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Department of Public Safety Secretary Eddie M. Buffaloe Jr. has named Laura Howard as DPS general counsel. Howard will begin her new position on Jan. 24. As general counsel, she will lead the DPS legal team.

“Laura’s experience with the U.S. Department of Justice and in civil ligation will be a great benefit to our department,” said Buffaloe. “I look forward to the energy and vision she will bring to DPS senior leadership.”

Governor Roy Cooper and state officials are advising residents to not let their guard down, as the worst part of this winter storm is still to come later today and tomorrow.

“Roads will become more dangerous and power outages are still expected tonight in southeastern counties,” said Governor Cooper. “If you can, stay put and off the roads as that’s the best way to stay safe.”

Even though most of the state had a break in precipitation Friday morning, snow, sleet and freezing rain are forecast to resume later Friday and continue through Friday night.

The application period for the Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program will close at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, with available federal funding committed to applications currently in-process and those expected in the week ahead.

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety honored 21 of its best and brightest employees on Nov. 29 during the department’s annual Badge of Excellence Awards Ceremony.

The N.C. Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) Program marked its Oct. 15 one-year anniversary with more than a half-billion dollars in pandemic relief funds awarded to North Carolina landlords and utility companies on behalf of vulnerable families.

RALEIGH — New medical research from North Carolina’s prison system supports the use of alternative treatment for mentally ill offenders.

Today, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Eddie Buffaloe to lead the Department of Public Safety as Secretary.

"Eddie Buffaloe’s experience, vision, leadership, management skills and strong law enforcement credentials make him ready for this critically important role and I’m grateful he is willing to take it on," said Governor Cooper. "As an officer, he has walked the beat on our streets and in our prisons and as a Chief of Police his leadership has shown that he understands the importance of building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve."

Offender Angelo Smith (#1507327) died Friday at Pamlico Correctional Institution after an apparent suicide. He was found unresponsive at 9:11 p.m. First responders and EMS responded and worked to resuscitate the offender.

RALEIGH—To make prisons safer and more secure, the North Carolina prison system is changing the way offenders receive mail.

Officials with the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice have promoted Bill Woolard to Assistant Division Administrator in Judicial Division 1, effective Aug. 2, 2021.

In his new position, Woolard will oversee Community Corrections operations in the 1st Judicial Division, which covers 32 counties in the eastern and coastal portions of the state.