ERIN FRANCE

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Moving on from tragedy

By ERIN FRANCE | April 27

BLACKSBURG, Va. - New details surfaced Thursday in the deaths of 33 students and faculty at Virginia Tech on April 16, even as the community struggles to regain its normal footing. Seung-Hui Cho, a senior English major, fired more than 170 rounds in nine minutes at Norris Hall, the Va. Tech's student newspaper, the Collegiate Times, reported Thursday. The press conference where this detail emerged also held official confirmation that Cho chained shut three main entrances to Norris Hall before he started shooting.

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Lacrosse case spotlight falls on DA

By ERIN FRANCE | April 27

National media attention this year has changed its focus from three Duke University lacrosse players to the Durham County District Attorney who prosecuted them. Michael Nifong, Durham's district attorney, faces future legal consequences for his handling of a case where three Duke students were charged with raping an exotic dancer at a March 13 party. Attorney General Roy Cooper dismissed the charges against the lacrosse players April 11.

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Hokies return seeking routine

By ERIN FRANCE | April 24

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The first day back to class for Virginia Tech students began with a morning ceremony honoring the 32 students and faculty killed by senior English major Seung-Hui Cho. Thirty-two white balloons were released with the strike of a bell in front of 33 small stones placed in a semi-circle on the wide expanse of the field known as the Drillfield. The 33rd marker, placed between Matthew Gwaltney's and Dan O'Neil's, was for Cho, who killed himself at the end of his rampage; it was removed later Monday.

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'Monumental' tragedy

By ERIN FRANCE | April 17

BLACKSBURG, Va. - Virginia Tech's campus was virtually empty Monday afternoon. The doors to the student union were locked, and police in squad cars blocked every entrance. As the news that 33 people were shot and killed and 15 more were wounded Monday morning on their campus began to sink in, students either left town or began to venture out and react to the tragedy. The deaths occurred in two separate shootings, one in a residence hall at about 7:15 a.m. and the other in a classroom, office and laboratory building about two hours later.

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ASG leadership to be selected this weekend

By ERIN FRANCE | April 13

There are two tickets running for the UNC-system Association of Student Government's president and vice president positions this weekend. M. Cole Jones, the student body president at East Carolina University, is running for president with Cody Grasty, the student body president of Western Carolina University, on a platform that advocates communication and facilitation for the group. "Everybody I've spoken with has said these are reality-based initiatives," Jones said.

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'These cases are over'

By ERIN FRANCE | April 12

DURHAM - Almost all of Duke University seemed to breathe a sigh of relief after kidnapping and sexual assault charges were dropped against three former lacrosse players by the state Attorney General Roy Cooper. Reade Seligmann, Collin Finnerty and David Evans originally were charged by Durham's District Attorney Michael Nifong in the alleged rape of a black, female exotic dancer at a March 13, 2006 party. The female also was a student at the nearby historically black N.C. Central University.

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All charges against Duke lacrosse players dropped

By ERIN FRANCE | April 11

As of Wednesday afternoon, all charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players have been dropped. David Evans, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann had been charged with sexual assault on a female N.C. Central University student at a team party in March of 2006. N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper announced the end of the case at a press conference in Durham. "The result of our review and investigation shows clearly that there is insufficient evidence to proceed on any of the charges," he said.

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One year on, lottery not a talking point

By ERIN FRANCE | March 30

RALEIGH - The N.C. Education Lottery celebrated its first birthday to much less fanfare than its passage in either N.C. General Assembly chamber. Even with Gov. Mike Easley's budget proposal shifting lottery funds away from school construction in favor of a program for at-risk pre-kindergarten students, there is little discussion about the institution that created almost a dozen years of controversy. Rep. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, said he has not heard much discussion about the lottery within legislative circles, but he said he does not support the governor's proposed changes.

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Edwards: Wife's cancer has returned

By ERIN FRANCE | March 23

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards announced Thursday that he will not be leaving the race, despite a recurrence of his wife's cancer. "The results of all the tests are that her cancer is back," Edwards said during a press conference at The Carolina Inn. "It's no longer curable." Test results from UNC's Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center confirmed Wednesday that Elizabeth Edwards' metastatic breast cancer has returned as a tumor in her rib.

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Edwards to continue campaign despite wife's cancer

By ERIN FRANCE | March 22

Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards announced today at The Carolina Inn that he will not be leaving the race, despite a recurrence of his wife's cancer. Elizabeth Edwards confirmed Wednesday that metastatic breast cancer has returned as a bone tumor in her rib. Her cancer is now in stage 4, which is incurable, but treatments such as hormones or chemotherapy can stop the growth or decrease the size of the tumor.