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Community Corner

🌱 DPS Mask Mandate Officially Lifted + Durham Tech Free Tuition

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

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Christina Fullford, Neighbor
(Patch)

Happy National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day Durham!

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny and warm. High: 77 Low: 60.

Here are the top stories today in Durham:

  1. Yesterday the mask mandate for Durham Public Schools was officially lifted. Durham Public Schools was one of the last remaining school districts in central North Carolina to require facial coverings. The change is in thanks to the March vote in which the DPS School Board decided to remove the mandate as a result of the drop in cases locally and statewide. (abc11)
  2. Durham Tech will be offering some students the chance to get college tuition-free beginning this fall. Durham Tech will allow students who are graduating this year or who graduated in 2021 as long as they meet set requirements. If a student receives a federal Pell grant or state funds, Durham Tech will pay for the remainder of tuition costs. (CBS17)
  3. In a recent Durham Police Satisfaction Survey of more than 500 neighbors, 66% said that gun violence is their greatest concern. When asked if they were confident in police efforts to fight crime, 31% were neutral and 29% disagreed. The city is working on a budget that would put more money toward community safety in the next fiscal year. (abc11)
  4. Sunday marks three years since the deadly natural gas explosion that killed two and injured many other near downtown Durham. The Durham Fire Department made a post regarding the explosion on Sunday to remember those who were lost and hurt in the incident. The state report released in May 2021 said that the gas line was properly marked prior to the contractor striking the line causing the explosion. (WRAL)
  5. Duke University scientists have spent the last several years working with technology based around mRNA to find a vaccine for cancer. The mRNA vaccines have become notable over the past two years due to its use in COVID-19 vaccinations, and researchers believe that they can combat cancer using the targeted technology. (CBS17)

Today in Durham:

From my notebook:

  • It's National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day and Fosters Market has a variety of Grilled Cheese options that are like nothing you've had before.
  • Duke University and The American Red Cross are hosting a blood drive in memory of Raj Mehta today from 10:00am-3:00pm.
  • Nearly 40 vendors came out to participate in the Black Farmers Market on Saturday. (CBS17)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today! See you tomorrow for another update.

— CJ Fullford

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