ORANGE COUNTY – Orange County may create new fire districts this year, in order to improve fire service and fire insurance ratings—to better protect homes and lower property insurance costs for homeowners. County officials are holding an informational meeting on the proposed new districts this Thursday, January 10, from 7-9 p.m. at the Southern Human Services Center on Homestead Road. Everyone’s invited to attend and ask questions.

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With the gun-control debate tops on the national agenda, Chapel Hill’s Kehillah Synagogueis hosting a discussion of the issue from a Jewish perspective this Sunday, January 13. Sociology professor Benjamin Albers of Bridgewater College will provide background.

The discussion is entitled “Gun Control: Organizing for Jewish Action”; it’ll take place from 9:30-11:30 Sunday morning in the main sanctuary of the synagogue at 1200 Mason Farm Road.

Kehillah Rabbi Jen Feldman says every major Jewish denomination has taken a stand in favor of gun control in the wake of the Newtown shootings last month.

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As usual, Chapel Hill Transit is providing Tar Heel Express shuttle service to UNC’s basketball game against Miami, Thursday evening at the Dean Smith Center. Shuttles begin running at 5:30 p.m., every 10-15 minutes from Carolina Coffee Shop downtown, as well as the park-and-rides at the Friday Center, Southern Village, University Mall and Jones Ferry Road. Shuttle rides are $3 one-way and $5 round-trip; they’ll operate for about 45 minutes after the game.

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Pittsboro Mayor and Chatham County Democratic Party chair Randy Voller has thrown his hat in the ring in the race to succeed David Parker as chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party. He’ll be attending a meet-and-greet event on Thursday at the Capital City Club in Raleigh to promote his candidacy; it’ll run from 6-8 p.m., and any registered Democrat is invited to attend for free.