News — Neuse News

Tands,Inc./Bojangles’ recently published the following notice on their Facebook page:

Dear Bojangles’-BeCajun Fans,

Customer and employee health and safety are extremely important at Bojangles’. Due to caution over rapidly changing COVID-19 spreading concerns throughout our service area, Tands, Inc. has made the difficult decision to temporarily close our dining room operations at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 16, 2020. This will help increase social distancing by limiting direct person-to-person contact in our dining rooms. (read more)

Mar 16

Mar 16 Kinston City Hall to close until further notice

Important Announcement: In an effort to conform with the recent recommendations regarding COVID-19, City Hall will be closed on Tuesday, March 17 and it will remain closed until further notice.

Mar 16

Mar 16 Chick-Fil-A to close its dining rooms due to Coronavirus

Kinston’s Chick-Fil-A released the following statement: We will be closing our dining room to guests today (March 16,2020) at 11:00am. The following options will be available for ordering:

Mar 15

Mar 15 Special Facebook Live with Sen. Jim Perry and LCC President Dr. Rusty Hunt

Coronavirus, Local News, Education, Politics

On Sunday afternoon Neuse News Publisher BJ Murphy was joined by guests Senator Jim Perry and Lenoir Community College President Dr. Rusty Hunt for a special Facebook Live segment. They discussed the latest on COVID-19 and its impact on our community. And they fielded a few questions from our Facebook Live audience.

Mar 15

Mar 15 Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation closing all facilities

Kristy Kelly

Local News, Coronavirus

Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation will close its facilities on Monday, March 16 at noon until further notice. Posted on the Parks and Recreation’s Facebook page, Director Corey Povar called for the closures to keep people from gathering in an effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

“We want to do what we can to keep everyone safe,” said Povar. This comes a day after Governor Roy Cooper closed North Carolina Public School Systems. This will include all of Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation facilities, including the Planetarium and Neuseway Nature Center.

Mar 15

Mar 15 LCPS blending digital, traditional learning with classes suspended

Patrick Holmes

With public schools across the state closing Monday for at least two weeks in response to the coronavirus outbreak, Lenoir County Public Schools is pushing out to its students and parents a blend of traditional and digital learning opportunities to help keep the focus on schoolwork while classes are suspended.

Mar 15

Mar 15 Important information from Lenoir County Public Schools

From Lenoir County Public Schools Superintendent Brent Williams: As you know, our schools are closed for students for at least the next two weeks. Tomorrow, Monday, March 16, 2020 is a required workday for LCPS staff members. This will be a good opportunity for students and parents to recover any educational or personal items that they may need during the time that our schools are closed. We are asking parents who might need to visit the school to pick up these items to do so between the hours of 2:00 pm and 5:30pm. (Please use this updated time if you were given another time earlier today or yesterday.)

Mar 15

Mar 15 Suddenlink, division of Altice USA, brings free broadband to K-12 student households

On Friday, March 13, Altice issued the following press release:

In response to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic, Altice USA has taken several steps to ensure that Americans within the communities we serve have reliable access to high-speed broadband connectivity to keep them connected to the people, information, and resources they rely on.

Mar 14

Mar 14 Superintendent Brent Williams issues statement to LCPS parents

UPDATE: In response to Gov. Roy Cooper's executive order closing all public schools in the state for at least two weeks effective Monday, March 16, LCPS has designated Monday as a required teacher workday. Schools will be open for students and parents to recover any educational or personal items that they may need during the time our schools are closed. Monday also will be an opportunity for parents and students to pick up any school-issued iPads that they might not have already. More information on school access Monday will be provided Sunday afternoon.

ORIGINAL: “Monday, March 16, 2020 has been designated as a statewide teacher and staff workday. In preparation for such a possibility of missed school days related to this crisis, LCPS staff members have been working hard to create a range of online and traditional print-version supplemental resources and activities that will help students remain engaged in learning while the schools are closed. We are working now to complete those plans. Plans will be shared with you as soon as possible on how to access the various learning opportunities during this or even a more extended closure.”

Mar 14

Mar 14 Local schedule changes due to Coronavirus precautions

Local News, Coronavirus

Local schedule changes due to Coronavirus precautions. Submit your organization’s changes to info@neusenews.com.

Mar 14

Mar 14 Lenoir Community College cancels classes and activities through March 29

Lenoir Community College and the LCC Passport Office are closed Monday, March 16 through Sunday, March 29. All classes and activities are canceled.

Mar 14

Mar 14 Jones County Public Schools allows students to pick up personal items on Monday

Jones County Public Schools will be closed per Governor Cooper’s mandate now through March 30th. Monday, March 16th will continue to be a Teacher Workday. Students will be allowed to pick up personal items and resources that day. Further details will be forthcoming on Monday after plans can be finalized. Please stay safe and well as we navigate this situation together!

Mar 14

Mar 14 Piedmont Natural Gas suspends disconnections for nonpayment

Piedmont Natural Gas issued the following statement to their customers: “We recognize some customers may be facing unusual financial hardships, and we are suspending disconnections for nonpayment effective immediately. This applies to all home and business accounts in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. We are also offering increased payment flexibility for customers who need extra time to pay their bill.”

Mar 14

Mar 14 Senator Perry and Representative Humphrey react to Governor Cooper's order closing schools

Senator Jim Perry and Representative Chris Humphrey released statements this afternoon following Governor Cooper’s Executive Order closing schools and prohibiting mass gatherings for the next two weeks.

Mar 14

Mar 14 Governor Cooper's Executive Order No. 117 defines mass gatherings

In Governor Cooper’s press conference this afternoon he ordered the closure of K-12 schools and prohibited mass gatherings. See the full description of “mass gatherings” and why it does impact concerts, etc. but not shopping malls, airports, libraries and more.

Mar 14

Mar 14 Greene County Schools releases statement on school closure, supplemental resources and nutrition

Education, Coronavirus

Greene Central High School Principal Patrick Greene shared the following statement this afternoon:

Mar 14

Mar 14 Bethel Christian Academy's announces school and daycare closure

Education, Coronavirus

Bethel Christian Academy Principal Doug Phillips released the following statement to Neuse News, “BCA & Daycare will be closed Monday, March 16 through Friday, March 27. We will begin doing online instruction Monday, March 16. Parents will receive emails on Monday with all the vital information to begin the process.”

Mar 14

Mar 14 Governor Cooper orders closure of public schools for two weeks

Coronavirus, Education, Local News

Governor Cooper held a press conference on Saturday to announce the closure of public schools for two weeks. Starting Monday, there is no school for students from March 16-30.

Governor Cooper stated, “Today, I am issuing an Executive Order to stop mass gatherings of more than 100 people across our state. As you know we issued this as guidance on Thursday. However, despite this several venues continued their events, so today’s order makes it mandatory. No concert is worth the spread of this pandemic.”

He continued, “This Executive Order has another key component. It directs K-12 public schools across our state to close for students on Monday, March 16 for at least 2 weeks. Several school districts have already made this decision & others are considering closures. Closing schools now will give us time for further understanding of COVID-19 and its effect on the people of our state. I do not make this decision lightly. We know that it will be difficult on many parents and students.”

Mar 14

Mar 14 Kinston Councilmember Suggs clarifies Mayor's State of Emergency

Coronavirus, Local News, Politics

On Friday evening, City of Kinston Councilmember Kristal Suggs issued the following statement:

Mar 13

Mar 13 Lenoir County Government - Coronavirus: What you need to know