Sonia Rao
Articles
Elementary schools in North Carolina can reopen at full capacity, Cooper announces
Elementary schools in North Carolina are now able to reopen at full capacity, Gov. Roy Cooper announced at a Thursday briefing.
Tell us what you want to see from our elections coverage
The Daily Tar Heel wants students to vote in 2020, and we want to be your information source, whether that's for how to vote or who you should vote for.
Orange County maintains mass gathering limit despite Cooper's phase 2.5 announcement
North Carolina will be moving into phase 2.5 of the state's "safer-at-home" order Friday at 5 p.m.
Chapel Hill Police cite four UNC students for violating COVID-19 safety regulations
The Chapel Hill Police Department issued four Class 2 misdemeanors to UNC students for violating Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order.
Local officials called on UNC to close before it went remote
The University's decision to switch to remote instruction for all undergraduate classes came after several weeks of Orange County officials and town councils expressing concern over the return of students to the area.
Orange County health director calls for UNC to go fully remote for at least five weeks
Orange County Health Department Director Quintana Stewart sent a letter to UNC officials on July 29 recommending the University limit on-campus housing and implement online-only instruction for the first five weeks of the semester as a minimum. The letter was released to the public Wednesday, sparking outrage among faculty and community leaders. Shutting down campus, however, "is not a realistic option," Stewart said.
Cooper extends Phase 2 until Sept. 11 as UNC students move back to campus
Gov. Roy Cooper extended Phase 2 of North Carolina's COVID-19 restrictions until Sept. 11, he announced in a Wednesday news briefing.
Cooper declares state of emergency in N.C. as Hurricane Isaias approaches coast
Gov. Roy Cooper declared a state of emergency for North Carolina in a Friday news briefing as Hurricane Isaias is set to approach the state.
Here's what online learning looks like for students, parents and teachers in CHCCS
Students, parents and teachers in local school districts are trying to adjust as schools transition online due to COVID-19. Caroline Spencer, whose son is a senior at East Chapel Hill High School, said her son has been assigned grades in his classes based on his work from before school shut down, and his classes have been canceled. “He's pretty much done,” she said. “He’s been accepted to college and he probably won't have a prom or graduation, and he's right now just focused on hoping that he gets to start school in the fall.”
Media
Before You Vote Episode 1: Your Vote Matters
Voting is complicated. Before You Vote is a new podcast from The Daily Tar Heel's City and State desk breaking down all you need to know about voting before the 2020 election. In its first episode, City and State Editor Sonia Rao talks with Joe Killian, an investigative reporter for NC Policy Watch, and Bob Phillips, executive director of Common Cause North Carolina about the impact of the student vote in North Carolina. This episode is produced by Meredith Radford.
veterans memorial
U.S. Rep. David Price, D-N.C. speaks during the Orange County Veterans Day event at the Orange County Veterans Memorial on Monday, Nov. 11, 2019.