Joe Collevecchio

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County rich with need

By Joe Collevecchio | October 30

Editor's note: The Daily Tar Heel traveled to North Carolina's five poorest counties to gauge the University's mission to provide service to the state. HALIFAX - Driving through Halifax County, North Carolina's agricultural roots slowly overwhelm the trees as a patchwork of farmhouses and fields shave the land. Rows of green crops and cotton, white with new boles, crosshatch the thick, black soil.

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Lawsuit tries to save video poker

By Joe Collevecchio | September 19

Last year, North Carolina legalized gambling in the form of the N.C. Education Lottery. But unless a lawsuit filed on the behalf of the N.C. Amusement Machine Association is successful, another form of gambling - video poker - will be illegal by July of next year. Only Native American casinos and games run by the N.C. Education Lottery will be allowed to continue operating in the state. The lawsuit claims that making video poker illegal in North Carolina is unconstitutional and unenforceable. It seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting the law's enforcement.

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Duke Energy seeks to build two new plants

By Joe Collevecchio | September 14

The N.C. Utilities Commission is holding hearings this week to evaluate the need for two new coal-fired power plants in North Carolina. The proposed plants, to be built and operated by Duke Energy, would be located at an existing site on the border of Rutherford and Cleveland counties. "These new units will be 30 percent more efficient than the old ones," said Tom Williams, a spokesman for Duke Energy. Williams said Duke Energy will retire four existing plants at the site if construction of the new plants is approved.

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Storms could spike mosquito numbers

By Joe Collevecchio | August 29

With Tropical Storm Ernesto brewing off Florida's coast, North Carolinians need to be on the lookout for more than storm clouds. Rain brought by hurricanes and tropical storms could increase mosquito populations in North Carolina. Nolan Newton, chief of the N.C. Division of Environmental Health's pest management section, said more mosquitoes could mean more mosquito-born illnesses. "So far it's been a light year," he said. "We're seeing less Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile Virus this year than we've seen in previous years."

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Castro conundrum topic of spy conference

By Joe Collevecchio | August 28

Those who think Fidel Castro's recent surgery and ailing health might signal the end of Cuba's totalitarian government might be in for a surprise. Though Fidel himself is in the hospital, his regime is alive and well, said Brian Latell, Friday's keynote speaker at the 4th annual Raleigh International Spy Conference at the N.C. Museum of History. There were about 30 members attending the conference.

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Dole: State in need of court

By Joe Collevecchio | August 24

In an attempt to deal with the state's rising number of illegal immigrants, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., wants a new immigration court in Charlotte. The closest court now is located in Atlanta. Dole sent a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales urging him to create the new court and quoted Pew Hispanic Center statistics showing North Carolina to be the eighth-largest state in the nation to harbor illegal immigrants.

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Residents remember Chernobyl, consider nuclear safety

By Joe Collevecchio | April 27

About 35 Chapel Hill residents met Wednesday night at McDougle Middle School to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster and to discuss the possibility of a similar event occurring at the Shearon Harris nuclear plant in southwestern Wake County. On April 25, 1986, the Chernobyl nuclear plant exploded while conducting tests simulating a power failure. The explosion resulted in an uncontrolled nuclear reaction, which released huge amounts of radioactive material into the air.

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N.C. leaders weigh small business

By Joe Collevecchio | April 20

A group of more than 50 organizations, along with two N.C. congressmen, met early Wednesday at the Friday Center to discuss the future of small business in North Carolina. Presented by the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center the conference was the first of its kind in the state and featured a host of speakers who concentrated on encouraging small-business growth in the state. Rep. David Price, D-N.C., applauded the conference organizers, calling the event "a conference whose time has come, and it could make a huge difference in our state."

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Duke dorm searched

By Joe Collevecchio | April 20

Although two Duke University men's lacrosse players were arrested on charges of rape Tuesday, District Attorney Mike Nifong continued his investigation by executing search warrants at the students' residence hall later that night. Police searched the Edens 2C Residence Hall rooms of sophomores Collin Finnerty, 19, and Reade Seligmann, 20. Warrants for the search had not been returned to the court clerk's or magistrate's office by Wednesday afternoon. "They were looking for some specific things," said Kerry Sutton, the attorney representing lacrosse team captain Matt Zash.

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Waiting in Durham

By Joe Collevecchio | April 18

A grand jury indicted two Duke University men's lacrosse players Monday in relation to an ongoing rape investigation, according to the law firm representing a majority of the players. Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong met with the grand jury in the Durham Courthouse for several hours to make a case for rape charges against members of the team. Although no public indictments were filed, Tracey Powers, a paralegal for defense attorney Bob Ekstrand, confirmed that two players had been indicted, although she would not release their names. Powers said Ekstrand represents 32 players.