Wake Forest University has agreed to retain the name “Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial” on the coliseum, the city of Winston-Salem announced in a press release that went out just before the close of business on Friday, May 10.

President Obama’s announcement that he plans to tap US Rep. Mel Watt to direct the Federal Housing Finance Agency has opened the floodgates for ambitious African-American Democrats in Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem who are interested in filling the possible vacancy in the 12 th Congressional District.

Winston-Salem City Council took a machete to the budget on Monday, chopping out three fire inspector positions in a split decision as part of review of a set of recommendations by a citizen committee to find cost savings through either spending cuts or fee increases.

At-large Greensboro City Councilwoman Nancy Vaughan announced last week that she will challenge Robbie Perkins in this fall’s mayoral race. Vaughan was first voted onto council in 1997, and served two terms before taking time off.

“I think twenty-five across the board is big-city,” Councilman Dan Besse said. “We’re medium-large.... That size of a jump cuts across our push to make our center city more shopper friendly.

The incentive money, totaling $400,000, will go towards the construction of two new airplane hangars at Piedmont Triad International Airport. Two days later, the Guilford County Commission approved an equal amount of incentive money for the project, and the company is seeking incentives from the state.

US Sen. Kay Hagan has asked Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki to send senior officials to the regional office in Winston-Salem to help the agency resolve severe backlogs in disability claims.

Emory will begin her new job on July 1, working on a four-year contract for a salary of $190,000. She replaces Don Martin, who has led the school system for the past 19 years. Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools is the fourth largest public school system in the state of North Carolina.

The bill, which was filed last week, was drafted in response to a public outcry by homeowners in predominantly black neighborhoods on the east side of Winston-Salem who are alarmed that depreciation rates from 50 to 70 percent will effectively wipe out their most significant investments.

A warrant returned on March 7 alleges that Steven Byron Tisdale, 44, allegedly murdered Robert Bowie Tisdale on Jan. 30. The two men lived together at 6000 Fairfield Oaks Lane outside of Winston-Salem. Steven Tisdale is scheduled to make his first appearance in Forsyth County Court for the murder charge on April 4.

“When you start to see federally, on the state level and even locally in other cities that money was being placed over the people, I think this resolution sent a clear signal to everyone in our city that we won’t put money over people, that people matter,” Taylor said.

Guilford County Schools announced last week that it will dedicate $20,000 to fund literacy programs at schools in High Point. The money was donated by the city of High Point a week prior after the city won it by being paired with winning driver Kasey Kahne through the Race to Education Program at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The transformation of the east side of Winston-Salem took an additional step on Monday with the permanent closure of the entrance ramp from East 5th Street to US Highway 52. The NC Department of Transportation has already closed the remaining exit and entrance ramps at 3rd , 4th and 5th streets, which together link downtown to the east side.

As a former president of the National Physicians Center for Family Resources, Dianna Lightfoot’s positions on early childhood education drew scrutiny immediately upon her appointment on Feb. 5.

“We continue to add jobs to our city and our community, even in spite of the most severe economic recession that we’ve had in over three generations,” he said. “And our community has seen more than its fair share of job loss through companies going out of business or jobs being moved offshore.

First Baptist Church on Fifth in downtown Winston-Salem will begin providing emergency overnight shelter on nights when the temperature is predicted to dip below 40 degrees beginning Wednesday and continuing through the end of February. The service will be operated by First Baptist and Anthony’s Plot, a Moravian social outreach organization.

Greensboro police aren’t enforcing a NC Supreme Court decision against internet sweepstakes venues yet, despite sheriff’s departments throughout the state acting on the ruling to shut them down.

The city of Greensboro is inviting potential bidders to come up with plans to use methane gas emitted from the White Street landfill, and has posted a request for qualifications on its website.

Mayor BerniJOta Sims, at-large Councilman Britt Moore, Ward 1 Councilman Jeffrey Golden, Ward 3 Councilwoman Judy Mendenhall and Ward 5 Councilman Jim Davis voted to move ahead with the purchase. At-large Councilwoman Becky Smothers, Ward 2 Councilman Foster Douglas, Ward 4 Councilman Jay Wagner and Ward 6 Councilman Jason Ewing opposed the deal.

It’s all but certain that the Forsyth County Commission will vote to approve Mark Baker as the replacement for Debra Conrad, who has resigned her seat to serve in the NC House. The commission meets on Thursday in a special session to consider the recommendation of Baker by the Forsyth County Republican Party.