Jo Nixon

Orange County landfill gas to power UNC buildings

At a ground-breaking ceremony held at the Solid Waste Administration offices, N.C. Rep. Joe Hackney, D-Orange, Orange County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Valerie Foushee and UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp stood awaiting a countdown which signaled the beginning of the first phase of the Orange County landfill gas project. Holes will be drilled into the Orange County landfill and pipes will draw out methane, a product of the organisms that decompose garbage, so it can be burned and used as electricity.

McKee wins Orange County commissioners seat

Tuesday night Earl McKee claimed his seat on the Board of Orange County Commissioners. The Democratic candidate, McKee won 31,804 votes, almost 72 percent of the total, in the district-two race against Republican candidate Greg Andrews, according to unofficial Board of Elections results.

Orange County Board of Commisioners evaluates criteria for nonprofit support after 56 agencies apply for funding

Criteria for funding nonprofit agencies and how they could change in future years dominated the Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday. Whether the history of each agency should be considered and how they should be funded divided county commissioners at the meeting.

Newhope church named 10th fasted-growing church in U.S.

Nine years ago, Benji Kelley and his family started a worship service in their Chapel Hill home. Even when he had five members in attendance, Kelley had big hopes for expansion.

Courtyard construction delayed until Aug. 2011

Redevelopment plans for a walled-in restaurant and retail area have been pushed back as developers wait for permit approval from the town.

Orange County Commissioners discuss sales tax increase and health care

The Board of Orange County Commissioners voted Tuesday night to support a quarter-cent sales tax increase that will appear on November ballots.

Board of Aldermen disagree on new green affordable housing in Carrboro

Carrboro’s Board of Aldermen were split on a proposed development Tuesday as they debated housing affordability. The Veridia Community housing project on Old Fayetteville Road presented an affordable housing proposal in December 2008 with a projected cost of $289,000 per home. The development will feature 39 single-family homes that are all Green Building Initiative and Energy Star certified. But at the meeting, Veridia partners George “Trip” Overholt and Dave Bell said the updated projected cost of each housing unit is upward of $300,000. Overholt said the increase is due to added standard features like solar hot water systems, car ports and sprinkler systems. “We aren’t making any additional money on the difference,” he said.

Carrboro street-improvement decisions finalized

The Smith Level Road reconstruction is scheduled to go to vote at the Sept. 28 Carrboro Board of Aldermen meeting.

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Syd’s Hair Shop on Rosemary Street will donate some profits this Sunday to Japanese relief.

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The sun rises over campus.