Wednesday, Jan. 7: Education Walkout + Cary Leadership Shakeup + Court Records
Wednesday, Jan. 7
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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NC teachers walk out at 52 schools today.
A new teachers group says educators at 52 schools across North Carolina are walking out today to protest for better working conditions — including 30 schools in Wake County. The group, NC Teachers in Action, says turnout at Wake schools like Northwoods Elementary in Cary could affect lunch schedules, class coverage, and daily routines. Teachers are calling for restored longevity and master’s pay, health benefits for retirees, and full funding of the Leandro plan. Public demonstrations are planned at 11 intersections in Wake County.
Cary mayor says manager’s resignation felt like betrayal.
Cary Mayor Harold Weinbrecht is speaking publicly for the first time about the resignation of longtime town manager Sean Stegall, calling it the “ultimate betrayal.” Weinbrecht says he was blindsided by revelations that Stegall had approved over $1 million in spending without council approval and created what staff described as an unhealthy work environment. The mayor expressed regret over missed warning signs and praised the employees who came forward. Internal and state investigations are underway, and the town has since implemented transparency reforms and plans to involve the public more directly in its budgeting process.
Records detail suspect’s mental illness before Zoe Welsh killing.
Court records show the man charged with killing Wake County teacher Zoe Welsh had cycled for years through homelessness, jail, and involuntary commitments tied to severe mental illness. Thirty-six-year-old Ryan Camacho has a documented history of schizophrenia, repeated arrests for trespassing and break-ins, and multiple competency proceedings dating back more than a decade. His mother repeatedly sought court intervention, warning of delusions and violent behavior. Despite those concerns, many charges were dismissed or resulted in short sentences. Prosecutors say Camacho is now charged with murder and felony burglary.
Rosebud cocktail bar to open Feb. 14 downtown Raleigh.
Downtown Raleigh’s cocktail scene is about to get a new addition with the upcoming launch of Rosebud, a bar by hospitality entrepreneur Patrick Shanahan. Set to open February 14 in the former Fox Liquor Bar space on East Martin Street, Rosebud will feature an Omakase-style cocktail menu—allowing bartenders to curate personalized drink experiences for guests. The 2,000-square-foot lounge will offer hi-fi audio and vinyl for an immersive atmosphere. Rosebud joins Shanahan’s expanding portfolio, including Peregrine and Capulet Cocktail Club.
You can read more about this in the Triangle Business Journal. *
Angie Brooks’ Shaw years in Raleigh shaped global advocacy.
In the 1940s, a young Liberian woman named Angie Brooks arrived in Raleigh to study at Shaw University, bringing with her a fierce determination shaped by hardship and ambition. A divorced mother of two who had taught herself to type and worked her way through school in Monrovia, Brooks arrived in the Jim Crow South with support from Liberia’s president. While earning her degree in social science at Shaw, she endured racial segregation with quiet defiance—refusing to ride segregated buses and instead driving herself. Her years in Raleigh helped shape the global advocate she would become.
You can read about this piece of Raleigh history in The Carolinian.
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