🌱 Wake Led Alcohol-Related Crashes in 2021 + Rowe's First 100 Days

Happy St. Patrick's Day Raleigh!

Don't forget to wear green or you're going to get pinched! Get dressed up in your best green and head out to find some luck of the Irish. Before you do that, read all about everything Raleigh, including:

• NCSU hosts law enforcement training.
• Cary's first 2023 Night Market
• Feedback wanted on Sip N' Stroll.

But first, today's weather:

Breezy; a stray p.m. shower. High: 69 Low: 46.

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Here are the top six stories today in Raleigh:

1. According to data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Wake County had the most alcohol-related crashes across the state last year. With 1,082 alcohol-related crashes reported, 37 were fatalities. Law enforcement agencies are cracking down this weekend to combat St. Patrick's Day drinking. Wake County Sheriff's Deputy Beckley Vaughan says that they are looking for all kinds of impaired drivers, beyond the scope of just alcohol. According to Vaughn spring and summer see an increase in violations with more cars on the roadways. (CBS17)
2. Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe has been in office for 100 days. He is reflecting on the beginning of his administration and where it will go from here. So far, the office has hired more than 50 new members, including deputy sheriffs, detention officers, telecommunication and civilian staff. Although there is still a vacancy of about 55 deputies and 100 detention officers, Rowe believes the academy will help cut the vacancies in half. R0we has also reinstated the departments tuition reimbursement program and offering bonuses to improve morale and retain current employees. Rowe hopes to establish a community advisory board that can offer policy recommendations and implementations, as well as hold officers accountable. (abc11)
3. More than 500 law enforcement agencies from across North Carolina took part in a training course for worst-case scenarios. The three day training event was on the campus of N.C. State University. Attendees practiced scenarios involving active shooters, bomb threats and explosive chemicals. (CBS17)
4. It has been two months since the death of Darryl Williams in the custody of Raleigh police. His mother, Sonya Williams, says that life has not been the same since she lost her son. Williams said that Darryl's health issues were hereditary, as his father and uncle both died from heart problems. Williams says that her son would still be alive today if not for Raleigh police. She says that something needs to be done about the officers as they remain on paid administrative leave. (abc11) A group in Raleigh has launched a text alert system to track law enforcement brutality claims. Creator Kerwin Pittman believes that the app could have helped Williams by bringing more witnesses to the scene. (CBS17)
5. Livable Raleigh is advocating for sustainable growth in Raleigh, as Raleigh-Cary saw the 10th largest numerical growth for any metropolitan statistical area in 2020-2021. Advocates are working to ensure that community voices are heard as the city expands and develops. The group also believes that citizen's advisory councils are imperative for the future of Raleigh. Larry Helfant, the chair of Raleigh's Midtown Citizen's Advisory Council says that his area's CAC is part of the reason that Kane Realty withdrew a rezoning request in Midtown. (Spectrum News 1)
6. On Monday night, a sewer overflow caused 4,200 gallons of untreated wastewater to spill into a tributary on Mine Creek. Raleigh Water said that the overflow was the result of roots within the 8-inch sewer main. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources has been alerted to the overflow and there was no observed unnecessary damage from the event. (CBS17)

Today in Raleigh:

• Leprechaun Hike & Play at Hemlock Bluffs Nature Preserve (10:00am-11:30am)
• St. Patrick's Day Festivities: Boxcar (12:00pm-11:00pm), Bull City Ciderworks Cary (12:00pm-11:00pm), Mac's Tavern Cary (1:00pm-1:00am), Raleigh Brewing Co. (3:00pm-10:00pm), Lonerider WF (3:00pm-11:00pm), Tin Roof (4:00pm), PourWorks (4:00pm-12:00am), Lonerider Raleigh (5:00pm-10:00pm), The Hop Yard (6:00pm), O'Malley's (10:00pm-1:00am), Wild Wing Cafe (10:00pm-1:00am)
• Lucky's St. Patrick's Day Crawl at Zenith Raleigh (4:00pm-12:00am)
• First 2023 Cary Night Market on Academy Street (5:00pm-9:00pm)
• St. Patty's Beer Olympics at Raleigh Social House (5:00pm-12:00am)
• Winterjam 2023 at PNC Arena (6:00pm)
• St. Patrick's Day "Be A Kid Again" Date Night with Joy Worthy Co (7:00pm-9:00pm)

Saturday in Raleigh:

• Ella's Race for Pediatric Brain Cancer at North Ridge Country Club (9:00am-11:00am)
• Raleigh Roasts at Moore Square (9:00am-1:00pm)
• Playthrough Gaming Convention 2023 at Raleigh Convention Center (10:00am-6:00pm)
• 23rd Annual Lebanese Festival at the Triangle Lebanese American Center (11:00am-6:00pm)
• "Paddy On The Green" Festival at Lafayette Village Raleigh (12:00pm-4:00pm)
• "2023 Official St. Patrick's Day Bar Crawl" starting at Whiskey Rose (2:00pm-10:00pm) & "17th Annual Award Winning Raleigh St. Pat's Pub Crawl" in Glenwood South (3:00pm)
• Monster Jam at PNC Arena (7:00pm)
• Geek & Grub Game Night & Gaming Convention Launch Party at Bond Brothers (7:00pm-10:00pm)

From my notebook:

• It's St. Patrick's Day and although I rounded up a bunch of lucky events above, Triangle on the Cheap also gathered a ton scheduled this weekend.
• How do you feel about Raleigh's Sip N' Stroll Downtown? This spring Raleigh will review the pilot program and consider its future. (Social District Engagement Community Survey)
• Capital Quilters Guild of Raleigh will be hosting their annual quilt show on March 17 and 18 at the state fairgrounds. More than 130 quilts will be on display. (WRAL)

That's it for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— CJ Fullford

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