Matt ViserCity

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Is There Hope in the Holy Land?

By Matt ViserCity | July 26

Reverberations from daily conflicts in Israel have been felt around the world among people of varied religions, ages and nationalities, even here in Chapel Hill. Groups around the Triangle have organized protests, movie viewings, panel discussions and prayer vigils, trying to have their voices heard in an international conversation. Mary-Lou Leiser-Smith helped stage a protest in June against Israeli occupation in Palestinian land. "This is a hot button for a lot of people," Leiser-Smith said Tuesday. "We need to be continue to be more proactive and look for a more just solution."

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UNC Begins Plans to Redevelop Historically Rich Property

By Matt ViserCity | July 19

Former UNC Professor Herman G. Baity sold most of his land to the University more than 25 years ago. Soon, the University may accomplish a Master Plan goal by breaking ground on the Baity property and making space for a new married-student housing complex. In a wooded, park-like setting, the Baity property is located on a hill just off Mason Farm Road. It is a secluded area, featuring the Baity estate, with the Smith Center just visible through the trees. Much of the land was sold to the University in 1974 by Baity and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth Chesley Baity.

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Morgan Creek Bridge Could Meet `Steamroller'

By Matt ViserCity | July 19

If local admirers get their way, a bridge that takes U.S. 15-501 over Morgan Creek will soon be named after musician James Taylor. A museum exhibit could open shortly thereafter. ?The bridge is located very close to his home,? said Owen Gwyn, chairman of the museum board. ?He grew up there, kind of on the banks.? Taylor was born in Boston, but his family moved to Chapel Hill in 1951 when his father, Isaac, became the dean of the UNC Medical School.

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Assembly May Raise Tuition

By Matt ViserCity | July 19

State legislators continue to debate a bleak revenue picture this week as they try to protect the state?s superior bond rating. A House proposal also indicates a large tuition increase for out-of-state students in UNC-system schools. The Senate budget proposal indicated a 9 percent tuition increase for all students, but House budget writers submitted an amendment that would increase out-of-state student tuition by 15 percent. This proposal would raise $24 million, but without any in-state student tuition increase. Several legislators strongly disapprove of this measure, however.

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N.C. House Plan Absorbs Unused Salary Monies

By Matt ViserCity | June 28

The N.C. House of Representatives Appropriations Committee approved their $14.4 billion budget Tuesday, leaving many higher education officials worried about the future of their reserves and research money. Legislators have proposed tapping into money the UNC system has accumulated from past unspent salary money, which would provide $52 million for budget writers to use. In the past, the UNC system has been given flexibility to use funds left over at the year's end, while most other state agencies are required to return the unspent salary money to the state's general fund.

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N.C. WARN Protests in Raleigh

By Matt ViserCity | June 28

RALEIGH - Persistence has been the name of the game for the N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, but their time seems to be running out. N.C. WARN held a rally Monday in front of U.S. Sen. John Edwards' office in the Fayetteville Street Mall, calling on Edwards to use his influence to arrange a Senate field hearing on Carolina Power & Light Co.'s expansion plan. "It's a simple request," said Jim Warren, director of N.C. WARN.

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Town, UNC Approach Rezoning Compromise

By Matt ViserCity | June 28

Town and University officials might have finally come to a rezoning agreement that satisfies both sides. UNC met with town officials Tuesday to clarify portions of the rezoning proposal. The town council will vote on the proposal July 2. As a result of the meeting, University officials agreed to remove several of the more controversial tracts from their rezoning proposal.

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Petition Complicates UNC Rezoning Proposal

By Matt ViserCity | June 20

The Chapel Hill Town Council held a public hearing Monday, announcing that a protest petition submitted by Chapel Hill residents on June 13 had been considered valid and sufficient. Therefore, it will take a supermajority, or seven votes out of the nine-member board, for UNC's main campus to be rezoned.

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Price Works to Fix Election Problems

By Matt ViserCity | June 20

U.S. Rep.

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N.C. House Axes Taxes In Budget

By Matt ViserCity | June 20

North Carolina House of Representatives say they will not increase any taxes, yet will manage to avoid harsh cuts in the Health and Human Services Department. House representatives have been busily meeting in subcommittees, trying to make changes to the budget the North Carolina State Senate approved and handed to them on May 31. "There are considerable changes," said Rep. Verla Insko, D-Orange. "The plan is that the House version would not include additional tax increases or loophole closings." Rep.