🌱Wake County Gun Violence Interrupters + 33 Arrested For Weekend DWIs

Happy World Poetry Day Raleigh:

You made it through Monday and now have the opportunity to chart your own course for how the week is going to go for you. Take it easy and catch up on everything before you head out, including:

• Veteran loses everything in home fire.
• Salsa after work social.
• Beware of Better Business Bureau impersonators.

But first, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 63 Low: 40.

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I have a limited number of sponsorships available to introduce our readers to local businesses they need to know. If that's you, then I invite you to learn more and secure your spot now.

Here are the top four stories today in Raleigh:

1. Wake County commissioners are working on a program that will hopefully help reduce gun violence in the area. The Raleigh Police Department and the NAACP are partnering to launch a new gun violence interruption program this spring, that Wake County planners want to expand. The program plans to utilize mediators to deter gun violence, while also bringing together law enforcement, churches, hospitals and community organizations. Some communities with similar programs have seen up to a 40% reduction in gun violence. (WRAL)
2. During the St. Patrick's Day crackdown, various law enforcement agencies arrested 33 people on DWI charges from Friday around 6:00 p.m. to Sunday around 10:00 p.m. The State Highway Patrol made the most arrests at 14, with Raleigh Police pulling over 8 drivers who were under the influence. Leading into the weekend law enforcement agencies warned that they would be ramping up patrols over the holiday weekend. (CBS17)
3. A Raleigh family was displaced after an early morning fire on Charny Drive. The family reported hearing a lout bang around 4:00 a.m. that was followed by flames. An Air Force veteran and her daughter live in the home and two relatives were staying with them at the time. Anaya Wilson is the daughter who lives in the home and she shared that the four attempted to get the water heater out of the home, after discovering the water heater was the cause of the bang and fire. The fire department told them that everything is lost, including several of her mother's keepsakes from her time in the military. (abc11, CBS17, WRAL)
4. On Saturday, a fuel spill ran into a retention pond and rerouted Ella's Race. According to the Raleigh Fire Department, the fuel spill was caused by a tractor trailer fire that took place nearby on Friday. Officials say that the truck was destroyed and a small amount of engine fluids ran off into the golf course through storm water. Hazmat crews responded and will continue to monitor the area over the next few days. (FOX8)

Today in Raleigh:

• Nature Creators at Prairie Ridge Ecostation (10:30am-11:30am)
• Run Club at Seven Saturdays Tap Room (6:00pm-7:00pm)
• Trivia: Seven Saturdays (7:00pm-9:00pm), Music @ Woody's Morrisville (7:00pm-9:00pm), Raleigh Brewing Cary (7:00pm-9:00pm), House of Hops (7:00pm-9:00pm), The Hop Yard (7:00pm-9:00pm), Triangle Beer Co. (7:00pm-9:00pm), Flying Saucer (7:00pm & 9:30pm), Rick & Morty @ Fortnight Cary (7:30pm), Sammy's Tap & Grill (8:00pm-10:00pm)
• Music Bingo: Tin Roof (7:00pm-9:00pm), The Big Easy Cary (7:00pm-9:00pm), Bull City Ciderworks Cary (7:00pm-9:00pm), Gizmo Brew Works (7:00pm-9:00pm), Blackbird Brewery WF (7:00pm-9:00pm), The Bridge DTR (7:00pm-9:00pm), Compass Rose (7:00pm-10:00pm), Doherty's Cary (8:00pm-10:00pm)
• Tuesday Salsa After Work Latin Social at Carmen's Cuban Cafe (9:00pm-12:00am)

Wednesday in Raleigh:

• Artful Story Time at NCMA (10:30am-11:00am)
• Moms Meet Up at Southeast Raleigh YMCA (10:30am-11:30am)
• Raleigh Brewing Run Club (6:30pm-8:30pm)
• Trivia: Edit Beer Co. (7:00pm-9:00pm), Gizmo Brew Works (7:00pm-9:00pm), Taylor Swift @ Chubby's Raleigh (7:00pm), Clouds Brewing (7:30pm-10:30pm)
• Standup Comedy Fundraiser Show at The Raleigh Times (7:30pm)
• Karaoke: Tin Roof (8:00pm-2:00am), Good Times Garner (8:30pm-11:30pm), Mitch's Tavern (9:00pm), Sammy's Tap & Grill (9:00pm-11:45pm)

From my notebook:

• It's World Poetry Day and Living Poetry is a great way to engage and participate in the poetry culture in Raleigh-Durham. They host events and create prompts for those in need of inspiration.
• If you are a Wake Forest resident, you can help decide Wake Forest's Tree of the Year ahead of Arbor Day. (CBS17)
• The Better Business Bureau is warning businesses and consumers that imposters are pretending to be the BBB to steal information and money.

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

— CJ Fullford

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