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Community Corner

🌱 TROSA Expansion Approval + First Time Home Buyer Assistance

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)

Happy Maryland Day Durham!

First, today's weather:

Times of clouds and sun. High: 63 Low: 44.

Here are the top five stories today in Durham:

  1. Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA) will be adding a new two-story dormitory on its campus to be able to accommodate more people. The Durham City Council unanimously approved the plan for the special use permit. The facility addition will increase capacity from 275 to 450, and include classrooms and offices for residents. (abc11)
  2. The city of Durham will be making up to $20,000 in assistance available for first-time home buyers to cover down payments and closing costs. The Down Payment Assistance (DPA) program starts on March 28 and will allow low-income people and families to apply for financial assistance for homes within Durham city limits. The money would come from a forgivable loan with no interest rates and a 15 year term. (CBS17)
  3. Nearly one-third of detention officer positions at the Durham County Detention Center are vacant, but with the expansion of the Durham Technical Community College program, Sheriff Clarence Birkhead hopes to change that. The training program expansion will ramp up deputy and detention officer training by allowing the sheriff's office to use space at the Northern Durham Center on Snow Hill Road for training. (CBS17)
  4. Questions have arisen after an announcement on Tuesday that Superior Court Judge W. David Lee was removed from overseeing the Leandro lawsuit. After Lee retired, he applied to be an emergency judge and has served in that capacity since 2016, on Monday he got a call informing him his role would be reviewed. On January 23, Lee turned of age for mandatory retirement, but as he was already a retired emergency judge, and it uncommon or unheard of for a judge to be removed from a case simply for age. (WRAL)

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Today in Durham:

From my notebook:

  • It's Maryland Day and while that is far from Durham, we are also home to so many transplants. If you're from Maryland and want a small taste of home, head to Sho Nuff Seafood to get some of the Triangles best.
  • The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is asking anyone to report Hellbender and Mudpuppy sightings this year, to get a clearer picture of their population. (abc12)
  • Durham County is considering using ARPA funds to expand broadband coverage into unincorporated areas of the County. (Durham County Twitter)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to start this Friday off right. See you all tomorrow morning for another update!

— CJ Fullford

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