Two-time ‘Jeopardy!’ champion accused of felony peeping
Joey DeSena won two rounds of “Jeopardy!” in November 2024, earning $44,698.
Key Updates from Butner Town Council: Land Annexation, Rezoning, and Swearing-In of Local Officials
On December 4, 2024, the Butner Town Council held its regular meeting at Town Hall. Mayor Pro Tem Michel Branch was recognized for 14 years of service, including work in finance and community projects. The Council adopted an ordinance to annex 82.40 acres off East Lyon Station Road, effective immediately. It also...
University Botanical Gardens That Are Free To Enter
Visiting a botanical garden shouldn’t require emptying your wallet, and thankfully, universities across the country maintain stunning green spaces that welcome everyone at no cost. These campus gardens serve dual purposes as living laboratories for students and peaceful retreats for the public. Many people don’t...
Carrboro and Chapel Hill CARE Team Recognized for Innovative Crisis Response Efforts
The Crisis Assistance Response & Engagement (CARE) Team has received the Rooted in Results Award from the Central Pines Regional Council. The CARE Team is a partnership between the Carrboro Police Department, Chapel Hill Police Department, and Orange County. The award was presented at the Council’s 2025 End of Year...
Local Limelight: Musician Shirlette Ammons is out with a new podcast
The Durham-based host of the new podcast "Tending" introduces herself the same way each time. "My name is Shirlette Ammons. I'm a musician and storyteller," she drawls, pausing momentarily. "Most importantly, I'm the granddaughter of a Black farmer." Why it matters: The six-episode series — now available on the...
What to expect at a new Durham restaurant moving from pop-up to brick-and-mortar
A new local restaurant is bringing a taste of New Mexico to Durham. After years of opening as a pop-up, Hatch Burritos has found a permanent home to serve its classic breakfast burritos and other authentic New Mexican cuisine. Local foodies may remember owner Talitha Benjamin’s breakfast burritos packed with...
How Durham woman’s father remembers her as police search for her killer
Kenashi McGraw’s 44 years of life were marred by repeated tragedy, but that didn’t stop her from giving back. “It was just such a rough life, but she tried to act like she was strong,” Lawrence Corriders, McGraw’s father, told The News & Observer this week. The Syracuse native had lost many of the people she loved,...
Advocates against the death penalty react to ‘Iryna’s Law,’ potential implications
Kristin Stapleford still remembers the early morning of Dec. 6, 2002 when her uncle Ernest Basden was executed at 2 a.m. An ice storm had swept across North Carolina, making it a chilly night as she and other family members anxiously awaited Basden’s scheduled execution at Central Prison in Raleigh.
ICE agents once again operating in NC, activists say, including arrests in Durham
Another large-scale immigration enforcement operation appears to be underway in North Carolina, focusing on the Research Triangle and Triad area, according to immigrant advocacy group Siembra NC. In a statement Friday, Siembra NC said they received reports of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in...
North Carolina Specialty Hospital adds Mako Shoulder robot
Durham-based North Carolina Specialty Hospital, in partnership with EmergeOrtho, became the first facility in the state to offer Mako robotics for shoulder replacement, according to a Dec. 9 news release. Stryker’s Mako Shoulder is in a limited market release. The system combines 3D CT-based planning with AccuStop...
