As the end of the year draws near, Durham County commissioners celebrated successes from 2025 and peered into the future at challenges that await around the corner during their meeting on Monday, which included the annual State of the County address.
Board Chair Nida Allam presided over the address, with each of the five board members spotlighting achievements from county personnel and departments, as well as consequential budget expenditures and capital improvement projects.
But before Allam shared the good news, she reflected on the turmoil caused by the presence of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents that rocked Durham and other parts of the state last week. Allam, a practicing Muslim who is from an immigrant family, said the harassment and surveillance of immigrants by federal agents struck a nerve, but the response from members of the community, who spent countless hours volunteering to protect and support folks targeted by CBP agents, met her expectations…