City - The Daily Tar Heel

Students buy food from Porblano's Tacos, one of the food trucks that will be participating in the food truck rodeo, on Nov. 17 in front of Wilson library.

Thanks + Giving Food Truck Rodeo comes to Chapel Hill this Sunday

By Christian Ciocoiu | Nov. 17

Numerous food vendors will gather in Chapel Hill on Sunday, Nov. 21 for the Thanks + Giving Food Truck Rodeo.

A digital sign on campus boasts North Carolina Central University's rank as the 11th best HBCU according to US News and World Report 2020 Rankings in Durham on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019. There are currently five major capital projects underway at NCCU, including a new student center and three new residence halls.

N.C. Central launches new initiative to increase number of Black male educators

By Jenna Rupp | Nov. 17

North Carolina Central University launched the Marathon Teaching Institute (MTI), whose mission is to recruit, retain and mentor African American males to become K-12 teachers and educators, earlier this semester.

North Carolinian trees display their bright fall colors. In November, the N.C. Forest Service Nursery and Tree Improvement program will sell tree seedlings 25% off to military members.

N.C. Forest Service offers discount on tree seedling orders for military members

By Ethan Horton | Nov. 16

The North Carolina Forest Service is offering a 25 percent discount on tree seedling orders for military personnel throughout November to honor their service.

The new U.S. House district map in North Carolina was approved by the State Senate’s redistricting committee. The map favors the Republican Party by packing Democrats into only three districts.

N.C. facing allegations of partisan gerrymandering in new maps

By David Richman | Nov. 16

Republican leaders in the N.C. General Assembly have faced allegations of partisan gerrymandering and criticism of the new “race-blind” map drawing process following the Nov. 4 passage of new federal and state legislative maps.

John Rees, President of Bicycle Alliance of Chapel Hill, rides his bike on the Frances Shetley bikeway, which is a part of the 17-mile, shared-use path.

The Carrboro Town Council creates bike share program

By Graham Hill | Nov. 16

Following a presentation by Carrboro Transportation Director Zachary Hallock, the council unanimously approved a request for proposal for the project.

Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam smiles for a portrait in Carrboro on Nov. 11 2021.

Nida Allam announces campaign for U.S. House of Representatives

By Harrison Gummel | Nov. 16

Last week, Durham County Commissioner and NC State alum Nida Allam announced that she's planning to run for North Carolina’s sixth Congressional District as a Democrat in 2022.

Chieko Murasugi explains the process behind one of her mixed media works. Studios of artists like Murasugi are open to the public for the first two weekends in November during the Orange County Artists Guild Studio Tour. "I hope people will be intrigued by the way i look at the world," said Murasugi.

Orange County artists open their studio doors for 27th annual tour

By Waverly McIver | Nov. 15

Over 100 artists in the Orange County Artist's Guild opened their doors to visitors for the annual studio tour event.

Hunter Bolesky (left) and Brandon Srinath (right) are the owners of Botana-Cart, a mobile botanical shop that operates in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area.

Mobile botanical shop Botana-Cart rolls out products 'of this Earth,' including Delta-8

By Sarah Choi | Nov. 15

Hunter Bolesky and Brandon Srinath aren’t average businessmen. They’re the co-owners of Botana-Cart, a bicycle-powered botanical shop. Their cart, which sports a marijuana leaf, serves the Chapel Hill and Carrboro area. Botana-Cart sells locally sourced, plant-based products from its cart, which can be spotted around Franklin Street on weekend nights, and via delivery. Among the company's product offerings is Delta-8, a cannabis compound.

A volunteer answers a book request from an incarcerated individual. Photo courtesy of Liz Schlemmer.

New mailing policy for incarcerated individuals raises privacy, mental health concerns

By Brian Rosenzweig | Nov. 15

In an effort to reduce contraband coming into the prisons, the North Carolina Department of Safety recently changed its mailing system to a fully digital service. This has raised concerns among activists about potential negative effects on incarcerated individuals.

A student of Frank Porter Graham Elementary follows paw prints printed on the sidewalk from carpool toward the school early in the morning on March 26, 2021. CHCCS have recently reopened in-person instruction, although many children are still learning virtually.

N.C. judge orders $1.7B to fund public education in latest Leandro case development

By Emmy Martin | Nov. 14

N.C. Superior Court Judge David Lee ordered the transfer of $1.52 billion from the General Fund to the state Department of Public Instruction, $189.8 million to the Department of Health and Human Services and $41.3 million to the UNC System.

Seema Kak, the executive director of Kiran, poses for a portrait on Nov. 9. Kiran's mission is to empower and support South Asian victims of domestic violence in North Carolina.

Volunteer organization Kiran advocates for South Asian survivors of domestic violence

By Meagan Bergstrom | Nov. 14

Kiran provides services in a variety of areas, such as a 24-hour crisis hotline, client advocacy, crisis counseling, safety planning and support groups.

The Orange County Eubanks Road Waste and Recycling Center hosts several composting bins, pictured on Nov. 14 as part of the Town of Chapel Hill's composting program.

Orange County has diverted 946,000 pounds of food from landfills through composting

By Ian Walniuk | Nov. 14

About 50 businesses use Orange County's commercial food waste collection program. According to the county’s compost report published in October, over 946,000 pounds of trash were diverted from local landfills over the last year.

An Orange County sign is pictured on Interstate 40 on Oct. 13, 2021. On Oct. 8, Orange County launched a new Longtime Homeowner Assistance to provide property tax bill assistance to homeowners who have lived in Orange County for over 10 years.

Orange County 2020 tourism spending rate decreases by nearly 50 percent from previous year

By Caroline Kelly | Nov. 11

Domestic and international tourists spent over $128 million in Orange County in 2020, a 47.7 percent decrease from spending in 2019, according to a press release from the Chapel Hill/Orange County Visitors Bureau.

A student sits under the shade of a tree in Polk Place on Nov. 9 2021.

Planting for the future: Chapel Hill mayor hosts Tree of the Year contest

By Christian Phillips | Nov. 10

The Mayor’s Tree of the Year contest, a contest run by the Town of Chapel Hill to highlight important and meaningful trees in the community, is returning for a second year.

Theodore Chatfield, founder and chief artisan of Vegan Ice Cream Man, poses for a portrait on Nov. 7. "Every batch is made with an abundance of love," said Chatfield.

I scream, you scream: Chapel Hill's newest food truck serves vegan ice cream

By Adaliene Andsager | Nov. 9

There's a new all-inclusive ice cream shop in Chapel Hill. Vegan Ice Cream Man, founded in 2019, serves plant-based ice cream that is dairy, egg, cruelty and nut free.

A customer browses vinyls at the Carrboro CD and Record Show on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Carrboro, NC. The 29th Biannual show boasted 42 tables of new and used CDs, vinyl records, and other music memorabilia.

Carrboro holds its 29th biannual CD and Record Show

By Katie MacKinnon | Nov. 8

The town of Carrboro sponsored the 29th biannual CD and Record Show on Nov. 7, hosting approximately 30 vendors selling CDs, records, cassettes and music memorabilia.

UNC graduate Chris Suggs, 21, won a seat on the Kinston City Council on Nov. 2, per unofficial results. This victory made him the youngest elected official in North Carolina.

UNC alumnus becomes one of youngest elected officials in N.C., per unofficial results

By Ethan Horton | Nov. 8

UNC graduate 21-year-old Chris Suggs won a seat on the Kinston City Council on Nov. 2, per unofficial results, making him one of the youngest elected officials in North Carolina. When he was 14 years old, Suggs founded a nonprofit called Kinston Teens, an organization which attempts to empower teens through service, leadership and engagement with the community. Suggs said he will be sworn in early next month and that he is excited to get to work with the Kinston City Council.

A streetlight on Franklin Street is pictured on Nov. 1.

What are the purple streetlights around Chapel Hill?

By Grant Alexander | Nov. 8

Some Chapel Hill residents are seeing a strange sight when they drive around town at night — purple street lights. The purple haze is caused be defective LED lighting produced Acuity, according to a Duke Energy spokesperson.

Artists and viewers admire paintings submitted to the 5th Annual Paint It Orange competition at the Eno Arts Mill in Hillsborough on Nov. 5.

Paint It Orange event features paintings of Orange County landscapes

By Ian Walniuk | Nov. 8

Artists from as far as Connecticut traveled to Hillsborough to display artwork depicting landscapes and landmarks in Orange County for the fifth annual Paint it Orange Plein Air Paint-Out and Wet Paint Sale, which was held from Nov. 3 to Nov. 5.

The UNC Institute of Politics is hosting a Senate Town Hall with candidates running for U.S. Senate in 2022 on Nov. 9, 2021 on campus. Senior Advisor Ella Ruth of the NC Institute of Politics helped organize the event. Photo courtesy of Ella Ruth.

UNC Institute of Politics to hold town hall for U.S. Senate candidates

By Meagan Bergstrom | Nov. 7

N.C. Sen. Jeff Jackson, former N.C. Sen. Erica Smith, pastor Tobias LaGrone, The Science Policy Action Network, Inc. founder and CEO Richard Watkins and Department of Defense public servant Jen Banwart will speak at the town hall on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in Chapman Hall, room 201.