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Community Corner

🌱 Water Main Break on Alston Ave. + Critical Blood Shortage

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 Media)

Happy Organize Your Home Day Durham!

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 52 Low: 29.

Here are the top five stories today in Durham:

  1. After deadly police shootings in Bahama, Fayetteville, Raleigh and Durham, activists with Emancipate NC are speaking out. Although they recognize that lethal force can be warranted, they believe there is a clear escalation of willingness to use it. (abc11)
  2. A large water main break on Alston Avenue required repairs into Thursday evening. The water main break occurred some time before 4:30 am without an exact timeframe, and large amounts of water were gushing into the roads. As of noon, around 50 customers were without service according to Durham water officials. (WRAL)
  3. Duke Health is having to delay procedures as a nationwide critical blood shortage leaves hospitals struggling to keep up. The Red Cross has reported having less than a one-day supply in recent weeks compared to a typical five-day supply. The Blood Connection and The Red Cross supply blood to central N.C. hospitals and are asking for donations from anyone who is able to give. (CBS17)
  4. As schools across the state struggle with staffing in all areas, Governor Cooper has announced an easing of leave rules to entice state employees to fill in as paid substitutes. The easing of rules will allow them to use community service leave that typically would not be allowed to be used while getting paid. State employees will be able to take their leave and get compensation while filling in as a substitute teacher, bus driver, or cafeteria worker. (Spectrum News 1)
  5. Renters and landlords can now apply for aid through the Durham Rent Relief Program. The program will help provide up to 18 months of rental and utility assistance to residents experiencing COVID-19 pandemic related financial hardship and is on a first-come, first-served basis. (Durham Rent Relief, City of Durham Facebook) Renters in Durham can also seek help through the #ForeverHomeDurham Eviction Diversion Program that can provide free legal assistance to qualified individuals facing eviction. (Bull City Today)

From our sponsor:

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Today in Durham:

Bonus: WRAL's weekend best bets (WRAL) & 7 things to do with kids (WRAL)

From my notebook:

  • It's Organize Your Home Day and if that sounds as daunting to you as it does to me, Simply Kent is a Durham-based professional organization company that can come help you out.
  • If you purchased an at-home COVID-19 test, you can submit a claim to your insurer for reimbursement. (CBS17)
  • Triangle shoppers are frustrated with the rising costs of groceries as inflation is up 7% from a year ago. (abc11)

Loving the Durham Daily? Here are all the ways you can get more involved:

Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Friday. I'll be in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

— CJ Fullford

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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