City & County - The Daily Tar Heel

DTH Photo Illustration. A state grant of $1.2 million will enhance interactions between Orange County law enforcement and individuals during a mental health crisis.

Orange County receives $1.2 million grant for non-law enforcement response team

By Emerson Gonzalez-Roblero | Mar. 8

Orange County recently received a $1.2 million grant to create a community care and response team for individuals with mental health illnesses or disorders who come into contact with law enforcement. The grant was awarded by the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

The tennis courts in Hargraves Community Park are pictured on March 4, 2023. The courts are in the process of being repaved.

Town takes first steps in care and resurfacing of Hargraves Community Park tennis courts

By Lauren Zola | Mar. 8

Residents say the Hargraves Community Park tennis courts have been neglected in recent years. The Town of Chapel Hill is working to address these concerns by taking prospective bidders to renovate the tennis courts and facilities at Hargraves Community Park.

An ambulance arrives at UNC Hospitals on Monday, March 6, 2023. Medicaid expansions will benefit patients at UNC Hospitals and other medical facilities around the North Carolina.

Republican legislative leaders agree on Medicaid expansion, bill now in Senate

By Caroline Dickey | Mar. 8

N.C. Rep. Tim Moore (R-Cleveland, Rutherford), the speaker of the North Carolina House, and N.C. Sen. Phil Berger (R-Guilford, Rockingham), the president pro tem of the North Carolina Senate, announced that they had come to an agreement on Medicaid expansion on March 2.

Burgers cook on a grill at Al’s Burger Shack on Wednesday, March 8, 2023. The restaurant is currently switching beef providers.

Al's Burger Shack moves away from longtime NC beef supplier Mills Family Farms

By Phoebe Martel | Mar. 8

New Al's Burger Shack owners Charlie Farris and Jason Kesler have decided to transition away from using meat from Mooresville-based Mills Family Farms because of quality concerns. Farris did not disclose the identity of Al's Burger Shack's new beef supplier.

From left, Alexander Julian, Missy Julian-Fox and Bart Fox pose inside their formalwear store, Julian's, on Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Tuesday, March 7, 2023.

'The first to bring preppy to the South': Honoring three generations at Julian's

By Zoe Werner | Mar. 8

Julian's College Shop has been owned and operated by the Julian family for the past 80 years — since Maurice Julian opened the original in 1942. Currently, the store is owned by his son and international award-winning designer Alexander Julian. It is managed by Bart Fox, Maurice Julian's grandson.

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced that the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program would continue during the 2022-23 academic year. This extension will allow K-12 students in need of meals outside of school to use a debit-like card at authorized retailers to purchase food.

NCDHHS announces continuation of Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer program

By Emma Hall | Mar. 8

Last week, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced it will continue the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT) program during the 2022-2023 school year.

The Orange County Board of Education building, as pictured on Monday, March 28, 2022, is located on East King Street in Hillsborough.

Orange County Schools works to diversify student enrollment in advanced courses

By Maddie Van Meter | Mar. 8

Members of Orange County Schools provided the Board of Education with updates on their partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools in a Monday meeting. EOS is an organization that provides school districts with data and support to diversify enrollment in advanced courses and close the opportunity gap.

The former Southern Season building in Chapel Hill, N.C. gets demolished at the groundbreaking ceremony for University Place on Monday, Mar. 6, 2023. Construction will soon begin in its place for new living and recreational areas.

University Place Mall sees demolition, progress toward major transformation plans

By Gowri Abhinanda | Mar. 7

Demolition began on part of University Place, Chapel Hill’s first enclosed mall, as a part of a groundbreaking ceremony held on Monday. The construction is estimated to be completed by 2025, according to Jeff Kurtz, the vice president of development for Ram Realty Advisors.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper speaks at a campaign event on Sunday, May 17, 2022.
Photo courtesy of Sean Rayford/Getty Images/TNS.

Gov. Roy Cooper gives his fourth State of the State address

By Ethan E. Horton and Walker Livingston | Mar. 6

Gov. Roy Cooper addressed the N.C. General Assembly and other state leaders tonight in his fourth State of the State address. Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson provided the GOP’s response immediately afterward in a pre-recorded speech.

Carrboro High School Principal Beverly Rudolph (center) announced her retirement from K-12 education on March 1. She is pictured with students Rekiyah Bobbitt (left) and Louise Lounes (right). Photo courtesy of Beverly Rudolph.

'She's really kind of an icon': Carrboro High principal Beverly Rudolph to retire

By Annika Duneja | Mar. 6

Carrboro High School Principal Beverly Rudolph announced her retirement from K-12 education in a March 2 video on the Chapel Hill and Carrboro City Schools Twitter account. She will officially leave CHS at the end of the academic year.

Medicaid recertification will be happening over the next 12 months. UNC Hospital, a provider for Medicaid recipients, is pictured on Monday, March 6, 2023.

NCDHHS announces Medicaid recertification; up to 300,000 people may lose coverage in NC

By Sam Kornylak | Mar. 6

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday, March 1 that Medicaid users across the state may lose their healthcare coverage or see a reduction in benefits.The recertification process, or "Medicaid continuous coverage unwinding", will begin on April 1 due to changes at the federal level.

The sun sets over the neighborhood in which Dave Jernigan stayed in during his time in Lviv, Ukraine. Photo courtesy of Dave Jernigan.

A look at three North Carolinians who volunteer in, around Ukraine

By Maddie Policastro | Mar. 6

Meet Dave Jernigan, Jonathan Mills and Isabella Romine: three North Carolinians who played, and still play, significant roles in helping Ukrainian refugees since the Russian invasion over a year ago. “Lviv — it's a really beautiful place,” Jernigan said. “It’s a very vibrant city, but everywhere you look you see trauma.” In one of his volunteer roles, Jernigan said he helped convert a network of Soviet-era tunnels under hospitals into air raid shelters so patients and doctors could evacuate — sometimes mid-surgery — if imminent danger were to arise.

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Administrative Office building in Chapel Hill, NC, is pictured on Monday, Nov. 28, 2022.

CHCCS Board of Education hears finance updates, concerns on starting school earlier

By Sam Kornylak | Mar. 5

Concerns from teachers over a new proposal to make the start time of elementary schools earlier in the day are shared in a work session with the Chapel Hill-Carborro City Schools Board of Education. Updates on the district's finances are shared by the board.

James E. Williams Jr. and Delores P. Simpson, the recipients of the 2023 Pauli Murray Award, are pictured.
Photo Courtesy of Tony Farrell.

Two longtime Orange County residents win 2023 Pauli Murray awards

By Sierra President | Mar. 5

On Sunday, Feb. 26, the 33rd annual Pauli Murray Award ceremony was held by the Orange County Human Relation Commission, where James E. Williams Jr. and Delores P. Simpson won the 2023 award.

The Supreme Court of North Carolina, located in Raleigh, is pictured on Aug. 26, 2022.

NC Supreme Court accepts new filings in 2022 Leandro case, rehearing possible

By Ethan E. Horton | Mar. 4

On Friday, the N.C. Supreme Court decided in a 5-2 order along party lines that it would stop the transfer of money by a lower court toward public education in the state. The new Republican majority on the state Supreme Court agreed with the State Controller's argument that the office's potential criminal liability for moving the money was not adequately addressed in the court's November opinion.

Kidzu Children’s Museum's new birthday party theme setup is located in Chapel Hill on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Kidzu will be celebrating their 17th Birthday on Sunday, March 5, where they will be showcasing the new themes for their birthday parties.

Kidzu Children’s Museum to host 17th birthday party

By Allie Sadoff | Mar. 3

Kidzu Children’s Museum will celebrate its 17th birthday with a party on Sunday, March 5 from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. After several years of not being able to celebrate, Kidzu's birthday party will showcase new birthday themes and special guests will facilitate multi-lingual storytimes.

DTH Photo Illustration. The 2023 North Carolina Women's History Month Proclamation is displayed.

Gov. Cooper proclaims March as Women's History Month, state celebrates storytellers

By Ella Aluise | Mar. 3

Gov. Roy Cooper signed a proclamation declaring March as Women’s History Month on Feb. 24. The national theme for Women’s History Month is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories," and the proclamation encourages the North Carolina community to honor prominent women storytellers in North Carolina’s history.

The 203 Project located at 203 South Greensboro St. in Carrboro continues to undergo construction on Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023. Completion of the project is anticipated for spring 2024.

Carrboro 203 Project construction progresses with expected completion in June 2024

By Caroline Horne | Mar. 3

The 203 Project is set to be completed and open in June 2024, according to Susan Romaine, Carrboro mayor pro tem. The project is on schedule if the weather permits construction to continue.

Water flows onto the sidewalk near UNC's Carrington Hall on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.

OWASA releases 2022 wastewater report card, meets regulatory standards

By Libby Wakefield | Mar. 2

The Orange Water and Sewer Authority, which delivers water services to the Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities, recently released its' wastewater report card for 2022. The report shows that OWASA met all of the EPA's regulatory requirements for the year.

NC House can now vote to override governor's vetoes without prior notice

By Caroline Dickey | Mar. 2

The N.C. House of Representatives' permanent rules package for the 2023-2024 session, passed in the House on Feb. 15, includes a change to overriding the governor's veto. The rule will allow overriding votes to occur on any legislative day without prior notice to representatives, a change from the current 24- to 72-hour notice.