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Community Corner

🌱ShotSpotter Opposition + Travel Return + Supreme Court Hearings

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)

Happy World Meteorological Day Durham!

First, today's weather:

Showers and a heavier t-storm. High: 70 Low: 63.

Here are the top five stories today in Durham:

  1. As city leaders prepare to move forward with the ShotSpotter technology, Durham Beyond Policing has started a petition to reject the surveillance technology. The local organization says that the technology is a waste of money, and has the potential to lead to over-policing. It also has concerns that in the few neighborhoods the technology is installed in, police could misinterpret fireworks or car backfiring and analyze the situation incorrectly. (CBS17)
  2. State leaders met in Durham to talk about what's next as we see a huge return travel and tourism. Cree Lawson, CEO of Arrivalist, says that people are ready for a change of scenery and in spite of all factors, many Americans are traveling right now. Visits to state parks were up 1.2 million over pre-pandemic levels last year and this year's Visit NC campaign encourages people to visit some of the lesser known parks. (WRAL)
  3. The North Carolina Supreme Court has agreed this month to take up the case of Michael Molé. Molé was terminated from his job with Durham Police Department after a controversial hostage negotiation in 2016, when then Sergeant Molé agreed to allow Julius Smoot to smoke a "blunt" if he surrendered peacefully. The court will determine if lower court rulings will stand on the "fruits of their own labor" protections. (Carolina Journal)
  4. For the third time in almost 30 years, the N.C. Supreme Court will take up the Leandro Case. The North Carolina Court of Appeals blocked the transfer of nearly $1.7 billion late last year, and now the court put out an order granting the request of plaintiffs and defendants to look at the case. The order specifies that the case should go back to Judge David Lee's courtroom to see if state budget passing impacts the initial decision Lee made forcing the state to dedicate the funds to education. (INDY Week)
  5. The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on Monday regarding North Carolina's voter ID law. The focus of Monday's hearing was whether Republicans should be able to step into the case and defend the law. According to the Supreme Court's website the case is focusing on three major issues regarding the rights surrounding the case, as opposed to the constitutionality of the law itself. (WNCT9)

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Today in Durham:

From my notebook:

  • It's World Meteorological Day and the Museum of Life + Science gives visitors a unique look at weather and how wind, water, and temperature affect the environment.
  • Thanks to microchips, a Durham family was reunited with their cat that had been missing since March 2020. (WRAL)
  • As confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson are underway, Durham County Superior Court Judge Josephine Davis is speaking to the empowerment she feels. (abc11)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

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 morning with a new update.

— CJ Fullford

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