2014 is drawing to a close, so today we bring you our top news stories of the year. From the exciting to the sad to the very strange, here are the stories that captured Orange County’s interest in 2014. 

January:

UNC Breakthrough: Harnessing Solar Energy For Use At Night

Willingham: “I’m Telling The Truth”

Dillard’s Closes In University Mall

Michael McAdoo Says Tutors Steered Him To Fraudulent Classes

CHCCS Board Votes To Expand Mandarin Program

 

February:

East Chapel Hill Student Diessnow12

Snowfall Causes Massive Traffic Jams, Cancellations

Students Storm Franklin Street Following Duke Win

Former UNC Dean: Academic Issue Reaches Further Than Revenue Sports

Efland Man Charged With Possession Of Stolen Saddles

 

March:

Six Vie To Be Orange County’s Top Lawman

After Losing Carrboro Lease, DSI Comedy Plans Move To Chapel Hill

Suspect In Custody After Knife Incident Locks Down UNC Campus

Tar Heels Lose To Iowa State In NCAA Tournament

Woman Cited for “Twerkin’ It” In The Middle Of Franklin Street

 

April:

UNC’s Diamond DeShields Transfers To Tennessee

Diamond Deshields (Courtesy of GoHeels.com)

Diamond Deshields (Courtesy of GoHeels.com)

Roses In University Mall To Close

Willingham To Leave UNC

Dr. Bruce Cairns Becomes UNC Faculty Chair

Squirrel Hunting From Cars Reported In Carrboro

 

May:

Blackwood And Caldwell Head To Run-Off For Sheriff

Specialist Blames Former Deans For UNC Academic Scandal

Orange County Schools Superintendent Martin Let Go

Community Mourns Passing Of Merritt’s Owner Robin Britt

UNC Fires Professor Convicted Of Drug Charges

 

June:

McCants Claims He Took Fake Classes, Williams Knew

Moral Monday, Halifax Mall. June 2, 2014. Photo: Alex Curley

Moral Monday, Halifax Mall. June 2, 2014.
Photo: Alex Curley

Sutton’s Sells Pharmacy Business To CVS

UNC Student Pharr Dies

Eleven Cited At Moral Monday Protests

Chapel Hill Singer Wows “America’s Got Talent”

 

July:

Professor Feng Liu Dies After Robbery

Blackwood Wins Run-Off For Orange County Sheriff

Former UNC Player Gives Back To Homeland

Chapel Hill Man Accused Of Biting Girlfriend’s Tongue

UNC Surgeons Open Burn Unit In Malawi

 

August:

Assault At Aloft Hotel During UNC Football Training Camp

Citizens at the Chapel Hill Public Library view the armored vehicle owned by the Chapel Hill Police Dept., Oct. 4, 2014.

Citizens at the Chapel Hill Public Library view the armored vehicle owned by the Chapel Hill Police Dept., Oct. 4, 2014.

Time-Out Restaurant Finds New Home

OC Leads NC In Military Surplus Armored Vehicles

Johnny T-Shirt Owner Helpingstine Dies

Lineberger Researchers Make Cancer Breakthrough 

 

September:

CHHS Assistant Principal Reassigned After Incident

Would-Be Jumper On Hampton Inn Roof

CHPD Releases New Hedgepeth Investigation Details

Police Quickly Nab Young Carjackers

ECU Shatters Records In UNC Defeat

 

October:

Same-Sex Marriage Becomes Legal In NC

Photo by Rachel Nash.

Photo by Rachel Nash.

Wainstein Report Confirms Academic Scandal

Chapel Hill Firefighter Delivers Own Baby 

Classic Carrboro Song Gets An Update

Nine UNC Officials Facing Discipline

 

November:

Student Arrested In Social Media Bomb Threat

Accrediting Agency Launches UNC Probe

Chapel Hill Real Estate Priciest In NC

Town Council Greenlights Ephesus-Fordham Road Plan

Tar Heels Reclaim Victory Bell From Duke

 

December:

Chapel Hill Ranked Third-Best College Town

Local Business Leader Seagroves Dies

Chapel Hill Plane Crashes In Maryland, Killing 6

34 UNC Centers and Institutes Could Be on the Chopping Block

Chapel Hill Ranks On “Most Unequal Cities” List