It’s Friday, February 23.

Thanks to our sponsor: The Nasher Museum is proud to present María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold, María Magdalena Campos-Pons: Behold. The exhibition spans nearly four decades of the artist’s work in photography, installation, video, painting and performance.

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Happy Friday, readers.

Eleven candidates are vying for five seats on the Durham County board of commissioners in the March 5 primary election. Four incumbents are running to keep their seats: Brenda Howerton, Wendy Jacobs, Nida Allam, and Nimasheena Burns.

On Wednesday, the INDY published a story on the pressing issues facing the county and how those challenges might inform voters on election day. Standout issues are increased funding needed for Durham Public Schools following months of turmoil within the district and tackling Durham’s affordable housing shortage along with the county’s partners on city council.

Durham county commissioners oversee a larger land area and population size than the city council. They are also responsible for important functions of the community, including schools, but are often overlooked by the general public compared to their counterparts at the city, according to current and former board members that I spoke with while reporting this story. (They should feel fortunate their meetings don’t last until 1 a.m.)

For readers looking for more information, you can find our candidate questionnaires for Durham county commissioners and other important races on the ballot. Our partners at the 9th Street Journal are also profiling all 11 candidates before Election Day: read profiles of incumbents Brenda Howerton, Wendy Jacobs, and Nida Allam and candidates Stephen Valentine and Mike Lee.

Be sure to make a plan to vote on March 5, if not sooner, and tell a friend.

Have a great weekend.

—Justin

Durham

Durham Public Schools board members voted to sustain 11 percent raises for the district’s classified staff through the end of the school year. They also learned that the recent payroll chaos was rooted in a flawed 2022 pay study.

Wake

WRAL spoke to eight women who worked or spent time in Poe Hall at NC State and were diagnosed with breast cancer.

Orange

Triangle Blog Blog looks at the network of conservative groups working to influence the Orange County Schools board race,.

North Carolina

Allies of incumbent state agriculture commissioner Steve Troxler are denying challenger Colby Hammond a platform at public events, Hammond says.

Today’s weather

Rainy with a high of 61 degrees.

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