officials to pass proposed groundwater standards for three toxic chemicals known as PFAS. They're also asking for more action. "We need PFAS protections right now. This is a package that puts forward three and we will take that as a baby step, but we have to do more," said Emily Sutton, executive director of the Haw River Assembly. Sutton spoke at a public hearing in Raleigh Tuesday night.

Nov 27, 2024 | wunc.org | Celeste Gracia

Duke Energy plans to rebuild three of its substations in western North Carolina after Helene’s catastrophic damage. One of the substations that was completely destroyed by Helene's flooding is near Biltmore Village in Asheville. "What we’re seeing here is a war zone," said Duke Energy Spokesman Bill Norton in late October. Biltmore Village is a historic neighborhood just south of downtown Asheville. Its quaint, charming buildings with hotels and local shops look like old English stuccoed cottages.