the county news
Meck County COVID-19
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 through Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 through Tuesday, June 2, 2020
Andrea Harris, Black Economic Development Leader, Dies
Cash Michaels
Cash Michaels
Michaels

Last weekend, by order of Gov. Roy Cooper, state government building flags flew at half-staff in honor of an inspiring leader who was best known for standing strong for Black economic development and advancement. She mentored many to become public servants and leaders in Black and women-owned businesses.

And she rarely said “no” if she knew she could help anyone in need in the community.

Andrea Harris
Harris
The death of activist and Black economic development leader Andrea Lynette Harris, 72, last week, co-founder of the nonprofit NC Institute of Minority Economic Development (aka “The Institute”) came as a shock to those who knew, loved and respected her. The sincere and overflowing outpouring of sorrow and condolences were testament to the impressive legacy of service Ms. Harris gave the state of North Carolina.

“It is not enough to just be in the room,” Ms. Harris is famous for saying, “you must be at the table.” More ↠

Statesville Announces Plans for Reopening in Phase 2

Statesville has announced its reopening plan that correlates with Phase 2 of Governor Cooper’s modification of the state’s Stay-At-Home order. Major changes include the re-opening of City Hall to the public, the planned opening of the Statesville Leisure Pool and Splash Pad on June 5, 2020 and the operation of a day camp by the Recreation & Parks Department. More information on the pool and splash pad openings and summer camp schedule will be released before June 5.

The customer services offices will remain closed. Utility payments will continue to be taken at the drive thru lanes at 301 S. Center St. Playground equipment will remain closed, but groups up to 25 may reserve outdoor shelters in the City parks.

Phase 2 commenced Tuesday, May 26, 2020.
CITY HALL – Open to public group meetings by appointment, In-person Staff Meetings permitted with Social Distancing Requirements.

CITY OFFICE BUILDING – Limited Public Access by appointment, Utility Collections by Drive Thru More ↠

NC NAACP Petitions SEC for
Senator Burr to be Expelled
NC NAACP FLYER

By Cash Michaels
Facebook has announced that 15 member publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) will receive $1.288 million in grants The NC NAACP, President Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, and former president Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, have issued a petition demanding “a thorough investigation” by the U.S. Senate Ethics Committee into allegations that senior Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) profiteered from the COVID-19 pandemic when he sold 32 sets of stocks on February 13th, 2020, just prior to the stock market crashing, and the nation being warned about severe threat the pandemic posed.
Sen. Burr allegedly sold the stocks, netting $1.7 million, based on classified information not available to the public, otherwise known as ‘insider trading.”

Once reported, Burr relinquished his chairmanship of the Senate Intelligence Committee, and has asked the Senate Ethics Committee to investigate the matter.

On May 14th, it was reported that FBI agents served a search warrant and seized Sen. Burr’s cellphone in order to track his alleged communications, and build a case against him.

Burr has insisted that he’s done nothing wrong, More ↠
Livingstone awarded $500,000 grant to
preserve historic Monroe Street School
By Kimberly Harrington
Kimberly Harrington
Harrington
SALISBURY – Livingstone College has been awarded a $500,000 grant to preserve its historic Monroe Street School property.

The award, announced and administered by the National Park Service, is part of $14 million in African American Civil Rights Historic Preservation Fund grants that will finance 51 projects across 20 states and the District of Columbia to preserve sites and history related to the African-American struggle for equality in the 20th Century.
Monroe Street School, located at 1100 West Monroe Street across from Livingstone College, was the first high school – J.C. Price High School – constructed for African Americans in Salisbury. It was a high school from 1923 until 1938 when a larger high school was built due to overcrowding. The new facility on Bank Street became J.C. Price High School and the former school on Monroe Street was renamed Monroe Street Elementary School, serving as a public school in some capacity until the 1980’s when it was sold to Livingstone College.

It’s currently named the S.E. Duncan Education Center, in honor of the fifth president of Livingstone College, Dr. Samuel Edward Duncan. In 2003, the property More ↠
Ahmaud Arbery
Ahmaud Arbery, Breanna Taylor and the Rise of Vigilantes and State-Sponsored Violence