Cedar Ridge High School seniors showcase their artwork at Margaret Lane Gallery

“Around the latter half of my first year in I.B. Art, I stumbled across artists like Hannah Höch and Barbara Kruger who made social commentary,” Michelle Castellanos, an I.B. Art student at Cedar Ridge High School, said. “I was inspired to address these messages of women’s issues and racial issues since it's something that affects me as a Latina.”

Living with a pandemic: Polio in the 1940s

For polio survivors, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is not the first infectious disease to upend their lives. Now, decades after polio ripped through North Carolina and the world, medical experts and researchers at UNC are looking to this past disease outbreak to give context to a modern one. 

Retired CHCCS teacher Karen Reid is looking for a kidney donor

Reid, who was diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease in 2014, recently published a letter asking for help finding a donor. Her disease has now progressed to stage four and her kidneys have lost 85 to 90 percent of their function.

One person arrested after shots fired at Chapel Hill apartment complex

Friends of Chapel Hill Public Library celebrates National Library Lovers Month

Every Saturday during February, there will be a table set up at the front entrance to the library where current members of the Friends of Chapel Hill Public Library can pick up a free book, and new members can join.

Pandemic crises generate progress in Orange County’s Emergency Housing Department

The pandemic has had a devastating impact on renters and homeowners in Orange County. To solve the looming housing crisis, the Orange County Housing and Community Development department coordinated with the towns of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough to pool housing funds and coordinate aid guidelines.  

Orange County, schools systems adjust plans ahead of winter storm

Officials say residents should prepare for up to three days of lost power as Orange County faces a winter storm warning from midnight Thursday until 7 a.m. Friday, with a likely ice accumulation of ¼ to ½ inches across central N.C.

New Wegmans location brings more organic food to Chapel Hill, and more traffic

The store, which has received some concern about traffic from residents, is opening at 1810 Fordham Rd. on Feb. 24. 

New social studies standards met with mixed feelings from students, teachers

The new K-12 social studies standards include terms such as racism, discrimination and identity and place a greater emphasis on social movements and competing historical narratives.  To some local students and teachers, however, the standards don't go far enough to ensure that the hard conversations will be had.

'She was indefatigable': Remembering Irene Briggaman's efforts to alleviate hunger

John Dorward, former executive director of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service, said Briggaman was a force of nature. “She was a marvelous individual,” Dorward said. “She volunteered for us, she volunteered a half a dozen places around town. She knew what she wanted to get done.”

Email reveals how police prepared for Franklin St. rush after Town refuses to comment

Many students have expressed frustration with how the Chapel Hill Police Department handled the Feb. 6 Franklin Street rush, where approximately 1,000 people gathered, many without masks, after the UNC men's basketball team's win over Duke. 

Meet Sarah Dudzic, PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro's first executive director

Sarah Dudzic, the new executive director of PORCH Chapel Hill-Carrboro, plans to ensure the organization's sustainability during a time when food insecurity is on the rise — over 85 percent of PORCH clients have reported loss of income since the pandemic began, and 77 percent of clients worry about having enough food for their families. 

Cooper says N.C. will increase COVID-19 vaccine supply as waitlist numbers surge

Ever since the COVID-19 vaccine became available to states, supply has been a concern. Mandy Cohen, secretary of N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, said at a press conference Tuesday that the Biden administration approved a five-percent increase in vaccine doses to the state. She said it is undetermined how many additional doses that would add up to. “We know there’s still not enough vaccine supply to vaccinate the millions of people who need it,” Gov. Roy Cooper said during the conference. “We’re pushing for more.”

GoFundMe for carjacked Chapel Hill Insomnia driver reaches nearly $50,000

Robert Perry, a delivery driver for Insomnia Cookies, was shot and robbed in December. A co-worker of Perry started the GoFundMe hoping that it would raise enough money to help Perry pay his bills while he recovers and is unable to work.

Family of 19-year-old missing Chapel Hill native Sydney West offers $10,000 reward

West went missing in California in late September. She was attending the University of California-Berkeley for her freshman year.

Triangle Doulas of Color provides community support for local mothers

Through Triangle Doulas of Color, Ste’Keira Shepperson is trying to build a community of support, especially for Black mothers. Her company provides support during pregnancy, labor and postpartum periods.

Inter-Faith Council for Social Service opens new 16,000+ sq. ft. Carrboro facility

IFC Commons marks the first time in the organization’s 57-year history that all of the IFC’s major non-shelter programs, like the community market and community kitchen, as well as staff offices, will be in one building. 

Alyson Grine becomes only LGBTQ+ person currently serving on state Superior Court

Grine replaces former Superior Court Judge Carl Fox, who retired in October 2020 after more than 14 years on the court.

CHCCS votes to return to in-person classes starting in April

The CHCCS Board of Education unanimously approved a hybrid return-to-learning plan at a Feb. 4 meeting. Although originally set to vote on the matter Feb. 18, the Board pushed the decision earlier following a recommendation from Gov. Roy Cooper.

Students forced off campus find new opportunities in hotel living at the Graduate

In an already unprecedented semester, instead of staying in traditional dorms like Hinton James and Granville Towers, some UNC students have found themselves living in a hotel.  Over 70 UNC students have been living at the Graduate Chapel Hill, a hotel on Franklin Street that has rapidly shifted its business model to accommodate student living needs. Anne Houston Huffman, a first-year journalism student staying at the Graduate, said living there has allowed her to retain some sense of normalcy in her first-year experience, from being close to campus to having opportunities for social interaction. “When I walk through the doors, the staff always know my name,” Lauren Langley, another first-year staying at the Graduate, said. “The way I look at it, no matter where I choose to live for the next three years, I always have a home here.”