Beards keep men young, healthy & handsome

Submitted by Anonymous on Friday, May 17th, 8:19 am

Gentlemen, beards aren’t just for hipsters and hippies anymore.

If you want proof the beard is king in Charlotte, stand by any college, or look around any corner uptown: You’ll see full beards on the faces of students and men in their 30s and 40s.

So why the new hankering for heavy stubble?

While some say beards just make a man instantly sexy, researchers discovered there’s more to it than sex appeal.

"There are certainly some benefits to having beards," said dermatologist Dr. Ronea Harris with Presbyterian Dermatology South.

The study from the University of Southern Queensland found stubble or facial hair can improve men's overall health.

"We know that hair bearing areas because of the hair it does tend to protect more from UV light so we don't see as many skin cancers," said Dr. Harris.

The study also says that "all that hair" retains moisture and protects against the wind, keeping you looking young and fresh-faced.

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Severe weather spotter training classes offered

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 12:05pm

Severe weather spotter training classes offered

Severe weather season is underway in the Carolinas and the National Weather Service is looking to train severe weather spotters in our area.

The first of two classes in our area will be offered Thursday evening, May 16, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Iredell County Agriculture Center. Classes are about two hours long and covers the basics of thunderstorm development, fundamentals of storm structure and how to identify potential severe weather features.

The class is free, but you will need to register by calling 704-878-5097. For directions and more information, click here.

The next class will be offered in Union, SC on Tuesday, May 21st.

For more information on the SKYWARN program, click here.

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NC House bill draws fire over contraception rules

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 1:50pm

NC House bill draws fire over contraception rules

A bill broadening so-called conscience protections and the number of employers who can refuse to provide contraception services in health insurance coverage has been approved by a North Carolina House committee.

The bill approved Wednesday allows any medical professional to refuse to participate in an abortion and allows any business to refuse to provide contraception coverage on religious or moral grounds.

The bill expands so-called conscience protections beyond doctors and nurses to include people such as pharmacists and technicians.

The contraception provision expands existing law that exempts religious organizations to any private or nonprofit company.

The bill also outlaws health care plans that include abortion services from future online marketplaces of private plans offered under the federal Affordable Care Act.

Opponents say the bill tramples women's rights.

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Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013, 1:33pm

Hurricane season begins in the eastern Pacific

While hurricane season is still two weeks away in the Atlantic, Wednesday is the start of hurricane season in the eastern Pacific.

On average, more storms will form in the Pacific basin, but rarely make landfall. The ocean waters off the west coast are far to cold to sustain a hurricane, which requires sea surface temperatures of at least 80 degrees.

Additionally, the trade winds usually carry the storms westward, away from the coast. Rarely, storms can recurve back toward the coastline and make landfall along Baja California. Occasionally, they can bring heavy rain to southern California, but by then have lost their tropical characteristics.

Forecasters expect an average to below-normal year in terms of cyclone activity in the eastern Pacific.

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Volunteers key to making summer camps run

Submitted by WBTV Web Staff

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 7:48am

Volunteers key to making summer camps run

The summers are busy for this Charlotte teacher.

When Courtney Blosser is not in her first grade classroom, she is busy at a Charlotte YMCA.

"If you can offer them any extra support than you should do that," said Blosser.

Last summer, she signed up be a teacher volunteer for the Y readers program.

The Huntintowne Elementary School teacher volunteered six weeks and fell in love with her job.

"I love reading," said Blosser.

"I want our children to love reading and I think that for some of our struggling readers that is an amazing program."

The YMCA's Y Reader's program is just one month away.

"This summer we are going to be located at 10 schools across the greater Charlotte area," said Blair Campbell, YMCA communications and partnerships specialist.

The program preps students for the next reading level and helps struggling readers retain information usually lost over the summer.

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52 Weeks of Giving

Submitted by Donna Lepre on Friday, May 10th, 9:23 am

For select nonprofit charities, it will be like Christmas, whether it comes in May, August, or December.

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Changing overtime pay for some workers?

Submitted by Dedrick Russell on Thursday, May 9th, 6:42 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV)- There could be a new way to pay employees who work for the private sector. Members of the House have passed a bill to change overtime pay. The law would give employees the option to either get overtime pay or comp time.

Republican Congressman Robert Pittenger favors the bill and thinks this will empower families to take time off when needed - time that will best fit their schedule.

"You may have young kids at home," Pittenger said. "Or go to a soccer game and you may need to go to the dentist or you have aging parents. This is a good bill for hard working American families. It gives those choices back to the families and employees."

While Pittenger thinks this will help families, some hourly workers are not so sure.

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