Wake Weekly

A house on Duggins Oak Drive in downtown Zebulon was the manufacturing point for crack cocaine sold in and around downtown Raleigh's Moore Square, according to state alcohol agents who searched the property as part of a monthslong undercover investigation, the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division announced Wednesday, Aug. 19. ALE agents executed a search warrant at 521 Duggins Oak Drive and recovered a firearm, crack cocaine and active manufacturing equipment, ALE said.

Mike Lauer's new memoir carries the title "Sweat Equity: From Ball Boy to Builder," and for the Wake Forest resident, the "builder" part didn't come with a ready-made definition. "To me, a builder is not simply an entrepreneur. Although that's what a lot of people jump to," Lauer said in an interview this week. "To me, a builder is a builder of relationships, builder of trust, builder of opportunity." It's a distinction that took Lauer years to arrive at.

As construction continues at the North Carolina Museum of History, the museum has released new renderings that offer a look at the future visitor experience. The spaces are designed to create more opportunities for learning, community engagement and public programming when the museum reopens. The museum, a part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, is undergoing a major renovation that will expand the building by 40,000 square feet, including 25% more gallery space.

The North Carolina State Board of Elections today announced the selection of a vendor to replace the state’s aging campaign finance reporting system, with ReFrame Solutions selected as the winning bid for the $2.2 million contract. The State Board will now work with ReFrame to replace a system that is more than 20 years old with a secure, cloud-based platform designed to make campaign finance reporting more transparent, efficient and accessible.

North Carolina State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor has been elected president of the National Association of State Fire Marshals, bringing a strong North Carolina voice to a national leadership position representing the fire service and communities across the country.

The North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and the Raleigh Police Department are highlighting the results of a joint investigation into illegal activity occurring at the GoRaleigh Station and Moore Square in downtown Raleigh -- including a crack cocaine manufacturing operation linked to a house in Zebulon -- resulting in 35 individuals facing more than 130 felony charges.

The town of Wake Forest is in the process of creating a Sustainability Plan to serve as a guide for Town operations and community-wide sustainability initiatives. The town of Wake Forest is in the process of creating a Sustainability Plan to serve as a guide for town operations and community-wide sustainability initiatives. Screenshot The town of Wake Forest is in the process of creating a Sustainability Plan to serve as a guide for town operations and community-wide sustainability initiatives.

The Wake County Board of Education approved a plan Tuesday night to shift $17.6 million within its budget to fund state-mandated salary increases and bonuses for teachers and other staff. The non-unanimous vote came after hours of debate over where to find the money, with board members ultimately preserving $500,000 earmarked for school supplies and materials while accepting a $500,000 cut to a fund supporting low-performing Restart schools.

The city of Raleigh and the Raleigh Arts Commission have announced the inaugural Raleigh Poet Laureate, Johnny Lee Chapman III. The city of Raleigh and the Raleigh Arts Commission have announced the inaugural Raleigh Poet Laureate, Johnny Lee Chapman III.City of Raleigh The city of Raleigh and the Raleigh Arts Commission have announced the inaugural Raleigh Poet Laureate, Johnny Lee Chapman III. Johnny Lee Chapman III is a multidisciplinary artist, poet, performer, musician and educator.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is partnering with the UNC School of Social Work to expand access to suicide prevention training to UNC system universities and community college campuses across the state in 2026-27. The “Building Capacity and Expanding Access to Suicide Prevention Training for NC Colleges and Universities” project will be led by Alicia Freeman, UNC Mental Health First Aid campus-based program manager, and Paul Lanier, the school’s L.