As the local community watches as UNC grapples with detectable lead levels in the drinking water of over 125 buildings, some questions have been raised about the safety of other educational institutions. Data from Clean Water for Carolina Kids shows that some preschools in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area are also seeing perceptible levels.
The North Carolina General Assembly has nearly completed its 2021-2022 session, during which 267 bills became law. Focal points of the recent session include the 2022 Appropriations Act, which provided increased funding for broadband expansion and education; bipartisan criminal justice reform; and new electoral maps, which state courts later struck down.
Many North Carolinians interested in making their voices heard in the 2022 midterm election have faced including institutional, economic and informational challenges. These barriers can undermine the ability of eligible voters to understand and execute their electoral privilege.
On Tuesday, the Carrboro Town Council voted unanimously to approve an exemption for after-hours concrete work at the 203 Project construction site, with an amendment to limit work done over the weekend.
As Chapel Hill faces a growing housing deficit that places pressure on economic vitality and diversity, the Town is working to secure additional housing. These efforts include creating new regulations for construction and pursuing higher-density housing projects. However, some community organizations have cautioned that this new path brings its own social costs. According to the Town’s 2021 Housing Report, multi-family apartment units, which are home primarily to renters and have little connection to their surroundings, have dominated new constructions since 2010.
The Inflation Reduction Act supports solutions to soaring inflation, but unequal challenges remain Orange County residents, with high food and gas prices creating immediate concerns for lower-income residents.
The Affordable Insulin Now Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 31, proposes capping the price of insulin products for those under insurance at $35 or 25 percent of a plan's negotiated price starting in 2023.
Chapel Hill Mayor Pam Hemminger said efforts have been taken by both local officials and organizations to register and support new voters, including providing registration sites and reaching out directly to community members with unique struggles.
The plan includes modifying Carrboro’s land use ordinance to permit new accessory dwelling unit construction and creating incentives for both detached and attached ADUs.
In North Carolina, specifically, the average price per gallon of regular gas was $4.08, as of March 21, which is nearly $0.70 higher than a month ago and more than a dollar from prices last year, according to data from the American Automobile Association.
