photo by D.L. Anderson Rep. Paul Skip Stam co-chairs the House subcommittee on May 18, when it discussed a bill that would reverse the 2009 Racial Justice Act. UPDATE, noon, June 2: Senate Bill 9 has been pulled from today’s House calendar UPDATE, 10:30 p.m., June 1- Senate Bill 9, a bill that would reverse […]
Samiha Khanna
Email: [email protected]
Posted inUncategorized
Will Durham gamble $1 million on annexing 751 South?
The city’s cost-benefit analysis The city report shows three scenarios on how quickly the proposed 751 South development could be built, and how soon the city would reap property taxes and other revenue from the project if it were to be included in Durham city limits. The first scenario assumes the developer’s suggestion that the […]
Posted inGuides
Remembrance: Civil wars by other means
On nearly every tour of the slave quarters at the historic Stagville plantation in Durham, guides draw visitors close to the shacks’ original chimneys. They point to red bricks that bear heart-rending imperfections: one where an enslaved bricklayer picked up a still-drying block, planting a finger groove that would persevere for 150 years; another that […]
Posted inNews
Durham County head pitches no hike in property taxes, two new sales taxes for Nov. ballot
Despite early indications that county property owners could have seen as much as a 2-cent increase in their property tax rate next year, Durham County Manager Mike Ruffin isn’t proposing a such a hike. At a meeting of Durham County Commissioners yesterday, Ruffin said his staff was able to trim and arrange the county’s $499 […]
Posted inNews
RJA repeal efforts: bill to erase Racial Justice Act now has a half-sister in the Senate
photo by D.L. AndersonSen. Floyd McKissick (leaning) consults with Rep. Larry Womble. Rep. Earline Parmon (at table) watches a district attorney speak against the Racial Justice Act, which could be repealed this year. In just the past week, Raleigh’s conservative lawmakers have pushed forward on three of perhaps their most tendentious priorities, working to add […]
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City manager pitches half-cent hike of tax rate, reinstates employee raises
Just as for residents in many other cities and towns across the state, property taxes for Durham city dwellers could go up about a half-cent per $100 of property value, according to the budget pitch City Manager Tom Bonfield made Monday night. For a house valued at $200,000, that would add a little over $11 […]
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Southside residents to Durham city officials: Give us a reason to believe
Editor’s note: This is the first story in a series about the economic, political and social issues facing the Rolling Hills/ Southside neighborhoods. Marie Hunter sat on the porch of her white bungalow on Scout Drive on a recent Sunday, savoring the spring breeze. She chatted on her cordless phone but nervously eyed three boys […]
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Revised Senate bill nixes digital billboards but would expand tree cutting
photo courtesy of John SchelpA billboard ad near N.C. 147 last year in Durham. This blog entry has been edited and updated from its original version to include additional content. A Senate bill expanding the law on outdoor billboards cleared a Senate committee Wednesday, but only after the bill was stripped of language that would […]
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Erick Daniels denied pardon
Erick Daniels has been out of prison for two years, yet closure still seems out of reach. Daniels, 24, spent seven years in prison for a burglary and robbery he didn’t commit, but this month the state denied his request for a pardon that could clear his name and make him eligible for compensation for […]
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Durham police trying to crack down on celebratory gunfire
Interactive map below Daily gunfire chart (PDF) Calls to the City of Durham’s 911 center to report the sound of gunfire from March 25, 2010-March 25, 2011 * shots outside of district ☸ fireworks Yellow blocks are weekendsSource: Durham Police Department For most, it’s hard to fathom the malice it takes to kill another human […]