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Good morning. On a patch of grass in front of the Public Works Commission in Fayetteville, a few dozen community members gathered Saturday morning to protest the widespread and continued contamination of the local environment with “forever chemicals,” also known as PFAS.
With the Fayetteville water tower behind them, the demonstrators outside the local utility company held signs reading “Chemours poisoned our land and water” and “Killmours” and “Save our water,” writes Evey Weisblat.
The protest was organized in response to recent PFAS-related news, including millions of federal dollars earmarked for a PWC water filtration system and other infrastructure projects that are being withheld by the Trump administration. More in our lead story.
Welcome to CityView Today. In today’s newsletter: The Cumberland County district attorney’s office dismissed sexual misconduct charges against a former high school girls’ basketball coach for Cumberland County Schools. And Cape Fear Valley Health and Fayetteville State University could be impacted by federal cuts to health funding.
Thanks for reading,
Sarah Nagem
Border Belt Independent Editor
‘Our rights don’t begin when it’s convenient for a shareholder’: Protesters demand action on toxic water crisis
“There are thousands of people out there who may be sick or who have lost a loved one due to PFAS exposure without having a clue that it could have been avoided,” said Dana Sargent, executive director of the Cape Fear River Watch. “We know enough, and we’ve known enough for decades. We need to know more, but we need to stop the spigot now.”
More from CityView
Sexual misconduct charges dismissed against former girls’ basketball coach Thurston J. Robinson
A trial was supposed to start today, but prosectuors say there isn’t enough evidence to move forward.
Fayetteville State University, Cape Fear Valley Health hit by federal cuts to health funding
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is revoking $230 million in federal grants from North Carolina.
Events
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
- Where: Spring Lake Community Library, 101 Laketree Blvd., Spring Lake
- When: 10 a.m.-noon today
- What: Our Community Navigator links customers and patrons to needed resources and information.
BABY BOUNCE: DANCING BABIES
- Where: Spring Lake Community Library, 101 Laketree Blvd., Spring Lake
- When: 10-10:30 a.m. today
- What: Join us for a fun and interactive story time for babies and toddlers up to age 23 months.
FOSTER LICENSING
- Where: Bordeaux Community Library, 3711 Village Drive, Fayetteville
- When: Noon-2 p.m. today
- What: Learn about getting licensed to foster from licensed social worker Jaqualla McLaughlin.
Obituaries
Julia Del Carmen Collado Bell
Julia Del Carmen Collado Bell, 62, of Eastover, passed away on Tuesday, April 1.
Rev. Dr. Cicero Sylvester Summers
Rev. Dr. Cicero Sylvester Summers, 70, of Fayetteville, passed away on Wednesday, March 2.
Shirley Tidwell Frederick
Shirley Tidwell Frederick, 86, of Fayetteville, passed away on Wednesday, April 2.
Until tomorrow!
🏆 Connect Holding II, which does business as Brightspeed, will bring high-speed internet access to 496 homes or businesses in Cumberland County as part of the state’s Completing Access to Broadband program. Funds will come from $31 million for projects in 14 counties, Gov. Josh Stein announced.
~ Sarah
