Liz Gilliam

News

Dix closing could strain community

By Liz Gilliam | April 20

RALEIGH - Pressure is mounting on community mental health services in Wake County with the nearing closure of its largest facility - a "safety net" it has banked on for more than 200 years. Dorothea Dix Hospital, the oldest mental health institution in the state, will close its doors forever this fall, cutting off the county's only inpatient mental health care for those without insurance, namely the homeless.

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RIAA cracks down at NCSU

By Liz Gilliam | April 12

Illegally downloading music off the Internet, a popular practice among college students nationwide, has been thought by some to be about as criminal as jaywalking. But under a new anti-piracy campaign aimed at campuses nationwide, the Recording Industry Association of America has made it clear that the violation can be far more significant. The RIAA filed lawsuits Tuesday against 23 N.C. State University network users, charging them with copyright infringement.

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Gay students want help at historically black schools

By Liz Gilliam | April 10

Anti-gay sentiments and homophobia long have plagued the gay and lesbian community, but students and activists say that it's a different ball game among historically black colleges and universities. Cultural traditions, religious ties and previous racial oppression are among numerous factors cited for a large discrepancy between treatment of homosexuals at HBCUs and predominately white institutions. N.C. Central University has an active lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organization on campus that has been gaining steam for the last three years.

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Lawmakers react to DMV problems

By Liz Gilliam | March 22

A broad state audit uncovering a possible breakdown in the state's licensing practices has some lawmakers calling for a crackdown. Nearly 27,000 driver's licenses were issued to people with invalid Social Security numbers or numbers belonging to dead people, according to a state audit of the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles released Tuesday. About 1.7 million more did not have any Social Security number.

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Charlotte to host new immigration court

By Liz Gilliam | March 20

Immigration cases in North Carolina are continuing to pile up as they wait for their turn to be tried in a single out-of-state court. But the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday that changes are coming, approving Charlotte as the location of one of three new immigration courts in the nation. North Carolina, which officials estimate has the eighth-largest illegal alien population in the nation, is one of four states sharing an immigration court in Atlanta.

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Democrat youth seek same-day registration

By Liz Gilliam | February 22

RALEIGH - Students and young people from across the state hope that same-day voter registration will become a reality in North Carolina. During the N.C. Young Democrats Day at the Legislature on Tuesday, participants met with legislators to lobby for issues concerning young North Carolinians. "It's important for us to send a message that students in North Carolina really do care and are aware of what's going on in the state legislature," said Cindy Plante, an attendee and member of the UNC Young Democrats. "I think a lot of representatives were willing to talk to us for that reason."

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Easley keys in on education access

By Liz Gilliam | February 20

RALEIGH - North Carolina's average college tuition is one of the lowest in the nation and it's going to stay low, Gov. Mike Easley said in the State of the State address Monday night. Affordable education, as well as health care and income taxes, topped the agenda in Easley's final speech to a packed audience of legislators, lobbyists and onlookers. "As more of our students receive an advanced degree, North Carolina becomes stronger," Easley said. "They generate more wealth; they generate more revenue; and they generate more innovation."

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Assault reported near Duke

By Liz Gilliam | February 13

DURHAM - On Monday afternoon the remnants of a college party were still visible: a few red cups in the side yard and on the porch, an empty case of Busch Light on the front stoop and two overflowing trash cans in the backyard. It was at this party at an off-campus duplex that an 18-year-old female Duke University student allegedly was sexually assaulted in the bathroom about 3 a.m. Sunday. The suspect is unknown and described as a black male about 20 years old, more than 6 feet tall. He was reported as wearing a black do-rag, a gray sweatshirt and jeans.

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Leaders mull cancer center

By Liz Gilliam | January 30

With three centers, North Carolina ranks fourth in the nation for having the most Comprehensive Cancer Centers recognized by the National Cancer Institute. But a letter from Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight, D-Dare, asked the Dare County Board of Commissioners to bring the number of centers to four. His letter urged the board to start moving to bring cancer care to the coast by meeting with Bill Roper, dean of the UNC School of Medicine, to discuss building a satellite UNC Cancer Center in Dare County.

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Nation readies for Bush address

By Liz Gilliam | January 23

The war in Iraq and health care insurance are expected to top President Bush's priority list in today's State of the Union address at 9 p.m. The president is expected to defend military policies he announced earlier this month in his most recent national address, which included a decision to commission more than 20,000 additional American troops to Iraq. "He intended this to be a two-part address," UNC political science professor George Rabinowitz said. "He understood there would be a lot of criticism after the first address, and this is a second one to follow it up.