Raleigh's Population Surge: New Bonds, City Hall

0:00On this March 19th in Durham, here's what is making headlines. Raleigh has officially surpassed 500,000 residents, hitting 516,807 within city limits. That puts the city in 40 of place among the largest U.S. cities right between Kansas City and Miami. Mayor Janet Cowell shared the news in her annual state of the city address. The city has grown by 100,000 people since 2009 and could add another 250,000 over the next 20 years. Last year alone, Raleigh issued 4,000 building permits as development keeps booming. That rapid expansion means big changes ahead, including a metro area of 1.2 million when you count all of Wake County. To handle it, voters may see two bonds worth 101,500,000 each on the fall ballot, one for affordable housing, and one for transportation projects. A new city hall, costing more than $200 million, is already over halfway done. By this time next year, Cowell expects to give her next address right there.

1:04The speech had a poetry theme with readings from city council members and wrapped up by opening applications for Raleigh's first poet, Lauria, to celebrate what endures amid all the growth. The daily news now is presented by our sponsor, Hidden Sound On Lights Out. What is the routine, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.