The sale of Hofmann Forest is so radioactive that both the prospective buyerIllinois agribusinessman Jerry Walkerand the sellerNorth Carolina State Universityare claiming that a controversial prospectus showing the property could be commercially developed is the other party’s doing. University officials have asserted that they had never seen the leaked prospectus outlining 9,000 acres of commercial […]
Jane Porter
Jane Porter is Wake County editor of the INDY, covering Raleigh and other communities across Wake County. She first joined the staff in 2013 and is a former INDY intern, staff writer, and editor-in-chief.
Posted inNews
Update: Spokesperson for Hofmann buyer says no plans to develop
Update: A spokesperson for the potential buyer of Hofmann Forest released a statement saying the documents were prepared in early 2013 for Hofmann Forest, LLC for use by Jerry Walker and other members of the company. He maintains Walker does not intend to develop the property. “The document in question was specifically put together for […]
Posted inNews
Judge denies motion to block sale of Hofmann Forest
A Wake County judge denied a motion for a preliminary injunction Tuesday to block the sale of the Hofmann Forest. However, the sale cannot go forward until a separate lawsuit is resolved. The forest’s owners, N.C. State University’s Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund and the North Carolina State Natural Resources Foundation, Inc., filed […]
Posted inNews
Service industry wages bad for North Carolina’s economy
Willetta Dukes has worked in the fast food industry for more than 16 years, at McDonald’s, Church’s Chicken and now, at Burger King. She lives in a spare room in her son’s house and questions why she must resort to government assistance to survive. Dukes is one of 66,000 fast food workers in North Carolina […]
Posted inUncategorized
Group still suing to block sale of Hofmann Forest
A $150 million deal to sell N.C. State’s Hofmann Forest to an Illinois farming empire is nearly completebut an injunction hearing to block the sale is still scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12. The forest owners, N.C. State University’s Board of Trustees of the Endowment Fund and the North Carolina State Natural Resources Foundation, Inc., plan […]
Posted inNews
N.C. State reveals Hofmann Forest buyer
A contract to sell Hofmann Forest is in the works, but an injunction hearing to block the sale is still scheduled for later this month. Jerry Walker, an Illinois agri-businessman and third-generation farmer, is the prospective buyer, according to N.C. State University press release. James Conner, the attorney for a coalition of professors, foresters, landowners […]
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N.C. funeral service board misspends money
Who’s in charge? The N.C. Board of Funeral Service reports solely to the state Legislature. In addition to staff, the funeral serves board has nine members, four of them from the N.C. Funeral Directors Association, a trade group. The association has more power over the board than any other appointed entity. Funeral services board president […]
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Raleigh food distribution site in the works
Raleigh city staff members have identified a location near Moore Square Park that could serve as a temporary food distribution site for groups to use while the city works out a long-term solution to end homelessness. The 3,200-square-foot, city-owned warehouse, at 215 S. Person St., about two blocks from Moore Square, has entry points on […]
Posted inElections
Guns central issue in Morrisville mayoral election
Along with allowing concealed weapons in bars and restaurants where alcohol is served, North Carolina’s sweeping new gun laws trump the authority of municipalities to regulate concealed handguns in city parks, recreational facilities and on public playgrounds. And now guns have become an issue in Morrisville town elections. Last week, the National Rifle Association-PVF, a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Ashley Christensen expands her empire with Joule Coffee
Joule Coffee 223 S. Wilmington St. Raleigh 919-424-7422 Monday–Saturday 7 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday 7 a.m.–3 p.m. A joule (J) is a unit of energy, work or amount of heat released when work is done or energy is expended. Wikipedia helpfully explains that one joule represents approximately “the energy required to lift a small apple vertically […]
