RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — La Fiesta del Pueblo is set to celebrate its 30th anniversary with a vibrant return to Downtown Raleigh on Sunday, September 15, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The event promises an afternoon full of live music, dance, art, educational resources, food, and activities for the whole family.

The festival, hosted by El Pueblo, Inc., will take over Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh this weekend. Stretching more than half a mile, with activities also extending to Hargett, Martin, and Davie Streets, La Fiesta del Pueblo remains free and open to the public, welcoming attendees from across North Carolina and beyond.

In addition to the cultural festivities, this year’s event will highlight voting and civic engagement, offering free Spanish-language voter guides and non-partisan information about candidates. Iliana Santillan, Executive Director of El Pueblo, shared her enthusiasm: “This is a moment for us to be proud of our heritage and to encourage people to come and learn about our community. We’re really excited about bringing the festivities and also about providing important resources to the community this year.”

Below is a list of vendors scheduled to appear at the festival.

Arts & Crafts

• Artesania Latina My Paso Fino

• Bellezas Mexicanas y más

• Bolovan. Mexican boutique

• Guatemalan Arts and Crafts

• Inka Marka Isabel boutique

• Macondo sabor y cultura LLC

• Pearls Nd Colors Bracelets LLC

• Viva La Vida Boutique LLC

• Maria A. Salvat, Artista artesano / Handcrafts Artist

• Tito Ramos, Artista multimedia / Multimedia Artist

Food

For more event information and a complete schedule of performances click here.

History of La Fiesta

La Fiesta del Pueblo began in 1994 at the Lincoln Center in Chapel Hill, NC, and a year later, El Pueblo became a non-profit to support the Latin American community in the state. The festival was created to build community, celebrate Latin American culture, and share resources. From an initial attendance of 1,000, it has grown to draw about 25,000 people annually, becoming the Triangle’s largest and most diverse celebration of Latin American culture. It serves as a celebration of pride and resilience for both immigrants and U.S.-born Latinas.

ABC11 is a proud sponsor of the event.

Michael Jones asks the court to uphold his right to provide aerial information to clients.

Yesterday, the Institute for Justice (IJ) filed a petition with the United States Supreme Court on behalf of Michael Jones, a drone photographer in North Carolina. The case brings forward an important question: does providing data and information through aerial photographs qualify as speech that the First Amendment fully protects, or do state licensing boards have the authority to censor it?

For several years, North Carolina’s land-surveying board has targeted small drone operators, including Michael Jones, claiming that their aerial maps amount to illegal land surveying. Unlike many states, North Carolina classifies even basic aerial mapping as surveying. This requires operators to hold a full surveyor’s license, which demands years of education and experience. The state has enforced this law rigorously, threatening drone businesses with severe penalties.

Jones’ Legal Battle

Michael Jones, based in Goldsboro, North Carolina, is an FAA-licensed drone operator who sought to build an aerial-mapping business. His goal was to provide landowners with aerial perspectives, which they often find useful without needing a full land survey. He wanted to use his drone to capture images and create maps or 3D models using publicly available tools.

However, in 2019, the North Carolina surveying board issued a cease-and-desist letter. The board ordered Michael to shut down his operations or face civil and criminal penalties. In response, Michael sued the board, arguing that his maps and photographs are forms of speech protected by the First Amendment.

“I’ve always been clear what I’m doing isn’t setting property lines. It’s simply providing pictures and information,” said Michael. “I even included a big red disclaimer on my website saying I’m not a licensed surveyor, but the board shut me down anyway. I don’t know of any surveying company that was using drones like I was.”

The Fourth Circuit Court Decision

In May, the Fourth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Michael’s case. Although visual information and images have long received First Amendment protection, the court ruled that Michael’s creation of maps was “conduct” and not speech. The court’s reasoning was partly based on the fact that Michael’s work takes place on private property, which it claimed gives the government more leeway to regulate.

IJ Senior Attorney Sam Gedge criticized the ruling, stating, “Drone technology may be new, but the principles at stake in Michael’s case are as old as the nation itself. Taking photos and providing information to willing clients is speech, and it’s fully protected by the First Amendment. Only by badly misapplying the First Amendment could the Fourth Circuit hold differently.”

The Fourth Circuit’s ruling conflicts with decisions made in other federal courts. The Fifth Circuit, covering Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana, and the Eleventh Circuit, covering Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, have issued rulings that favor the protection of such activities under the First Amendment.

A Call for Supreme Court Intervention

With the split between the circuits, Michael is now asking the Supreme Court to take up his case. His petition argues that if the government can stop someone from communicating aerial photographs simply because they contain specific information, First Amendment rights are at risk. “When a government agency sends a cease-and-desist letter telling you to stop communicating photographs containing specific types of ‘data’ and ‘information,’ that’s a red flag that serious First Amendment interests are in play,” said IJ Attorney James Knight.

This is not the first time the Institute for Justice has faced such a challenge. IJ has successfully defended similar cases, including a mapping company in Mississippi that faced similar accusations of unlicensed practice. Michael’s case joins others, including a map maker in California.

The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to hear Michael’s case could have far-reaching implications for First Amendment rights, particularly in an era when technology like drones is rapidly evolving. The outcome may determine whether state licensing boards can regulate new technologies in ways that limit both entrepreneurship and free speech.

Read more:

Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

TWITTER:@spaldingbarker

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The North Carolina Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Monday, September 9, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from September 9 drawing

01-16-21-47-60, Powerball: 05, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from September 9 drawing

16-26-30-35-46, Lucky Ball: 06

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from September 9 drawing

Day: 7-3-5, Fireball: 0

Evening: 5-7-1, Fireball: 8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from September 9 drawing

Day: 3-9-2-5, Fireball: 1

Evening: 4-1-6-2, Fireball: 9

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Cash 5 numbers from September 9 drawing

06-08-21-30-43

Check Cash 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Double Play numbers from September 9 drawing

10-18-21-33-43

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All North Carolina Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599.

For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at North Carolina Lottery Offices. By mail, send a prize claim form, your signed lottery ticket, copies of a government-issued photo ID and social security card to: North Carolina Education Lottery, P.O. Box 41606, Raleigh, NC 27629. Prize claims less than $600 do not require copies of photo ID or a social security card.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a prize claim form and deliver the form, along with your signed lottery ticket and government-issued photo ID and social security card to any of these locations:

• Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center: 16-G Regent Park Blvd., Asheville, NC 28806, 877-625-6886 press #1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
• Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center: 20A Oak Branch Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407, 877-625-6886 press #2. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
• Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center: 5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28269-1861, 877-625-6886 press #3. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
• NC Lottery Headquarters: Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office, 2728 Capital Blvd., Suite 144, Raleigh, NC 27604, 877-625-6886 press #4. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.
• Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center: 2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A, Greenville, NC 27834, 877-625-6886 press #5. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.
• Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center: 123 North Cardinal Drive Extension, Suite 140, Wilmington, NC 28405, 877-625-6886 press #6. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes up to $99,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://nclottery.com/.

When are the North Carolina Lottery drawings held?

• Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
• Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
• Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
• Pick 3, 4: 3:00 p.m. and 11:22 p.m. daily.
• Cash 5: 11:22 p.m. daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Carolina Connect editor. You can send feedback using this form.