🌱 Weapon Found At River Oaks Middle School + Recycling Center Closing

Hello again, neighbors! It's me, Karena Garrity, your host of the Patch newsletter. Here are all the most important things to know about what's happening locally, including...

• Weapon found at River Oaks Middle School.
• Recycling center is closing July 1!
• Drivers in the area spend less time in traffic than most others.

But first, today's weather: Partly sunny and pleasant. High: 75 Low: 53.

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Here are the top stories today in Raleigh:

1. It was reported Tuesday morning that a student had a weapon at River Oaks Middle School. The school was put on Code Red lockdown. A pellet gun was discovered by officers after they searched the school. Although the students were all safe, reportedly, many of them were scared and their parents picked them up. (WTVD-TV)
2. Finally, at their limits, Raleigh city leaders have decided they’re done trying to fix things and instead are closing the recycling center behind Jaycee Park due to several years of chronic illegal dumping at the site. As of July 1, the recycling center will be shut down. (CBS17.com)
3. Good news for residents of Raleigh and Durham, you spend less time sitting in traffic than other drivers throughout the country. According to WRAL News, "Drivers in the U.S. 'lost' an average of 51 hours sitting in traffic last year. That rate is about 3 and a half times what drivers in Raleigh and Durham see, losing [only] 14 and 16 hours annually." What have you done with your extra hours? (WRAL News)

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Today in Raleigh:

• 2023 Graduation Ceremony — Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy (8:00 AM)
• Graduation — Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy (8:00 AM)
• BUSINESS ALLIANCE MTG — Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy (9:30 AM)
• MAV Time-Clubs — Mount Vernon (11:58 AM)
• Graduation Ceremony — Vernon Malone College and Career Academy (12:30 PM)
• Leadership Meeting — Phillips High (2:45 PM)
• Moving On (R) — Town of Cary Cultural Arts (7:00 PM)
• Level Up Your BCBA Career (7:00 PM)
• THEATRE: A Plot of [censored]! — Wakefield High (7:30 PM)

In partnership with T-Mobile:

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From my notebook:

• Downtown Raleigh: "Introducing Ode to NC, a collaboration sandwich between @unionspecialbread and one of our DTR Sandwich Weeks winners @nctraveleats. This pulled pork melt tastes like the essence of North Carolina packed in between two pieces of bread." (Downtown Raleigh via Instagram)
• Shop Local Raleigh: "Calling all humans and robots in disguise! Movies In The Garden will be showing 'Transformers' on May 25. Get to @rlt1936 early to enjoy local food trucks and beverages⁠." (Shop Local Raleigh via Instagram)
• Raleigh Brewing: "Summer is almost here, which means we're daydreaming about Pineapple First Squeeze on the beach." (Raleigh Brewing via Instagram)
• Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum: "Explore one of Raleigh's oldest and most influential Black neighborhoods! Located by Shaw University, the Third Ward was a thriving community of culture, enterprise, and education. This tour is free, but registration is required." (Friends of the City of Raleigh Museum via Facebook)
• City of Raleigh - Government: "One local business installed cisterns to collect rainwater, providing irrigation for landscaping and minimizing runoff that can contribute to water pollution. How can our Sustainable Business Toolkit help you?" (City of Raleigh - Government via Facebook)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon!

— Karena Garrity

About me: Journalism is in my veins. I have been a community reporter for the better part of the past 20 years. I love my community and I am honored to be a part of Patch.com. You can reach me at; karena.garrity@patch.com.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Raleigh Patch newsletter? Contact me at karena.garrity@patch.com