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🌱 Pfizer Invests in Durham + Main Street Community Center

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

Posted Wed, Dec 15, 2021 at 3:55 pm ET|Updated Wed, Dec 15, 2021 at 4:35 pm ET

First, today's weather:

Fog in the a.m.; partly sunny. High: 66 Low: 52.

Here are the top stories in Durham today:

Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has announced it will be opening a $68.5 million facility in Durham. The facility will focus on gene therapy manufacturing and plans for a total investment of $800 million in North Carolina. 40 employees from Pfizer's Chapel Hill site will transfer to the Durham location, and 50 new jobs are expected to be created. (CBS17)
After the city leaders held a press conference on Monday, O'Neal's call for neighbors to mentor youth resonated with residents. Sheryl Smith is hoping to answer the call with the opening of a new community center off Main Street on Friday, and plans for another in Franklin Village next year. (CBS17)
Bull City Laughs has set out on a blue-painted school bus to take improv on wheels. The group of friends started in a Durham barbershop and now explore the city's history in an engaging comedic experience. (WRAL)
After enduring two major setbacks, Saint James restaurant is excited to reopen. The restaurant first closed after the deadly natural gas explosion in 2019, and had to close 39 days after reopening due to the pandemic. Owner Matt Kelly is hoping to reopen at the end of January. (abc11)
A Durham couple had unexpected visitors on Monday, when U.S. marshals arrived in a swarm looking for a murder suspect. The family purchased the home from the previous owner in 2018, but the task force had received a tip that a woman who lived at their home was helping a man wanted in a Fayetteville murder hide out. (WRAL)

Today in Durham:

Cocoa Cinnamon Holiday Market at Cocoa Cinnamon Hillsborough (5:00 pm-8:00 pm)
International Night at Justin's (6:00 pm-1:00 am)
Woolly's Big Blues Jam at The House Restaurant (6:30 pm-10:00 pm)
Trivia at Durty Bull Brewing Co. (7:00 pm) and Fullsteam Brewery (8:00 pm-10:00 pm)
Bailemos! Latin Thursday Party at Namu (9:00 pm-12:00 am)

From my notebook:

This National Chocolate Covered Anything Day, you should take a trip over to Loli and Pops! It has an awesome assortment of things dipped in chocolate.
Feed Durham needs help cooking for 500+ today through the 20th. (Feed Durham NC)
This Saturday UNC Health is hosting a COVID and Flu vaccine clinic for anyone age 5+. (Facebook)
Check out Discover Durham's list of places to shop local in Durham! (DiscoverDurham)
Bulleit Bourbon and Hi-Wire have teamed up to create a limited release of Bourbon Barrel-Aged 10W-40 today! (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday. I'll see you around!

— CJ Fullford