Scott LaPierre

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Group Holds Banquet for Global Justice

By Scott LaPierre | April 5

U.S. Senate candidate Cynthia Brown, the Singing C.I.A. Agent and a tremendous vat of humus provided participants at a Thursday night fund-raiser with equal helpings of politics, entertainment and world cuisine. The banquet, titled "Another World Is Possible: Banquet for Global Peace and Justice," was co-sponsored by the Campaign to End the Cycle of Violence, the Internationalist Books and Community Center, and the Triangle Free Press.

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Board Aims to Improve School Structures With Plan

By Scott LaPierre | March 25

Students at schools in Chapel Hill and Carrboro could achieve more if the school buildings themselves are better places to learn in. That's the idea behind a new plan passed unanimously by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education on Thursday night. The plan looks at the physical structures of schools in the district. The plan, which will be in effect for the construction of Elementary School No. 9, creates "High Performance Schools."

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BlueCross BlueShield Looks to Make Profit

By Scott LaPierre | March 22

As BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina seeks to become a for-profit company, local interest groups are monitoring the potential conversion to make sure the company doesn't raise costs for those insured. BCBSNC, the state's largest health insurer, submitted paperwork in January to convert from a nonprofit to a for-profit company. The company made the announcement in December, saying the conversion would keep the group financially competitive.

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Chapel Hill Puts Off Rental Licensing Vote

By Scott LaPierre | March 1

The Chapel Hill Town Council has postponed discussion on a rental licensing plan that would make local landlords more accountable. The council could make a decision on the proposal March 25, when the Chapel Hill Planning Department is expected to present a report on the plan. The council originally planned to hear the proposal Feb.

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1st Local Co-op Houses Open Doors

By Scott LaPierre | February 25

The six young residents of the Hillsborough Road Cooperative in Carrboro welcomed about 25 curious neighbors and local residents during an open house Sunday. The Carrboro-Chapel Hill Cooperative Housing Association, an umbrella organization encompassing the Hillsborough Road Cooperative, is a nonprofit organization composed of six local residents who acquired loans to purchase two houses in January. The co-op is the first of its kind in the coastal Southeast.

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Carrboro Hosts Talk On Transit

By Scott LaPierre | February 22

Two months after introducing fare-free bus service, local public transit officials heard congratulations, complaints and suggestions Thursday night at Carrboro's annual public transit forum. Chapel Hill Transit and Triangle Transit Authority officials made separate presentations to an audience of about 20 residents and town officials that outlined future plans and highlighted the success of the fare-free busing system enacted Jan. 1.

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Talks Focus on Downtown's Future

By Scott LaPierre | February 18

About 60 Chapel Hill residents, students, town officials and University officials met Saturday to discuss the creation of more downtown commercial and residential areas to connect business corridors on East and West Franklin streets. The discussion, which ran from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Chapel Hill Town Hall, touched on the possible construction of pedestrian spaces, parks and new two- and three-story buildings.

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Tuition Hike Threatens Day-Care Program's Availability, School Board's Resources

By Scott LaPierre | February 11

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Board of Education voted Thursday to increase tuition for its day-care program, a move that could jeopardize the board's budget as well as the accessibility of services for low-income families. The board raised the 2002-03 tuition for its day-care program from $675 to $700, which is $25 less than the $725 price tag originally proposed by board member Nettie Collins-Hart for the Pre-K/Head Start program.