Nick Bankston will unveil steering committee recommendations April 29 for Columbus’ first participatory budgeting pilot that would give residents local funds for neighborhood projects.

The Diocese of Charlotte is committing $5.1M to rebuild Our Lady of Consolation, aiming to fix mold, expand seating and return worshippers to the long‑closed sanctuary. The plan is part of a roughly $6.7M renovation with a mixed diocesan‑parish funding structure.

Holly Springs Community Library will close late April for months-long renovations and is expected to reopen by year’s end. Nearby branches and digital services will cover holds and programs.

A Columbus family says their 10-year-old was ordered off a school bus and left at a busy intersection. They want the district to move the stop and hold the driver accountable.

Richard Kee Jr. of Roanoke Rapids was publicly named as the holder of a $209.3M Powerball ticket; he took a lump‑sum payout that leaves him with roughly $68.6M after taxes.

University of Houston will keep the 1973 Cesar Chavez mural while a review panel studies how the labor leader is portrayed following national reporting on abuse allegations.

A San Leandro High senior has sued the district, saying two years of antisemitic harassment left her with panic attacks, lower grades and lost scholarship chances. The suit seeks damages and schoolwide reforms.

Mayor Brandon Johnson highlighted Malcolm X College’s West Side community center and a larger budget figure that outpaces earlier estimates. The project aims to add meeting, instructional and event space at the West Campus.

Court navigators in Brooklyn Housing Court are fixing CityFHEPS paperwork errors that would otherwise trigger evictions, helping hundreds stay housed.

Neighbors in Throggs Neck are pushing back against a planned Victory Dispensary near East Tremont and Philip, citing nearby schools, security and property‑value concerns. Community Board 10 recommended approval but the state still must sign off.

A free July 4 waterfront festival at Julian B. Lane Park will close with a 250‑drone light show and fireworks as part of Tampa’s America 250 programming.

Paranormal author David Wilcock died after a reported mental‑health crisis near Nederland; local officials and his family have released a timeline and resources.

Huntington awarded 70 Charlotte‑area educators a yearlong professional development program — including a July trip to Ron Clark Academy — as the bank ramps up Carolinas expansion.