Good morning Raleigh! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
Also on today's calendar: Level Up Live and 6 more events.
Today's riddle: What did the tree say when Spring arrived? 🤔 (Answer below!)
1. 'Very exciting first moment': Raleigh Convention Center now Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center (cbs17.com) — Raleigh's convention center has been renamed the Atlantic Union Bank Convention Center under a long-term naming-rights deal that helps fund a major expansion downtown. Work will soon add a large new ballroom, reconfigure the Red Hat Amphitheater site, and support bigger conferences, with completion targeted for 2029 and a new amphitheater opening next June.
2. New idea emerges for elevated walkway connecting downtown Raleigh and Dix Park (newsobserver.com) — Raleigh leaders and designers are pitching The Oakline, an elevated, landscaped walkway that would link downtown to Dix Park with new bridges over McDowell, Dawson, South Saunders and MLK Boulevard. Backers hope to launch a feasibility study this fall, arguing a shaded, car-free 15‑minute walk could transform how residents and visitors experience both downtown and the park.
3. Over 400 Raleigh officers have access to surveillance cameras. How many are active staff? (wral.com) — Raleigh residents are learning that more than 400 city police officers have active accounts for Flock license-plate surveillance cameras, though only about half logged in recently. WRAL Investigates is pressing the department for answers on why so many accounts exist, how access is granted, and what safeguards limit historical searches, while police insist the system is used only for legitimate investigations.
4. North Carolina Labor Chief honors astronaut Christina Koch with state's top award (wwaytv3.com) — NASA astronaut and North Carolina native Christina Koch visited Raleigh's historic Labor Building to receive the state's top labor honor and speak with local students. Her trip included a STEM-focused Q&A and a roundtable on growing North Carolina's aerospace and technology workforce, highlighting Raleigh's role in preparing residents for future space-related careers.
5. NC educators navigate AI's role in education while they ensure students develop critical thinking (abc11.com) — Raleigh families are seeing AI move from buzzword to classroom tool, from state-crafted guidelines to daily lessons at local private school Alpha Raleigh. State education leaders are pushing districts toward AI policies by 2027 while emphasizing that technology should enhance, not replace, students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Raleigh PatchAM possible:
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
Ok Raleigh! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: What a re-leaf! (Thank you Flo G. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Raleigh Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.