In the wake of a UNC student’s false report that he was badly burned in a homophobic hate crime, campus leaders now worry about what will happen the next time that a student is targeted. “That’s the biggest fear that the community has right now in the aftermath of this is that people won’t be […]
Joe Schwartz
Bio: Joe Schwartz is a former INDY Week staff writer who works for soccer.com in Hillsborough. He's been a Gooner since he fell for Thierry Henry in 2005, and he still believes in Arsène Wenger.Email: [email protected]
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Bad blood brewing over Old North Durham Park
With dust swirling behind them, teenagers chase a rolling soccer ball from net to net, bounding through swatches of grass as their coach peers in with a discerning eye. Beyond the goalposts, children dangle themselves from the playground equipment while a border collie/ golden retriever mix returns a toy to its owner, eager to fetch […]
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Legislation looks to Iowa for redistricting reform
North Carolina redistricting would mirror Iowa’s process in which the lines are drawn solely by legislative staff, thus removing politicians from the process, if a bill filed today is passed. Democrat Rep. Rick Glazier and Republican Rep. David Lewis are two co-sponsors of the redistricting bill. House Bill 824 is sponsored by Republicans David Lewis, […]
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Northside residents, allies call for freeze on building permits
Residents of Northside neighborhood and their supporters turned out en masse at Chapel Hill Town Hall on Monday night to call for a moratorium on all development in the historically black areas of town. They say developers are finding ways to skirt the intent of the Neighborhood Conservation District rules passed in 2003 that seek […]
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N.C. starts redistricting process
Legislators kicked off North Carolina’s redistricting process Wednesday with a joint meeting of the Senate and House committees that will help redraw the maps on the state on congressional level for the next decade. There’s already controversy. N.C. Senate Democratic Leader Martin Nesbitt, who represents Buncombe County, took issue with the committee makeup, urging for […]
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House committee OKs Cary, Apex deal with Chatham to nix involuntary annexation
The deal to prevent Cary and Apex from annexing parts of Chatham County without approval from the Chatham County Board of County Commissioners is sailing through the General Assembly. Commission Chairman Brian Bock announced the agreement Feb. 21 when the commissioners approved the Western Wake Partners’ plan to run 8.1-miles of wastewater treatment pipe underground […]
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In Chapel Hill, citizens committee will watch the cops
Who’s watching the cops? Almost four years after Barry Freeman posed the question, the Town of Chapel Hill has answered by creating a Community Police Advisory Committee. The committee, composed of citizens, will serve as a liaison between the public and police on department policy and will establish an ombudsman to hear complaints. “Police have […]
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Sanitation Two supporters urge review of Chapel Hill firings
Documents Clark and Bigelow complaints: The two fired sanitation workers present their case for reinstatement (MS Word doc) Bigelow decision: The Personnel Appeals Committee voted 3-2 to deny Bigelow’s complaint and explains the rationale here (PDF) Clark decision: The Personnel Appeals Committee also denied Clark’s case, 5-1, and details the reasoning here (PDF) Personnel files […]
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Chapel Hill sets stage for homeless shelter relocation debate
Leaders of the Inter-Faith Council for Social Service want to locate a 52-bed transitional shelter for homeless men near the corner of Homestead Road and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Neighbors of the proposed Community House don’t. The debate has brewed for more than a year, and on Monday the Chapel Hill Town Council voted […]
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Pope-backed groups figure largely on N&O’s op-ed page
The army of conservative researchers, fellows, scholars, lawyers, judges and former politicians who are affiliated with Art Pope-backed groups have ensconced themselves on the op-ed pages of The News & Observer. Their prominence in The N&O, particularly the op-ed page, has prompted some left-of-center groups to doubt the paper’s commitment to balance. In 2010, writers […]