Tues., Dec. 31

  • A federal judge struck down North Carolina’s voter ID law, arguing that it was “impermissibly motivated … by discriminatory intent.” Attorney General Josh Stein said he’ll appeal, but voters won’t have to show ID in the March primary. 
  • North Carolina is likely to gain one congressional seat following the 2020 census. 
  • The Raleigh-Durham International Airport announced that its annual passenger count grew by more than 10 percent from 2018 to 2019. 

Wed., Jan. 1

  • Symphoni Rudolph, the first baby born in the Triangle in 2020, arrived at UNC Rex in Raleigh at 12:17 a.m.

Thurs., Jan. 2

  • Duke Energy agreed to relocate about 80 million tons of coal ash by 2038 as part of an unprecedented settlement with the Department of Environmental Quality and environmental groups. 
  • A report from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security found no evidence that Russian hackers had breached the computer system Durham County used during the 2016 election. 
  • The Wake County Library System did away with late fees and expanded its checkout period from two weeks to three. 

Fri., Jan. 3

  • After a U.S. airstrike killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad, the U.S. began deploying 3,500 soldiers from Fort Bragg to the region, one of the most rapid deployments in decades. 
  • The state Department of Commerce said that North Carolina added 124,001 jobs between November 2018 and November 2019; unemployment decreased in 92 of 100 counties, including all 15 metro counties. 
  • Mike Bloomberg’s experiment in purchasing the presidency opened an office in downtown Raleigh.

Sun., Jan. 5

  • Hundreds gathered at Halifax Mall on Sunday to protest the Trump administration’s move toward war with Iran. About a hundred antiwar veterans and protesters amassed in Durham, as well. 

Mon., Jan. 6

  • After a bloody 2019, Durham notched its first homicide of 2020, when police discovered a man fatally shot in the 700 block of Gray Avenue. 
  • Inc. named Durham the third-best city in the country to start a business, behind Austin and Salt Lake City. Raleigh placed 16th. 
  • All three Al’s Burger Shack locations filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, listing assets of less than $50,000 against liabilities ranging from $500,000 to $1 million. The company said it “overextended during expansion.” Al’s recently announced that it would add a fourth location as part of Beer Study’s expansion in Durham. 

Tues., Jan. 7

  • GoTriangle unveiled its first two electric buses at an event at Raleigh Union Station.

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