The Raleigh Tribune

Andrew Young and wife Cheri Young

Pittsboro, N.C. — A judge said Tuesday that he was considering jail time for a former aide to two-time Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards because of questions about a videotape purported to show Edwards engaged in extramarital sex. Apparently, the judge believes former Edward’s aid, Andrew Young is withholding extra copies of the tape …. See the rest of the story

Popularity: 11%

Artist rendering of proposed C.E. Lightner Safety Center

The Raleigh City Council today remained deadlocked on the planned Clarence E.  Lightner Public Safety Center. Council members voted 4-4 on a proposal to fund the project. The proposal failed as at least five votes are needed for approval.

Voting in favor of the project were Mayor Charles Meeker and Council Members Mary-Ann Baldwin, Nancy McFarlane and James West. Voting against were Council Members Thomas Crowder, Bonner Gaylord, John Odom and Russ Stephenson.

As proposed, the Clarence E. Lightner Public Safety Center would be a state-of-the-art facility of 16 stories and approximately 302,000 square feet on the corner of Hargett and McDowell streets. Sitting on what is currently the site of the City of Raleigh Police Department headquarters, the public safety center would consolidate the City’s public safety operations and other local government offices and functions in one location. The public safety center would be named in honor of the late Clarence E. Lightner, who served as mayor of Raleigh from 1973-75.

Popularity: 14%

The global economic down turn is being felt in Raleigh. That is why the City needs to respond with action and courage.  That was the message delivered in Mayor Charles Meeker’s 2010 state-of-the-City address in the Raleigh Convention Center.

Now is the time to lead, he said, not stagnate in the sluggish wake of this recession. Now is the time to move on the $140 million Clarence Lightner Public Safety Center, he continued, to take advantage of lower interest rates and construction cost, while making certain that the Capital City has the public safety facilities it needs to maintain Raleigh’s status as a leading U.S. city well into the 21^st century.      A vote by the Raleigh City Council on the proposed public safety center at its Tuesday meeting is anticipated.

Mayor Meeker said that the current fiscal year’s operating budget reduced spending by nearly $2 million and cut 85 positions. Most importantly, he said, the budget does not reduce public safety spending and it maintains the City’s high standards of fiscal planning, management, control and reserves expected from the AAA quality credit rating Raleigh has.

The City’s current Capital Improvement Program is 18 percent less than the previous year’s program. However, the mayor pointed out, that reduction does not mean the City is standing still on necessary improvements.  He pointed to the May ground breaking for the Hillsborough Street Roundabouts Project. The $9.22 million is designed to revitalize the corridor and improve pedestrian access for the street that runs along North Carolina State University’s main campus. The improvements are on schedule to be completed in September. Mayor Meeker also referred to the $21 million transit operations center the City broke ground on in October.  The project is receiving $11.6 million from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act and will help to improve transit service throughout Raleigh for decades to come, he said.

Popularity: 8%

Mayor Meeker

Mayor Charles Meeker will deliver his state-of-the-City address at noon on Monday, Feb. 15, in room 402 of the Raleigh Convention Center.

The public is invited to attend. Lunch is available for $13.

Popularity: 5%