Halfway through his first year as mayor, Leo Williams has an ambitious vision for Durham, a growing list of policy wins, and more than a few discontented constituents. How far can his energy and egalitarian approach take him—and how far does he want to go?
Justin Laidlaw
Justin Laidlaw is a reporter for the INDY, covering Durham. A Bull City native, he joined the staff in 2023 and previously wrote By The Horns, a blog about city council.
Posted inNews
Durham Housing Authority Breaks Ground on New Affordable Housing Project
HUD acting secretary Adrianne Todman was in town to recognize the 555 new mixed-income apartment units the Durham Housing Authority is helping to bring to a site located between East Main and Liberty Streets.
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Bike Durham Donates $60K to City for Bike Lane Protection Project on Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
The money comes in addition to $500,000 already committed to the project. Advocates hope it will help the city move toward a more cohesive connectivity strategy.
Posted inCulture
A Durham Bookshop Gets a Second Life as a Co-op
After eleven years in business, Letters Bookshop, located at 116 West Main Street, is transitioning into a community-owned cooperative. Membership shares are $116—a homage to the shop’s downtown address.
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Durham City Council Gets Back to Business Next Week
Finding a new city manager, supporting affordable housing, pushing the infrastructure bonds; here’s a preview of what’s in store when council members return.
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New Durham Occupancy Tax Law Will Support Visitor’s Bureau, Build Future Projects
Discover Durham will have more money and more authority to allocate occupancy tax revenues in the coming years, but it’s money that the city and county will lose from their general funds.
Posted inCulture
Two and a Half Men: On Being Roommates With a Dog for a Decade
Tom and I have been roommate for eleven years. For ten of those years, we’ve been co-parenting a dog—or, more accurately, parenting and uncle-ing.
Posted inCulture
“Empathy Is Going to Save This Species”: Talking with Sherry Samuels about the Red Wolf
Samuels, senior director of animal care at the Museum of Life and Science, shares more about the endangered species and the new wolf pups born this spring.
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Triangle Leaders React to Biden’s Announcement
In the Triangle, excitement among Democrats about a potential Kamala Harris-Roy Cooper top-of-ballot ticket is growing.
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N.C. State Chancellor to Retire after 14 Years Leading the Pack
Randy Woodson, longtime chancellor of the UNC system’s largest university, to announce his retirement.