Wake County school board District 6 candidate Donna Williams has narrowed the funding gap between her and Christine Kushner despite having gotten off to a late start.

A new campaign finance report filed this week shows that Williams has raised $41,370.83 as of Sept. 26 with $18,761.70 on hand. Through that same time period, Kushner had raised $50,406.93 with $31,383.11 on hand.

The biggest donors in Williams' new report are the $1,500 from the Northern Wake Republican Club and $1,000 from Dr. James Fulghum.

Wake County school board candidate Heather Losurdo holds the clear fundraising lead for the District 3 seat.

New campaign reports filed this week show that Losurdo had raised $40,244.55 as of Sept. 26 with $9,522.60 on hand. School board member Kevin Hill reported raising $24,055 with $12,570.69 on hand. Jennifer Mansfield is well behind with $5,802.19 raised and $2,513.18 on hand.

Some of the disparity between Losurdo and Hill is mitigated by the spending that outside groups have put into the race attacking her.

The developer behind Raleigh's North Hills wants to install a transit system within the development that would shuttle people around in elevated, battery-powered vehicles.

Kane Realty announced Tuesday that it is partnering with ULTra PRT on a feasibility study to see if the company's transit system could be used in North Hills.

PRT, or Personal Rapid Transit, uses 4-person vehicles on elevated tracks to transport people short distances. Users would be able to take the cars, on demand, to the station of
their choice within North Hills.

The system would address an issue that North Hills is likely to face as it continues to expand: How to conveniently and efficiently get people across Six Forks Road and to areas east where Kane hopes to expand in the future.
 

There are a number of new retail and business tenants making their way to Raleigh's North Hills.

Many of them will be showcased in a media preview Thursday hosted by North Hills developer John Kane. Among the highlights is World of Beer, which will open this summer, in the "fountain park" outside the Captrust Tower, across from Zoe's Kitchen.

This will be the company's first store outside of Florida. World of Beer is known for a vast selection of beers that changes weekly and for including local breweries in its store mixes.

Click read more to view the full list of new tenants.

The Cardinal, a continued care retirement community planned for Raleigh's North Hills, is still waiting on the state Department of Insurance to give it the necessary approval to begin construction.

Earlier this year The Cardinal applied for a construction permit from state regulators.

Since then The Cardinal has been responding to regulators request for more information, said developer John Kane.

"It's a fluid process," he said. "When you file something there's always questions and clarifications."

The Cardinal submitted a revised preliminary certification application to the DOI on Sept. 13. The department has until Oct. 13 to review the application.

Some winners of iconic trophies -- think Emmys or Oscars -- reportedly find creative spots for their awards, such as on a nightstand or in the master bathroom (to preen over them frequently). Some use them as bookends or doorstops.

John Kane plans to treat his Thad Eure Jr. Memorial Award with a bit more respect. The Raleigh developer received the bronze, foot-tall statue of Sir Walter Raleigh last week at the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau 24th annual luncheon.

Kane wrote in an e-mail that he plans to put the award in the North Hills offices of his company, Kane Realty, "as it is a tribute to our entire team."

The award is given by the bureau each year to an individual who has made significant contributions to Wake County’s hospitality industry.

The 10th anniversary edition of Raleigh Metro magazine will feature essays from several Triangle business notables.

Available Aug. 15 in print and online, the edition will include:

Joan Seifert Rose, executive director of the Council of Entrepreneurial Development, on the meteoric rise in venture capital funding in the region;

John Kane, the real estate developer behind the North Hills development, on land use in the Triangle; and

Bill Pully, executive director of the N.C. Hospital Association, on the evolving medical landscape.

Other contributors include N.C. Art Museum director Larry Wheeler, UNC Chancellor Holden Thorp and architech John Atkins.

“The quality and standing of our guest writers verifies that Raleigh Metro Magazine is the most respected magazine in the region," said Metro editor and publisher Bernie Reeves, in a prepared statement.