Jacob Meredith-Andrews

CHCCS students return to in-person classes

Chris Ocana

City & State

CHCCS students, teachers return to in-person instruction for the first time in a year

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | March 30

On Friday morning, about one hundred students returned to Frank Porter Graham Elementary School to finish out their first week of in-person instruction in a year. The Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education voted in early March to offer in-person instruction to all students beginning March 22. Frank Porter Graham Elementary Principal Karen Galassi-Ferrer said it has been important to think creatively about safety measures, like holding lunch and breakfast outside or placing colorful tape on the ground for students to follow for social distancing.

Katie Bailey, Lauren McCay

City & State

We talked with an epidemiologist about vaccine ethics, new CDC guidance and more

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | March 17

The Daily Tar Heel sat down with UNC epidemiology professor Jim Thomas to reflect on the past year of ethical dilemmas under COVID-19 and how institutions and individuals can make better decisions as vaccines become more widely available.

Austin Wang

City & State

Settlement secures release of 3,500 incarcerated people from state prisons

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | March 4

The legal settlement ensures the early release of 3,500 people over the next six months, 1,500 of whom will be released over the next three months. The agreement also maintains many existing COVID mitigation efforts and calls for an anonymous complaint system.

Will Melfi

City & State

A look inside: Wegmans in Chapel Hill opens its doors to the public

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | February 24

New York supermarket chain Wegmans opened its long-awaited Chapel Hill location on Wednesday. Shoppers lined up for over an hour to be the first customers inside the store, which is known for its restaurant stations, prepared meals and selection of organic foods.

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Helen McGinnis

City & State

New social studies standards met with mixed feelings from students, teachers

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | February 16

The new K-12 social studies standards include terms such as racism, discrimination and identity and place a greater emphasis on social movements and competing historical narratives. To some local students and teachers, however, the standards don't go far enough to ensure that the hard conversations will be had.

City & State

Here's what you need to know about North Carolina's updated COVID-19 vaccination plan

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | January 21

Vaccine distribution in North Carolina has been complicated by logistical hurdles and limited supplies. Here's what you need to know about statewide and local vaccination rollout.

Alex Berenfeld

City & State

Local Mothers Club teams up with businesses to feed UNC students over extended break

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | December 7

Due to a longer Winter Break, some UNC students are more vulnerable to food insecurity. To combat this, the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Mothers Club worked with Vimala's Curryblossom Cafe and Brandwein's Bagels to provide meals for students.

Angelina Katsanis

City & State

Local church continues to hold weekly Black Lives Matter vigils after banners burned

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews and Maria Morava | November 15

Since late May, Olin T. Binkley Baptist Church has held antiracism vigils on Fridays from 5 to 6 p.m. Despite significant community support, three banners at Binkley Baptist Church were recently vandalized.

City & State

Here's how the UNC-Duke rivalry helped engage voters in the medical field

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | October 27

Voter turnout in the medical field is historically low. VotER, an organization that engages medical professionals in civic participation, aims to change that. In a two-week competition between UNC and Duke medical students by VotER, over 1,000 students were able to register to vote or vote by mail in the upcoming election.

Angelina Katsanis

City & State

First day of early voting meant long lines in Carrboro

By Jacob Meredith-Andrews | October 15

The first day of early voting in North Carolina drew long lines and enthusiastic voters across the state. At Carrboro Town Hall this morning, there were almost 100 people waiting in line to vote.