Ashley Williams

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New Law Helps Protect Victims' Confidentiality

By Ashley Williams | July 26

An Orange County court case last fall has led to a new state statute that protects victims of assault and domestic violence. On July 12, Gov. Mike Easley signed a law preventing investigation into the files of places such as rape crisis centers for information that could help defendants discredit their alleged victims. Margaret Barrett, executive director of the Orange County Rape Crisis Center, said she was excited that the statue has local roots. "It is neat that it was an Orange County connection that raised awareness of the need for change," she said.

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Empty Graveyard Allows Development

By Ashley Williams | July 26

It isn't often that developers have to check for dead bodies before building. But before construction can start on a lot at Creek Wood in the Whitfield Road subdivision, developers had to make sure an old cemetery was cleared out. The builders of the Creek Wood neighborhood thought the burial ground was empty because the former landowner decided to have the bones of his ancestors moved to another resting place. But they couldn't be too sure.

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`Creek' Filming Expands to Durham

By Ashley Williams | July 19

DURHAM ? ?Dawson?s Creek? will soon begin filming in Durham, and last weekend 5,000 area residents lined up to audition for the WB?s hit show. As the show?s cast prepares for the fall season, some characters will be going off to college. The school scenes take place in Boston, but will be filmed at Duke University. Fincannon and Associates, a Wilmington-based agency, held an open casting call for extras in the lower-level Belk court of South Square Mall in Durham last Saturday and Sunday. Although not highly publicized, the casting call received a great response.

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Area Schools Report Increased Test Scores

By Ashley Williams | July 5

Reading and math test scores for pupils in grades 3 through 8 continue to rise for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Reading proficiency for the district is 92 percent, up from 91 percent last year. Math scores have also increased, rising 10 percent for third-graders and with each grade showing improvements. However, Diane Villwock, director of testing and program evaluation, warned that no solid conclusion regarding the math scores can be drawn until the N.C.

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Boy Scouts Down But Not Out

By Ashley Williams | July 5

Despite the Boy Scouts of America's decision to exclude homosexual members and volunteers, Chapel Hill's troops have not had trouble raising funds and recruiting new members. But the scouts have lost school sponsorship at two area schools, McDougle Elementary School and Frank Porter Graham Elementary School. They could also lose the financial support they receive from the Triangle United Way. On June 14, the U.S. Senate approved a proposal by Sen. Jesse Helms directing the U.S.

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Locals Discuss Growing Pains

By Ashley Williams | June 20

Chapel Hill citizens recently convened to discuss developments with the UNC Master Plan outside of the town-gown sphere. About twenty-five people squeezed into the Internationalist Books and Community Center Friday for a "teach-in," a dialogue on some of the controversies surrounding UNC's Master Plan effect on the Chapel Hill. "UNC's plans for construction on the main campus and Horace Williams tract will have a bigger impact on our community than any other single development in our past or the foreseeable future," said Internationalist Advisory Board Chair Ruby Sinreich. The Int

Ashley Williams

New Law Helps Protect Victims' Confidentiality

Empty Graveyard Allows Development

`Creek' Filming Expands to Durham

Area Schools Report Increased Test Scores

Boy Scouts Down But Not Out

Locals Discuss Growing Pains

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