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Community Corner

🌱 Masking Updates + Mayoral Transparency + NC Russian Sanctions

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

Christina Fullford's profile picture
Christina Fullford, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Happy Dr. Seuss's Birthday Durham!

First, today's weather:

Plenty of sun. High: 71 Low: 45.

Here are the top five stories in Durham today:

  1. Durham County has announced plans to drop the indoor mask mandate as of March 7. Durham Public Health Director Rod Jenkins expressed that, "This continues to be a fluid situation... We will continue to monitor the data on case counts after the mandate is dropped." Private businesses will still be able to require masking indoors, but it will no longer be a county wide mandate. (Spectrum News 1)
  2. On Monday night, one person was injured in a shooting during an argument between neighbors. Durham police officers responded to the duplex home at the corner of Lathrop Street and North Guthrie Avenue before 9:45pm. The shooting stemmed from a dispute between the neighbors and left one with non life-threatening injuries. (WRAL)
  3. As gun violence continues to be prevalent in Durham, residents of affected communities are calling for more transparency from Mayor Elaine O'Neal. A week ago at a city council meeting, O'Neal expressed that she would not be commenting on the situation because she did not want to hinder "behind the scenes" efforts. Some residents have stated that they have yet to see the mayor in their communities, and are becoming restless to know what is being done. (CBS17)
  4. North Carolina is set to receive $750 million from opioid settlements against pharmaceutical companies Cardinal, McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Johnson & Johnson. Attorney General Josh Stein's office said that 85% of the funds will go directly to N.C.'s local communities to support treatment, recovery, harm reduction, and other strategies to address the opioid epidemic. Of the $750 million, Durham County will receive more than $11 million, and the City of Durham will get $2,450,633. (CBS17)
  5. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper ordered state offices under his control to terminate government contracts that benefit Russian businesses. The announcement came on Monday and calls all agencies and departments to review existing contracts and terminate any that directly benefit businesses that are headquartered in Russia or have their principal place of business there. The ABC Commission confirmed they will be suspending sales of all Russian made liquor as quickly as practicable. (Spectrum News 1)

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Today in Durham:

From my notebook:

  • It's Dr. Seuss's Birthday and Durham Parks and Recreation is hosting a birthday celebration from 11:00am-12:00pm at Edison Johnson Recreation Center.
  • If you're like me and counting down the days until spring, the spring equinox occurs at 11:33am on Sunday, March 20. (CBS17)
  • Students at Hillside High School celebrated the beauty of natural hair in the auditorium on Monday night. (abc11)

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Events:

  • Prismatica Kaleidoscope Experience: A Color-Filled Exhibition of Lights and Reflections at The Streets at SouthPoint (See schedule)
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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Wednesday. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with another update!

— CJ Fullford

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