Chapel Hill's Friday Center COVID-19 clinic closes until Tuesday due to vaccine shortage
— The Friday Center plans to reopen operations on Tuesday.
Weather
15 NC counties are under alert, including Johnston County.
Details
Just In
Rocky Mount Police cancels Silver Alert for missing 68-year-old man
— At the request of the Rocky Mount Police Department, the N.C. Center for Missing Persons has cancelled the Silver Alert for John Thomas Watson.
Education
Critics say connections valued more than credentials in Fayetteville State chancellor selection
Darrell Allison was named the next chancellor at Fayetteville State University only four days ago, but an online petition calling for his removal has already garnered more than 1,500 signatures.
HEAR FROM THE PRESIDENT IN A FEW MINUTES. >> THANK YOU. >>> A GROWING CONTROVERSY OVER NEWLY NAMED CHANCELLOR AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY. DARRELL ALLISON WAS A SURPRISE TO SOME ALUMNI WHO QUESTIONED WHETHER HIS BACKGROUND IS THE RIGHT FIT. NOW AN ONLINE PETITION WANTS HIM REMOVED. WRAL INVESTIGATES IS JOINING US LIVE WITH THE SOURCE OF THE CONCERN. CULLEN. >> Reporter: YOU KNOW IT IS RARE THAT ANY CHANCELLOR HIRE GOES WITHOUT SOME CRITICISM. IN THIS CASE IT'S THE CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH PROCESS AT FAYETTEVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY THAT'S UNDER FIRE. SOME QUESTION WHETHER DARRELL ALLISON'S CONNECTIONS MATTER MORE THAN HIS CREDENTIALS. >> WE ALL CAN MOVE FORWARD AND WE'LL BE A I MAZED AT THE SUCCESS. >> Reporter: AMIDST CELEBRATION LAST WEEK NAMING DARRELL ALLISON AS NEXT CHANCELLOR WAS CONTENTION. WRAL PRESSED FOR TRANSPARENCY ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS. >> QUALIFICATIONS TO SERVE AS LEADER OF THE INSTITUTION, NOT ABOUT THE SEARCH PROCESS. >> HOW WE GOT HERE IS RELEVANT TO THE PUBLIC. >> Reporter: THE ONLINE PETITION WANTS ALLISON OUT BEFORE HE EVEN TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP. UNLIKE MOST CHANCELLORS ALLISON HAS NO PHD, NO COLLEGE TEACHING OR ADMINISTRATION EXPERIENCE. HIS CAREER INCLUDES BEING A LOBBYIST FOR SCHOOL CHOICE, SERVING AS MEMBER OF UNC BOARD OF GOVERNORS, THE GROUP THAT HAD THE ULTIMATE SAY ON THIS HIRE. SOURCES SAY ALLISON DIDN'T MAKE THE FSU SEARCH COMMITTEE'S FINAL CUT BUT WAS ADDED AT THE LAST MINUTE. THE GROWING PETITION CALLS THE SELECTION PROCESS FRAUDULENT AND DISHONEST. ONE PERSON WROTE WE HAVE TO STAND FIRM AGAINST UNFAIR PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES. HE WAS NOT ONE OF THE TOP THREE NAMES SENT TO THE BOARD. THE SEARCH CHAIR AND ALLISON DENY ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT. >> THIS WAS A THOROUGH PROCESS, AND THERE WAS NO SELECTING OF DARRELL AND PLACING DARRELL IN THIS SEARCH. >> Reporter: I REACHED OUT TO FSU AND UNC SYSTEM WITH SEARCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY. SO FAR, NO ONE IS TALKING PUBLICLY ABOUT HOW THIS DECISION WENT DOWN. DARRELL ALLISON SAID ONE OF HIS MAIN PRIORITIES IS GOING TO BE LISTENING TO, ENGAGING WITH THE FSU FAMILY. HE WILL CERTAINLY NEED TO DO THAT TO WIN OVER SOME CRITICS.
