Welcome to CityView Today! The start of spring means more than just irritation at everything being caked with pollen. It’s also the time of year when local elected officials pitch their wishlist of priorities and funding to state lawmakers. For the city and county, that list totals $126 million. The school district has its own list of wants.

Also in today’s newsletter: Education reporter Dasia Williams talked with Darrell T. Allison about his fifth anniversary leading the campus of Fayetteville State University. It’s an in-depth look at his goals and plans for the future of the second-oldest public university in the state.

Thanks for reading,
Matt Hennie
Editor-in-Chief

More from CityView

Credit: Fayetteville State University

‘It’s Bigger than Just Buildings’: Chancellor Reflects on 5 Years Leading Fayetteville State

Chancellor Darrell T. Allison said FSU’s growth has focused on expanding access, strengthening military partnerships, and increasing its role in Fayetteville.

Credit: Matt Hennie / CityView

Fayetteville, Cumberland County Ask State Lawmakers for $126 Million 

Will lawmakers bring home the bacon for schools, county-wide water, an aquatic center, the Cape Fear River Trail, and other needs and amenities?

Obituaries

Robert Anthony Goubile

Robert Anthony Goubile, 80, passed away on Friday, March 20.

Noah Ratley

Noah Ratley passed away on Thursday, March 21.

Velma Lee Wright

Velma Lee Wright, 84, passed away on Tuesday, March 17.

Find complete listings here.

Until tomorrow!

⏰ If you want to know just how much of your day will be wasted at a driver license office, the state has a new online tool—estimated wait times and real-time capacity status. The N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles (NCDMV) launched the new feature on Thursday. Check the tool to see one of three status messages—”accepting walk-ins & appointments,” “busy–longer waits expected,” and “at capacity–please try another office” for every driver license office in the state. “By giving people the ability to check wait times and capacity before heading out, we’re helping them use their time more effectively, reduce unnecessary travel, and avoid frustration,” NCDMV Commissioner Paul Tine said in a press release.

Matt Hennie is CityView's editor-in-chief. Before joining CityView in January 2026, he covered state politics for Courier Texas and was editor-in-chief of Phoenix New Times. He spent much of his career covering local news in Atlanta, where he served as co-publisher of Project Q Atlanta, a digital news site covering LGTBQ+ issues he launched in 2008.