UNC burned 104,586.00 tons of coal at its cogeneration plan in 2009, public records show. During the past five years, they’ve used 568.703 tons of coal purchased from eight mines all in Virginia or Kentucky. You can access the data here. Next week’s Indy will feature an analysis of the mines and their practices. Regina […]
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]
UNC stutter-steps on its way to becoming coal-free
Download documents Letters between UNC Coal Free Campaign and Chancellor Holden Thorp: Letter from Sierra Club Response from Chancellor Thorp Letter from Coal Free Students Response from Chancellor Thorp UNC’s 2009 Climate Action Plan UNC’s 2009 Strategic Energy and Water Plan UNC’s permit for the Cogeneration Facility UNC has a gaggle of sustainable and green […]
Former Chapel Hill mayor’s aide gets Durham Tech gig
Carlo Robustelli, former aide to Chapel Hill Mayor Kevin Foy, has been named director of Orange County operations for Durham Technical Community College. We profiled a Robustelli in December, when he concluded two and a half years in the Chapel Hill mayor’s office as Foy opted against running for re-election. Robustelli, who took classes at […]
Perdue celebrates tobacco jobs, even as smoking ban wages on
Gov. Bev Perdue was beaming when she signed the state’s ban on smoking in bars and restaurants into law in March, saying they’d tackled the “big enchilada” after restricting smoking on college campuses and in the legislature. “This is really in no exaggeration of the word an absolutely historic day for this great state that […]
El Centro Hispano to provide service in Orange County
Durham’s El Centro Hispano announced plans today to open an Orange County branch, which would fill the gap left when El Centro Latino shut its doors in November. Leadership from both nonprofits will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in the Seymour Center auditorium in Chapel Hill to garner input on the […]
Without money or manpower, how will counties enforce the smoking ban?
Smoke drifts upward and disperses against the black pressed-tile ceiling at Whiskey, a dimly lit downtown Durham bar where the leather furniture is tufted and the cherries are soaked in bourbon. A man reading a book holds his cigarette while saddled atop a stool. Glass ashtrays are spaced every few feet along the bar rail. […]
James Hansen joins students in calling for coal-free UNC
James Hansen, one of the nation’s leading experts on global warming, joined a group of UNC students today in calling for the university to become coal-free. Standing in front of UNC’s Cogeneration Facility, which powers the campus, about 20 students held signs encouraging Chancellor Holden Thorp to “be a climate champ.” They were joined by […]
N.C. set to treat four Haitian earthquake victims
Four victims of the Haitian earthquake are scheduled to arrive in the Triangle this morning to receive medical attention, according to a press release sent by the N.C. Division of Emergency Management. The four, one of whom is accompanied by an uninjured child, are being transfered to North Carolina to receive treatment for burns as […]
Hustler founder Flynt to speak at UNC
Clarification (10:12 p.m. Friday): As UNC School of Law student Jonathan Jones commented below, Larry Flynt’s speech is free and open to the public, but a ticket is required. The Great Hall of the UNC Student Union only holds 500 people, so you’ll need a free ticket to reserve a space. The prices noted below […]
Few food expenses for Chapel Hill advisory boards
Almost half of the Chapel Hill’s standing committees and advisory boards served taxpayer-funded food at events from November 2008 to November 2009, receipts show. We wrote about the Town Council’s meeting munchies expenditures in this week’s Indy. Unlike the council, most of the town’s other food-eating groups only order grub a few times a year. […]

