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Community Corner

🌱First Draft Maps + Nonprofit Looking to Bail Out COVID+ Inmates

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 Random Act of Kindness Day Durham!

First, today's weather:

Warm with variable clouds. High: 73 Low: 63.

Here are the top stories in Durham today:

  1. On Tuesday night, House lawmakers released a "first draft" for the General Assembly's new district map plan. HB 980 has significant changes from the rejected map, splitting Guilford and Wake Counties into only two districts. The new maps are still subject to change, but the preliminary proposal could likely see a Republican advantage of 9-5 as opposed to the estimated 10/11 seat win in the maps that were struck down. (WFMY, WRAL).
  2. Durham Beyond Policing is working to raise money to bail out the 125 Durham County Detention Center inmates with COVID-19 to help them receive treatment. The Durham nonprofit made a plea on Wednesday morning that the public recognize the 33% of people in the Durham County Jail that are currently positive for COVID-19. The donation page that they and NC Community Bail Fund of Durham have set up expresses that those incarcerated have poor access to medical support and COVID is able to easily spread inside. (CBS17)
  3. Downtown Durham Inc. launched Downtown Durham Feast on Valentine's Day in an effort to get more people out supporting local restaurants. Anyone who eats and drinks at a downtown business can turn in their receipts to DDI's office to enter drawings for prizes. The giveaways end on March 13, and the more restaurants you patron, the more entries you can get. (abc11)
  4. Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski was unable to participate in the second half of the Blue Devil's game against Wake Forest on Tuesday due to illness. Duke associate coach Jon Scheyer who will be taking over for Coach K next season ran the team in his absence. The Blue Devils were still able to secure the victory at a narrow win 76-74. (Spectrum News 1)
  5. Dr. Robert Califf who has worked extensively at Duke University was confirmed to be the new FDA chief on Tuesday. While at Duke, Dr. Califf served as a professor of medicine and founding director of the Duke Clinical Research Institute. He will be sworn into office later this week and will be the FDA's first permanent leader in more than a year. (Becker's Hospital Review)

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Today in Durham:

From my notebook:

  • It's Random Acts of Kindness Day and abc11 has a great list from 2020 of acts of kindness you can do to celebrate!
  • The Duke Medical Plaza at Patterson Place in Durham has been sold to JLL Income Property Trust. (Commercial Café)
  • Duke student, Anna Multhaly got the chance to compete in the Jeopardy College Championship. (Duke Today)

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

— CJ Fullford

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