WRAL Investigates: Local school system gets F for the environment

Economic development and schools. Both help define a community.

Thursday at 5, WRAL Investigates reveals how the two sides clashed over environmental problems. The culprit is not your usual suspect. Local community leaders welcomed plans for a new mixed-use development, but pollution risks from a nearby school system property raised concerns and delayed the project.

As we looked deeper into emails and other public records, we found a history of contamination on the site.

We reached out to state and local regulators to evaluate the schools’ cleanup response. Why did one spill report change and why was cleanup postponed? We hope our story sheds light on environmental risks and helps prevent future spills.