The OC Report

Serving the students and the University community since 1893.

A Chapel Hill Transit bus approaches Franklin Street on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 after the new safety regulations due to COVID-19 had been implemented.

Students express concern about possible transit restrictions this fall

By Suzannah Claire Perry

“How in the world am I going to be able to get to campus for the classes that I have on campus considering that they said there’s only 10 people allowed on a bus?” one student asked. Here's how Chapel Hill Transit's new guidelines may affect your fall commute.

Although Hispanic and Latinx communities represent ~9.3% of North Carolina's population, they constitute ~46% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state. Durham's El Centro Hispano is a local organization aiming to change this disparity through it's new program.

Campaign aims to promote unified message, stop COVID-19 spread in N.C. Latinx community

Protestors gather outside of the Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough prior to the peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstration on Saturday, July 4, 2020.

Protesters peacefully organize for Black Lives Matter in Hillsborough

Meet Eugenia Floyd, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' Teacher of the Year

Welcome to the OC Report from The Daily Tar Heel. The OC Report (for Orange County and Our Communities) is aimed at full-time residents of Chapel Hill, Carrboro and Hillsborough. We invite you to be part of this news coverage, by sending in community columns, texting us the questions you want answered (Text OCREPORT to 919-237-2123), coming to live gatherings and signing up for the OC Report newsletter.

You can also help us expand. We've got big plans, but we need the help of our readers to pay for their news. Here's what could be possible.

At $1,000 per month from the community, we'll provide editor and reporter resources for a weekly email newsletter and expanded web presence for news and community op-eds/letters to the editor. This would include monthly gatherings.
At $3,000 per month, the weekly newsletter PLUS two-page section added to the printed paper and delivered to 197 boxes across the county. Donors benefits would include the page PDFs emailed to them in a special email.
For $5,000, we could hire of a team of two students to work full-time on local coverage throughout the summer break. That's $250/week for 10 weeks.
An additional $2,000/month would allow us to hire a part-time adviser to improve the student training and institutional memory.

Go to startthepresses.org today to help us build the OC Report into what Our Communities deserve.

The Daily Tar Heel tags stories to make it easier for you to find our more about topics you care about. Consider it a Wikipedia for all things UNC.

Former DTH photojournalist James Wallace in 1983. Photo courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Archives, 2004-10337 or 83-16235, Created by Office of Printing and Photographic Services, "James Wallace", 2004-10337_wk, Retrieved on 2020-06-30.

Courage in the moment: Remembering photojournalist and DTH alum James H. Wallace Jr.

By Kyle Ingram

James "Jim" H. Wallace Jr., a former DTH photographer and critical photojournalist of the civil rights movement in Chapel Hill, died on June 14. Friends and colleagues remember him for his distinct talent and keen creative vision.

Several student volunteers work a table in the Pit to assist others in registering to vote on Oct. 1, 2019.

Here's how to register to vote in Orange County

By Taylor Heeden

With the Nov. 3 election just over four months away, local, state and national seats are up for grabs. Here is your guide to registering to vote in Orange County.

Chapel Hill Transit U bus driver gives thumbs up signal as he approaches the bus stop outside of the UNC Student Stores

Your guide to fall 2020 Chapel Hill Transit

By Crystal Yu

As incoming students look forward to moving to Chapel Hill, the leaders of the Transit system that keeps them moving also looks to plan for bussing UNC's student body and the Town of Chapel Hill during a pandemic.

David Mason Jr. speaks at the Juneteenth Rally on Saturday, June 27, 2020.

A rally, reflections and a rain check: Organizers host delayed Juneteenth celebration

By Alexandra Smith

“On behalf of the Chapel Hill Nine, I am privileged to say welcome to the movement,” David Mason, an original Chapel Hill Nine member, told the crowd. “You are what we've been waiting for.”

A professor shares class slides on Zoom during the first day of online classes on Monday, March 23, 2020. UNC has moved to online learning for the remainder of the semester.

Summer Jump Start program brings the classroom home for Orange County students

By Britney Nguyen

Although students in both Orange County school districts have been away from their physical classrooms for months, the NCDPI-sponsored Summer Jump Start, a program made possible by CARES Act funding, is helping some students bridge the COVID-19 gap.

Chapel HIll Police vehicles standby at the Chapel Hill Police Department on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020. The Chapel Hill Police Department has increased their patrols in and around UNC's Campus in response to the sexual assault in the Shortbread Lofts parking deck.

Chapel Hill Town Council passes fiscal year 2020-2021 budget, racial equity resolution

By Taylor Heeden

At its June 24 meeting, The Chapel Hill Town Council passed its incoming fiscal year budget and a racial equity resolution that prohibits chokeholds, among other changes, and paves the way for a new community task force that would reexamine policing and public safety in Chapel Hill.

Volunteers Lorie Clark and Letitia Davison distributed masks at Carolina Spring Senior Apartments in Carrboro. Photo courtesy of Catherine Lazorko.

Here's where to find free masks across Orange County

By Lilly Clark

Orange County has mandated facial coverings in any public space where a social distance of 6 feet cannot be maintained until at least Aug. 31. Residents in need can receive free masks at several distribution sites throughout the county.

Screenshot from the Juneteenth Vigil on Friday, June 19, 2020.

Black Orange County elected officials host virtual Juneteenth program

By Alexandra Smith

Current and former Black elected officials for Orange County came together for the Town of Carrboro’s virtual Juneteenth program and passed a resolution recognizing the history and repercussions of slavery on Black Americans.

Image from an after school program in 1997 built by Danita Mason-Hogans to close to achievement gap between Black and white students. Photo courtesy of Danita Mason-Hogans.

UNC commission member proposes enrichment program for descendants of enslaved people

By Emma Geis

Danita Mason-Hogans, a member of UNC's Commission on History, Race and a Way Forward and a Chapel Hill native with ties to the University dating back seven generations, is calling on UNC to fund an enrichment program for descendants of the enslaved people who built the University.

Town Council Members give thumbs-ups to the camera at a Town Council Meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, June 17, 2020.

Chapel Hill Town Council talks Juneteenth, COVID-19 at special meeting

By Crystal Yu

At its specially called Wednesday meeting, the Chapel Hill Town Council discussed transit, COVID-19 response and affordable housing.

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

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.

Protestors march past a Police Officer in Chapel Hill on Friday, June 12, 2020 during a protest against police brutality.

Protesters talk education, systemic racism at Black Lives Matter March & Rally

By Suzannah Claire Perry

At the fourth protest in Chapel Hill in the past two weeks, students, teachers and community leaders alike joined to talk about the role of education in systemic racism, and changes they want to see in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

Thousands gathered and marched to the State Capitol Building at the NAACP-sponsored "Historic Thousands on Jones Street" (HKonJ) march in downtown Raleigh on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020.

Immigrant protesters grapple with fear of losing status, risking deportation

By Ramishah Maruf

As UNC students and alumni join protests across the U.S. against systemic racism and police brutality, some with unstable or unclear immigration statuses are afraid that protesting may pose a risk to their status.

Food is bagged and loaded onto the school bus as part of the Food for Students Program. Photo by Tom Simon.

Food for Students to provide meals to Chapel Hill-Carrboro students through summer months

By Britney Nguyen

As Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School students move into the summer break and the coronavirus pandemic continues to affect families' economic situations, the school district and community partners will continue to feed students under the Food for Students program.

Dr. Jim Causby will replace acting Superintendent Patrick Abele, who had led the district's initial transition through the COVID-19 pandemic since late March. This update was announced in a press release on Thursday, June 11, 2020.

Jim Causby will return to CHCCS as new interim superintendent, board announces

By Suzannah Claire Perry

Dr. Jim Causby will return to CHCCS as interim superintendent starting on July 1 and will remain in the position until a permenent superintendent is found.

Here's why some bars are able to reopen in Orange County

By Elizabeth Egan

As North Carolina has moved into Phase 2 of reopening, some self-described bars have been able to reopen under a loophole in state statutes that defines restaurants as any establishment that gets 30 percent of its revenue from food sales.

Serving the students and the University community since 1893.

Students express concern about possible transit restrictions this fall

Campaign aims to promote unified message, stop COVID-19 spread in N.C. Latinx community

Protesters peacefully organize for Black Lives Matter in Hillsborough

Meet Eugenia Floyd, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools' Teacher of the Year

The OC Report

Courage in the moment: Remembering photojournalist and DTH alum James H. Wallace Jr.

Here's how to register to vote in Orange County

Your guide to fall 2020 Chapel Hill Transit

A rally, reflections and a rain check: Organizers host delayed Juneteenth celebration

Summer Jump Start program brings the classroom home for Orange County students

Chapel Hill Town Council passes fiscal year 2020-2021 budget, racial equity resolution

Here's where to find free masks across Orange County

Black Orange County elected officials host virtual Juneteenth program

UNC commission member proposes enrichment program for descendants of enslaved people

Chapel Hill Town Council talks Juneteenth, COVID-19 at special meeting

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

Protesters talk education, systemic racism at Black Lives Matter March & Rally

Immigrant protesters grapple with fear of losing status, risking deportation

Food for Students to provide meals to Chapel Hill-Carrboro students through summer months

Jim Causby will return to CHCCS as new interim superintendent, board announces

Here's why some bars are able to reopen in Orange County

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