CAITLIN LEGACKI

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Group fights to prevent AIDS

By CAITLIN LEGACKI | April 10

RALEIGH - As a part of N.C. Students United for HIV Prevention, an energetic crowd of activists, legislators and health care providers gathered to rally for needle exchange programs and the passage of House Bill 411. The bill, which would provide funding for three needle exchange pilot programs, is in committee in the N.C. House, which reconvenes next month. About 100 people marched from Bicentennial Park to the Governor's Mansion and around the state capitol to encourage support of the bill.

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Hundreds fight against Iraq War

By CAITLIN LEGACKI | March 20

FAYETTEVILLE - On the third anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, protesters from across the Southeast gathered near Fort Bragg to speak out against the war. "I think we're at a very important turning point," said Tamara Tal, a UNC-Chapel Hill toxicology doctoral student and member of the Rainbow ReSisters Radical Cheerleaders, who performed at Saturday's rally. "I think the American people are starting to wake up and realize we need to get out of Iraq, and I think North Carolina is at the vanguard of this movement," she said.

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FAFSA deadline nears

By CAITLIN LEGACKI | February 20

Filling out financial aid paperwork can be like wading through mud. On Saturday the College Foundation of North Carolina cleared the way for thousands of families wanting to capitalize on available federal funds. CFNC held its annual FAFSA Day at 42 locations statewide, helping an estimated 2,600 families complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Hosted in the Durham area by N.C. Central University for the fourth year in a row, FAFSA Day was meant to help families, especially those whose children are high school seniors, navigate what can be a complicated process.

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Court decision bankrupts state protection

By CAITLIN LEGACKI | January 26

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4 decision Wednesday that states are not exempt from litigation in federal bankruptcy courts. The case, Central Virginia Community College v. Katz, was appealed to the Supreme Court by public Virginia colleges who claimed that the 11th Amendment, which grants sovereignty to the states, exempted them from such litigation. The other institutions involved in the case were Blue Ridge Community College, New River Community College and the Virginia Military Institute.

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Cooper files lawsuit against gas suppliers

By CAITLIN LEGACKI | October 12

Consumers and one Triangle area gas station owner have gained the support of N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper in the fight against rising gas prices. Cooper filed suit Monday against two local gas suppliers accused of illegally conspiring to fix prices. "Consumers and businesses are already paying more than ever before for gas," Cooper said in a press release. "They don't need gas prices hiked even more by somebody trying to make a fast buck."

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Bolton receiving mixed reviews

By CAITLIN LEGACKI | September 30

Controversial U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton began his position with an ambitious to-do list and a determination to push top U.S. agenda items. But Bolton, while successful in furthering U.S. interests so far, has been met with mixed reviews. One of his first jobs at the U.N. was to participate in debates about the world body's Outcome Document, which put forward a range of reform proposals for the institution.

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Report reflects improvement in reading, math

By CAITLIN LEGACKI | September 28

A progress report for North Carolina released Monday has reinforced early education efforts while also highlighting concerns about graduation rates among education officials. The report, assembled by the N.C. Progress Board, indicates that students improved on fourth-grade math and writing tests. But the board's findings also point to high school graduation rates, where North Carolina ranked 37th nationally in 2002. In 2003, the state had a dropout rate of 11 percent for students aged 16 to 19.