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Community Corner

🌱 Lawmakers Prepare For Legislative Session + Calls for Clemency

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Christina Fullford, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy National Write to Congress Day Raleigh!

The state legislative session is just ahead, and on a national level, I'm sure you have a whole lot you could say. Never be shy when it comes to your congresspersons. Before you get all your thoughts together, read all about what's going on in Raleigh, including:

  • Library expands hours
  • There's a tour for plant lovers.
  • Raleigh's first Walk With a Cop event is today.

But first, today's weather:

Low clouds. High: 65 Low: 62.

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Here are the top five stories today in Raleigh:

  1. State lawmakers are preparing for their return to Raleigh as the upcoming legislative session will take place on January 11. Republicans in the house hold a 'governing super-majority," according to the state House Speaker Tim Moore. In November he expressed a triumphant tone. The session will likely be contentious, although bipartisan negotiations were a highlight of the last legislative long session in 2021. (WUNC)
  2. On Sunday, members of the ACLU of North Carolina and Decarcerate Now NC held a mock funeral outside of the Executive Mansion. The event held in downtown Raleigh was meant to remember people who died inside state prisons in 2022. The goal of the event was to urge Governor Roy Cooper to expand the use of clemency in North Carolina. Organizers emphasized that reasons behind incarceration vary and, "criminalizing poverty and substance use and mental health is a huge issue inside of our prisons." Advocates are calling on Cooper to grant clemency to all people on death row in the state and expand resources and protections inside prisons. (CBS17)
  3. Wake County libraries will be expanding their hours for the new year. Most of the county's public libraries will open earlier and close later, adding two hours to library schedules. The only day unaffected by the change will be Sundays. The chair of the Wake County Board of Commissioners, Shinica Thomas says that they are excited to expand hours in order to better meet the needs of residents. The change comes in response to more than 40 comments in recent customer satisfaction surveys asking for longer hours. (News Deal)
  4. On New Years Day in a residential area between Creedmoor and Lead Mine Roads, a man was thrown form his motorcycle. According to police, the driver was an adult male and the incident took place around 5 p.m.. Officers arrived to find the man who was transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Police have not disclosed if any other vehicles were involved or released information regarding the cause off the incident as they continue to investigate. (CBS17)
  5. Michael Haley, head of Wake County Economic Development says that the jobs pipeline is very promising going into 2023. The area expects new and expanding companies to bring more growth to the area. Active projects as of November 30 are set to bring an anticipated 8,000-plus jobs to the area, with more to come from new and expanding company announcements. (WRAL TechWire)

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Today in Raleigh:

Wednesday in Raleigh:

From my notebook:

  • It's National Write to Congress Day and since the elections are over and everyone is settling in, make sure you make your voice known! You can find your congressional representation at Congress.gov.
  • All households who meet the criteria can apply for the North Carolina Low Income Energy Assistance Program. (abc11)
  • The Raleigh Police Department is hosting their first Walk With a Cop event today at Pullen Park beginning at 10:00 a.m.. (Raleigh Police Department Facebook)

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. See you all tomorrow for another update!

— CJ Fullford

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

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