City & County - The Daily Tar Heel

Randi Emerson (left) and Carol Marshall (right), the founders of FIlmFest 919, a film festival based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Photo courtesy of Emerson and Marshall.

The show goes on as Chapel Hill's annual Film Fest 919 shifts to drive-ins

By Hayley Rosewall | Oct. 1

This year, Chapel Hill's Film Fest 919 will be held at a drive-in theater and with outdoor seating.

Screenshot from the virtually-held Community Policing Advisory Committee's roundtable.

Chapel Hill residents and officials discuss policing in public roundtable meeting

By Elsa Karcher | Sep. 30

Members of the Chapel Hill Police Advisory Committee hosted a roundtable to talk about their role with policing in the community.

DTH Graphic by Matthew Meyers. Photo by Thorne Williford.

Concerns surround accuracy as the 2020 Census nears its deadline

By Taylor Heeden | Sep. 30

The 2020 census is due Oct. 5, but the response rate is lower than it has previously been, especially for college students.

Screenshot from the virtually-held Orange County School Board meeting last weekend where reopening plans for elementary, middle, and high schools were discussed.

Orange County School Board votes most students return to in-person instruction in 2021

By David Richman , Kathryn Goodwin and Sascha Medina | Sep. 30

After consulting health officials, Orange County Schools made a decision about returning to in-person learning for the rest of semester.

Seniors Samantha Savage (Left) and Rachael Stone (Right) pick up brunch from a Good Uncle food truck. Photo courtesy of Caroline Jones.

Good Uncle food trucks deliver fresh food to students across Chapel Hill

By Salim Fayeq | Sep. 29

The debut of a new food delivery service, Good Uncle, targeted towards UNC students, has come to Chapel Hill.

On September 23rd at the Carolina Latinx Center, students (left to right) Jadah Smith, Isabella Lima, Elena Delvalle, and Bianca Goodwin participate in "Paint My Latinidad" by each painting a visual representation of their latinidad. This event was one of many hosted by the Carolina Latinx Center as a way to celebrate Latin Heritage Month and raise conversations about Latinx culture.

Chapel Hill celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, plans community outreach initiatives

By Ella Layn | Sep. 29

Here are some of the ways the Town of Chapel Hill and the University are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Before You Vote Episode 3: How to vote in North Carolina

By Meredith Radford , Kayleigh Carpenter and Sonia Rao | Sep. 29

In the third episode, City & State Editor Sonia Rao talks to Karen Brinson-Bell, executive director of the N.C. State Board of Elections, and UNC student Leighann Vinesett, about how to vote in the upcoming election.

A drive-in film showing at Food Truck Flix. Photo courtesy of Madison Mundy.

Local drive-in theaters are making a comeback during social distancing

By Macon Porterfield | Sep. 28

“I just really needed to get out of the house and do something semi-normal, compared to everything else," first-year Tucker Adkins said. "Even the drive to the theater was such a nice experience."

The 23rd annual Carrboro Music Festival will be held virtually this weekend, with two days of performances featuring nearly 100 acts from around the Triangle. Photo courtesy of Carrboro Parks & Rec.

The 23rd annual Carrboro Music Festival will give local artists a virtual platform

By Kayla Guilliams | Sep. 28

During a time when the music industry is facing uncertainty, the annual Carrboro Music Festival has transitioned to a virtual event with over 100 performers.

On-Duty Manager, Victor Yax, poses in front of Carolina Coffee Shop.

'It’s all about survival': Long-time Chapel Hill restaurants reflect on past, future

By Emma Kenfield | Sep. 27

Sutton's Drug Store, Linda's Bar and Grill and Carolina Coffee Shop are three Franklin Street staples looking to survive the pandemic and continue serving Chapel Hill residents. Christopher Carini, owner and operator of Linda's Bar and Grill, said he can't wait to reopen and will do whatever it takes to survive until that can happen. Sutton's Drug Store has been on Franklin Street for 97 years, and owner Don Pinney said he won't let it die. “It’s all about survival, trying to keep people employed, so they still have an income, making just enough money at the restaurant to take care of your staff,” said Kyle Shea, general manager of Carolina Coffee Shop.

DTH Photo Illustration. Chapel Hill native Mark Newhouse made back-to-back World Series of Poker final tables and won almost $1.5 million in the process.

Mark Newhouse: The Chapel Hill poker pro who won and lost millions, then found himself

By Ryan Wilcox | Sep. 27

Mark Newhouse made back-to-back World Series of Poker final tables and won almost $1.5 million in the process, but it took more than that for him to find what he needed.

Jen Mangrum (left) and Catherine Truitt (right) are the two candidates for the new State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Mangrum, the Democratic candidate, is an associate professor at UNC-Greensboro’s School of Education and Catherine Truitt, the Republican candidate, is the chancellor at Western Governors University North Carolina.

Here are the candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction

By Britney Nguyen | Sep. 27

The November election is coming up, so The Daily Tar Heel is breaking down every state and local office on the ballot, from governor to county commissioner. Here, we examined the candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

One section of the Occaneechi Museum exhibit. Photo courtesy of the Orange County History Museum.

New Occaneechi exhibit marks reopening of the Orange County Historical Museum

By Sarah Gray Barr | Sep. 27

The exhibit "Yesah: Journeys of the Occaneechi," opening at the Orange County Historical Museum on Friday, aims to bring awareness to the history of the Ocaneechi people in Hillsborough.

Sonia Rao is the city & state desk editor for the 2020-2021 school year.

Column: We want to hear from families about their experiences with remote education

By Sonia Rao | Sep. 27

The OC Voice is a portion of the OC Report newsletter where local residents may have a platform to talk about local issues they care about. Sonia Rao is a sophomore journalism and economics major and The Daily Tar Heel's City & State editor.

Chapel Hill High School football players at a game last season. Photo courtesy of Jack Baddour.

Chapel Hill High School football team 'optimistic' as it prepares for delayed season

By Lauren Baddour | Sep. 24

The football team is continuing to work hard while also striving to stay safe and take precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trinity Court public housing community remains vacant due to structural damage on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020. Trinity Court is set for demolition and rebuilding starting in 2022.

Trinity Court public housing remains vacant after 2019 redevelopment announcement

By Henry Haney | Sep. 24

Though Chapel Hill seeks to expand public housing units, it is not accessible to all. The Trinity Court public housing community is set for redevelopment, and has been vacant since 2018 Chapel Hill is working with community partners to alleviate housing insecurity Elizabeth O'nan, a Chapel Hill resident and disability rights activist, said public housing is not always accessible

Wegman's in Raleigh on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. The Wegmans in Chapel Hill is set to open in early 2021.

Wegmans development pushes ahead, concern from nearby neighborhood

By Sascha Medina | Sep. 24

Wegmans Food Markets is set to arrive in Chapel Hill by spring 2021, but concerns about traffic and community impact remain.

Elmo's Diner, pictured here on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, announced on Friday, Sept. 18, along with City Kitchen Restaurant, that it would be permanently closing due to the financial hardships the COVID-19 pandemic brought.

Elmo's Diner, City Kitchen announce permanent closures

By Kathryn Goodwin | Sep. 24

Two Chapel-Hill Carrboro restaurants are closing permanently, seven months into the pandemic.

(from left) Renee Price, Amy Fowler, Jean Hamilton and Mark Dorosin, the Orange County Board of County Commissions running for office in District 1 and 2. Headshots courtesy of the candidates.

Here's what issues matter most to the Orange County Board of Commissioners candidates

By Elsa Karcher | Sep. 23

The November election is coming up, so The Daily Tar Heel is breaking down every state and local office on the ballot, from governor to county commissioner. Here, we broke down who the candidates are for Orange County Board of Commissioners districts one, two and at-large.

Here's where N.C. General Assembly candidates from college towns stand on the issues

By Michael Taffe and Sonia Rao | Sep. 23

The Daily Tar Heel worked with six other student newsrooms across North Carolina to profile every General Assembly candidate in Orange, Mecklenburg, Wake, Guilford, Pitt, Durham and Watauga county. We asked every candidate five questions about issues students told us they cared about, and summarized their responses in the map below.