Posts

Judge voids UNC’s shady settlement over confederate statue

By Alanna Joyner / February 17, 2020 /

Last week was a win for UNC students, faculty and alumni as a state judge vacated the UNC settlement over Silent Sam. Judge Allen Baddour held a hearing to reconsider his initial approval of the deal back in November, now ruling that the SCV did not have standing to bring the lawsuit in the first…

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Crisis at a Durham public housing complex reflects neglect and calls for change

By Alanna Joyner / February 14, 2020 / Comments Off on Crisis at a Durham public housing complex reflects neglect and calls for change

Friday, residents of McDougald Terrace are set to go home after more than a month in hotels. The Durham Housing Authority hoped to have 12 units ready for occupancy by the end of the week. However, some families are finding out their homes are not ready, and they feel they are not safe yet. Since…

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News & Observer: One ECU trustee resigns, another is censured after they meddled in student election

By Alanna Joyner / February 11, 2020 / Comments Off on News & Observer: One ECU trustee resigns, another is censured after they meddled in student election

One member of the East Carolina University Board of Trustees abruptly resigned and another was censured during a hearing before the UNC Board of Governors last Friday.  ECU Trustees Phil Lewis and Robert Moore were brought before the BOG after evidence revealed the two members offered money for an ECU student to run for SGA…

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NC Policy Watch: Duke Energy says it will fully excavate coal ash from unlined ponds, but that won’t fix the legacy of contamination

By Alanna Joyner / February 11, 2020 / Comments Off on NC Policy Watch: Duke Energy says it will fully excavate coal ash from unlined ponds, but that won’t fix the legacy of contamination

For the next two weeks, the NC Department of Environmental Quality is hosting six coal ash cleanup public meetings across North Carolina. Duke Energy’s closure plans for the ash basins at the remaining six plants in North Carolina will be up for discussion in Person, Wayne, Chatham and Robeson counties. Monday kicked off the first…

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NC Policy Watch: Leandro funding recommendations: Much lower than reported, readily affordable

By Alanna Joyner / February 10, 2020 / Comments Off on NC Policy Watch: Leandro funding recommendations: Much lower than reported, readily affordable

During the last meeting of the Governor’s Commission on Access to Sound Basic Education, WestEd’s “Leandro report” authors provided additional information showing that the recommended spending levels are quite reasonable and within the state’s capacity to readily implement. North Carolina’s 26-year-old Leandro education finance lawsuit came to a close last month as a state Superior…

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Trump Touts Economy, Blasts ‘Failed Impeachment Hoax’ In Charlotte Speech

By Alanna Joyner / February 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump Touts Economy, Blasts ‘Failed Impeachment Hoax’ In Charlotte Speech

On the heels of the impeachment acquittal, Trump visited Charlotte’s Central Piedmont Community College for the North Carolina Opportunity Now Summit. With no surprise, Trump commented on his impeachment trial, claiming it was an “impeachment hoax” and gave special praise to North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis for choosing party over country, as he voted not…

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Staggering levels of forever chemicals found in Cape River Basin

By Alanna Joyner / February 6, 2020 / Comments Off on Staggering levels of forever chemicals found in Cape River Basin

A water sample taken from the Sanford sewage treatment plant that discharges into the Deep River, revealed a shocking concentration of forever chemicals.  Documents released from the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality uncovered high levels of potentially carcinogenic chemicals in rivers and streams throughout the Cape Fear River basin in North Carolina — from Reidsville…

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Burr, Tillis vote to acquit Trump

By Alanna Joyner / February 6, 2020 /

On Wednesday, the U.S Senate acquitted Trump on the charges that he abused his power by pressuring a foreign government to interfere in a U.S. presidential election and then obstructed a congressional investigation into his actions. The vote was entirely partisan with an exception to Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, who voted to convict…

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NC Health News: Mental health advocates use gathering to push for funding, priorities

By Alanna Joyner / February 5, 2020 / Comments Off on NC Health News: Mental health advocates use gathering to push for funding, priorities

On Saturday, hundreds of mental health advocates raised questions about the priorities and concerns of the mental health community in North Carolina.  The 42nd annual Mental Health Legislative Breakfast at UNC Chapel Hill, brought over 400 health providers, advocates and consumers into a discussion to make state lawmakers aware of the need for improved and…

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WRAL: Forest Campaign Manager Initiated Meetings with Indicted Financier Greg Lindberg

By Alanna Joyner / February 5, 2020 /

Documents show Lt. Gov. Dan Forest’s chief of staff initiated meetings with indicted financier Greg Lindberg, who had deposited $2.4 million in political committees backing Forest’s current run for governor. Forest’s Chief of Staff Hal Weatherman, set up a meeting through his private email between Greg Lindberg, John Gray, and Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. This…

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