Cary Spotlight | Issue #150

NC Sports Betting Soars with March Madness | U.S. 401 Closure Alert | Respiratory Virus Hits Chatham Shelter | Cary HS Live Sports Guide

In this Cary Spotlight Issue…

💭Spotlight Hook Trivia

☀️ Cary NC Weather

📅 Lots Of Events This Week

📰 March Madness Boosts North Carolina's New Mobile Sports Betting Scene

📰 Weekend Road Closure Announced for U.S. 401 Amid Major Raleigh Loop Construction

📰 Respiratory Virus Outbreak Prompts Closure at Chatham County Animal Shelter

🏆 Cary High School Sports: What’s Streaming This Week

📣 Real Talk: Reader Poll Results On Cary Tennis Court Access

🎁 Social Offer: Meow City Funny Cat T-Shirt

😀 Viral Meme

🏛️ Support Cary Local Businesses

Dear Reader,

We look forward to sharing news, spotlights of businesses and events that make our vibrant community a great place to live, work and play. We need your help.

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Founder/Publisher
Cary Spotlight

P.S. Thank you for those of you who sent in your recommendations yesterday. It was very helpful.

QQuestion: Who is the woman who invented tech behind Wi-Fi?

A) Lamar Jackson B)Betty DeVossi C) Hedy Lamarr

(Answer at the bottom of the newsletter.)

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March Madness Boosts North Carolina's New Mobile Sports Betting Scene

With the initiation of legal mobile sports betting in North Carolina on March 11, facilitated by the North Carolina State Lottery Commission's approval of eight operators, the state has seen a positive response.

The commission reports strong engagement and anticipates significant revenue growth, projected to reach $100 million annually by the fifth year.

The state plans to allocate a portion of these earnings to combat gambling addiction. 

The move has been particularly popular among N.C. State students, who see it as a way to enhance sports viewership and engage more deeply with events, even those with predictable outcomes.

Weekend Road Closure Announced for U.S. 401 Amid Major Raleigh Loop Construction

As the Complete 540 Project progresses, NCDOT has announced a temporary weekend closure of U.S. 401 between Donny Brook Road and Ten Ten Road, part of a larger effort to enhance Raleigh's transportation infrastructure.

The closure, which is a critical step in the first phase of the project set to improve connectivity around Raleigh, will see through traffic halted but local access maintained south of Ten Ten Road.

Detour routes have been established to assist drivers navigating the closure, with specific routes for accessing points north and south of the affected area. Coordination with local institutions like Wake Technical Community College ensures minimal disruption during the construction.

Respiratory Virus Outbreak Prompts Closure at Chatham County Animal Shelter

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office has announced an outbreak of a mild respiratory virus at their Animal Resource Center in Pittsboro, North Carolina.

The virus, which can develop into the more severe kennel cough, has prompted the closure of the dog kennel area to visitors and a reduction in dog admissions.

This measure mirrors actions taken during a canine flu outbreak in Wake County last year, which resulted in significant animal welfare challenges.

The Chatham County Sheriff's Office is focused on treating and isolating affected animals, emphasizing the health and safety of the animals under their care and the broader community. Read full story.

Reader Poll Results On
Cary Tennis Court Access

Note from Editor: Last week we broke from our usual Local Business Spotlight format to amplify this message from a local Cary resident and newsletter subscriber. Here are some of the comments. We did reach out to the Cary Parks Department for comment but we are still waiting…in fairness they may be working on a solution or they have a really good reason for this policy that they have yet to share with the public. Here are some our readers’ feedback on this issue.

A Cary resident highlights a local policy that prevents the public from reserving tennis courts, contrasting with more accessible practices in nearby cities. This has sparked discussions on fairness and the use of public resources. (Read Cary Spotlight #143 for original article)

Reader Poll Options:
1.🎾 I support the current policy; it ensures courts are used for official city events and activities.
Comments: none

2.🎾 I believe the policy is unfair; residents should have the opportunity to reserve courts, similar to neighboring cities.
Comments: “My husband and I have encountered this saga more times than I care to think. The ‘attitudes’ from some of the HS and USTA members give tennis a bad vibe- Tax dollars pay for the upkeep of these courts and ‘us’ tax payers should be able to access, not be an afterthought.”

“If the taxpayers pay for it, they should have access.”

“The Courts are for the PUBLIC equally. A standard reservation system, online, needs to be implemented so everyone has a chance to play at the times that work for them! Also, don't block any times out unless there is a specific event planned in advance with notice to all! Have fun playing!!”

3.🎾 I think the policy should be revised to allow for some public reservations while still prioritizing city events and activities.
Comments:  “Some courts should be available for the public to reserve and use. ”

“It’s only right that everyone have opportunities to use the facilities that are tax funded. If there are not enough courts for leagues, senior play groups, special tennis events AND general public, then it is obvious you need to build more tennis courts. ”

4.🎾 I am indifferent or need more information about the issue.
Comments: None

RESULT: Tie between option 2 and 3.

General Feedback on this topic: “You are stirring up controversy without research. Don’t publish the complaint without a full response from Cary. Or don’t buy into these topics at all. I’m not looking for drama in your news feed. Cary didn’t get its excellent reputation with foolish policies. There is a reason behind a controversial decision. ”

Note from Editor: Clearly, the City needs to address this issue. Yes, we understand the need to present both sides of this issue. I am sure someone would be happy if tennis players focused their attention else where: Can anyone say, Pickleball?

Just curious…

How long have you lived in Cary, NC? (More Options)

Click the option that applies to you.

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Cary High School Sports: What’s Streaming This Week

The NFHS Network, offers live and on-demand streaming of high school sports across 27 different sports. Learn more and stream events.

You can save time and use our link to events for the next 7 days:

  1. Cary High School (Upcoming Streaming Events)

  2. Panther Creek High School (Upcoming Streaming Events)

  3. Green Level High School (Upcoming Streaming Events)

  4. Green Hope High School (Upcoming Streaming Events)

  5. Cary Academy (Upcoming Streaming Events)

  6. Anthens Drive High School (Upcoming Streaming Events)

  7. Middle Creek High School (Upcoming Streaming Events)

Vote for your favorite local high school

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Upcoming Local Events

March 21st (Thursday)

March 22nd (Friday)

The Answer to the Cary Spotlight Hook Trivia Question 👇👇👇
C) Hedy Lamarr

Hedy Lamarr, celebrated as "The Most Beautiful Woman in Film," was also a brilliant inventor beyond her cinematic fame. In collaboration with composer George Anthiel, she co-invented "frequency hopping," a technique to secure radio transmissions by switching frequencies in a set pattern, aimed at thwarting Nazi communications during World War II. Initially overlooked by the U.S. Navy, their invention later became foundational for modern wireless technologies like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, marking Lamarr's enduring impact beyond the silver screen.