Author: Scott D. Yost

For seven years, Guilford County government has had an MWBE (Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises) Department  – a department that offered support and preference to those types of businesses.  However, that department has suddenly and quietly been disappeared like it was a tattooed immigrant who slapped Kristi Noem…

The City of Greensboro just took a big step toward reimagining how it addresses public safety with the unveiling of its new five-year “Comprehensive Community Safety Plan.”

The announcement came during the third annual “Peace on Purpose” event held at the Simkins Sports Pavilion, where city leaders and community members got together to highlight a collaborative approach to cutting down on violence and improving safety across all neighborhoods in the city….

Dr. Margaret B. Arbuckle has been named the recipient of the 2025 Lifetime Community Service Award from the International Civil Rights Center & Museum, and when she received word of that honor, she burst into tears.

The award is given to leaders who’ve advanced civil and human rights through their service to their communities…

Guilford Creek Week is back and making waves across Guilford County from Saturday, June 21, through Saturday, June 28. The weeklong celebration is designed to help county residents better understand, appreciate and protect the creeks, rivers, lakes and watersheds that sustain life across the region – and are great for recreation as well…

At a packed budget public hearing on Thursday, June 5, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners heard from more than 30 speakers who offered input on the proposed 2025-2026 budget presented by County Manager Mike Halford. The majority of speakers focused on the need for increased funding for Guilford County Schools; however, another group, Keep Gate City Housed, was also there in force with a sizable and vocal presence in the commissioners…

The Guilford County Family Justice Center has been around for a decade and on Friday, June 6, many stakeholders and others got together to celebrate the achievements of one of the county’s most successful and awarded operations.

Ten years ago, Guilford County made the major commitment to support survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, elder…

On Thursday, June 5, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed 2025-2026 county budget, and over 30 speakers came forward – many of them educators, parents, and school employees – strongly urging the board to increase local funding for the Guilford County Schools system.

The commissioners’ meeting room on the second floor of the Old Guilford County Court House in downtown Greensboro was packed, which meant many attendees had to view the meeting from the rarely used balcony seating….

Not all of the new activity around bustling Piedmont Triad International Airport involves big aeronautic companies announcing they are coming to the airport’s megasite. PTI has also been offering more choices for flights, and the airport is getting a very welcome addition this week.

On Friday, June 6, Breeze Airways will begin service at PTI, offering new nonstop flights to Hartford, Connecticut (BDL) and Orlando, Florida (MCO)….

There’s been yet another big drug bust in Guilford County. So far this year alleged drug dealers have been going to jail at a very fast clip and there was another bust this week that got some dangerous drugs off the street…

The Guilford County Board of Commissioners is giving county residents a golden opportunity to speak their minds on how their tax dollars should be spent – or not spent – in the coming fiscal year.

On Thursday, June 5, the board will hold its annual public hearing on the county budget – the one time each year when the microphones are open, the timer is set,…

A billion here, a billion there – pretty soon it can add up to real money.

Guilford County’s school construction program, supported by two major bond referenda in the last five years – a $300 million referendum in 2020 and a $1.7 billion one in 2022 – is expected to cost county taxpayers more than $3.2 billion by the time the debt is fully repaid with interest.  About $1.2 billion will be interest on the $2 billion debt, according to estimates…

June is recognized as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. It’s meant to be a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, commemorate the famous Stonewall Uprising, and advocate for equal rights. Pride Month events and marches are scheduled across the country, around the world, and in Guilford County.

On Thursday, June 5, the Guilford County Board of Commissioners is adopting a resolution formally recognizing June 2025 as Pride Month in Guilford County…

Guilford County Animal Services announced on Monday, June 2 that the animal shelter is limiting the intake of cats and kittens due to the discovery of cases of feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) at the facility, which is formally known as the Guilford County Animal Resource Center….

For years, the City of Greensboro has been having a long discussion – and been putting a lot of attention into – the questions of when Greensboro police officers should or should not pull someone.

On Tuesday, June 10, Greensboro’s Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, and Human Rights Commission – together with the City’s Community Safety and Police departments – will present a “Traffic Stop Policy Panel Discussion and Community Conversation.”…

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has formed a new “Guilford County Narcotics Task Force” along with other area law enforcement agencies and plans to reveal details of the new entity: Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers and Greensboro Police Chief John Thompson will hold a news conference on Monday, June 2, to discuss the Narcotics Task Force, which was created to combat illegal drug activity in the community…

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has appointed Dr. Lawrence Greenblatt as the state’s new health director and chief medical officer.

He’ll take over that role on Monday, June 2.

He gets that job at a time when, post-pandemic, the entire country is seeing multiple political battles being fought in the health arena….

Summerfield has a problem.

It’s trying to keep its town charter and, in that attempt to do so, town leaders are proposing nearly doubling the town’s tax rate and adding new services.

The new proposed budget for fiscal 2025-2026 calls for raising the property tax rate from 2.75 cents to 5 cents per $100 of assessed property value, a change that would generate more than $2 million in revenue based on a total tax base of $2.04 billion…

The International Civil Rights Center & Museum in downtown Greensboro marked the fifth anniversary of George Floyd’s death with a public statement that called for reflection, renewed resolve, and continued action in pursuit of racial justice.

John Swaine, the museum’s CEO, said the anniversary “marks five years since the murder of George Floyd on a public street in Minneapolis – an extended moment that stunned the world and ignited a fresh global demand for social justice, official accountability, and human dignity.”…

Recently, both the Greensboro city manager and the Guilford County manager proposed fiscal 2025-2026 budgets that call for no increase in the property tax rate, and it looks like that will actually be the case in June when the Greensboro City Council and the Guilford County Board of Commissioners adopt their final budgets. 

The new budgets will likely include no tax rate increase so your tax bill should look the same as last year’s when it arrives in mid-to-late July…

When it comes to erectile dysfunction, men in North Carolina are neither struggling more than most nor are they doing particularly better than men anywhere else in the country. According to new data from Innerbody Research, North Carolina ranks 24th out of 51 in a nationwide analysis of ED-related search behavior, which means the men in the state are squarely in the middle of the pack in this regard.

According to broader studies, about one-third of all men experience this type of dysfunction, and nearly one in five adult men in the US — around 18 million— are affected by the condition…

The demolition has now begun on the old Windsor Recreation Center building, making way for something designed to be much, much better.

The  heavy equipment has started rolling and, once the old center is demolished, built in its place will be the Taj Mahal of community centers – the coming new Windsor Chavis Nocho Community Complex. That new facility at 1601 E. Gate City Blvd. is going to offer much more than a traditional community center, so much so that it should be thought of as a completely different animal….

On Wednesday, May 21, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services launched an “Interactive Vaccine Provider Map” that’s meant to help eligible families find and access free, childhood vaccines through the department’s vaccines for children program.

With a new measles outbreak happening across the country, and US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. often raising his concerns…

On Thursday, May 15, Guilford County Manager Mike Halford presented the Guilford County Board of Commissioners with his recommended budget for the county, and on Tuesday, May 20, Greensboro City Manager Trey Davis got the chance to unveil his proposed budget for the largest city in the county.

He did so at the meeting of the Greensboro City Council, where he suggested an $828 million budget for fiscal year 2025-2026. That year begins on July 1 and runs through June 30 of 2026….

Monday, May 26 is of course Memorial Day and if you use the City of Greensboro’s services, transportation or facilities, here are a few things you need to know about the holiday this year.

First of all, feel free to head down to city hall, but you won’t be able to get in because city offices will be closed on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

Also, there will be no trash or recycling collection that day. Instead, if your collection date was supposed to be Monday, it will instead take place on Tuesday, May 27. ..

Until last year, the Guilford County budget process – when it came to funding non-profits – was that the county manager, along with a staff committee, would go through applications from non-profits and community-based organizations, such as various festivals, art foundations, the International Civil Rights Center and Museum, and a host of others asking for funding. 

The manager made the recommendations and then the county commissioners held public work sessions to decide which groups would get taxpayer money and which would not…

The Guilford County commissioners, school system leaders, community organizations and others who want to see a quarter-cent sales tax hike in Guilford County have spent nearly two decades explaining the benefits of such a tax increase but time and time again county voters have said no.

Now, Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston is in talks with NC Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger to see if the state will go along with a change that Guilford County commissioners have asked of the state for a long, long time.

The City of Greensboro is calling for suggestions on ways to spruce up south Greensboro, make it more accommodating, visually appealing and an all-around better place to live and do business.

The city is especially interested in hearing what the residents, business owners and frequent visitors of south Greensboro have to say regarding that area and, in order to gather input for future improvements, the city is inviting those interested to attend an upcoming “Culture and Authenticity Workshop for the South Greensboro Plan.”…

Representatives from Transco – a subsidiary of Williams Companies – came before the Guilford County Board of Commissioners on Thursday, May 15, to explain a proposed natural gas pipeline expansion that would cut through the Oak Ridge area.

The discussion focused on safety measures, public input opportunities, and environmental considerations surrounding the controversial project….

Guilford County Manager Mike Halford presented his recommended fiscal 2025-2026 budget to the Board of County Commissioners during the board’s regular meeting on Thursday, May 15, and the budget included a little something for everyone, but, in many cases, not as much as department directors and school leaders would have liked.

Halford’s total general county budget comes to $842 million, which compares to $834 million for the 2024-2025 budget adopted last June..

Earlier this year, the Guilford County Board of Education asked the Guilford County Board of Commissioners to give them $44 million more for school operations than the county gave the schools last year. However, if the county commissioners’ final budget is anything like the budget Guilford County Manager Mike Halford proposed at the commissioners’ Thursday, May 15 meeting, then the school funding for operations will be woefully short of the schools’ request…

The City of Greensboro’s Historic Preservation Program is an official house sponsor of Preservation Greensboro’s 15th annual Tour of Historic Homes and Gardens. The city announced recently that the 2025 tours will be offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May18 in the Irving Park National Register Historic District….

The Guilford County Family Justice Center is looking for a few local heroes – the kind of people who step up for their older neighbors whenever the elderly need help the most.

In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day – which falls on Sunday, June 15 – the justice center’s Elder Justice Committee is now accepting nominations for its 2025 Elder Justice Champion Award….

On Monday, May 12, the Guilford County Parks Department announced everything you need to know regarding the pools run by the county and what the summer water fun schedule and fees will look like.

First things first: Guilford County Parks Aquatic Centers at Bur-Mil Park, Hagan-Stone Park and Northeast Park will open on Memorial Day weekend….

It’s that time of year again.

It’s budget crunch time and on Thursday, May 15, Guilford County Manager Mike Halford will drop the big bomb that, each year, blows the budget discussion wide open.

Halford, as manager, has a whole lot of important duties related to his job; however, putting together and presenting the manager’s proposed budget, as he’ll do on Thursday night, is the most important thing he does each year…

The Greensboro Chamber of Commerce does more than just try to bring together and aid Greensboro area businesses; the organization also takes time each year to recognize those businesses that are really contributing to the community. 

To that end, on Thursday, May 8, the Chamber hosted its annual Small Business Awards event at Piedmont Hall at 2409 W. Gate City Blvd.

 The affair brought together a myriad of …

National research has demonstrated a link between civic engagement and community health, and, according to Grantmakers in Health – a nonprofit, educational organization dedicated to helping local foundations and corporations who give back to the community – “civic participation strengthens democracy, fosters social cohesion and improves public policies that impact community well-being.”

Which is why High Point is going to try to implement that strategy…

For at least 35 years, probably longer, I’ve been hearing that, in order to have any real solution to the southern border problem, there would need to be bi-partisan legislation by Congress.

I have literally heard that over and over again for decades. 

However, it turns out that was one big lie.

Perhaps “lie” is the wrong word to use there because I believe many people who’ve been saying that for years wholeheartedly believed it to be true…

Granted, Greensboro lost the permanent possession of the men’s Atlantic Coast Conference Basketball Tournament after the University of Barcelona and the Figi Islands College of Marine Biology were added to the ACC; however, the Greensboro Convention and Visitors Bureau had a big announcement on Wednesday, May 7 that should still allow the city to keep calling itself “Tournament Town.”

Pickleball, America’s fastest-growing sport, has shown astounding popularity, especially among older adults, and, from Wednesday, May 28 to Sunday, June 1, pickleball will take over the Greensboro Special Events Center with the city’s first major event of its kind – a USA Pickleball Golden Ticket tournament…

If you regret that, since you’re an adult, you can no longer have fun like you did in recess as a kid – well, Greensboro Parks and Rec has just the thing for you.

And, unlike elementary school, it will even include adult beverages if those are to your liking.

“The Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department’s Adult Recess” will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 16, at the Barber Park sprayground which is located at 1500 Barber Park Dr. in Greensboro…

May was declared Mental Health Awareness Month in 1949, and every year since then the month has been used nationally to call attention to mental health problems, issues and resources. 

This year, in May 2025, Guilford County is using the month to host two community mental health resource fairs. The county also has some big projects underway meant to address mental health and behavioral health problems faced by county residents in various targeted groups…

There was a very interesting moment at the Guilford County Board of Commissioners’ Thursday evening, May 1 meeting.  US Sen. Thom Tillis had recently publicly accused Guilford County, Forsyth County and seven other counties in the state of being sanctuary counties – that is, ones that are generally uncooperative with federal immigration agents looking to deport people.

Both Guilford County Sheriff Danny Rogers and Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough, Jr. adamantly denied their county being a sanctuary county.  Both said they worked well with the feds…

On Monday, May 5, a lot of people were celebrating because it was Cinco De Mayo; however, there was also a large contingent of celebrants gathered at the corner of Eugene Street and Bellemeade Street to revel for another reason: Carroll Companies was breaking ground on what will be a new hotel and mixed-use project at the site downtown near where Greensboro developer Roy Carroll built the Hyatt Place hotel.

Before the honorary shovels dug into the dirt, short speeches were provided by Downtown Greensboro Inc. President Zack Matheny, Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston and Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan…

On Friday, May 2, the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Investigative Unit announced that it had charged 19-year-old Ian Jeffrey Strenk with Death by Distribution after an extensive investigation into a fatal overdose that occurred last August.

On Thursday, August 22, 2024, sheriff’s deputies responded to a call regarding a reported overdose on Olde Forest Drive in southeastern Greensboro near the Forest Oaks area…

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t take kindly to people who are not law enforcement officers but pretend to be – and they demonstrated that fact this week by arresting a scammer who was posing as an officer and locking him up in jail.

The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office reported that, on Thursday, May 1, deputies arrested 21-year-old Kishan Kumar Singh – an international student from India – after he allegedly attempted to scam an elderly Stokesdale woman by pretending to be a law enforcement officer….

A coalition of local advocates known as Keep Gate City Housed urged the Guilford County Board of Commissioners, on Thursday, May 1, to take several steps to reduce evictions and homelessness in the county.

Speaking at the board’s regular meeting, members of the group called for, among other things, expanded legal representation for tenants and long-term county funding for rental assistance programs.

The group, which formed in early 2024, has been meeting with city and county officials over the past year – as well as with service providers, volunteers and hundreds of Greensboro residents affected by housing insecurity…

Residents of the town of Oak Ridge showed up in force at the Guilford County Commissioners meeting on Thursday evening, May 1, to voice their strong opposition to a proposed natural gas pipeline that would cut through their community. They cited threats to safety, water quality, the climate and more.

The proposal is part of Williams Transco’s Southeast Supply Enhancement Project, which seeks to expand natural gas infrastructure across several southeastern states…

Deputy City Manager Chris Wilson, who has been serving the City of Greensboro for a very long time, publicly announced his retirement on Tuesday, April 29.

Wilson kicked off his career with the City of Greensboro in the last century – specifically, in June of 1992. Over the last 33 years he’s been instrumental in a wide variety of ways in making Greensboro the city it has become through years of growth…