Good morning. Cumberland County officials are urging eligible residents to review and apply for several property tax relief programs designed to ease the financial burden on agricultural producers, older adults, people with disabilities, and disabled veterans.
The programs carry specific requirements and deadlines for the 2026 tax year. Read more in our lead story.
Welcome to CityView Today. This week, we’ve asked our staff to highlight a few of their best stories from the year—required reading for 2026 or reporting they were just really proud of.
I’m Morgan Casey. You may have noticed I haven’t been in the newsletter much, and that’s because I transferred to the Border Belt Independent in October. But you’ll still see my name from time to time as I write about health-care issues in southeastern North Carolina.
My favorite story from this year was only possible because the Cumberland-Fayetteville Opioid Response Team (C-FORT) trusted me to tag along as they handed out the opioid overdose-reversing drug naloxone.
Another one of my favorites highlighted Pamela Story, the homelessness liaison and social work coordinator for Cumberland County Schools. My reporting started a bigger conversation than I expected about homeless students in the school district.
The final story I’ll highlight is a favorite of some of my friends working on Fort Bragg. It focuses on how the XVIII Airborne Corps’ annual innovation competition lets soldiers pitch their solutions to day-to-day war-fighting problems (as opposed to the Department of Defense’s current push for artificial intelligence).
Thanks for reading,
Morgan Casey
Health reporter at the Border Belt Independent
Cumberland County Reminds Residents of Propery Tax Relief Options Ahead of 2026 Deadlines
Tax relief programs aim to ease burdens for older adults, disabled residents, veterans, and working landowners.
More from CityView
To prevent overdose deaths, Cumberland County is flooding communities with naloxone
The Cumberland-Fayetteville Opioid Response Team (C-FORT) distributes the opioid overdose-reversing drug to community members and businesses.
Cumberland County Schools Social Worker Hopes to be a Voice for Homeless Children
Appointed to the North Carolina Interagency Council for Coordinating Homelessness Programs by Gov. Josh Stein, Pamela Story wants the council to help ensure homeless students can access equal education.
Soldiers are inventing the tech needed to fight today’s wars
The U.S. Department of Defense has long turned to private contractors for the latest military tech. The Dragon’s Lair competition asks soldiers instead.
Events
TAI CHI IN THE GARDEN
- Where: Cape Fear Botanical Garden, 536 N. Eastern Blvd., Fayetteville
- When: 10-11:30 a.m. today
- What: A Chinese martial art and system of calisthenics with very slow controlled movements taught by Rich Martin.
NORTH CAROLINA CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL
- Where: Koka Booth Amphitheatre, 8003 Regency Parkway, Cary
- When: 6 p.m. today
- What: Experience the magic of the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival!
TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC BINGO
- Where: 22 Klicks Bar and Grill, 2653 Hope Mills Road, Fayetteville
- When: 8-10 p.m. today
- What: Come hang out with Fayetteville Disc Jockey at 22 Klicks Bar and Grill for music bingo!
Obituaries
Vicki Jane ((Baker)) Cooper
Vicki Jane Cooper, 73 of Fayetteville, NC passed away suddenly on Friday December 26, 2025 […]
William (Bill) Grayston Spires
William (Bill) Grayston Spires passed away December 24, 2025 at the VA Hospice. Bill, also […]
Javier Evyian Gomez
We are heartbroken to announce the sudden and unexpected passing of Javier Gómez at the […]
Until tomorrow!
👟 Although I work for the Border Belt Independent now, I still live in Fayetteville. You may have seen me recently at a Marksmen game or a local coffee shop with one of the city’s run clubs, Running Wild Collective. I know it’s cold out, but the club meets on Tuesdays at 6 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. if you ever want to get in a few miles with me!
~ Morgan Casey
