NC State professor killed in crash near campus; driver charged

An NC State biological sciences professor, 41-year-old Natalia Duque-Wilckens, died after being struck by a pickup truck while crossing near Pogue Street and Clark Avenue Tuesday evening. Raleigh police charged 19-year-old driver Jack Thomas Etheridge with misdemeanor death by vehicle for allegedly failing to yield, and the investigation is ongoing.

Read more in The News & Observer *

UNC reports spike in stalking and hate crimes in 2024

UNC-Chapel Hill’s updated Annual Security and Fire Safety Report shows stalking reports rising from 13 to 34 and hate crimes from 7 to 29 in 2024. Officials say the increase reflects more awareness, digital harassment and large campus protests, and emphasize confidential, student-centered responses that do not automatically trigger formal investigations.

Read more in The Daily Tar Heel

Pittsboro signs off on major South Village phase of Chatham Park

In a narrow 3–2 vote, Pittsboro’s Board of Commissioners approved the 5,000-acre South Village small-area plan, a key phase of the 8,500-acre Chatham Park project. The plan consolidates 16 zones into one and paves the way for tens of thousands of homes and millions of square feet of commercial space, drawing sharp criticism from residents who say it weakens oversight.

Read more in The News & Observer *

Durham nonprofit pilots modular and container homes to ease housing crunch

Durham Community Land Trustees hosted a training with Pittsburgh-based Module to showcase modular homes, backyard cottages and reused shipping containers as faster, lower-waste housing options. Attendees toured three prototypes, including a zero-energy-ready Module home and a container home by Makhers Studio, though leaders say financing these projects remains a key challenge.

Read more in Triangle Tribune

Wendell startup’s caption glasses help older adults and veterans hear conversations

As North Carolina attracts more retirees, Wendell-based XanderGlasses is rolling out smart glasses that turn speech into real-time subtitles without needing a phone or internet. The company, which relocated from Boston, has seen revenue grow and now supplies the devices to multiple VA medical centers, with pilots planned at cultural institutions across the state.

Read more at WUNC

This Day in Raleigh History: Riddick Stadium’s Final Game

On November 13, 1965, NC State played its final football game at Riddick Stadium on campus, facing Florida State University. After that game, the stadium was closed and later replaced by the much larger Carter–Finley Stadium as the home of Wolfpack football.

Riddick Field dated back to 1907 and grew into a full stadium with added stands and a field house over the decades. The last remnants of the stadium’s concrete west stands were demolished in 2005, and the Field House was razed in 2013.

Learn more about Riddick Field Field House from NC State University Libraries