Fueled by the current political climate, N.C. voter turnout is at a record high
Chapel of the Cross on Franklin Street is the closest early voting site to campus. The early voting period ends on Nov. 3 at 3 p.m.
ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Nobody actually knows who owns the Jefferson Davis marker on Franklin Street
The Orange County Board of Commissioners voted on Oct. 16 to repeal a 1959 resolution to name U.S. Highway 15 as Jefferson Davis Highway after several residents began questioning the name. But does the BOC have the jurisdiction to change the name, or does that fall under the University, the Town of Chapel Hill or the North Carolina Department of Transportation? And who put up the marker just outside McCorkle Place?
Orange County Commissioners repeal Jefferson Davis National Highway designation
The resolution gave the name to a section of U.S. Highway 15 from the Durham County line to the Chatham County line.
Orange County approves funding to expand broadband service in underserved regions
Orange County Board of Commissioners approves funding to expand internet access for rural residents.
Orange County reaffirms $149.5 million commitment to light rail project
Despite difficulty securing funding, the Orange County Board of Commissioners declared the Durham-Orange Light Rail project a go.
You can easily give leftover items to local donation centers on move-out day
Amy Preble, waste diversion coordinator at the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, said residence halls will have donation stations as part of the OWRR program, “Don’t Ditch it. Donate it!”
Here's where and how you can early vote in Orange County
Early voting for the Orange County primary election opens this Saturday and will last until Saturday, May 5. The early voting sites include the Hillsborough Board of Elections, the Carrboro Town Hall, the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, Efland Ruritan Club Building and the Seymour Senior Center in Chapel Hill.
Duke Energy aims to reduce energy usage in Orange County
Duke Energy Progress, the Triangle’s Duke Energy affiliate, a new energy saving program known as EnergyWise Home. The project aims to reduce energy usage during peak periods this summer. This and other projects are representative of Duke Energy’s environmental push over the last several years both to save money and to use less power.
With elections coming up, Orange County launches voter education initiative
As elections get closer and closer, Orange County launches a campaign aimed at educating voters about new district lines and how to vote.
Time is ticking as Orange County plans for displaced mobile home residents
Residents of Homestead mobile home park have until the end of the month to relocate, or face eviction. Here's how Orange County is trying to help.
Some groups want more Confederate flags in N.C. — here's how Orange County is reacting
The North Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Alamance County Taking Back Alamance County (ACTBAC), another Southern heritage group, have both announced plans to raise Confederate flags along highways across North Carolina. Some citizens have expressed concern regarding these plans claiming that proposed flag would be in violation of county regulations.
Gone but not forgotten: Chapel Hill School District's slow start to desegregation
The Brown v. the Board of Education Supreme Court decision was made in 1954, but the Chapel Hill school board didn’t start desegregating schools until 1960, and desegregation wasn’t complete in Chapel Hill until the summer of 1966. “Even in progressive Chapel Hill and Carrboro, it wasn’t smooth and some very hurtful things happened,” said Mia Burroughs, a member of the Orange County Board of Commissioners.
BOCC proposes resolution to oppose General Assembly's efforts to appoint judges
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is looking to pass a resolution in their meeting on Thursday that will oppose a potential change to how North Carolina judges are selected. The Commissioners have been outspoken in their opposition, claiming the amendment would “abridge or impinge upon the right of the people of North Carolina to elect their judges,” as stated in the resolution.
Long-time Orange County Commissioner Barry Jacobs pulls out of race
“I had a gut reaction that it was time to do it,” Barry Jacobs said. “I’m usually a person that operates based on careful thought, so when I had a strong emotional reaction, I was fascinated. I thought maybe I should listen. I enjoy the work, but I want to do some other things while I’m still on as opposed to under the planet.”
Chapel Hill high school students are organizing a walkout to protest gun violence
Members of the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools community met Sunday to organize a walkout protesting gun violence on March 14 at 9:55 a.m. The walkout will last 17 minutes, with each minute representing one of the 17 students killed during the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. earlier this month.
Orange County rural residents are getting connected
The Orange County Board of Commissioners is allocating up to $500,000 for a company to bring high-speed broadband to the area.
Why vaping in Orange County may be worse for you than you think
E-cigarettes and vaporizers have become increasingly popular among younger demographics; however, officials worry that users are unaware of major health threats. Even though use of traditional cigarettes has declined over the past decade, tobacco usage among young people has increased in the past five years, prompting officials to fund a campaign to raise awareness of the health risks associated with these devices. The campaign, Vision 2020, is targeting signage and education within the North Carolina Public School System in an attempt to drive down e-cigarette usage.
Hillsborough residents start petition against proposed Detention Center
Orange County has proposed a location for a new Detention Center and Agricultural facility. In response, a group of upset residents created a petition requesting the facility to be moved.
Orange County BOC votes to join massive lawsuit against opioid distributors
Twenty-six percent of Orange County's opioid-related deaths came from Hillsborough, even though the town only makes up five percent of the county's population. Here's how the Orange County Board of Commissioners is joining the fight against the opioid epidemic.
Updated detention center finally on the horizon for Hillsborough
After nearly 100 years, Hillsborough is finally overhauling its deteriorating detention center. The new campus is expected to feature considerable improvements as well as a new Environment and Agricultural Center.
