In this Chapel Hill Insider Issue…

⛅Chapel Hill Local Weather- High 80^o and Thunderstorms

📊Opinion Poll Results: Political Reporting

📰Chapel Hill Budget Plan Calls for Tax Increase Amid Rising Service Costs

📰Durham Weekend Tragedy: Two Hit-and-Runs Leave One Dead, Another Critical

📰Financial Realities Complicate UNC Protesters' Demands for Israeli Divestment

📰Orange County’s Most Wanted: A Noisy Cicada with a Hefty Bond

🗓️Upcoming Events 

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Hey, there Insiders,

Well, we were impressed by the turnout on our latest poll and learned more about this community that we serve. So thank you for making your voices heard. We hear you and we will keep asking you to continue to fine-tune our reporting. Thank you for your feedback!

Here are the results:

• As it turns out MOST of you who responded care about politics and want to hear about what is going on in that regard in the Chapel Hill Insider. About 94% want to hear about it in some shape or form.

• A significant amount of you, about 42% don’t want our opinion, which is just fine by us, as we enjoy keeping our opinion to ourselves.

• We are probably not going to poll for your political opinion, but we will be polling soon for brunch and lunch recommendations.

• And to our segment that wants to avoid politics, we hear that as well; we will try to keep it lighthearted, local, and fun, in addition to the relevant story that may involve politics. We are a many-faceted community. That’s why we love it.

We would like to reiterate that we remain politically neutral. We just report and sum up what’s happening locally. We are passionate about our community, which happens to be you.

As always you can write us via [email protected] and let us know what you think. We are listening.

Chapel Hill Budget Plan Calls for Tax Increase Amid Rising Service Costs

Chapel Hill Town Manager Chris Blue has presented a $156.2 million budget proposal for the fiscal year 2024-2025, which includes a 2-cent increase in property tax rates. This proposed hike is aimed at covering the escalating costs of town operations, which are budgeted at $89.4 million, and capital projects valued at $36.6 million, including essential maintenance and new vehicle purchases. Property taxes, which constitute nearly half of the town's revenue for daily operations, along with sales taxes making up about 26%, are critical financial resources for the town.

The slight increase in the tax rate will specifically help fund a 14% rise in the budget for Chapel Hill Transit to afford necessary supplies, repairs, and salaries for bus drivers. The town is also facing a yearly 3% to 5% increase in general operating costs due to inflation and the increased expense of goods and services.

Future fiscal plans include addressing substantial infrastructure needs through proposed debt issuance of $6.5 million, which will support the acquisition of a new ladder truck for the fire department, relocation of the police department to a leased space, and ongoing expenditures for a new parking deck project. A significant decision awaits in November, when voters will consider a bond referendum to potentially use the town’s remaining debt capacity for $44 million worth of projects, including the construction of fire stations, affordable housing, and improvements to recreational facilities.

The proposed new tax rate would mean a $100 increase in annual property taxes for a $500,000 home, with tax bills due at the start of 2025. Town council members have voiced concerns about the affordability of these tax increases for homeowners and renters, particularly affecting those least financially equipped to handle such hikes. The final decision on the budget will follow a series of council meetings and public hearings, with the new fiscal plan slated to begin on July 1.

Durham Weekend Tragedy: Two Hit-and-Runs Leave One Dead, Another Critical

Durham police are investigating two hit-and-run incidents from this past weekend, leading to severe injury for one pedestrian and the death of another. The first incident occurred on North Miami Boulevard and involved a pedestrian being struck by a dark blue SUV, possibly a Jeep Grand Cherokee, which sustained significant damage and fled the scene. The second incident on North Roxboro Street involved a pedestrian fatally hit potentially by two vehicles, including a light grey or blue Chevy Sonic. The authorities are urging the public to provide any information related to these cases. Tips can be directed to Investigator G. Munter or anonymously through Durham CrimeStoppers at (919) 683-1200, which is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to felony arrests.

Financial Realities Complicate UNC Protesters' Demands for Israeli Divestment

Protests at UNC-Chapel Hill have intensified with demonstrators demanding the university divest from Israeli-linked companies, citing involvement in alleged atrocities. The complexity of large university investment funds, managed by the UNC Management Company, makes such divestment challenging. Experts explain that divesting from major companies like Google or Amazon, which operate significantly in Israel, is complicated due to their importance in investment strategies focusing on returns. Amid these protests, symbolic actions such as replacing the U.S. flag with a Palestinian flag have marked a significant escalation in the situation.

Over 400 pro-Palestinian supporters marched on the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill campus, organized by Students for Justice in Palestine. Starting their procession at Franklin Street, they concluded at the South Building. This comes after a prior incident involving the replacement of a flag with a Palestinian flag at Polk Place, resulting in the suspension of SJP from campus activities. There were a few counter-protesters among the crowd with Israeli flags. The demonstration was largely peaceful and no arrests were made, although some Jewish students have reportedly been subjected to hate speech and hostility while on UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus.

The SHALOM Act, introduced by North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, aims to legally define antisemitism in response to a significant rise in such incidents on college campuses. The bill draws on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition and is designed to aid in education, reporting, and addressing antisemitic acts. While some critics argue it could limit free speech by equating criticism of Israel with antisemitism, supporters believe it's essential for protecting Jewish students and clarifying the boundaries of hate speech.

Orange County’s Most Wanted: A Noisy Cicada with a Hefty Bond

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office playfully announced the arrest of a cicada, Ura Knightmare, for various humorous charges including disturbing the peace, amid the return of cicada season. This satirical announcement highlighted the non-violent nature of the cicadas and served to remind the public to remain calm during their noisy emergence, describing the situation as a manageable "marathon." Read the full report here.

Center Theater Company in Carrboro

@ Flyleaf Books

Fridays on the Front Porch

Experience the charm of Chapel Hill each Friday at the Carolina Inn’s “Fridays on the Front Porch” event. Located at 211 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, the event is sure to be a great way to enjoy the season. Running every Friday from April 19 through October 25, 2024, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM, this local favorite is the perfect way to kick off the weekend. Although the first event on April 19th has been canceled due to anticipated bad weather, the series promises plenty of excitement with live music, handcrafted cocktails, North Carolina beers, and a diverse selection of food from local food trucks. The event caters to all age groups, making it an ideal outing for everyone looking to unwind in a festive atmosphere. Click here to see the lineup. (Linked has been updated) This Friday, May 10th, listen to the Lee Gildersleeve & The Bad Dogs and enjoy How Bout Burger and Poblanos Tacos food trucks!

Cat’s Cradle