• Freeman vs. Chitlik for State Senate
  • A Lawsuit Over Raleigh Housing Policies
  • ICYMI: Raleigh LGBT Center’s New Home
  • Downtown Apex is Getting a Makeover
Credit: illustration by Nicole Pajor Moore

Good morning, readers.

Michele Morrow wasn’t the only surprise candidate to announce a run this week.

DeDreana Freeman, who just lost her seat on the Durham City Council last month, filed Wednesday to run for state senate. She’ll be challenging first-term incumbent Sophia Chitlik in the Democratic primary for the district covering much of Durham County.

This sets up an intriguing matchup. Chitlik unseated longtime incumbent Mike Woodard last year by running to his left, questioning his votes with Republicans and positioning herself as a fierce advocate for maternal healthcare and public education funding. But that playbook won’t work against Freeman, who spent eight years on council building a reputation as one of its furthest left members.

Meanwhile, Freeman carries significant political experience but enters the race on uncertain footing. Beyond rejecting her council re-election bid last month, Durham voters also turned down her 2023 mayoral campaign, where she finished third with 14 percent of the vote. 

Read more about the race below. Have a good Friday.

—Lena

Read the Full Story on INDYWeek.com

The INDY is free to everyone who wants to read it in Durham, Raleigh, and the rest of the Triangle — because we at the INDY believe a well-informed community is vital to building a better society, and news should be accessible to all, not just those who can afford it.

To keep it free, we’re asking you to become a member of our Press Club and make a contribution to keeping our doors open and our keyboards clacking.

Join the 1,400+ Triangle residents who want to keep the INDY around for 40 more years.

Become a Member

The latest from INDY, plus other stories around the state you’ll want to read. Handpicked every day by INDY Editor-in-Chief Sarah Willets.

Credit: Illustration by Nicole Pajor Moore

House Hunting

City attorneys warn, if successful, a lawsuit over Raleigh’s missing middle housing policy could jeopardize thousands of housing units in the pipeline, INDY’s Jane Porter reports.

Credit: Courtesy of Cooper Tacia

Welcome Home

The LGBT Center of Raleigh’s new home provides a safe space and one of the largest LGBTQ+ libraries in the Southeast, Jasmine Gallup writes for the INDY.

The Winners Are

ICMYI: The results of our 2025 Best of the Triangle reader poll are out. Check out readers’ favorite places, restaurants, and more here.

Sponsored Content

LOCAL: A cleanup effort is underway after a leak from a nearby car wash turned a Hillsborough creek bright green, WRAL reports.

STATE: Former governor Jim Hunt, known as a champion for education, has died, NC Newsline reports.

STATE: NC Republicans’ efforts to gain an electoral advantage by redrawing congressional district maps may have opened a path for Democratic challenger in a red district, CBS News reports.

Paid Advertisement

Love The INDY? Join the INDY Press Club.
Support the ambitions of local journalism (plus, enjoy a few perks).

Become a Member
  • Downtown Apex’s Salem Street is getting a makeover in early January, with new trees, decorative lights, gathering spaces and enhanced pedestrian crossings.
  • Wake County libraries are launching an initiative to connect young people in crisis with help. Haven House will coordinate with library staff to dispatch a trained responder within 30 minutes.
  • UNC football apparently spent nearly $49,000 on balloons last year.
Follow INDY Week on Social Media