Good morning, readers.
North Carolina is getting a Buc-ee’s.
Mebane city council members voted to approve a plan for the mega convenience store and filling station at the end of a marathon meeting Monday night. At 33 acres, the Mebane Buc-ee’s will break the record for the world’s largest gas station.
Monday’s vote concluded a years-long battle between Buc-ee’s opponents, who in 2021 successfully fought to prevent the company from setting up shop at a nearby site, citing environmental and traffic concerns. Proponents, some of whom feel that Buc-ee’s would give Mebane a much-needed economic boost and others who simply swear by the chain’s brisket, bathrooms, and beaver-branded attire.
Gas stations and grocery stores have a way of inspiring tribalism. At my middle school, shirts from the Piggly Wiggly supermarket chain were, inexplicably, markers of social clout. Proponents came to Monday’s meeting decked out in Buc-ee’s tees, hats, and beaver onesies and presented a petition of support that boasted nearly twice as many signatures as a petition from opponents.
“This isn’t just about convenience or novelty,” the petition of support states underneath a photo of a stuffed baby beaver. “It’s about what Buc-ee’s represents to us.”
Opponents wore pins with the Buc-ee’s mascot X-ed out in red. To an outsider, the meeting might have appeared as a high-stakes Groundhog Day celebration where some attendees wanted an early spring and others wanted to kill the groundhog.
Buc-ee’s representatives spent much of their presentation addressing concerns about traffic clogs, stormwater runoff, harm to downtown small businesses, and harm to sacred indigenous sites. They also touted the company’s compensation package (employees make an average of $45,000 a year and receive full benefits) and said the Mebane Buc-ee’s will create at least 225 new full-time jobs.
Mebane’s city council approved the plan in a 5-0 vote.
Have a good Wednesday, everyone.
— Lena
Durham
Local basketball players come together for the love of the game through an upstart local basketball league.
The Duke community gathered for the university’s Centennial kick-off celebration in Cameron Indoor Stadium Tuesday, marking 100 years since Duke’s endowment was established.
Wake
Wake County Commissioners are considering adding a $100-million-plus bond referendum for county libraries to voters’ ballots this fall. [Paywalled]
Orange
Danielle Jones, a former Durham Public Schools superintendent, was sworn in as superintendent for Orange County Schools this week. Jones starts the job on February 1, during a troubled time for the district.
The U.S. Department of Education is investigating UNC following a complaint of discrimination against Jewish students.
A UNC sophomore made his second appearance on Jeopardy! Tuesday evening.
North Carolina
Political campaign watchdog Bob Hall says Lt. Gov. and gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson potentially broke campaign finance laws during his 2020 campaign.
Yesterday’s storm damaged homes around the Triangle and more than 170,000 residents across the state lost power.
Today’s weather
Sunny with a high of 52 degrees.
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