Orange County Commissioners - The Daily Tar Heel

The bartender with a mask on talks to a customer at Might As Well Bar & Grill on West Franklin Street on Sunday, June 7, 2020. Might As Well is one of the several bars in Chapel Hill re-opening with some changes during this phase of COVID-19 recovery.

Orange County officials aim to quell late-night crowds with new order

By Taylor Heeden | Jul. 22, 2020

If you want a late-night bite in Chapel Hill these days, you'll need to make it at home or order it to go. In response to concerns from residents, University officials and local law enforcement regarding crowds at local restaurants, Orange County restaurants have been prohibited from serving dine-in alcohol or food orders after 10 p.m, as per a declaration added to the county's state of emergency order.

Orange County will restrict food, alcohol service at night starting July 10

By Suzannah Claire Perry | Jul. 9, 2020

This afternoon, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners modified its emergency declaration to limit alcohol and food sales at certain times.

Mark Dorosin from the Orange County Board of Commissioners speaks at the Assembly of Governors at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2019.

Orange County BOCC holds listening session on racism, policing

By Audrey Selley | Jul. 9, 2020

At a specially called July 7 listening session, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners heard community concerns on racial justice from the police station to the classroom.

An Orange County Commissioner clicks his pen at a previous Assembly of Governors at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2019.

BOCC passes 2020-2021 budget, hears sheriff's equity report at June 16 meeting

By Britney Nguyen | Jun. 18, 2020

At their June 16 meeting, members of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners passed their fiscal year 2020-2021 budget and heard a special presentation from Sheriff Charles Blackwood on equity measures in policing.

Orange County Commissioner Renee Price speaks at a previous Assembly of Governors meeting at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2019.

County Commissioners approve funds for inmate re-entry housing at June 9 meeting

By Dylan Cole Phillips | Jun. 11, 2020

The Orange County Board of Commissioners approved a measure to outsource funding to a local nonprofit to facilitate a way for inmates to re-enter society.

Carborro residents shop at the Carborro farmer's market Saturday, Feb. 9 2020.

Application live for second round of Orange County-sponsored small business funding

By Camila Moreno-Lizarazo | Jun. 7, 2020

The funding, which small businesses can apply for until June 17 at 11:59 p.m., will be entirely distributed via grant, not loan.

A customer with a mask on at Edzo's Burger Shop in Evanston, IL on Friday, May 8, 2020 waits in line for his order, while the employees have no form PPE. In North Carolina upon entering Phase 2 of COVID-19 recovery, it will be required for all employees and strongly recommended for customers of restaurants and local businesses to wear masks to prevent against the spread of the virus.

Orange County will mandate face coverings for business employees during Phase 2

By Suzannah Claire Perry | May. 22, 2020

Orange County added an amendment to its emergency declaration, enforcing guidelines in addition to Governor Roy Cooper’s Phase 2 executive order. Under the amendment, business employees must wear facial coverings and businesses should ask customers to wear facial coverings or masks.

Orange County Commissioners Candidates Mark Dorosin, Jean Hamilton, and Penny Rich discuss their platforms at the CHCCS PTA Council Orange County Commissioners Candidate Forum at Chapel Hill Town Hall on Monday, Feb. 3, 2020.

County commissioners and school boards discuss budget effects of coronavirus

By Suzannah Claire Perry | Apr. 29, 2020

Orange County and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School boards' budget proposals are likely to change after review from the County Commissioners due to unexpected revenue loss from COVID-19.

Orange County Board of Commissioners member Mark Marcoplos speaks at a joint school boards meeting between Orange County Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the Board of County Commissioners. The meeting took place on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C.

Orange County Board of Commissioners discusses next steps for climate projects

By Guillermo Molero | Apr. 8, 2020

The money for these projects, among others, would come from the new Climate Action Tax that the commissioners approved as part of the budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year. It is estimated that the additional quarter-cent property tax will generate approximately $469,272 in revenue for the county to use for climate mitigation projects.

DTH Photo Illustration. Orange County leads North Carolina counties in the census response rate.

North Carolina comes in 36th place nationwide in census responses

By Niharika Vattikonda | Apr. 8, 2020

North Carolina is currently underperforming in responses to the 2020 Census. The lack of responses comes from complications due to COVID-19, several hard-to-count communities and insufficient internet access, among other things.

Orange County leads North Carolina counties in 2020 census response rate

By Elizabeth Egan | Apr. 7, 2020

With a 2020 census rate of 52.7 percent, Orange County is leading North Carolina counties as of Tuesday night. The county created a Complete Count Committee to spread the word about the importance of filling out the census.

A couple walks on a local greenway in Orange County. Photo courtesy of Wes Tilghman.

Are you tired of quarantining at home? Take a walk on a local greenway

By Jordan Barish | Apr. 7, 2020

According to Orange County's stay-at-home order, play centers, private and public playgrounds, skate parks and recreation centers will all be closed to the public in an attempt to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Greenways and trails will remain open to the public.

Orange County Commissioner Penny Rich reviews documents at a joint school boards meeting between Orange County Public Schools, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and the Board of County Commissioners. The meeting took place on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020 at the Whitted Building in Hillsborough, N.C.

Orange County Commissioners approve program to help small businesses amid pandemic

By Amena Saad and Guillermo Molero | Mar. 25, 2020

The Board of Orange County Commissioners met Tuesday to approve a program providing financial support to small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The outside of the emergency wing of UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, March 19, 2020. 
Photo by Brian Keyes.

Four cases of COVID-19 identified in Orange County

By Michael Taffe | Mar. 20, 2020

Four cases of COVID-19 — also known as coronavirus — have been identified in Orange County according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and a press release from the Orange County Health Department (OCHD) on Friday morning.

Local PACs drive out incumbents on Orange County Board of Commissioners

By Michael Taffe | Mar. 4, 2020

Chapel Hill Leadership PAC, related to the local interest group known as CHALT, and Save Orange Schools PAC backed newcomers Amy Fowler and Jean Hamilton over incumbents Mark Marcoplos, Mark Dorosin and Penny Rich in the race for Orange County Board of Commissioners. Fowler unseated Marcoplos in the race for the At-Large District and Hamilton received more votes than both Dorosin and Rich in the race for District 1. Because the margin between Dorosin and Rich is so narrow, there is the possibility of a recount to see who will get the second seat on the Board for District 1.

Column: Penny Rich understands student needs

Mar. 1, 2020

Josh Mayo, a graduate student at the Department of City and Regional Planning, wants you to support Penny Rich for County Commissioner.

State budget impasse continues to burden local schools

By Emma Cunningham-Bradshaw | Feb. 26, 2020

CHCCS Board of Education Member Rani Dasi said she was wary that a state budget would even be approved for the next fiscal year. She said while the budget impasse continues, government institutions continue to operate by the previous budget’s stipulations.

Food Council members and elected officials learn about the importance of school gardens at a school garden tour at Estes Hill Elementary led by the CHCCS Sustainability Director Dan Schnitzer. Photo courtesy of Ashley Heger.

To combat food insecurity, Orange County's food council aims to change policy

By Jordan Barish | Feb. 25, 2020

The 15-member council has seats for each elected body, including representatives from the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, Hillsborough Board of Commissioners, Carrboro Town Council and Chapel Hill Town Council. A fifth designated seat goes to a representative from the Orange County Agricultural Preservation Board, whose role is to represent agriculture and farming.

Orange County commissioners adapt to mandate changing elementary class sizes

By Julianna Robbins | Feb. 19, 2020

The SJAC is working with the Orange County Board of Commissioners to discuss possible solutions to reduce elementary and pre-K class sizes.

Save Orange Schools attempts to address aging infrastructure in Orange County Schools

By Emma Kenfield | Feb. 5, 2020

“There are critical issues and needs across the board regarding public education. We just believe that there is a need for advocacy in this area that isn’t being met."