Community Corner
🌱Librarians Push Back + COVID Updates + Know Before The New Year
The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Raleigh.
Happy New Year's Eve Raleigh!
First, today's weather:
Mostly cloudy. High: 70 Low: 61.
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Here are the top stories in Raleigh today:
- Dozens of Wake County librarians are calling for the book 'Gender Queer' to be put back on shelves after library managers pulled the book earlier this month. A group of 55 librarians signed a letter from the group 'Wake County Free to Read,' saying they should have included librarians in the decision making process. One librarian felt that the move was "censoring other voices," and "antithetical to what we stand for." (WRAL)
- The John Wall Invitational Holiday Tournament had to have extra security in place for its Thursday games, after a fight during Wednesday's match-ups got so intense, tear gas was deployed. Members of Southern California Academy and Moravian Prep teams began fighting after their game, causing security to be stretched thin. In the next match up between Farmville Central and Life Christian, the crowd spilled onto the court during an altercation, resulting in the tear gas being used. (abc11)
- The Han-Dee Hugo's on Western Boulevard was the target of an robbery around 11:00 pm on Wednesday. The robber was armed with a knife, threatened the clerk, and took money from the register before fleeing. The clerk was not injured in the incident, but NCSU sent out a Wolf Alert as a precaution and police are asking anyone with information to contact the Raleigh Police Department. (WRAL)
- Following the abrupt cancelation of the Holiday Bowl against UCLA due to COVID-19 forfeiture, the Wolfpack returned home to be greeted by a sea of cheering fans. Although the Wolfpack was named champion of the Holiday Bowl, the team is still feeling frustration and anger due to losing their season finale, but the positivity of the fans and community are helping the team heal. (WXII12)
- Public health officials reported more than 9,000 new COVID-19 cases in North Carolina on Wednesday, with more than 2,100 people hospitalized. (abc11) Wake County testing sites will be closed today for New Year's Eve but will reopen by appointment on Saturday. (WRAL) With the surge in demand, Labcorp has also expressed that it is pausing orders on COVID-19 home collection kits to "meet customer expectations during limited holiday shipping delivery windows." (FOX8)
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Today in Raleigh:
- Noon Years Eve Party at Little Doodles (10:30 am-12:30 pm)
- Frills-Free NYE Fun at Boxcar Bar + Arcade (12:00 pm-2:00 am)
- NYE Masquerade by Empress Room (9:00 pm-12:00 am)
- The Doomsday Ball: Goth NYE Party at The Wicked Witch (9:00 pm-2:00 am)
- NYE Jam Session at the Masonic Lodge (10:00 pm-1:00 am)
- Traditional NYE Parties: Wye Hill, Creative Space Station, The Merchant, PourWorks, Halcyon, Rose Bar, Fortnight Brewing Co., C. Grace, Lynwood Brewing Concern, Bar Louie, Virgils, Raleigh Union Station, The Big Easy, The Architect, Blowfish, The Patio,Farotage, Terminal 8, and more!
From my notebook:
- It's New Year's Eve and while the parties are abundant [see above], if you're living in Raleigh there's one event you need to say that you've done at least once, the First Night acorn drop downtown! There will also be on-site COVID-19 testing. (WRAL)
- Know before the New Year NC:
- WRAL Police sound alarm against 'celebratory gunfire' on NYE (2020)
- Patch 18 laws that go into effect on January 1, 2022
- abc11 Changes you need to know about ahead of tax season
- abc13 recap the budget deal politicians reached in 2021
- Carolina Public Press top 10 stories of 2021
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Events:
- Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31)
- Add your event
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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!
— CJ Fullford