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Community Corner

🌱 Additional Funds for Violence Interrupters + New Body Cameras

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Durham.

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Christina Fullford, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy National Girl Scout Day Durham!

First, today's weather:

Heavy rain and a thunderstorm. High: 54 Low: 20.

Here are the top five stories in Durham today:

  1. Durham school leaders have unanimously voted to maintain the district's mask mandate. The district will relax outdoor protocols, and students and staff will no longer be required to wear a mask while outdoors at recess or eating lunch. Masks will also still be required on school busses. (WRAL)
  2. The Durham City Council has approved up to $170,000 in funding to add three positions geared toward curbing violence in highly impacted areas. The funding is a continuation in an interlocal agreement with Durham County to help fund the Gang Reduction Strategy. The recent gang assessment located 12 neighborhoods that are experiencing an excessive amount of violence. (CBS17)
  3. The Durham County Sheriff's Office has added body cameras to increase transparency, as many North Carolina agencies are still without. The cameras and system cost around $1.1 million that was allocated from the county's Capital Improvement Plan. One report last year found that complaints about police dropped by 17% and use of force incidents fell by 10% when agencies utilized body worn cameras. (abc11)
  4. The Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina is struggling with the cost of inflation. As inflation continues, more families are in need of assistance and fewer donations are coming in. In February inflation hit a 40-year high, and the resources they do have available are not going as far. The food bank is asking for donations as well as volunteers to help provide much needed aid to the community. (WITN, abc11)
  5. On Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court upheld a ruling by the Court of Appeals that said the state's law prohibiting members of the LGBTQ+ community from getting a restraining order against a partner is unconstitutional. The ruling cited the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 judgement that deemed bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional and therefore established the constitutional right to the protective order in same-sex relationships. (FOX8)

Today in Durham:

From my notebook:

  • It's National Girl Scout Day and if you are looking for cookies, just key in your ZIP code here, to find a local troop near you. P.S. there's also an app!
  • State officials are warning North Carolinians to be cautious when donating to Ukraine relief efforts. (CBS17)
  • APS of Durham is going to be "Out & About" at Glass Jug Downtown from 3:00pm-6:00pm.

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You're all caught up for today. I'll see you around!

— CJ Fullford

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