Quick hits: Fantasia in affair scandal, and N.C. tuitions are favorable

Fantasia accused of affair with married man

"A North Carolina woman is alleging that 'American Idol' winner Fantasia Barrino engaged in an affair with her husband, and says in court documents that the pair 'recorded' their sexual encounters," according to CNN.com.

"Paula Cook, who separated from her husband, Antwaun Cook, in June, filed the documents -- seeking child custody, alimony and other monetary support -- Wednesday in Mecklenburg County District Court.

"The documents allege Antwaun Cook began the affair with Barrino, 26, in August 2009 after the pair met at a Charlotte-area T-Mobile store where Cook is employed.

"Barrino -- the 2004 winner of the popular Fox show and an eight-time Grammy nominee -- treated Cook to a lavish lifestyle over the course of their affair, flying him to Atlanta, Georgia; Miami, Florida; New York; Los Angeles, California; and Barbados, the documents allege.

"The pair 'have at times recorded their illicit sexual activity,' according to the documents. ..."

S.C. colleges have highest tuition in the South

"An education group says South Carolina's public colleges charge the highest tuition among 16 Southern states," according to the AP.

"The Post and Courier of Charleston reported Sunday that median tuition at South Carolina 4-year public schools was $8,400 for the 2008-09 school year. That compares with $4,174 in North Carolina and $4,032 in Georgia.

"The figures were reported by the Southern Regional Education Board. The board says part of the reason for the high tuition is because state lawmakers do not fund South Carolina public colleges at the same level as North Carolina and Georgia.

"State funding at South Carolina colleges was about $4,800 a student in 2008-09. That compared with more than $11,500 per student in North Carolina and about $7,800 per student in Georgia. ..."

UNCA among best environmental studies programs

The University of North Carolina-Asheville is among the best schools for offering environmental studies undergraduate degree programs, according to The Fiske Guide to Colleges.

"You know environmental college programs have become popular when they earn a special mention in The Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011 edition," writes the Mother Nature Network.

Along with UNCA are Colby College (Maine), College of the Atlantic, Univ. of Colorado at Boulder, UC-Davis, Dartmouth, Eckerd College (Fla.), Evergreen State College, Tulane, and the University of Washington.

Quick hits: 'Blood Done Sign My Name' opens, and UNCG talks drug school

Movie version of 'Blood Done Sign May Name' opens
"A movie about the killing of a black man in 1970 in North Carolina and the trial that resulted in the acquittals of white men is opening nationally," says the AP.

" 'Blood Done Sign My Name' opens on Friday on screens in large cities, but also in several North Carolina cities, including Charlotte and Raleigh. The movie is based on the memoir of the same name by Tim Tyson, a Duke University professor who grew up in Oxford during the time of the shooting and trial.

"Screenwriter Jeb Stuart, who directed 'Blood,' is best known for writing action films such as 'Die Hard' and 'The Fugitive.' The movie was filmed in North Carolina, mostly in Monroe and Shelby, and stars Nate Parker and Rick Schroder. ..."

IMDB.com

UNCG's proposed pharmacy school gains attention

"After a year of gathering dust in Chapel Hill, UNCG’s proposal for a pharmacy school is finally getting some attention," says the News & Record.

"David Perrin, UNCG’s executive vice chancellor and provost, told the UNCG Board of Trustees on Thursday that a team of consultants will visit the university March 5 to review the proposal. All are from outside the state and are either current or former pharmacy school deans.

"The consultants will report their findings to UNC system officials. UNCG administrators said they expect their request to be placed on the Board of Governors’ April agenda. ..."

Quick hits: Zoo loses Hope, Wesleyan has a new prez

Zoo's gorilla euthanized

"One of the N.C. Zoo's most celebrated residents, the female gorilla Hope, was euthanized Thursday because of a variety of medical problems that had caused her quality of life to decline," according to the News & Observer.

"Hope was 35.

"She became famous in 1989 as the mother of Kwanza, the first and only gorilla born at the N.C. Zoo. The birth attracted national media attention.

"Hope arrived at the zoo in May 1984 after the National Institutes of Health discontinued a gorilla behavioral research program in Louisiana.

"In recent years she had surgery for abdominal abscesses, was being treated for high blood pressure and, most recently, had become almost completely blind. According to a statement from the zoo, chief veterinarian Mike Loomis said Hope also appeared to be suffering from severe headaches. ..."

N.C. Wesleyan chooses new president

"N.C. Wesleyan College has a new president," according to media reports.

"James A. Gray III is a longtime fundraiser who most recently served as associate dean for external affairs at UNC-Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School. He also served previously as associate dean for marketing and communications at Duke's Fuqua School of Business.

"Gray, a UNC-CH graduate and a Morehead Scholar, was selected after a search that generated more than 130 candidates from 32 states, according to the university. ..."