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LOUISBURG -- Recently unveiled COVID-19 tracking puts a Louisburg nursing center in the top 10 in the state in number of confirmed cases in a congregated living facility.
Its 18 deaths were the most at a single facility in North Carolina.
According to the most recent statistics from the State Department of Health and Human Services, there have been 100 confirmed coronavirus cases in Franklin County and 18 deaths.

LOUISBURG -- There are a few certainties about public schools in North Carolina, but many questions linger -- and may stay that way for weeks.
It is certain that public schools will stay closed for the remainder of this academic year following an order announced last Friday by Gov. Roy Cooper.
And, the governor cautioned, when (and if) schools reopen this fall they won't look the same as they did before the novel coronavirus disrupted all of planet Earth several weeks ago.

The first responder community gathered this past weekend to pay respects to Ned Lloyd. The 81-year-old was the first paramedic with Franklin County EMS, serving 13 years in that role. He also spent more than two decades as a firefighter and rescue worker, spending much of his time helping to train the next generation of first responders. Lloyd also spent 25 years with the Louisburg Police Department, part of that time as chief.

RALEIGH -- More people staying at home means fewer people traveling.
Because of that, the State Department of Transportation said they're expecting a $300 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year -- which will impact a number of projects.

LOUISBURG -- All that was missing was a theme song, apparently.
Beginning this week, judges, attorneys and court personnel began conducting district criminal video court.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early March, the overwhelming majority of district and superior court proceedings were suspended.

Louisburg High School senior star Chelsea Roberson

Don't know about you but most mornings these days I wake up feeling normal -- but that quickly changes and before the shower stops, I feel like we're all in a movie where aliens have taken over our planet and nothing makes much sense anymore.
It's really strange ... and every day seems to go a bit further off the rails.

Apparently, you've got to spend money to make money ... even if that money was yours to begin with.
With the approval of its consent agenda earlier this month, Franklin County commissioners agreed to put that phrase to the test.
In March, Franklin County Economic Development Director Richie Duncan and county Information Technology Director Coy Floyd applied for $5,000 in Tourism Development Authority funds they plan to use for new photography, drone footage and videography to be included in an update of the county's website.

YOUNGSVILLE- Jonathan "Johnny" Carl Perry, 56, of Youngsville passed away April 22, 2020. He was born February 15, 1964 in South Charleston, WV to Ulysses "Jimmy" Perry and Margie Johnson Dukes. In addition to his father, Johnny was preceded in death by his stepfather, Ronald Dukes of Lake City, FL, and his son, Jonathan Perry, Jr of Youngsville.

Who would have thought? That is the question that I have heard most from people.
All of the Class of 2020 had big plans and dreams for this academic year.
I'm Chelsea Roberson, a Louisburg High School senior, and I have had a ton of great experiences at LHS and, no matter how this year ends, those experiences and memories will be cherished forever.

Coming out of the first semester and into the second, the future looked bright.
The cold days were coming to an end, spring was on the horizon, prom, graduation, and my final season of track was starting.
With school being cancelled and my senior year being ended early, I feel a lot of emotions.
I mean, truth be told, I liked going to school, but I'm also a teenager -- there's been days where I have been like "ughh why can't today be cancelled or something?''

It's our senior year in high school. We're the class of 2020.
Before my freshman year, I remember realizing that I would be graduating in 2020 and thinking how cool that year sounded and imagining how great it was going to be.
All of our hard work academically and athletically has led us to this time.

Phyllis Williams holds a sign she made showing her appreciation to the Department of Aging staff. Hettie Davis, Williams' mother is along for the ride.

Since older Americans are particularly vulnerable to coronavirus (COVID-19), I wanted to let you know the steps we're taking to help our Medicare beneficiaries cope with the pandemic.
We're warning Medicare beneficiaries that scammers may try to use this emergency to steal their Medicare number, banking information, or other personal data.
Unfortunately, scammers come out of the woodwork during times of uncertainty and change.

LOUISBURG -- The Louisburg Planning Board put its stamp of approval on two changes to town regulations during its first-ever virtual meeting recently.
The meeting, held as a video conference, focused on allowing apartments in the downtown business district and modifying town parking regulations for some very small businesses.

Working quietly and mostly unseen since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in Franklin County a small group of workers in the county schools' child nutrition department has been preparing breakfasts and lunches for children who, during more normal times, would get those two meals at school. Rather than risk those children going hungry during this troubled time, the school system has been providing and delivering meals five days a week to various sites around the county.

A group looking to outfit people with cloth masks is getting reinforcements this week.
But, they still need all the mask warriors they can find.
Susan Peoples, Baptists on Mission's COVID-19 Emergency Coordinator for Franklin County, has been recruiting volunteers to sew cloth masks for those who work in the county's five skilled nursing centers.