Here's a look at today's local headlines:

CHAPEL HILL 2020: Blogger Ruby Sinreich's Tweet about "straight, white affluent men" may have caused a dustup in the town's comprehensive plan talks. But it's not the first time concern about lack of diversity's come up in community conversations about how Chapel Hill should grow. Read Katelyn Ferral's story to learn what the town is doing to bring more voices to the table.     

NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Here's an issue the Chapel Hill 2020 folks need to help figure out. When we wrote about Colony Apartments last summer (read my story here), I learned how the Section 8 housing voucher safety net was no longer working for many. Katelyn looked at the situation across the Triangle for today's follow-up. 

It's been a busy week. If you missed it, a jury needed just three hours to convict Laurence Lovette in the murder of Eve Carson. The state Court of Appeals ruled a former Orange County paramedic can be sued in the death of Chapel Hill High football player Atlas Fraley three years ago. And two more rabies cases were confirmed; in one case a dog that was not current on its rabies vaccination had to be killed. 

On our editorial pages, several readers respond (read their letters here) to Chapel Hill developer Carol Ann Zinn's guest column last week (read it here), in which she said anti-growth activists distort the development process and drive up housing costs. Tell us what you think at editor@newsobserver.com. And congratulations to associate editor Dave Hart for winning second place for editorials in the N.C. Press Association contest, announced earlier this week.

Got vintage Aretha playing on the eMac and a big dog at my feet before Christmas dinner this afternoon. I hope you are having a wonderful day, and best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year. Thank you for reading the paper.

Mark           

The N.C. Court of Appeals has denied a former Orange County EMT’s motion that he had public official immunity and could not be sued for the death of a Chapel Hill High School football player in 2008.

The court ruled today that James Griffin may be held personally liable for any harm caused by negligence in his position as an EMT. Griffin responded to a 911 call in August 2008 from 17-year-old Atlas Fraley, who was experiencing full-body cramps and dehydration after football practice. Griffin spent 22 minutes with him and advised Fraley to drink fluids to treat his dehydration.

An autopsy report suggested Fraley’s dehydration and cramping may have led to a fatal heart attack, though the autopsy could provide no definitive explanation for his death.

Former Orange County paramedic James Griffin has appealed a judge's decision not to throw out a lawsuit against him in the death of deceased Chapel Hill High School football player Atlas Fraley.

Later this year, the N.C. Court of Appeals will hear Griffin's immunity defense. The Fraleys claim he was negligent in not providing more treatment after their 17-year-old son called 911 complaining of dehydration a few hours before he died.

David and Malinda Fraley have already voluntarily dismissed their claims against Orange County and its emergency medical services department, which have governmental immunity from liability for mistakes made in the course of duty.

In November, Superior Court Judge Carl Fox ruled that Griffin does not have the same immunity as an individual.

The parents of deceased Chapel Hill High School football player Atlas Fraley are in court-ordered mediation with paramedic James Griffin and Orange County Emergency Services.

Fraley died of unknown causes after a scrimmage game in August 2008. He had called 911 complaining of dehydration and Griffin responded to his home in Chapel Hill, along with a fourth-year medical student, and opted not to transport the 17-year-old.

An autopsy report suggested Fraley's dehydration and cramping may have led to a fatal heart attack, though the autopsy could provide no definitive explanation for his death. Malinda and David Fraley's lawsuit says Griffin could have saved their son's life.

Ten days after Fraley's death, Orange County EMS medical director Dr. Jan Brice revoked Griffin's paramedic privilege. State EMS officials later found Griffin had violated some Orange County protocols but had not acted incompetently under state law. His state paramedic license remains valid until 2011.

"It is expressly denied that Defendant Griffin was negligent in any respect or that such negligence was the approximate cause of Atlas Fraley's death," states an answer by Griffin's attorney Carrie Meigs to the Fraleys' wrongful-death suit.

The two sides have until Oct. 14 to complete mediation. If they can't negotiate a settlement, the civil case could go to trial by the end of November.

Staff writer Jesse James DeConto just filed this report for the N&O online:

The paramedic who treated Atlas Fraley on the day he died resigned 15 days later.

When paramedic James Griffin couldn’t reach Fraley’s parents at work, he had the 17-year-old sign his own discharge statement, according to a patient care report released by Fraley family attorney Donald Strickland.

Griffin responded to Fraley’s home around 1:50 p.m. Aug. 12 after the Chapel Hill High School football player called 911 complaining of full-body cramps.

He found Fraley’s pulse to be strong and his breathing normal. He advised Fraley about dehydration and told him “to continue what he was already doing when I arrived. [He] had plenty of water and Gatorade in the house.”

Griffin did not give Fraley intravenous fluids or conduct an echocardiogram -- an ultrasonic heart examination -- “due to the [patient] not standing or sitting in one place for any length of time.” Fraley stood while Griffin took his blood pressure.

“After being unable to reach either of the [patient’s] parents I decided to let the [patient] sign the declination form with instructions to continue drinking water and Gatorade and continue to work out his cramps,” Griffin wrote.

An autopsy report suggests Fraley’s cramping may have led to a fatal heart attack, though the autopsy could provide no definite explanation for Fraley’s death. Read Jesse's full story here.

CHAPEL HILL — The death of CHHS football player Atlas Fraley, though it came miles and hours away from a football field, left the sports world stunned this week.

Fraley died Tuesday afternoon from what his father said was dehydration.

Word swept through the community quickly. Many of Fraley’s teammates were at the game scrimmage between Carrboro and East Chapel Hill High School on the ECHHS campus when they learned of his passing. And many had expected to see him there as they scouted their future opponents.

CHAPEL HILL — The death of CHHS football player Atlas Fraley, though it came miles and hours away from a football field, left the sports world stunned this week.

Fraley died Tuesday afternoon from what his father said was dehydration.

Word swept through the community quickly. Many of Fraley’s teammates were at the game scrimmage between Carrboro and East Chapel Hill High School on the ECHHS campus when they learned of his passing. And many had expected to see him there as they scouted their future opponents.