Monica Casey

1 week ago | wral.com | Monica Casey

Family and friends are mourning a 32-year-old Durham man killed last week in a hit-and-run. Chicago native Aaron Crouse lived in Durham for the last seven years. Crouse earned his Master's of Divinity at Duke University, and then worked with Duke Engage for about two and a half years. Associate Director of Duke Engage at the Kenan Institute for Ethics Inga Peterson called Crouse a light. "He really believed in the power of people and he lived that every day,” Peterson said.

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Monica Casey

On Thursday, teachers, families, and the Chapel Hill and Carrboro communities held walk-ins at several schools to advocate for more funding. The main message from educators who have planned this walk in today is “public money for public schools.”The Chapel Hill-Carrboro Association of Educators argues the state has fallen short in funding public schools, asking Orange County to pick up the slack. “I’ve been to public school my whole life," said eighth grader Jay Christian.

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Monica Casey

Fire crews said two people were taken to the hospital from a house fire in Durham on Craven Street. Three people were in the home at the time the fire started on Thursday morning. A man heard the fire detector go off and was able to escape. Fire fighters had to rescue two others. Their conditions are unknown. At least 10 fire trucks were seen parked in the street. The fire was under control after about 15 minutes.

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Monica Casey

Concern was the main mood at the Orange County Commission meeting where two school districts presented their proposed budgets. Local leaders cite uncertainty around state and federal funding as one cause of dismay. “We are concerned. We are concerned about federal and state funding for our schools, for our teachers,” said Orange County Commission Chair Jamezetta Bedford. Orange County supports both Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) and the Orange County School (OCS) District.

2 weeks ago | wral.com | Monica Casey

Eight people have been charged in a fraud investigation out of Chatham County. Investigators told WRAL the suspects stole a total of about $40,000 from an elderly victim. According to court records, some of the earliest fraudulent charges are from April of 2023. Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Staff Sergeant over investigations, Rob Miller, said his investigators had to go through many search warrants to check each transaction.