After some confusion on Orange County's position, plans for the light-rail line between Chapel Hill and Durham got unanimous approval this morning from a bi-county transportation committee.

Today's vote for a "Locally Preferred Alternative" route keeps the project on schedule to apply for a federal grant this year. It also moves the project along to another round of public hearings, on environmental effects, in the spring.

Orange County commissioners approved preliminary plans to bring more bus service and light rail to the county, giving the local transit authority the go-ahead to apply for federal funding for the project.

Commissioners voted 5-2 Tuesday night to approve a "locally preferred alternative" for a rail and bus plan that would connect Orange County to Durham County.

The preliminary plan includes a rail line that would run along N.C. 54, connecting UNC Hospitals to Alston Avenue near Duke University and downtown Durham.

The commissioners' vote will inform the the transportation committee of the Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization during their meeting Wednesday morning.

Commissioner Alice Gordon will represent Orange County commissioners at that meeting, and was advised to inform transit advisers on the vote and express a preference for a route that would not go through Meadowmont on N.C. 54.

Commissioners Earl McKee and Steve Yuhasz voted against moving ahead with the rail and bus options, both saying light rail would not benefit the whole county.

"My no vote is not again transit, it is a no vote against this particular technology in this particular corridor," Yuhasz said,

A "Proactive Rental Inspection Program" for Durham is on the City Council's work session agenda Thursday. The proposal switches housing-code inspections of rental property to a  systematic regimen instead of the past practice of inspecting only when someone complains.

The program, according to Housing Code Administrator Rick Hester, is intended to motivate property owners to keep their houses and apartments up to code or get extra attention and expense from City Hall.

Read more about the program in Wednesday's Durham News. Links to some program documents are here:
 

Documents:

Southern Durham Development has withdrawn its attempt to collect expenses and "sanctions" from plaintiffs in the 751 South lawsuit.

According to the withdrawal notice, Southern Durham did so "as a gesture of good faith."  Attorney Cal Cunningham said the company "has agreed to resume confidential mediated settlement discussions" and would make no further comment.

This just in:

Gov. Bev Perdue today appointed retired Superior Court Judge A. Leon Stanback to serve as interim District Attorney for Durham County.

“Judge Stanback has served North Carolina and the Durham community with distinction as a prosecutor, parole commissioner and Superior Court judge,” Gov. Perdue said. “He is the ideal person to bring strong leadership to the district attorney’s office at this challenging time.”

Judge Stanback served as a Superior Court judge for the 14^th judicial district beginning in 1989 until his retirement in 2009. His distinguished legal career includes his private law practice and his service both as a member of the North Carolina Parole Commission and as an assistant district attorney in Guilford County.

Look for a full story on newsobserver.com today on the latest in the Tracey Cline situation.

Here's a look at today's local headlines, but first ... make sure to read today's N&O story about Durham Public Schools' opposition to a new charter school. Did you know 9 percent of Durham students attend charter schools, the highest percentage on the state? See the story here.

PLACE TO HOLD ON: Photographer Mark Dolejs took some beautiful pictures for new correspondent Jamie Kennedy's story on St. Basil the Great Romanian Orthodox Church. Our features editor is going to pick this story up for a full N&O run and says the church is planning a big Feb. 26 picnic. 

LIBERTY REPAIRS DEADLINE: Does this seem to be taking a long time? The city wil hold a demolition by neglect hearing at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in City Hall. Read Jim Wise's story to see what they're trying to figure out. 

O, ROMEO: No one from the Duke Lemur Center had called back when we wrote this story for the N&O last week. We added their comments the next day for the story in today's paper, and it just got even sadder. It only costs $10 to visit the Lemur Center by the way.

The city wants the art taken off the Duke Park traffic circle at Markham and Glendale. Carlton Koonce talks with the folks at YO:Durham in today's My View. And a reader from Down Under challenges the logic behind gun laws. Plus Flo Johnston on faith, a preview of this month's NC Comedy Festival and more. 

Thanks for reading,

Mark

Saw Bob, my 85-year-old inspiration at the gym this morning. He said he liked the story we did a few weeks back on the Chapel Hill couple that had Michael Brown paint a portrait of them on their garage door.  Nice to be reminded it's not all about police raids and solid waste transfer stations. 

But speaking of police raids, here's a look at today's local headlines in The Chapel Hill News.

ROAD WORK SILT: The town was still waiting yesterday for DOT's report on how Weaver Dairy Road construction runoff ended up in Eastwood Lake. The print photo doesn't do the scene justice, so I've attached it here. Thanks to James Protzman for calling us about this. Lots of stories start like this, just like Betty Neese and her garage door portrait.

POLICE TRAINING: The discussion changed tone this week as the town manager said police were not prepared for the unique situation posed by the Yates Motor Co. building takeover. His memo talked about civil disobedience, which is how the acivists had characterized their action. The town has created a special page on the Yates Motor incident; you can see it here.

While we're on the subject ... a reader called yesterday to confirm his reading of the facts in the incident. He was well informed until he added this all got overblown because staff writer Katelyn Ferral " got her feelings hurt."  That's not correct, I told him. Katelyn did get cuffed with zip ties and told to lie on the ground, but she has been professional throughout. Without her photos, as shown at Monday's court hearing. we would only have a verbal he said/she said of what happened that day.

RAIL LINE DEBATE: We have two items concerning the future light rail line proposed to connect Chapel Hill and Durham in today's paper. Katelyn has the latest from the Town Council, who like the George King Road option, and the Orange County commissioners, some of whom don't like it at all. And in today's My View, columnist Mark Zimmerman asks just where is this train taking us?

There's a lot more: the 12th annual NC Comedy Festival, a column from Steve Hutton on tuition and another from Jeff Kingan proposing a new solution to our garbage dilemma. 

Thanks for reading, wherever you read us; we're up to 1,100 followers on our Twitter feed (@chapelhillnews1) and my Facebook page (cracked the 800 friends mark yesterday).

Mark

Track coach and bail bondsman Omar Beasley (left) has put himself in contention for a seat on the Durham Board of County Commissioners.

Beasley registered his Committee to Elect Omar Beasley with the Durham County Board of Elections on Monday. He also has a campaign Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Noblesdad.

A registered Democrat, Beasley is a former officer of the Durham Bail Bond Alliance and an assistant track coach at Jordan High School. He also coaches the Carolina Elite Track & Field Club.

Candidate filing for Durham's 2012 elections opens Feb. 13.