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Community Corner

🌱 Delayed Buses Setting Back Students + Wake County Legal Support

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Raleigh.

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Christina Fullford, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy National Bagel Day Raleigh!

We're basically halfway through January; how's your new year going so far? I certainly wasn't too keen on the arrival of snow in Raleigh yesterday, even if it didn't stick. I hope that the tail end of January treats you well, and you can go into it knowing that you are up to date on everything Raleigh, including:

  • Dozens gather to pray and protest the denied access to the Shaw University mosque.
  • There will be a chili cook off at Fortnight.
  • The first snow in Raleigh

But first, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and warmer. High: 51 Low: 25.

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Here are the top stories in Raleigh today:

  1. Wake County parents are raising concerns around delayed bus arrivals. Parents with students enrolled in Wake County Public Schools say that the delays are setting their children back in the classroom, and putting students at risk while they wait for busses to arrive. One parent says that her son's school bus was 45 minutes late on Friday, and there is no system to warn of bus delays. Wake County Public Schools System senior administrator Matt Dees provided a written statement saying that, "due to the driver shortage, we have very few drivers available to cover for absent drivers." Wake County Public School System is offering a $1,200 sign on bonus to attract new drivers, but the shortage has remained a constant problem. Wake County School also said that parents can check the district's website for updates on bus routes. (WRAL)
  2. Dozens of people gathered to protest at Shaw University after the King Khalid Mosque was not opened to the public. A group of Muslim worshipers said that they have attended the mosque for years, some for decades, but are now being denied access. Around noon on Friday, the group said their Friday prayers in the shadow of the mosque. Shaw University stopped in-person services due to COVID in 2020, but although many others have opened up, Shaw University only allows access to the mosque by enrolled students. The Imam of the group says that they plan to be there every Friday until a resolution is made. (WRAL)
  3. County leaders have opened the doors to the Wake County Legal Support Center. The facility served more than 50 people in its first week. According to the North Carolina Equal Access to Justice Commission and the Equal Justice Alliance, around 70% of low-income families encounter at least one legal issue a year. Judge Ashleigh Dunston, the lead child support judge in Wake County says that they want to ensure that anyone who comes into the center can receive free access to legal help. (abc11, CBS17)
  4. Friends of Oberlin Village is raising concerns around the rapid pace of development in the area. Oberlin Village is one of the last known surviving freedmen's villages in the state, and as Raleigh develops, people are raising concerns that Raleigh's rich history is being destroyed in the process. FOV posted a plea on social media asking residents to join them in efforts to slow development, as more than a dozen projects are in the works right now around the Village District. (abc11) As the face of Raleigh has been changing for years, author and historian Carmen Cauthen wrote a new book to preserve the history of Raleigh's Black neighborhoods. (WRAL)
  5. A Raleigh police patrol vehicle was hit in a crash on late Friday night. Around 11:09 p.m., the department said that their vehicle was responding to a disabled vehicle on Hammond Road when a pickup truck rear-ended the police department's vehicle. The officer was outside of the patrol car when the impact occurred, and moved away to avoid being hit, but suffered minor non-life-threatening injuries. (CBS17, WRAL)
  6. North Carolina State radio broadcaster Gary Hahn returned to the air on Saturday after a two-game suspension. Hahn apologized for the controversial comments made while announcing an out-of-town score during Duke's Mayo Bowl football game on December 30. Hahn apologized for the remarks stating that, "the comments I made on Dec. 30 during the Duke's Mayo Bowl were not appropriate in the format of the game broadcast. It took focus away from our outstanding student-athletes and it was not my intention to detract from the field of competition or bring any kind of unneeded stress to NC State University." (CBS17)

Today in Raleigh:

Monday in Raleigh:

From my notebook:

  • It's National Bagel Day and Transfer Co. Food Hall is home to Benchwarmers Bagels where you can get some incredible bagel treats.
  • Did you catch Raleigh's first snowfall of 2023 on Saturday morning? (WRAL)
  • Cary's Annual Dreamfest has already begun with events celebrating the legacy of Martin Lutheer King Jr., with this year's events featuring a large service component. (Spectrum News 1)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. I'll see you soon!

— CJ Fullford

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Raleigh Daily? Contact me at raleigh@patch.com

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