HUNTERSVILLE - N.C. Supreme Court Justice Paul Martin Newby will be the keynote speaker at the North Mecklenburg Republican Women’s dinner meeting Tuesday, April 10, at NorthStone Club, 15801 NorthStone Drive in Huntersville. All men and women are invited.

Elected in 2004, Justice Newby is seeking re-election in November 2012. Read the full story

Updated Monday 7:13 a.m.
By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

Davidson’s Town Board this week plans to revive discussions of a proposed town charter amendment that would lengthen terms for the mayor and town commissioners. At its monthly work session Tuesday the board also is scheduled to hear presentations on the downtown rail station area plan, an economic development strategic plan being drafted by a consultant, and potential changes to the the town Animal Control Ordinance.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Town Hall, 216 S. Main St. Read the full story

Speakers addressed the crowd at Saturday's rally against Amendment One. (David Boraks/DavidsonNews.net)

By DAVID BORAKS
DavidsonNews.net

“Do we, or do we not, treat people equally under the law?” the Rev. Amy Brooks asked a crowd of about 70 people Saturday on the Davidson Village Green. That’s a central question to opponents of the proposed Amendment One, which is up for a vote on the May primary ballot and would add a ban on gay marriage to the N.C. Constitution.

The Rev. Brooks, of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Lake Norman, was speaking during a rally against the proposed amendment. She said the proposed amendment treats gays and lesbians unfairly and also could harm children and families.

UPDATED! Watch a video report from Saturday’s rally.
Read the full story

Opponents of Amendment One, which would add a ban on gay marriage to the N.C. Constitution, will rally on the Village Green in Davidson on Saturday. The rally will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Green, Main Street and Concord Road.

North Carolina’s “defense of marriage” law already defines marriage as only between a man and a woman. The Republican-controlled legislature, with the help of conservative Democrats, voted in September to put the amendment on the ballot alongside election primaries on Tuesday, May 8. Read the full story

Senior Scholars will hear about the upcoming French election in a program at 1 p.m. Wednesday with Davidson College professor Homer Sutton. Details on our YOUNG AT HEART page»

Davidson’s Town Board on Tuesday approved a series of planning ordinance changes that include allowing larger accessory structures in rural areas. The board also agreed to designate the former Davidson IB School on South Street as a historic landmark. Read the full story

The Lake Norman Transportation Commission, which includes representatives from area towns, will hold its monthly meeting Wednesday, 6 :30 p.m., at Huntersville Town Hall.

The agenda includes discussion of the organization’s name, a presentation by Huntersville transportation planner Bill Coxe on “Comprehensive Transportation Planning,” committee updates, and updates from the director on Red Line and I-77 widening. Read the full story

John Woods

John Woods is chair of the Metropolitan Transit Commission’s Red Line Task Force and mayor of Davidson.

By JOHN WOODS

Everyone, please take a deep breath! There has been a great deal of discussion, and misinformation, regarding the Red Line Regional Rail Project, and I would like to set the record straight on several issues.

Let’s first remember that we are not debating whether to implement the Red Line. We are instead working together on how and when to bring this project to life. Our communities have twice voted in support of transit, and our citizens continue to voice their support for bringing passenger rail to the North Corridor. So now we are doing the hard work: Figuring out the details of how to fund this initiative and make it a reality. Read the full story