GRAHAM, N.C. (WGHP) — The Alamance-Burlington School System may have violated state law and ABSS school policies when dealing with mold in schools last year, according to a letter from the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations to North Carolina state Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance).

In a statement, Galey said:

“It is absolutely critical that school boards ask lots of questions and make sure that laws, policies, and procedures are being appropriately followed, even in challenging times. Solutions to operational challenges such as mold and budget shortfalls cannot get a rubber-stamp from the school board, which is elected to hold administrators accountable.

“ABSS has new administrative leadership and an interim superintendent. It is important that we reflect on the events and lessons of the last few years and build relationships, improve practice, and resist the impulse to attack or assign blame. Each member of the school community, including not only the school board but also the Alamance County commission, has the opportunity to renew its commitment to improving outcomes for children in Alamance County.”

According to the letter released by Galey’s office on Wednesday, the state senator had requested that the commission review “some of the well-publicized issues involving the Alamance-Burlington School System.”

The commission told Galey that it had contacted ABSS and “raised concerns that state statutes and ABSS board policies may not have been followed.” ABSS reportedly justified its decisions by citing “the emergent need of mold remediation.”

The commission found that the school board did not provide reasons for its choice of companies to perform mold remediation work and did not provide evidence that ABSS made its selection “after careful pricing,” potentially violating ABSS Policy 6450 which addresses how the district can purchase services. Additionally, the board may have violated ABSS policies 6420 Contracts with the Board and 6421 Preaudit and Disbursement Certifications.

The district may have also violated North Carolina General Statutes, including G.S. 115C-31, known as The School Budget and Fiscal Control Act, and G.S. 115-441, which addresses required preaudit certification.

The commission looked into the district’s 2022-2023 budget and found that the district had reportedly spent more than $4 million more than it had appropriated in its General Fund, Other Special Revenue Fund and Capital Outlay Fund.

“The primary issue here is the exposure to undue liability when … the [Board of Education] and ABSS are in a financially precarious situation,” the commission said.

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — Advocates gathered at Freedom Park in Raleigh on Wednesday morning, calling for increased funding for childcare centers across North Carolina.

Speakers reminded the crowd that by the end of the month, federal COVID-era subsidies will dry out. Nearly one in three childcare facilities in North Carolina say that if this happens, they might have to shut down.

“Every day that passes without adequate funding for child care, another child falls behind. Another parent faces the impossible situation of choosing between work and caring for their child,” said Cassandra Brooks, the owner of Little Believers Academy.

Brooks told CBS 17 that staffing costs are what keeps her expenses so high, but there’s no way around it.

“Anybody knows, no matter what industry you’re in right now, that it has changed. The amount you pay for staff has drastically went up,” said Brooks.

The looming funding cliff also comes as the NC Chamber released a report Wednesday, saying that childcare breakdowns are costing North Carolina $5.65 billion each year in lost economic activity. One parent told CBS 17 that the lack of options makes it difficult for her, as a single parent. 

“It’s hard to find childcare today that is affordable, and you know, bringing your kids into a daycare that you can trust people,” said Tyesha King, a prospective parent at Little Believers Academy.

The lyrics “North Carolina, come on and raise up,” might as well be the unofficial anthem of the Tar Heel State. And the rapper who wrote and spoke them will soon obtain a bit of immortality.

Petey Pablo, it was announced this week, leads the 2024 class of inductees into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, located in Kannapolis. The Greenville native and four other artists — and the Durham-based Merge Records — will join the already existing 132 other honorees. Qualifications for induction into the hall, located on Dale Earnhardt Boulevard, is to have roots in the state of North Carolina and achieve at least 10 years of national prominence.

Born Moses Barrett III, Petey Pablo more than fits the bill.

After spending time in prison for armed robbery, he turned to hip-hop and hooked up with Jive Records. His debut album “Diary of a Sinner: 1st Entry” was produced by Timbaland and debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard Top 200 music chart in November 2001. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America and was then nominated for Best Rap Album at the Grammys. It contained the hit single, “Raise Up,” which peaked at No. 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

The iconic song can easily be heard at sporting events across North Carolina these days, particularly at UNC-Chapel Hill football games and after the Carolina Hurricanes score a goal. The video for the song was filmed in Raleigh, and it’s likely the only hip-hop song that namechecks North Carolina towns like Tarboro, Goldsboro, Halifax and Statesville.

Petey Pablo’s second album, 2004’s “Still Writing in My Diary: 2nd Entry,” was also certified gold and featured the hit single “Freek-a-Leek,” which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard charts. The rapper spent time in prison again after pleading guilty in 2011 to possession of a stolen firearm.

In 2016, he released a single called “Carolina Colors” that has been used as a hype-up anthem for the Carolina Panthers. Petey Pablo has also acted a bit, appearing in shows such as “The Shield” and “Empire.”

Petey Pablo is widely regarded as a pioneer in North Carolina hip-hop, an icon in the southern rap scene, and one of the original voices of crunk music. On Instagram, he wrote of his induction into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame, “Words can’t really express the true feeling and gratitude for such an honorable recognition.”

Other inductees include the late music executive Clarence Avant, the late musician and teacher Mary Cardwell Dawson, the late country singer and songwriter Tommy Faile, and Grammy-award-winning bluegrass artist and fiddler Bobby Hicks.

Also being honored is Merge Records, which was founded in 1989 in Durham by Mac McCaughan and Laura Balance — who are also members of the band Superchunk. The influential independent record label has produced and released years of music, including from Arcade Fire, Caribou, She & Him, and Hiss Golden Messenger.

A ceremony to honor the inductees will be held on Oct. 17.