Maddie Van Meter

Firearm-related child deaths are up by 161 percent since 2017

Kate Bailey

Data

Child deaths, especially from firearms, on the rise in NC according to new report

By Maddie Van Meter | March 20

The North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force released its annual report, highlighting the common causes of death in children ages 0 to 17 in the state. The task force is composed of three committees – Perinatal Health, Unintentional Death Prevention and Intentional Death Prevention – that compile data and create policy proposals for the N.C. General Assembly.

20220328_Rains_city-disparities-in-orange-county-schools.jpg

Katie Rains

City & State

Orange County Schools works to diversify student enrollment in advanced courses

By Maddie Van Meter | March 8

Members of Orange County Schools provided the Board of Education with updates on their partnership with Equal Opportunity Schools in a Monday meeting. EOS is an organization that provides school districts with data and support to diversify enrollment in advanced courses and close the opportunity gap.

Katie Rains

City & State

Orange County Schools employees bring concerns of overcrowding to Board of Education

By Maddie Van Meter | February 8

Patrick Abele, Orange County Schools' deputy superintendent, said overcrowding is a concern for the school district as new growth in the area is leading to class sizes that are exceeding capacity. He said the district is bringing in mobile units to help with the problem.

North Carolina ranks poorly in childcare costs and affordability

Flora Peng

Data

NC ranks last in child care cost in new report, state struggles with funding

By Maddie Van Meter | February 3

A recent report published by WalletHub, placed North Carolina 39th overall in family-friendliness. The average cost of child care per year in North Carolina is $9,255 for infants and $7,592 for a 4-year-old.

Taylor Nock

City & State

Recent report finds increase in competition for rental properties in Triangle

By Maddie Van Meter | January 11

According to a recent report from RentCafe, competition for rent in the Triangle is on the rise, increasing by 1.2 percent during the peak rental season for 2022. As the fifth most competitive housing market in the state, 12 renters compete for each vacant apartment.

Caroline Bittenbender

City & State

A look at the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina: Protocol changes in 2022

By Maddie Van Meter | November 30

North Carolina has seen several changes to COVID-19 protocols in 2022 regarding masks, schools and vaccines.

Samantha Lewis

City & State

'We really need both': Residents debate development of American Legion property

By Maddie Van Meter | November 28

The Chapel Hill Town Council voted in 2016 to authorize the town manager to purchase the plot of land from the American Legion Post. Following its purchase in 2017, the Town appointed an American Legion Task Force to make recommendations for the future use of the land.

Ira Wilder

City & State

Gov. Cooper appoints members of equity task force to implement pandemic recovery

By Maddie Van Meter | November 15

Gov. Roy Cooper announced the appointment of several members to the Andrea Harris Equity Task Force. The mission of the task force is to advise state government offices on ways to promote economic development, equitable practices, health and wellness in disadvantaged communities impacted by COVID-19.

Democrat Renée Price will represent District 50 in the North Carolina House of Representatives according to unofficial results on Tuesday. 
The seat was previously held by N.C. House Rep. Graig Meyer (D-Caswell, Orange), who is set to represent District 23 in the N.C. Senate.

Samantha Lewis

City & State

Renee Price and Charles Lopez face off for NC House of Representatives District 50

By Maddie Van Meter | November 8

Price, chairperson of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners, and Lopez, HR manager for a Triangle-based landscaping company, are running for N.C. House district 50 this election cycle. Here's a look at their viewpoints on high-priority issues in the state.

UNC's first on-campus vaccine clinic opens Wednesday

Abe Loven

City & State

'Benefits are overwhelmingly positive': FDA approves new COVID-19 boosters for children

By Maddie Van Meter | October 24

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that the monovalent Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been replaced by the newer bivalent Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines as the authorized booster dose for children.