Brittany McGee

Articles

Central Prison pictured on March 30, 2020 in Raleigh, N.C.

State prisons prepare for continued COVID-19 spread, as first four cases are detected

The first four cases of COVID-19 in state prisons were announced on Thursday, two days after the North Carolina Department of Public Safety increased efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus in prisons. NCDPS first issued guidance on the virus in mid-March, but a coalition of advocates is calling on the department to do more to protect inmates. “We’ve known for awhile now that our prisons and jails across the state are particularly vulnerable to an outbreak of COVID-19,” Molly Rivera, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, said.

Chapel Hill Town Council members Jessica Anderson, Mayor Pam Hemminger, and Michael Parker vote during a meeting at Town Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.

Chapel Hill Town Council gives latest coronavirus updates at special meeting

By Henry Haney and Brittany McGee

In a special Chapel Hill Town Council meeting Wednesday, Town Manager Maurice Jones explained that Chapel Hill activated the Emergency Operations Center, closed many public facilities, suspended public meetings until March 30 and has moved to the Saturday route schedule in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A sign hangs in the thermometer section at the Walgreens amid the coronavirus outbreak on 1670 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

Here's how supermarkets are working to limit the spread of COVID-19

By Brittany McGee

Large grocery store chains like Trader Joe's, Harris Teeter and Whole Foods Market are making accommodations for customers and employees alike to combat the spread of COVID-19.

A sign points to the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools administrative office on Wednesday, March 4, 2020.

Transparency discussions dominate school board meeting following contract controversy

By Brittany McGee

Emails between a former Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools official and a member of Education Elements, an education consulting firm, reveal how the district entered a $767,070 contract without the school board's approval. The decision raised doubts about transparency and whistleblowing protection among parents and board members.

(From left) Surviving Chapel Hill Nine members Albert Williams and James Merritt, marker artist Steven Hayes, Chapel Hill Town Manager Maurice Jones, and two other Chapel Hill Nine members Dave Mason Jr. and 'Clyde' Douglas Perry stand behind the new marker on Franklin Street. The marker was dedicated on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

60 years later, the Town of Chapel Hill erects a marker for the Chapel Hill Nine sit-in

By Brittany McGee

Paying homage to the Chapel Hill Nine's courage and the Civil Rights Movement in the Town of Chapel Hill, a new marker went up on West Franklin Street on Friday.

The Chapel Hill Public Library. Photo courtesy of Daniel Siler.

Chapel Hill Public Library petitions to get rid of library fines

By Sofia Lesnewski and Brittany McGee

"Within three weeks of going fine-free, Chicago Public Library saw a 240 percent increase in returned materials and an increased number or new users," said Meeghan Rosen, the assistant director of Chapel Hill Public Library.

A North Carolina school bus located in Carrboro, N.C. on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020. On Feb. 6, 2020, local schools dismissed early in order to get students home in the midst of severe weather. The storms coincided with dismissals, however, causing students and staff to return indoors.

Severe weather causes clashes between parents and local school districts

By Brittany McGee

Parents express disappointment online after Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools announced on their Facebook pages Thursday morning that there would be a two-hour early dismissal in anticipation of severe weather.

The Revise Approval of Student/Employee ID/Voting bill, or House Bill 397, could allow North Carolina college students and employees to use their university IDs to vote in the 2020 presidential election.

Here's what you need to know about the five Democrats running for U.S. Senate

By Brittany McGee

Democrats Cal Cunningham, Trevor Fuller, Atul Goel, Erica Smith and Steve Swenson will face each other in the March 3 primary. From protecting North Carolina against climate change to ensuring healthcare for everyone, here are the issues these five candidates seeking a U.S. Senate seat are focusing on.

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemmminger stands to be recognized at the Raleigh Women's March at Halifax Mall on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020.

National politics takes center stage at Raleigh Women's March

By Sofia Lesnewski and Brittany McGee

“Until women’s rights are enshrined in the constitution with an Equal Rights Amendment, everything that has been given to us by law, can conceivably be taken away.”

Kyrie and Michael Benton carry food and some of their waterlogged belongings through the grounds of Camelot Village apartments in Chapel Hill the morning of Sept. 17, 2018. Chapel Hill had been seemingly spared the worst of Hurricane Florence but Sunday night into Monday morning saw a downpour of heavy rain that caused flash flooding around the Triangle. Camelot Village has seen flooding in the past but never to this degree, according to Kyrie and other residents of many years. "I lost everything in this flood," Kyrie said. Just as quickly as it flooded, the water began to recede late the same morning and early in the afternoon.

N.C. to receive $542 million in disaster relief for Hurricane Florence recovery

By Brittany McGee

“The $542 million in federal funds from HUD will facilitate long-term recovery for communities impacted by the hurricane, as well as help mitigate the impact of future disasters,” said U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., in a press release.

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chapel hill nine

By Brittany McGee

The marker to the Chapel Hill Nine depicts the demonstrators on one side, along with their names and ages. The marker was dedicated on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

Clayton Weaver

By Brittany McGee

Clayton Weaver is a Chapel Hill native who was 11 years old when the Chapel Hill Nine demonstrations began. He attended the marker dedication on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

chapel hill nine

By Brittany McGee

(From left) Surviving Chapel Hill Nine members Albert Williams and James Merritt, marker artist Steven Hayes, Chapel Hill Town Manager Maurice Jones, and two other Chapel Hill Nine members Dave Mason Jr. and 'Clyde' Douglas Perry stand behind the new marker on Franklin Street. The marker was dedicated on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

Pam Hemminger

By Brittany McGee

Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger spoke at the dedication of the Chapel Hill Nine marker on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

Durham artist Stephen Hayes designed the marker commemorating the Chapel Hill Nine, a group of young men who organized a sit-in at the Colonial Drug Store on Franklin Street in 1960. The marker features images and headlines created following the sit-in. The marker was unveiled at a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

Marker Option

By Brittany McGee

Durham artist Stephen Hayes designed the marker commemorating the Chapel Hill Nine, a group of young men who organized a sit-in at the Colonial Drug Store on Franklin Street in 1960. The marker features images and headlines created following the sit-in. The marker was unveiled at a ceremony on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

Michael Foushee

By Brittany McGee

Michael Foushee is a Chapel Hill native who was 6 years old when the Chapel Hill Nine demonstrations began. He attended the group's marker dedication event on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.

James Merritt

By Brittany McGee

James Merritt is one of the four surviving members of the Chapel Hill Nine. He attended the group's marker dedication event on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020.