Enlarge Thebaud “T.” Jeffers. (Photo: Charlotte Observer)

Posted: February 7th, 2012 Lee Howard

• Women and minority employees in state government were disproportionately nailed by budget cuts in 2011. Recently released data provided by the state show that 58% of those who lost their jobs in this past budget year were women, while women comprised only 47% of the state workforce. Forty percent of the laid-off workers were minorities, although they only comprised 34% of the state workforce.

• Black History Month: In 1964, Thebaud “T.” Jeffers helped break through the color barrier in North Carolina when he sat down and ate dinner at a Holiday Inn restaurant in Gastonia. Twelve years later in 1976, Jeffers became Gastonia's first black mayor, seven years ahead of Charlotte’s electing Harvey Gantt as the Queen City’s first black mayor. 

• A former junkyard on North Graham Street has been transformed into 85 apartments for the homeless. A four-year effort by the Urban Ministry Center raised $10.5 million for Moore Place

• Some residents of the Elizabeth community, meanwhile, are raising concerns about a proposal to build an 80-unit affordable apartment project in their neighborhood. A public meeting held last week on the project attracted more than 100 area residents, many of whom voiced concern Elizabeth is becoming a haven for the homeless. 

• CMS students spend as many as 20 days a year taking standardized tests. How well students perform is also used to assess a school's performance. A few years from now, how well students perform on standardized tests could be a factor in teacher pay.

• Presbyterian Hospital has been working to improve the health of African Americans and Latinos in the Charlotte region. So far, more than 50 black churches and about an equal number of Latino congregations have joined the effort, dubbed Congregational Health Promoters.

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