It shut down parts of the road and left nearly 70 homes without water.

Crews have repaired the leak and reopened the road.

City Council members received the report by a consultant Tuesday and will give the public 30 days to comment on the plan.

The long-range plan looks at transportation improvements as well as pedestrian and bicycle improvements.

Raleigh Transportation Services Manager Eric Lamb said Glenwood Avenue in front of the Crabtree Valley Mall is basically stretched to the limit.

"It's already ten lanes in certain sections, so there's really not a lot more space physically that we can encroach on to get more lane capacity," he said.

Lamb said that means other nearby roads could be expanded, including Crabtree Valley Avenue that runs behind the mall. One idea calls for extending that road and connecting it to the Beltline.

"The Beltline access from Glenwood Avenue is sometimes challenging with the traffic," said Rob Ambersley, General Manager of Homewood Suites by Hilton at Raleigh/Crabtree Valley. "So future improvements to that I think could only help the mall and hotels and restaurants that are right here in the area."

Another idea involves building a traffic bridge to bring some vehicles from Glenwood Avenue over Creedmoor Road.

Lamb said while these improvements are expensive, the City would look to build one project at a time.

"We could take on one project in the $10 to $15 million range depending on what our options are in regards to funding," he said.

To look at the long-range plan, click here.

The North Carolina Education Lottery had planned to pick three million-dollar winners Wednesday night. Now the "Cash Splash Millionaire Raffle" is set for Sept. 20.

More than 202,000 tickets had been sold as of Wednesday. No more than 500,000 tickets will be sold.

Acting lottery director Alice Garland said slower-than-expected sales this summer contributed to the extension. Garland said the drawing won't be delayed further.

The lottery will give out 598 other prizes from $500 to $50,000.

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Attorney General Roy Cooper said Gerald Arnold, a former chief judge of the state Appeals Court, will serve as interim director of the State Bureau of Investigation crime lab. Arnold's main job will be to see if mistakes found in the serology section — where some analysts didn't always fully report blood test results in their lab reports — were repeated in the lab's six other sections.

"The key here is going to be to make sure we solve the problems, restore the public confidence in the SBI and move forward with them solving crimes, protecting the public and exonerating innocent people," Cooper said, adding that he has no evidence that similar problems exist elsewhere in lab.

Most agents are honest and hard-working, "but some of their colleagues have not been held accountable," he said. "They've made mistakes. And now the entire SBI is paying for that."

Last month, an independent review of serology unit cases from 1987 to 2003 called for a thorough examination of 190 criminal cases, stating information that could have helped defendants was sometimes misrepresented or withheld.

Cooper had ordered the review in March after an SBI agent testified the crime lab once had a policy of excluding complete blood test results from reports offered to defense lawyers before trials. Agent Duane Deaver's testimony led to the exoneration of a man imprisoned nearly 17 years for a murder conviction.

Cooper announced several other changes in addition to Arnold's appointment, including that he has:

• asked the former assistant directors of the Federal Bureau of Investigation who did the independent investigation of the serology unit to audit the DNA and the firearms and tool mark sections. He also he also has sought help from the ATF with the firearms and tool mark section audit.
• decided to continue the suspension of the bloodstain analysis program, which is not part of the crime lab but is part of the SBI. Cooper said he wants the program to become accredited so it can be part of the lab. He also said he was concerned about "the potential influence of prosecutors on SBI agent decisions with this science."
• moved up to 2011 the plan for a tougher accreditation for the lab. The lab is now accredited by ASCLD/LAB and the state had intended to seek the tougher International ISO accreditation by 2013.

Also Wednesday, an advisory group searching for a new crime lab director met for the first time. The group of prosecutors, defense attorneys and law enforcement officials agreed the lab director should have excellent communication and managerial skills and some said they also wanted a science background.

All agreed that the current salary, which tops out at about $107,000, isn't enough to attract the right person for the job. The new lab director would replace Jerry Richardson, whom McLeod removed from that position last month. McLeod said Wednesday that Richardson now works with the case management records system and criminal information and ID sections.

Cooper also said the reviews and changes were not the end of SBI crime lab improvements. The N.C. Conference of District Attorneys has called for an audit of the entire lab, and some critics have said the lab should be independent and not part of the SBI.

"This is not the be all and end all," he said. "We're continuing to look, continuing to move forward."

Suggested alternate routes:
• Motorists from north Raleigh and U.S. 64 traveling towards RTP and points west of the Triangle should consider using I-540 or Glenwood Avenue as alternate routes. Six Forks Road can also be used to take I-540 to I-40.
• Motorists traveling I-40 eastbound to Raleigh should avoid the Wade Avenue exit and continue eastbound to the Gorman Street, Lake Wheeler, South Saunders and Hammond Road exits as alternatives.
• Motorists traveling to points east of Raleigh on I-40 should take I-540 around the north of the city to west on U.S. 64 Bypass to I-440 East and back to I-40 eastbound. Westbound traffic from Johnston County and points east of Raleigh can take I-440 West to U.S. 64 Bypass to I-540 back to I-40 to the west of Raleigh.

Lengendary motivator Zig Ziglar, General Colin Powell, Rudy Giuliani, Steve Forbes, and North Carolina State University Head Coach Lou Holtz are included in the list of event speakers.

For more information on the Get Motivated Seminar, click here.

Gary Wayne Robinson, 28, entered the plea in federal court before Judge James C. Fox.

Garner Police were alerted to Robinson after they say he engaged in an online chat with an undercover officer in New Hampshire in October of 2009. During the chat the two discussed trading child pornography and Robinson sent several pictures of children to the undercover cop.

An investigation revealed over 700 photographs and 59 videos of child pornography were found on Robinson's computer.

Robinson faces up to 20 years in prison and up to a life-term of supervised release. Robinson also faces a fine of up to $250,000.

Sentencing is set for December 6, 2010.

According to Lt. Chris Hagwood, on September 3, a victim went to the Garner Police Department to report a sexual assault that happened on September 1. The victim reports the assault happened at 920 Seventh Avenue, which are offices formerly occupied by EMS and Rescue Squad administration. Garner Police tell NBC-17 that both the suspect and victim were or are employees of the Rescue Squad.

No other information about the incident was released, pending the conclusion of the investigation.

Just days after the reported sexual assault, Garner Rescue Chief Bill Frederick resigned. Ralph Smith, President of Garner EMS and Rescue, said Frederick resigned Tuesday for personal reasons. He did not know if Frederick's resignation had anything to do with the reported sexual assault.

"You want to get the truth first before you start knowing what's going on. So you've got to have the facts in front of you. And right now we don't have many facts. We have concerns obviously but not many facts," he said.

The assistant rescue chief, Vance Haywood, has been appointed interim chief.

Mayor Ronnie Williams said he is frustrated by the situation.

"I'm frustrated with all that's been going on in Garner with our emergency services," Williams said. "It's negative and we don't need a lot of negative stuff in Garner."

Wake County took over Garner's EMS and patient care services, which were facing financial difficulties, in May. It left the rescue squad, which is what Frederick was overseeing. The town has a contract with the rescue squad for about one more year. It's worth about $280,000.

And the Garner Fire Department is under investigation after an audit showed that about $300,000 went missing.

A local prosecutor and the company's president are now taking a close look.

In one scene of the video released Wednesday by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a beagle cowers in the corner of its cage as a person approaches, derisively describing the dog's condition before snatching it by the back of the neck: "They act like they've been abused."

Another clip shows an employee at Professional Laboratory and Research Services Inc. purposely letting a cat grasp a fence with its claw before yanking it in an apparent attempt to rip off its nails, according to PETA's account of the video. In another portion, a caretaker drops a dog back to the ground before pushing it into the cage with a foot. Another scene shows a dog squirming through a tooth removal as workers acknowledge that the sedation drug is a couple years past its expiration and may not be working very well.

Helen Sonenshine, the company president who is not involved in day-to-day operations, confirmed that the video was taken at the company's facility and included footage of company employees. Officials were reviewing the footage, and Sonenshine said the company will fire anyone if they have done anything contrary to protocols on how to treat animals.

"I am disgusted. I am appalled," she said after viewing the clips. "This is not what we're about. We're about the health of the animals."

USDA inspections show no sign of recent violations.

PETA referred videos, photos and a narrative to local prosecutors. District Attorney Frank Parrish said his office is reviewing the report and will follow up with further investigation to determine whether or not criminal charges should be filed.

"We will certainly be very thorough about looking at these issues," he said.

The company, with a facility in Corapeake, N.C. near the Virginia border, is hired by pharmaceutical firms to test animal care products such as flea preventatives. PETA said that one of its investigators was hired as an animal caretaker and worked from December 2009 until this month.

The worker and video depict squalid conditions of animals living in their own excrement. PETA contends that workers sprayed the animals with harsh chemicals, lifted rabbits by their ears and puppies by their throats, and violently threw cats into their cages.

PETA believes the company violated several parts of The Animal Welfare act, including improper veterinary care, improper handling of animals and improper cleaning procedures. It has filed or plans to file complaints with both regulatory agencies and law enforcement.

"Violence seems to be the guiding principle at this laboratory," said Kathy Guillermo, vice president of laboratory investigations at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. "The only time the animals get some attention is when something painful or invasive is done to them."

The animal rights group also complained about the testing procedures used at the site. Workers at the facility grew ticks on the rabbits even though PETA says there are non-animal methods that have been in use for years.

"There's simply no excuse," Guillermo said.

Shawn Ramsey

Crossroads Public Relations for Inlet Technologies

+1 919-621-0737

inlet@crossroadspr.com

deltatre Leverages Inlet's Spinnaker for Broadcast-Quality Live Sports Streaming

Sports Media Services Provider Leverages Spinnaker to Expand Live Streaming Offerings to Premier Sports Business Companies

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA—SEPTEMBER 08, 2010—Inlet Technologies, the leader in innovative solutions for digital media preparation, announced today that deltatre, a world-leading sports media services company headquartered in Torino, Italy, is using its SpinnakerTM family of encoding solutions to generate broadcast-quality streaming outputs of some of the most prominent and high-profile events in the sports world.

deltatre works with global television broadcasters and sports federations in the areas of web, results, graphics and video. The company's initial experience with Inlet's Spinnaker was for the highly-successful online broadcast of the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games. On the heels of this experience, deltatre decided to replace legacy encoders with Spinnakers for use with world-leading sports properties starting in June 2010.

"At deltatre we aim to provide our customers with the highest possible quality of products and services. To do that, we invest heavily in the development of our own solutions, and seek out the leading specialists when we need to bring in third parties. Inlet is indeed a leading specialist in its field with terrific products that really get the job done." stated Ciaran Quinn, Director, deltatre. "Inlet Technologies is a great partner for us as we share the same values of excellence, innovation and quality of experience."

In addition to supporting adaptive bitrate (ABR) capabilities (i.e., Microsoft Smooth and Adobe Dynamic), Spinnaker has enabled deltatre to deliver a true broadcast experience for viewers on the web or any mobile device, all from a single Spinnaker appliance. Also of great importance to deltatre, Spinnaker easily integrated into the company's existing content management system and infrastructure.

With the immense growth of the consumption of sports-based content through the web and mobile media, content owners have an unparalleled opportunity to provide global viewers with rich, highly-interactive offerings. However, along with this increased access come the complexities of managing large volumes of data, media preparation, multiple formats and delivery mechanisms, as well as digital rights management (DRM) issues.

"Inlet Technologies and deltatre have the expertise to turn these potential technical and marketing challenges into monetization opportunities for their clients," said Michael Barros, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Inlet Technologies. "We're enabling content owners to bring an unprecedented live sports experience to fans around the world while also recognizing revenue from live streams."

Today's release follows on the heels of recent announcements from Inlet showcasing other global broadcasters and sports content owners turning to the company to create broadcast-quality live and on-demand online video experiences. Inlet recently announced that British broadcaster BBC is using Spinnaker to power its simulcast expansion plans as well as live sporting events, including the recent FIFA World Cup 2010, Wimbledon, and F1 Grand Prix. Australia's ABC News 24 digital news service relies on Spinnaker for online and mobile live streaming. Other notable broadcast and sports-related customers include NBC/Universal Sports, Vancouver Winter Games, France Télévisions, ITV (UK), M6 (France), RAI (Italy), and TV 2 (Norway).

About deltatre

deltatre is a sport media services company that provides operational, technology and consulting services for broadcast, web, results, graphics and sport business processes. The company works with leading Sports Federations and Television Broadcasters, including FIFA, UEFA, IRB, PGA European Tour, BBC, NBC, Eurosport, CTV, BSkyB and many others. With over 300 full time staff and a support network of almost 100 consultants in Torino, London, Lausanne and Paris and 24 years experience at the highest level of international sport, deltatre's IT solutions and production workflows drive many of the world's most prestigious sports events and websites. For more information, visit www.deltatre.com or contact sales@delatre.com.

About Inlet Technologies

Inlet Technologies is redefining the online video experience with innovative solutions for media preparation that combine striking video quality with surprising simplicity and reliability, enabling content owners to expand their audience and realize greater value from their content. Industry leaders such as Major League Baseball, Microsoft, NBC Universal/Vancouver Winter Games, Yahoo!, France Télévisions and Home Shopping Network rely on Inlet for easy implementation, technical prowess and enterprise scale for their mission critical operations. For more information, please visit www.inlethd.com. Follow us on Twitter at InletTech.

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Shawn Ramsey

Crossroads Public Relations for Inlet Technologies

+1 919-621-0737

inlet@crossroadspr.com

Inlet Technologies Showcases Ad Insertion

and Advanced ABR Support at IBC 2010

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA—SEPTEMBER 8, 2010 - Inlet Technologies, the leader in innovative solutions for digital media preparation, today announced that they will be exhibiting at the upcoming IBC conference taking place September 10-14 in Amsterdam. The company will demonstrate the latest enhancements to its SpinnakerTM line of award-winning streaming appliances and Armada automated workflow management system, as well as its automated ad insertion solution and advanced support for adaptive bitrate streaming and digital rights management (DRM).

Inlet will be exhibiting at IBC's Connected World area, stand #602.

Enabling Automated Ad Insertion

Inlet will demonstrate its proven, built-in support for fully-automated ad insertion for live streaming, enabling TV Everywhere providers and content owners to monetize new screens. Inlet's Spinnaker can detect and leverage broadcast cue messages to automate the insertion of video-based ads into live video streams for Flash, Silverlight or iDevices. For those who do not use broadcast cue messages, and for more unpredictable live events, Inlet also supports manual video review and ad insertion. Regional ad insertion, key to networks and their local affiliates, is also enabled with this technology.

Adaptive Bitrate and Product Advancements

As the first provider to offer full support for adaptive bitrate streaming (ABR) in early 2009, Inlet continues to extend its leadership with new capabilities and by setting new industry standards.

As a software-enabled streaming solution, Spinnaker reduces the complexity and cost of media preparation in the race to TV Everywhere and helps customers protect their investment by streamlining the process. Spinnaker allows customers to perform a single encode (or multiple encodes in the case of an adaptive bitrate experience) and then simultaneously wrap that encoded stream into multiple formats, such as Smooth, Flash and iPhone, for delivery to a multitude of devices, all out of one Spinnaker.

During IBC, Inlet will be showcasing the latest updates to Spinnaker, including closed captioning, sub-titling and multi-language support, as well as support for PlayReady DRM, local and managed archiving, multi-camera support, and low latency. New H.264 quality options have also been added, providing even greater flexibility for customers who wish to tailor video output quality. Spinnaker's full support for Microsoft IIS Smooth Streaming, Adobe HTTP Dynamic Streaming and HTTP Adaptive Streaming to Apple's iPhone® and iPad® will also be on display.

Advanced support for adaptive bitrate streaming will also be on display with Inlet's Armada automated workflow management system and Fathom® high-performance advanced encoding platform, the first packaged offerings to support large-volume on-demand streaming of content for iPhone and iPad devices. In addition, partner TwoFour Digital will be in Inlet's booth, demonstrating Armada as the transcoding engine for MEDIAFREEDOM 3, the latest version of TwoFour's leading media asset management software. By combining Armada and MEDIAFREEDOM, content providers can now meet stringent DRM requirements with end-to-end content encryption and authentication control for the delivery of content to any device.

"As a result of Inlet's technical leadership, we are the first to help our customers reach new screens and devices. Inlet continues to deliver innovative technologies that address key issues for our customers, such as density, scalability, monetization, rights management, security, and accessibility," commented Don Bossi, CEO, Inlet Technologies. "By teaming with industry leaders like Twofour Digital and by accelerating the entire digital media ecosystem, we are redefining the video experience and accelerating our customers' plans to monetize online content."

About Inlet Technologies

Inlet Technologies is redefining the online video experience with innovative solutions for media preparation that combine striking video quality with surprising simplicity and reliability, enabling content owners to expand their audience and realize greater value from their content. Industry leaders such as the BBC, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Major League Baseball, Microsoft, NBC Universal/Vancouver Winter Games, Yahoo!, France Télévisions, and Home Shopping Network rely on Inlet for easy implementation, technical prowess and enterprise scale for their mission critical operations. For more information, please visit www.inlethd.com. Follow us on Twitter at InletTech.

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Cross + Associates, a full-service marketing agency headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., has been selected to produce the Wallie Awards presentation for the annual Carolinas Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society (CHPRMS) fall conference. This is the 4th consecutive year CHPRMS has chosen the agency. The announcement was made today by Margaret Gregory, president-elect of the society.

“We are so excited to have been chosen once again to design and produce the Wallie Awards,” said Bill Cross, president and CEO of Cross + Associates. “It’s an honor to play such an integral role in the region’s premier healthcare marketing awards event.”

The Wallie awards recognize excellence in healthcare marketing and public relations in the Carolinas. This year’s conference will be held in Charleston, SC. For more information, visit www.chprms.com.

About Cross + Associates:

About Cross + Associates: Founded in 1993, Cross + Associates is a full-service integrated marketing communications firm focusing primarily on health care and higher education. The firm works with mission-driven organizations, providing comprehensive expertise in internal and external branding, service line advertising, public relations, physician recruitment, public advocacy, fund raising, market research, media planning, and interactive media/marketing strategies. The agency has locations in Raleigh NC and Columbia, SC. For more information, visit www.cross-a.com or call 919-787-7652.

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The Office Olympics are being hosted by SHARE, a community service organization made up of ShareFile employees. SHARE was founded in early 2010 and is designed to provide members with an opportunity to give back to the community and support worldwide organizations.

Earlier this year, ShareFile employees partnered with Stop Hunger Now to successfully pack more than 10,000 meals for victims of the Haiti earthquake disaster. Following the success of that event, the SHARE organization decided to host the Office Olympics to benefit Project HOPE.

“Project HOPE is a great organization that has done so much around the world and we are excited about this opportunity to raise money for them, while providing a fun atmosphere for local businesses to compete against each other,” said SHARE founder Jarrett Horne.

Businesses from around the Triangle area are invited to participate in this event. Each business can enter their team of athletes into the Olympics at one of three levels, Bronze, Silver or Gold. Food will also be donated by local Triangle restaurants, and there will be an awards ceremony and party for athletes following the event. All proceeds from the event will be donated to Project HOPE.

To register your business or to donate to Project HOPE, please visit www.sharefile.com/officeolympics.

About ShareFile

ShareFile is a leading provider of web-based tools that allow companies to exchange business files with clients, partners, and colleagues easily, securely and professionally. Unlike an FTP site, ShareFile can be accessed using any standard web browser and does not require software installation or training. The Company has more than 1.5 million users across 120 countries and provides business solutions to more than 50 different industries including accounting, advertising, legal, graphic design, consulting, health care and engineering. Headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, ShareFile is a 2008 Winner of CNET’s WebWare 100 for file storage and security. ShareFile was named one of North Carolina's top 25 Companies to Watch in 2010 and was named to Inc Magazine's prestigious Inc 500 list of fastest growing private businesses (ranked #104). For more information onsecure file transfer and virtual data room solutions please visit the company’s website.

About Project HOPE

Founded in 1958, Project HOPE (Health Opportunities for People Everywhere) is dedicated to providing lasting solutions to health problems with the mission of helping people to help themselves. Identifiable to many by the SS HOPE, the world’s first peacetime hospital ship, Project HOPE now provides medical training and health education, as well as conducts humanitarian assistance programs in more than 35 countries. For more information, please visit www.projecthope.org.

Ms. Contre will also be moderating a panel at the 2010 SJF Summit on the New Green Economy: Accelerating Growth and Impact, September 14th and 15th at the Durham Convention Center. The panel will focus on winning green business, marketing, and work force strategies that are critical to business' success. The SJF Summit will attract investors and business owners from across the nation. "Developing business relationships starts with the ability to communicate your area of expertise and to share this knowledge with others," says Evelyn Contre. "We are excited to have the opportunity to present at the GreenNC tradeshow and participate at the SJF Summit." Since its founding in 2008, Springleaf Strategies has provided sustainability-focused marketing and business strategies for companies in the green building industry, municipalities, and firms in the renewable energy and water conservation sectors. Over the past two years, Springleaf Strategies has expanded its staff and capabilities to help clients with communication planning and internal training needs. Springleaf Strategies became a Certified B Corporation in 2010, reaffirming its commitment to improving the performance of organizations with an environmental or social mission. About Springleaf Strategies: Springleaf Strategies is a marketing and sustainability consulting firm focused on helping businesses grow through planning and implementation of strategic business initiatives. We specialize in sustainability-focused marketing for companies in the green building industry, municipalities, and firms in the renewable energy and natural resource conservation sectors. We also work with companies interested in developing a roadmap for incorporating the fundamentals of environmental stewardship, economic strength, and community into daily operations. Visit www.springleafstrategies.com.

4:53 p.m.-- H6 was approved on the consent agenda.

The school will cost 72 Million dollars and is being paid for by funding from a 2006 grant. It is expected to be finished by the fall of 2013.

4:40 p.m. -- The full board just voted to approve the two recommendations for long-term suspension.

2:25 p.m. - Finance7 Director David Neter gave a budget update. The good news he said, is that $27.7 million is available that can be used this year from the Federal Education Jobs Bill Grant Funding.

In addition, the state has won $400 million from the Federal "Race to the Top" competition.

He said there are challenges facing next year's budget (2011-2012) and said "it's not looking so good." He said the state is facing a $3 billion dollar shortfall, $48 million in ARRA funding ends and there is a $41 million dollar gap for 2011-2012 in Federal Stabilization funding.

Neter said state agencies have been asked to prepared reduction plans of 5, 10 and 15 percent options due to the state budget director in October.

"We're still facing a stage 5 hurricane right in the eye as we move forward," Neter said.

1:38 p.m. - Next on the committee of the whole agenda is a change in the definition of a long-term suspension and the delegation of authority to the superintendent to commute longer-term suspension recommendations to short term suspensions and to reduce the length of individual long-term suspensions pending further policy revisions.

The long-term goal is to reduce suspension rates in order to increase graduation rates.

Interim Superintendent Donna Hargens said while the new system is developed there are immediate action items the board can implement to help achieve that goal. Those recommendations are:

1) A change in the definition of long-term suspension. It currently is defined as removal from the school system for the remainder of the school year. The revised policy would define it as suspension longer than 10 days but not to exceed the remainder of the school year.
2) Asking the board to authorize the board to give the superintendent authority to commute long term suspension to short term suspension, or in other words, the board would delegate to the superintendent the authority to wave the current policy requiring all current long term suspensions to be for the remainder of the school year.

1:22 p.m. - The board discusses the option of having electronic registration for public comment at board meetings. Chief Communications Officer Michael Evans said it is a definite possibility if the board wanted to move forward with that idea. School board member Debra Goldman said people could register from anywhere as well as have the opportunity to sign up through laptops set up at the school board headquarters on the day of the meeting. The board will further discuss the issue at its next meeting.

1:10 p.m. - The Wake County School Board begins its Committee of the Whole meeting ahead of the 3pm full board meeting. The first item up for discussion and presentation was the board's new meeting schedule, adopted August 10, 2010. The full board will now meet once a month instead of twice a month, meaning there will be one "voting" meeting each month. Moving forward the board will have a day dedicated to a work session.

The DOT is proposing two routes for high-speed rail through Raleigh. One route would run west of Capital Boulevard along Norfolk Southern tracks, while the other would run east of Capital Boulevard along CSX tracks.

But Council members said they wanted more information about two hybrid routes that their supporters say would be less harmful to homes and businesses.

Both alternate routes include running the tracks over Capital Boulevard. Councilman Thomas Crowder also proposed Tuesday another alternate route that would elevate the tracks and run them parallel to Capital Boulevard.

Residents in the Five Points neighborhood showed up to the meeting Tuesday, urging Council members to not support NC3, or the DOT proposed route west of Capital Boulevard.

"Clearly they were not voting in support of NC3," said Carole Meyre, one of the residents leading the fight against that route. "We were hoping to have that option taken off the table. That didn't happen, so I think it's a partial victory for us."

DOT Rail Division Director Pat Simmons said Tuesday that after the public comment period ends Friday, the DOT will look at all comments, including any alternate routes that are proposed.

Simmons said they have done a basic review of alternate routes, but they'll need to do further study and decide if any of the alternate routes are actually viable.

"The whole process is geared toward if we can figure out if there's a better way of doing it," he said.

Simmons said they hope to select a high-speed rail route by the end of the year.

To comment on the high-speed rail plans, click here.

NBC-17 Full Coverage: Raleigh High-Speed Rail

Susan Moran, spokeswoman for the Town of Cary, said the fire originated in the kitchen of room 9.

The six-unit building, located at 607 E. Chatham Street, has been condemned, said Moran, and its occupants have relocated to other units on the property.

No injuries were reported and it is unknown whether the structure will be rebuilt.

Jordan Gibbs, 18 of Apex, died Monday when he was swimming beyond the designated swimming area and drowned, State Parks and Recreation Department Spokesman Charlie Peek

Pastors at Gibbs' church, Calvary Chapel Cary, said he was a fun-loving teenager who was passionate about his faith.

"He was here almost every day," Assistant Pastor Johnny Rivera said. "He helped our youth pastor in any capacity that he needed help in. (Gibbs) was his side kick really and we're going to miss him dearly."

Parks officials said this is the first drowning of the summer near the recreational swimming areas of Jordan Lake.

Park Ranger Shedrick Mole says Gibbs was in a group of about 20 people who had gone to the lake for a picnic and swim.

The ranger says Gibbs and several teens swam to a buoy about 30 yards from the shore and was missing when they headed back.

Calvary Chapel held a prayer vigil on Monday night and pastors said the youth group is grieving, but finds hope through their faith.

"Jesus made a difference in (Gibbs) life," Rivera said. "He was passionate about sharing Jesus with others and Jesus can make a difference in anyone's life and (Gibbs) shared that with everybody he came into contact with."

Local Blue Legacy Benefit, 5:00pm—7:00pm Galatea Boutique at Seaboard Station, 10 W. Franklin St., Raleigh Meet and mingle with Alexandra and the Upper Neuse RIVERKEEPER® at this intimate speaking event. Light hors d'oeuvres and wine will be served. Limited tickets are available for $65 in person at Galatea Boutique or online at www.neuseriver.org. Proceeds benefit the Neuse RIVERKEEPER® Foundation.

Music on the Porch, 6:00pm—9:00pm Seaboard Station, 802 Seamart Dr., Raleigh

Bring the whole family to this free, outdoor event; there will be a large "Kid Zone" for play, activities for all, drawings for prizes, and great food/drinks available. Dance to the Atomic Rhythm All Stars as their 7-piece band plays swing music, meet the Expedition Blue Planet crew, and learn about local water issues from the Neuse RIVERKEEPER® Foundation. This is a dog friendly event as well. Bring a lawn chair and relax into this evening of celebration.

For more information

Event details and tickets: http://neuseriver.org/events/alexandracousteau.html

Questions or requests for interviews: (919) 856-1180

About Expedition Blue Planet: http://www.alexandracousteau.org/expedition-blue-planet

Sponsored by the Student Chapter of the American Animal Hospital Association, the Dog Olympics is a charitable event that celebrates the human-animal bond and raises money for local animal rescue groups. Canines of all breeds, shapes, and sizes are invited to participate in athletic and non-athletic competition such as Rollover Rover, Musical Sit, Longest Tail, Limbo, Frisbee Toss, Howling Contest, Look-a-Like, Weiner Toss, Best Trick, Best Beggar, and High Jump.

The popular family event features a free microchipping clinic by the Raleigh Kennel Club (one pet per family) with trained personnel implanting a microchip that can be scanned with a handheld device ensuring a lost dog will be returned to its owner.

Event demonstrations include the Raleigh Police K9 Unit, a Pawsitive Pooches training lesson, and the American Kennel Club (AKC) agility teams. The AKC will also offer a free Canine Good Citizen testing opportunity. A Paralympics for dogs with spinal cord injuries focuses on the bond owners of paraplegic dogs have with their pets. The special activity will include Obstacle Course Navigation, Best Decorated Cart, and Cart Races.

The Olympic Village features canine health booths from the oncology, neurology, cardiology, nutrition, dermatology, and dental services at NC State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital, vendor tents offering canine-related goods and services, and some 10 rescue groups including 2 Paws Up, Pawfect Match, CARE for Animals, Southern Siberian Rescue, Neuse River Golden Retriever Rescue, English Springer Rescue America, Second Chance, Carolina Border Collie Rescue, Doberman Rescue, and Best Friends Pet Adoption.

Additional attractions are face painting and airbrush tattoos, games for young owners to win prizes for their pets, and a "Doggie Cooling" station for pets needing a quick dip in a wading pool to escape the heat of the day. Food will be provided by Smoke and Go BBQ with a quarter of all food revenues going to support the participating rescue groups.

Raffles will be held throughout the day for a free session with a professional pet photographer, a free professional painting of your pet, as well as baskets of goodies for dogs and their human companions. You do not need to be present at the time of the drawing to receive your prize.

Admission is $1 for spectators and owners and $7 for dogs; children five and younger are free. Non-competing dogs must be kept on leash. The cost of canine admission covers an entry fee for one event and a photo of your canine champion on the Olympic platform. Each additional event or photo is $1. All proceeds support the event and the rescue groups.

The rain date is Sept. 18. For additional details including directions, please see: http://www.cvmdogolympics.com/ or call 919.513.6662.

Several representatives of the state chapters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the AFL-CIO held a news conference Tuesday outside the Legislative Building in Raleigh to boost interest in a rally Oct. 2 at the Lincoln Memorial.

The national march will call on Congress to do more to help ease the country's high jobless rate.

State NAACP President the Rev. William Barber said the mass mobilization will prepare people to vote Nov. 2 and challenge what he calls the obstructionism and regressive policies of the "ultra right."

Kuhn has been working with others on a plan he hopes will satisfy people who do not like the two routes being proposed by the NCDOT.

"We think it would be best for Raleigh," he said.

Raleigh City Council members are considering options for the high speed rail trains, which could run up to 110 mph, through the City of Raleigh.

The DOT is considering paths for the trains as it looks to connect Raleigh to Richmond with high speed rail.

But the two proposed routes have not generated much excitement. One route would run west of Capital Boulevard along Norfolk Southern tracks. The other would run east of Capital Boulevard along CSX tracks. Both routes would mean impacts to businesses and homes and also mean some street closings.

A Raleigh Passenger Rail Task Force recently endorsed the Norfolk Southern, or NC3, option, but called it the "least bad" option.

Residents in the Five Points neighborhood have rallied against this route, opposing the train noise and possible drop in property values.

Kuhn's plan would run the route near the CSX lines at first, but the trains would then cross Capital Boulevard over a 2,600-foot bridge and come down in the Glenwood Southern area and connect to the NC3 route. Kuhn thinks this hybrid plan is the best of both worlds.

"We believe it's the best for Raleigh because it gets all the important stakeholders together," he said. "We think it will recognize the importance of these vital areas of our communities."

Kuhn said the DOT is looking at his plan and will study it further.

Another hybrid option that's being talked about is called NC4. Learn more by clicking here.

Raleigh City Council is expected to discuss high-speed rail options at its meeting Tuesday at 1 p.m.

http://www.sehsr.org/deis/download/Wake_NC_Handout.pdf

This year’s event will take place in Amsterdam on Oct. 1.

Barbara Hemphill is known for helping companies large and small go Almost Paperless™. She will present the keynote address: “Together We Are Better: Networking, Delegating, and Partnering for a Profitable and Sustainable Business.” “Together we are better” is at the root of her organizing principles, Hemphill said, and the perfect message for those attending Europe’s premier organizing convention.

“The organizing business is all about teaching methods and systems to others,” she said. “But none of us has all the answers. Building an industry is about partnering to make sure consultants and clients are perfectly matched.”

Hemphill will also present a workshop on “Taming the Paper Tiger in the Digital Age.” Hemphill was given the nickname “The Paper Tiger Lady” because of her bestselling books “Taming the Paper Tiger at Home” and “Taming the Paper Tiger at Work.” Her newest book, Bushido Business, will be available this fall.

Orvention organizer Ingrid van der Locht said she was thrilled to have Barbara join the conference, and that she came highly recommended as someone who knows the business inside and out. “It was clear that if we wanted someone who has experience when it comes to more productive business environments, it had to be Barbara Hemphill,” van der Locht said. “No other name even came close as having the depth of knowledge we want to help teach at our organizing convention.”

Orvention Web site: orvention.nl

More About Barbara Hemphill Barbara Hemphill has been working as a professional organizer for more than 30 years. Also called “America’s Favorite Organizer,” Barbara is the mastermind behind The Productive Environment Day™ and Almost Paperless™, as well as The 8-Hour Miracle™. Her Productivity Institute features a team of international Certified Productive Environment Specialists™ who help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment™. She recently launched iPEP (interactive Productive Environment Platform), software that allows users to find physical information, electronic information, and ideas with a keyword search. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina with her husband. She has five children and four grandchildren. You can find Barbara’s weekly podcast and learn more about her at www.barbarahemphill.com.

Raleigh, NC: Sharon Hill, prominent Chapel Hill-based Business Etiquette Trainer, Professional Speaker, and newly elected North Carolina Toastmasters International® District Governor, has been chosen as this year’s keynote speaker for the Professional Women’s Business Conference at the Raleigh Convention Center.

The conference is scheduled for Saturday, September 25 from 8:30 am—2:00 pm at the Raleigh Convention Center in Raleigh, NC. The conference is open to women of various professional, social, and religious backgrounds, as well as college females.

Hill’s keynote address, entitled "Courage Moving Forward," will be geared toward motivating the professional women and college females in attendance to embrace the courage necessary for professional development and advancement in the workplace, offering steps, processes, and resolutions that will help achieve these goals.

Hill will tailor her presentation from numerous experiences in corporate leadership and guidance roles, having served on several boards of directors, including those of the Big Brothers, Big Sisters and the National Association of Women Business Owners. Sharon is the author of four books that focus on etiquette and succeeding in college and corporate America.

About Sharon Hill International:

Sharon Hill International introduces an innovative and dynamic formula for proper business etiquette, created by the American Business Etiquette Trainers Association (ABETA), teaching employees about corporate loyalty and retaining customers. Sharon Hill, President of Sharon Hill International, speaks to groups, organizations and corporations across the globe, focusing on business etiquette, diversity training and communication in the workplace. To learn more about Sharon Hill International, or to book a seminar, please email info@sharonhillinternational.com.

During the Show, athletes, students and their families got a chance to get up close and personal with products and services from a variety of prominent local and national companies and organizations dedicated to enhancing the high school sports community. The conference included activities and demonstrations for attendees throughout the day such as New Balance Raleigh Durham's Coaches Dunk Tank, the US Marine's Mascot Get Fit Challenge, Hoop City U's Three Point Shootout and the vitaminwater School Spirit Showcase.

"The VYPE High School Sports Conference & Expo was a huge success! I am so glad I decided to be an exhibitor!" said Seth Kaplan, founder of Elite Performance Coaching. "The big winners, though, were all the people who attended. Athletes, cheerleaders, coaches, recruiters and parents from the Triangle and surrounding areas received high-quality information from experts in a variety of fields. And the day was jam-packed with events which made for a lot of fun. I highly recommend the Expo and look forward to 2011."

"As a new business opening the Monday after the VYPE Sports Conference & Expo, I could not imagine a better marketing event to attend!" said Vivien Joklik, owner of Big Frog of Durham Custom T- Shirts & More.

Event attendees also participated in a variety of informational sessions with expert panelists to gain valuable insights on numerous topics crucial to students and parents including health and wellness suggestions, strategies and tips for training, recruiting information and the ins and outs of paying for college. Inspirational keynotes were given by Durham's own Dewayne Washington and former MLB All-Star Tony Womack.

"I thought the expo was great!" said Becky Norris of the Heritage High School Booster Club. "There were some really good vendors, a lot to do and a lot of information...I look forward to next year!"

"It was thrilling to see thousands of people interacting, having fun and taking part in the event's activities throughout the day," said Richard Williams, publisher of VYPE High School Sports Magazine. "We've already begun planning for 2011 VYPE High School Sports Conference & Expo with a new date in September so we can have more schools, more teams and more parents involved."

For more news on the event along with in-depth coverage surrounding local high school sports in the Triangle, please visit http://www.vype.com/raleighdurham/

About C2C Productions, LLC

C2C Productions, LLC is a publishing, production and events company based in Wake Forest, North Carolina. It began publishing its flagship product, VYPE High School Sports Magazine: Triangle Edition in August 2008. The company also owns the rights to the VYPE franchise in the Greater Charlotte area of North Carolina. The company also provides design, development and event support to local and national clients that want to connect with customers, partners and other audiences. For more information, visit www.C2CProductions.com.

Note to Editors: VYPE, etc. are trademarks of VYPE. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

The station, which is already up and running, is located at the E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center (JVC) on Varsity Drive near the intersection of Western Boulevard on the university's Raleigh campus. A second charging station will be in place by the end of this month.

Level 2 charging stations—which use a dedicated 220/240 volt, 40 amp circuit—are important because they will facilitate the use of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) that will be coming on the market in spring 2011. "We're helping build the infrastructure to make electric vehicles a reality in North Carolina," says Stacy Fair, director of the JVC. The Level 2 station can also be used to charge Level 1 vehicles, which utilize a conventional 110/120v, 20 amp outlet.

The JVC station is funded by a Clean Fuel Advanced Technology grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Solar Center at NC State. The grant, awarded to the JVC and the College of Education's Department of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (MSTE), is under the direction of Stacy Fair and Dr. Bill DeLuca, associate professor of MSTE.

The grant is also financing the purchase of a van that has been converted into a PEV. Scheduled to be in place by the end of September, the van will be on display for campus visitors and will be used for some campus tours. "The van will provide an energy efficient means of supplementing the buses that are currently used for daily campus tours," Fair says.

But Fair stresses that the van will also support research, education and outreach purposes. DeLuca will coordinate efforts to demonstrate sustainable technologies to North Carolina schools and to foster student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The research on the charging stations' usage and the van's performance will be conducted in collaboration with the NSF Green Research for Incorporating Data in the Classroom project.

Sales for the month of August were up for many retailers and the industry is hoping to continue that trend during the first part of September by offering specials.

One place to find lots of specials was in Smithfield, at the Carolina Premium Outlet Mall.

The discounts were numerous and the shoppers so plentiful that it overloaded the mall’s 2,500 car parking lot.

“They were backed up on to the street and were parking off Industrial Park Drive, which is our service road,” said mall manager Linda Crowder.

Luring customers in were retailers who were offering incentives and deep discounts.

“Some of theses stores are offering 70% off their clearance prices already,” said shopper Christie Skidmore.

A recent national survey of shoppers indicated 4 out of 10 say their retail spending budgets are smaller this year than last year.

As a result, consumers are trying to stretch their dollars.

“Priorities and bills come first, but if you’ve got it, spend it,” said New Jersey resident Taiwan Smalls, who stopped by the mall with his family as they traveled back home on Labor Day.

Although folks may be a bit freer with their cash these days, those running the outlet mall say, consumer spending has become savvier.

“Our shoppers go to our website and print coupons beforehand so they know what’s on sale and are ready to shop when they get here,” said Crowder.

And some shoppers are controlling their spending in another way too.

“We really just buy throughout the year; a little here, a little there, so when black Friday comes and everyone is acting crazy we’re at home,” said shopper John Skidmore.

For the most part, industry analysts say although shoppers are spending more money now than they were a few months ago, they're spending most of it on basics like children's clothing and foregoing luxury items for now.

Jose Morales and friend Tako are walking 25 miles in each state, starting in Florida and ending September 11 in New York. They carry a 50-pound cross along the way. Sunday, the two walked into Raleigh as part of their journey.

Morales was a first responder on 9/11. He said their walk is an effort to unite people.

"I made a promise I would never forget what happened that day," he said. "Let's get together. Let's make this world work together."

Morales said they're raising money for Wounded Warrior and a memorial for the victims of 9/11.

"It's a lot better when everybody's together," Tako said.

He also said they're spreading a message that the government isn't representing the people and everyone should become more involved.

Click here for more information about their efforts.

The beach area has been closed five times this summer season. The most recent closure happened last Friday -- the start of Labor Day weekend.

After two days of clean testing, the beach reopened on Sunday. Though a day after reopening, the McCart family said they were taking advantage of the lake without getting wet.

"If we get out on boats, we're going to stay on the boat," Michelle McCart said. "We're not concerned about it."

George Wehmann says he trusts the water testing in Lake Wheeler, but he usually doesn't swim.

"Our paddles will hit the water and our feet; but other than that we're not planning on going swimming," Wehmann said.

Richard Costello with Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department says the county tests the water once a week. If bacteria levels are above 61 colony forming units per 100 milliliters, they close the area.

Last Friday, 1413 CFU were found in the beach area.

Costello says the geese are likely to blame.

"One goose could drop one to three pounds per day of waste and that washes right into that beach area," Costello said.

He says the solution is to stop people from feeding them so they'll fly away

According to the Center for Disease Control, recreational water illnesses can cause a variety of infections in places like your ears and eyes.

Costello says anytime you swim in the lake you should wash your hands and body with soap.