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Community Corner

🌱 I-440 Closures + Council Meeting Recap + Homicide Increase Ranking

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 Tea Day Raleigh!

First, today's weather:

Partly to mostly sunny. High: 73 Low: 52.

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Here are the top five stories in Raleigh today:

  1. A section of Interstate 440 westbound was closed near the Lake Boone Trail exit, after a pedestrian was struck by multiple vehicles and killed on Wednesday morning. The section between exit 5 and exit 4 was shut down for more than five hours while police investigated. A number of vehicles remained at the scene, and it is unclear if charges will be filed. (WBTW, WRAL) The on-ramp from Capital Boulevard to Interstate 440 eastbound also had to be closed on Wednesday after a tractor-trailer overturned. The semi-truck was merging onto the interstate when it flipped on its side. The driver suffered minor injuries but remained at the scene. (CBS17)
  2. On Tuesday, the Raleigh City Council voted in favor of the 2% cost-of-living pay increase for city employees. Members from the Raleigh Police and Fire departments gathered ahead of the meeting, urging city leaders to increase the starting pay rate to at least $18.20 per hour. The pay increase will be funded through a likely 2% tax increase on top of storm water increases, tax increases, parks and recreation increases, and solid waste service increases. (abc11, Spectrum News 1) The council also adopted the Greenway Master Plan (WRAL), and voted to lower the speed on eight streets. (WRAL)
  3. Earlier this month a Raleigh church window was shattered by what they believed to be a Molotov cocktail, and on Monday Naila Sheree Whetstone was charged and taken to jail. The incident took place on April 2 at the Body of Christ Church on Spring Forest Road. The building was unoccupied at the time. (CBS17) Police have also arrested the 'Peeping Tom' in connection to a series of incidents. The arrest of Terry Davont Harris took place on Tuesday and he is facing a variety of charges. (CBS17)
  4. The Wake County School board has approved spending $3.7 million on land in Morrisville and Cary from Wake Tech to use for a new high school in western Wake County. The school system is already planning high school on the Wake Tech campus near the RTP, this separate school will take several years to open. (WRAL) The Wake County Public School System will also enter into a new drivers education contract to reduce the backlog of students waiting for course. (WRAL)
  5. A new study by WalletHub has ranked Raleigh number 21 in a ranking of the biggest homicide increases during the pandemic. The company said that overall, homicide rates increased by an average of 17% in 50 of the country's biggest cities between the first quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2022. Raleigh had the fifth highest increase between the beginning of 2021 and the beginning of 2022. Durham and Charlotte were also on the list at 12 and 44 respectively. (CBS17)

Today in Raleigh:

From my notebook:

  • It's National Tea Day and Heirloom Brew Shop has all the ambiance and quality you'd want while sipping a nice hot tea.
  • The CIMG Residential Mortgage Run for Ukraine (3:30pm-6:00pm) and Lafayette Village's Wine Walk for Charity (6:00pm-8:00pm) are taking place today.
  • Business & Beers is hosting an after-hour networking event at Lonerider Brewing Co. today from 6:00pm-8:00pm.
  • Pam's Farmhouse is hosting a Coffee With a Cop event today to give you the opportunity to get to know officers and voice concerns from 8:00am-10:00am

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you around!

— CJ Fullford

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