VOLUME 149 ISSUE 21 | THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2026
CHATHAMNEWSRECORD.COM
THE CHATHAM COUNTY EDITION OF NORTH STATE JOURNAL
PJ WARD-BROWN / CHATHAM NEWS & RECORD
The Asia Continent habitat remains off limits at North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, but the opening could be coming by later this summer.
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State budget allows NC Zoo to proceed BRIEF this week
Supreme Court justices tell Congress safety at risk, more must be spent on security Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett told lawmakers that a sharp increase in threats targeting her and other justices is increasingly encroaching on their personal and family lives. Barrett and Justice Elena Kagan testified to Congress on Tuesday, a rare event for members of the high court. They’re seeking millions of dollars to enhance security as threats rise to the judiciary. Judges nationwide have faced increased violence and intimidation, including a fake swatting call to Barrett’s home in May.
Buffett omits gift to Gates’ foundation after Microsoft cofounder’s Epstein ties disclosed Warren Buffett omitted Bill Gates’ foundation from his annual donations this year after disclosures of Gates’ ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He’ll donate about $6 billion to four family foundations but didn’t mention Gates. Buffett also said in his statement that he wants all of his remaining Berkshire Hathaway stock worth nearly $146 billion donated to charity by the end of 2034. Most of Buffett’s donations since 2006 have gone to the Gates Foundation.
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The opening of the Asia exhibition has been contingent on an updated budget
By Bob Sutton Chatham News & Record ASHEBORO — The funding is in place but the hiring still needs to happen before the much-anticipated opening of the Asia Continent habitat at North Carolina Zoo. Construction on the exhib-
it began with a groundbreaking nearly four years ago, and that part of the facility was deemed complete this spring. But without a state budget, the zoo was unable to go ahead with hiring for positions needed for the Asia habitat. Last week, a new state budget was approved, providing approximately $6.2 million to the NC Zoo for operating funds. “The North Carolina Zoo is pleased that the majority of our requested positions and funding for the Zoo’s new Asia Con-
tinent were appropriated by the new state budget,” Michele Walker, assistant communications director of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, said in a statement. “The 54 positions and $6.2 million in operating funds will allow us to move forward with opening this exciting new area to visitors as soon as practicable. We will work as quickly as possible to hire for these necessary positions and prepare to officially open Asia once that process is complete.”
Chatham County Schools approves technology contracts Seven schools to receive laptop refresh for teachers By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Chatham County Schools Board of Education met Monday for its
regular business meeting with an agenda primarily consisting of administrative items. The board first approved the purchase of 225 MacBook Neos from Apple as part of its regular technology replacement process for teachers at a cost to the district of just under $190,000. The computers will be uti-
lized for teachers at Seaforth, Moncure, Bonlee, JS Waters, Chatham Early College, ONE Academy and Chatham Central. Teacher laptops at these schools were previously purchased in 2021 and 2022, and the laptops that are currently in use will be recycled for instructional assistants, who haven’t had a
Pittsboro provided with predevelopment analysis for downtown area The study aims to provide the town with recommendations for future development By Ryan Henkel Chatham News & Record PITTSBORO — The Town of Pittsboro could have a very different look in its downtown area in the coming years. At Monday’s Town of Pittsboro Board of Commissioner’s meeting, the board was presented with a predevelopment analysis from the Downtown Pittsboro Public Properties Project study.
The study, which began in July 2025, was led by consultants from Bolton and Menk and aims to provide Chatham County and the Town of Pittsboro with recommendations for its publicly owned properties in the downtown area. The county intends to relocate some of its operations from downtown Pittsboro, and the relocation would leave opportunities for the town to implement additional ways to “support civic use, housing, economic development, public spaces, downtown activation, infrastructure and community character.” See PITTSBORO, page A7
“We have an advantage with all of this land that’s been inherited and donated.” John Foley. commissioner
The Asia habitat consumes 12.5 acres. At one point, projections had the exhibit opening by June, but that time period passed without a state budget. Interim NC Zoo director Diane Villa told a Triad-area television station that some animals from the Asia habitat can be heard in other parts of the zoo, heightening the anticipation for when that area is open to the public. This is considered the zoo’s first major expansion since 1994.
technology refresh since 2019. The board also approved two contracts, the first being with KNC Technologies for security access controls and video systems at a cost of around $108,000. “This is actually a combination of five contracts that we already have,” said Chief Technology Officer Mark Samberg. “We went out to the vendors and we asked the ones that do work for Chatham County and security access control, and we asked them to bid on a comprehensive See SCHOOLS, page A7