Budget Surplus + RSV Infections Increase + Dog Parks in Raleigh

Happy National Spoil Your Dog Day,

Today there is new information on the budget surplus, an eyewitness who tried to intervene, and a veteran from Raleigh who is spreading the North Carolina southern hospitality far beyond the call of duty. Read all about that, along with events and more below.

Today's weather, 8/10: Humid and partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 92 Low: 76.

Here are the top stories today in Raleigh:

1. An out of service GoRaleigh bus rolled away leading to a chain reaction crash that ended with damage to a Capital Area Transit building. The incident occurred on Sunday around 5:50 pm on Poole Road. The initial bus was not in gear and crashed into two smaller shuttle buses. Then, one of those shuttle buses rolled into the building. No one was injured in the incident, and there is no cost estimate available at this time. (CBS17)
2. North Carolina was expecting to have a budget surplus, but it did not anticipate how large that surplus would be. The state ended up collecting $29.7 billion in revenue in the last fiscal year that ended June 30. The final figure is $190 million more than forecasted in mid-June. That surplus puts the state's revenue 24% over the previous year. The extra money will likely not have an effect on budget discussions as the House and Senate have set a spending cap for this year and next. (Spectrum News 1) The House is expected to clear its budget proposal this week. (CBS17)
3. Around 1:00 pm on Sunday, a shooting took place in Cary near Publix. Police arrived on the scene after reports of shots fired, and found a crowd gathered. One witness used his vehicle in order to block the suspect from leaving his car, however the shooter did still manage to escape. The witness then pursued the suspect and obtained the license plate number as well as make and model of his vehicle. Police do not believe it to be a random act of violence and after many shots were fired, one man was taken to a local hospital to be treated. (WRAL)
4. Amidst the COVID-19 surges, doctors are also seeing an uptick in RSV infections. RSV has symptoms similar to COVID-19 and is more common in Fall and Winter. It is very difficult to identify which virus a patient may have without testing. UNC's Chief of Pediatric Emergency Medicine says that they have seen a 30% increase in RSV cases compared to Summer 2019. Doctors urge parents to contact their primary care physician's first if their child is experiencing mild symptoms. With the increase of COVID and RSV cases, hospitals have been strained.(abc11)
5. An Afghanistan veteran from Raleigh is working to create a sustainable community for veterans dealing with homelessness and suicidal thoughts. Ryan Timmermans was known for founding one of the most popular laser-tag arenas in the city, but after returning from service, he struggled to reintegrate into civilian life. With the burdens of wartime weighing on him and the VA offering little help, Timmermans decided to dedicate his life to helping fix the problems veterans face after service. His off-grid haven for veterans will be located on land he purchased in New Mexico. (WRAL)

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Today in Raleigh

• Whiskey & Cigar Night hosted by Kevin Barrett at Dram & Draught. (7:00 pm)
• Music Bingo at Bond Brothers Cary (7:30 pm-9:30 pm)
• Star Gazing: School Aged Experience at the Village Regional Library (4:00 pm-4:15 pm)
• GrassStreet at Beer & Banjos, The Raleigh Times Bar (6:30 pm-9:00 pm)
• $1 Movies for Regal Summer Movie Express featuring Despicable Me and Kung Fu Panda (Varies By Theater, Generally starts around noon.)

Raleigh Patch Notebook

• For National Spoil Your Dog Day, consider bringing your pup to a Raleigh dog park for a fun time! BringFido has compiled a list of Off-Leash Dog Parks in Raleigh.
• The Garner Recreation Center has opened to the public with modifications to protect against COVID-19 infections. (WRAL)
• A 50-year-old record has been verifiably broken as 2 North Carolina fisherman catch a record sized catfish. (Fox8)
• The Sears in Raleigh will be closing soon. It is seeking temporary employees to help leading up to the closure. (Sears Jobs)

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• Gutter Cleaners Wanted Charlotte NC! (Details)

You're all caught up for today. If you're loving these newsletters, feel free to spread the word. You can share this link to subscribe. I don't want to say everything that is good is better shared, but the news sure is. There's something so nice about being able to connect with others on where we are and what is happening. I hope you have an amazing Tuesday and we'll talk again soon.

— CJ Fullford

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Raleigh Daily? I'm all ears. You can reach me at raleigh@patch.com.