Rachel Nyden

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Hog Case Decision Could Have Statewide Impact

By Rachel Nyden | May 1

N.C. counties might find their hands tied when it comes to regulating hog farms after a ruling last month by the N.C. Court of Appeals.The ruling states that hog farm ordinances set in place by Chatham County officials overstepped boundaries, preempting the ordinances in favor of state laws.Frank Sheffield, the attorney who represented those opposing the ordinances, said although the ruling only affects Chatham County, it will set a precedent for other N.C.

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Chance of Gas Price Relief Slim

By Rachel Nyden | April 26

Experts say little relief is in sight for the record-high gasoline prices facing motorists and businesses in North Carolina and across the nation.According to a press release from American Automobile Association of the Carolinas, prices for gasoline in North Carolina are the highest they have been since the association began recording such data 20 years ago.The press release stated that the average price per gallon of gasoline in North Carolina on Tuesday was $1.565, a 20-cent jump from a month ago.

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Rare Procedure Offers Transplant Hope

By Rachel Nyden | April 18

Kristina Wenger felt she had no choice when she entered the operating room in 1998 and donated a portion of her liver to her husband, Bruce, saving his life.Bruce suffered from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), the disease that killed Walter Payton, a Hall of Fame football player for the Chicago Bears. PSC causes the bile ducts in the liver to become inflamed and makes it more difficult for the liver to function properly.

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Court: UNC Must Pay For Injury

By Rachel Nyden | April 5

The N.C. Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday in favor of a former UNC junior varsity cheerleader who was permanently injured at a University-sponsored event in January 1985.The cheerleader, Robin Davidson, suffered permanent brain damage after falling off the top of a pyramid while practicing in Carmichael Auditorium. Davidson sued the University through the N.C.

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Bill Proposes Extended Terms for N.C. Assembly

By Rachel Nyden | March 7

N.C. legislators might serve longer terms that entail shorter legislative sessions if a bill currently under review in the Senate passes.The bill, proposed by Sen. David Weinstein, D-Bladen, and Sen. David Hoyle, D-Cleveland, would extend state legislators' terms from two to four years and limit long legislative sessions to 135 days and short sessions to 60 days.The state legislature meets in long sessions during odd-numbered years and short sessions during even-numbered years.

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Drunken Drivers Could Face 1st-Degree Murder Charges

By Rachel Nyden | February 22

The N.C. House is considering a bill that would allow district attorneys to bring first-degree murder charges -- which could result in the death penalty -- against habitual drunken drivers who kill while driving under the influence.The bill, which has received mixed reviews in Raleigh, defines habitual as three prior drunken-driving convictions.Rep. Michael Decker, R-Forsyth, who introduced the bill Monday, said he thinks the legislation is needed. "This is a bill that's time has come," he said.

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Princeton to Fund $16 Million Grants

By Rachel Nyden | February 15

A recent decision by Princeton University to replace student loans with grants has caused an upheaval in some areas of the higher education community, but UNC and Duke University officials say it will not affect them.Princeton officials announced Jan.

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Site Shows Campus Crime Statistics

By Rachel Nyden | November 6

A recently unveiled U.S. Department of Education Web site allows users to review and compare crime reports for 3,380 colleges and universities nationwide but has hit some technological glitches. The site, at http://www.ope.ed.gov/ security/search.asp, allows users to search for crimes that have occurred on college campuses and surrounding areas. Site Coordinator Dan Madzelan said the site is designed to increase access to information about campus crimes. But Madzelan said every time new data is added, the site's server crashes for a short time.