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Cary resident Neelima Singh receives the first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in the Friday Center.

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

By Heidi Pérez-Moreno | Feb. 11

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.”

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

By Alexandra Myers | Feb. 8

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

Christian Brown, a second year pharmacy student, taps a syringe with a pen to rid it of any air bubbles while preparing a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in the Friday Center in Chapel Hill.

Why COVID-19 vaccine distribution in North Carolina lacks racial equity

By Julian Berger | Feb. 7

COVID-19 vaccine distribution is disproportionately leaving out minority communities in North Carolina. Of those vaccinated, 12.6 percent are Black and 2.3 percent are Hispanic, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, whereas 80.37 percent are white.

Pharmacist and 1995 UNC alumna Sue Patel prepares a syringe with a dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021 in the Friday Center on Chapel Hill.

Residents continue to follow COVID-19 precautions after getting the vaccine

By Kelli Rainer | Feb. 7

As the Orange County vaccination process continues, county residents are continuing to follow COVID-19 guidelines.

Gov. Roy Cooper and First Lady Kristin Cooper announce their victory in the 2020 election on Nov. 3, 2020 on the steps of the N.C. Democratic Party headquarters in Raleigh.

Cooper voices support for school re-opening as educators, parents remain divided

By Kayla Guilliams | Feb. 7

On Feb. 2, Gov. Roy Cooper expressed his support for reopening schools for in-person instruction. However, parents, teachers and politicians remain divided on how or when to safely reopen.

The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and N.C. Department of Transportation are allocating $2.5 million for transit agencies across the state to provide transportation to COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

N.C. announces $2.5 million in funding for transportation to vaccination sites

By Caroline Kelly | Feb. 3

The funding will help individuals get their vaccines without having to pay for two round trips to their vaccination site, an estimated $88 per person, according to NCDOT Secretary Eric Boyette.

A volunteer answers a book request from an incarcerated individual. Photo courtesy of Liz Schlemmer.

These local nonprofits bring books to incarcerated individuals in North Carolina

By Bethany Lee | Feb. 2

The project was formed partly because of rising incarceration rates in women’s facilities. In the past 40 years, the number of incarcerated women has increased by more than 700 percent.

Wolfpack Plaza at NC State University. An NC State employee has been linked to the Proud Boys and had allegations of doxxing levied against him. Photo courtesy of Sara Trudan via The Technician.

N.C. State employee accused of being a Proud Boy also facing outside privacy lawsuit

By Praveena Somasundaram | Feb. 2

North Carolina State University investigated an employee alleged to be a member of the Proud Boys for two months, and then said the review did not find a just cause to institute formal disciplinary action against him. But community members are continuing their calls for his resignation or firing.

Central Prison pictured on March 30, 2020 in Raleigh, N.C. North Carolina prisoners and prison personnel began receiving the COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 20, 2021.

In North Carolina, the COVID-19 vaccine could be a lifeline for those incarcerated

By Kayla Guilliams | Feb. 1

On Jan. 20, vaccinations began for state prisoners and staff. While the vaccine will provide much-needed protection for those who are incarcerated, prisons remain too crowded for social distancing and some say a history of distrust could impact incarcerated people's willingness to get vaccinated.

DTH Photo Illustration. After failing to meet the threshold of voters in the 2020 election, the Constitution and Green parties are no longer recognized political parties in North Carolina.

State Board of Elections ends recognition of Green and Constitution parties in N.C.

By Susie Webb | Jan. 31

Both parties failed to meet the necessary voting requirements in the 2020 presidential and state elections. Here's what that means.

DTH Photo Illustration. Parts of southeast North Carolina have chemicals in the water that may contribute to more severe COVID-19 symptoms.

Chemicals in some North Carolina drinking water may worsen COVID-19 effects

By Sascha Medina | Jan. 26

These chemicals, called GenX, are present in the Cape Fear River and could be putting residents at risk by suppressing their immune systems and causing other health issues. GenX is a member of a family of human-made chemical compounds known as PFAS. GenX exposure is associated with increased risk of health problems in animal studies, including issues in the kidney, liver, immune system and others. Research has shown from human and animal studies that PFAS exposure may reduce antibody response to vaccines and may reduce infectious disease resistance.

Caitlin Gooch isn't holding her horses in stopping childhood illiteracy

By Elsa Karcher | Jan. 25

Based in Wendell, North Carolina, equestrian Caitlin Gooch uses horses to encourage childhood reading, build confidence and increase representation within children’s literature. Savannah Truesdale, a co-worker of Gooch at the children’s daycare, said Gooch’s positivity and passion for her horses captivated her students' attention and made the lesson come to life. Childhood literacy has immense implications for the development of children.

Here's what you need to know about North Carolina's updated COVID-19 vaccination plan

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | Jan. 21

Vaccine distribution in North Carolina has been complicated by logistical hurdles and limited supplies. Here's what you need to know about statewide and local vaccination rollout.

DTH Photo Illustration. Local governments met to discuss protections for LGBTQ+ people in Orange County.

Three Orange County towns become first in N.C. to pass LGBTQ nondiscrimination ordinances

By Emma Kenfield | Jan. 19

The nondiscrimination ordinance is a step in the right direction by protecting people from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression.

Cows graze upon the hay left over by farmworkers at Mountaire Farms in Siler City, NC on Sunday, January 10th, 2021.

North Carolina farmworkers already dealing with pandemic stress avoid wage freeze

By Kayla Guilliams | Jan. 18

N.C. farmworkers who come from Mexico to North Carolina on H-2A visas face a high vulnerability to COVID-19 due to living in migrant farmworker camps. In November, they had to face the possibility of a wage freeze.

DTH Photo Illustration. The Rapidly Emerging Antiviral Drug Development Initiative is a new partnership at UNC-Chapel Hill that is aiming to develop drugs for future pandemic diseases.

N.C. residents 65 and older can now get the COVID-19 vaccine. Tell us your questions.

By Sonia Rao | Jan. 18

There's a lot of uncertainty and questions about the COVID-19 vaccination process in North Carolina. If you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine, or an experience regarding the vaccine you would like to share, we want to know.

The Greene Tract is 164 acres of land in southeastern Orange County for which discussions over development  have been ongoing for more than three decades.

Greene Tract environmental assessment provides guidebook for preservation of the land

By Audrey Selley | Jan. 10

Discussions over development on the land — which is jointly owned by Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Orange County — have been ongoing for more than three decades.

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images/TNS)

Federal, state and local officials speak out against the riot at the U.S. Capitol

By Brittany McGee | Jan. 10

The riot at the U.S. Capitol occurred as Congress met on Jan. 6 to certify the electoral votes, resulting in five deaths and calls for the removal of President Donald Trump.

DTH Photo Illustration. The Voice for Efland website explains the plans for and negative consequences of the construction of a Buc-ee's gas station.

Residents raise concerns about proposed gas station in Efland ahead of BOCC meeting

By Suzannah Claire Perry | Dec. 13

Despite the company’s claims of bringing jobs and tax revenue to the area, community activists say the proposal to bring the largest gas station in the world poses more threat than opportunity.

Social justice activist Kerwin Pittman speaks out against police brutality in reponse to George Floyd's death at the #RaleighDemandsJustice protest in downtown Raleigh on Saturday, May 30, 2020. This Saturday, many local organizations came together to hold a non-violent protest in Raleigh in solidarity with the other protests happening across the country.

After almost a decade of protests, Black Lives Matter activists are not done fighting

By Brittany McGee | Dec. 6

A movement that began with Trayvon Martin's death in 2012 sparked worldwide protests that have continued into 2020. “Protesting is not designed to be peaceful, but it works best when it’s nonviolent,” Greear Webb, a young activist and UNC sophomore, said. “It’s supposed to be disruptive. It’s supposed to be discomforting for people.”