WHQR Staff

North Carolina is a national leader with more than 8 million hogs and close to a billion chickens and turkeys in production. Most are raised on an industrial scale, in what are known as "concentrated animal feeding operations," or CAFOs. They produce tons of waste, alter the landscape, and present new environmental challenges. WHQR's series CAFO Country took a closer look at the issue.

This is WHQR Presents – where we platform interesting people and perspectives from around the region. Today’s show looks at the importance of literacy and the legacy of the tragic 1963 bombing of a church in Birmingham. From a Poet’s Point of View — it's from Speak Ya Peace NC, a poetry collective and platform that facilitates art and conversations about issues stemming from racism and other forms of oppression and discrimination.

On Tuesday, Sean Guerrero confirmed he had dropped out of the race due to "unforeseen circumstances."

Much of the city is still shaken up following the explosion on New Centre Drive on Tuesday, in which a number of firefighters were injured. As previously reported, the building was evacuated before the blast. But new details provided by the fire department paint a clearer picture of what happened.

Eyewitnesses report that the gas explosion took place at the planned Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center as a result of a hit-and-run, which damaged an exterior gas line. Three firefighters were injured in the incident, one seriously.

This is WHQR Presents — where we platform creators and people with interesting perspectives from around the region. Today’s show looks at The Fourth of July, Juneteenth, and other ideas about freedom From a Poet’s Point of View — it's from Speak Ya Peace NC, a poetry collective and platform that facilitates art and conversations about issues stemming from racism and other forms of oppression and discrimination.

The weather system became a named system on Saturday morning, and is expected to impact the South Carolina and Cape Fear coast. Most impacts are predicted to be minor, but flooding from rain and storm surges could be an issue, and rough water and rip tides are expected.

The Endowment’s new capacity and community grants, announced earlier this year, provide up to $5,000 to help small nonprofits and assist organizations of all sizes continue to develop. The Endowment funded 111 applications out of over 300.

This is WHQR Presents — where we platform creators and people with interesting perspectives from around the region. Today’s show, which commemorates the life of Baba (Father) Malcolm X, is From a Poet’s Point of View — from Speak Ya Peace NC, a poetry collective and platform that facilitates art and conversations about issues stemming from racism and other forms of oppression and discrimination.

Last week marked the first Education Focus Forum in New Hanover County, held in response to the signing of Executive Order 14242 — which seeks to take power from the U.S. Department of Education and place it in the hands of parents and state lawmakers.