Celeste Gracia
Celeste Gracia was born and raised in deep south Texas. She’s always loved to read and write, so when she discovered journalism in high school, she knew it was for her. She graduated from the University of North Texas. She previously interned at CBS News Radio in New York and Morning Edition in Washington D.C. She constantly craves cookies & creme ice cream and enjoys singing along to Broadway musicals.
-
Controversial wood pellet plant in Sampson County spurs debate over environmental injustice, economiIn this two-part series "The Wood Energy Dilemma," reporters from WFAE and WUNC visit communities feeding the world’s appetite for wood energy.
-
Environmental Protection Agency head Michael Regan says his agency is taking a series of actions to limit pollution from a cluster of long-lasting chemicals known as PFAS that are increasingly turning up in public drinking water systems, private wells and even food.
-
For decades, the tree was chopped down for timber. Now, growing research shows that longleaf pine is especially resilient to climate change.
-
A regular water quality review has environmental advocates pushing the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality on standards for E. Coli, PFAS, and 1,4 Dioxane.
-
Low income communities of color in urban areas are more likely to experience extreme heat because of historically unequal policies and investment around development and zoning. A new, national effort hopes to identify and eventually address these "urban heat islands."
-
UNC Health Southeastern was previously full in January because of a surge in COVID-19 patients. This time COVID patients associated with the highly contagious delta variant are increasing, but so are patients with other health conditions.
-
State House Republicans have introduced wide-ranging energy legislation. One of the proposals in the Modernize Energy Generation measure is to transition five Duke Energy coal plants in North Carolina to mostly natural gas by 2030.
-
Cumberland County is considering legal action against Chemours to get funding for a new public water system that would alleviate Gen X contamination.
-
A recently published study from North Carolina State University finds that standing dead trees in coastal wetland forests increase greenhouse gas emissions in their ecosystem by about 25%.
-
The hospitality industry in the Triangle and across North Carolina is struggling to find workers as pandemic restrictions ease and consumers go out more.