NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

‘Find the money’: Durham Public Schools Board of Education debates next steps following revoked worker raises

By Zoe Kolenovsky | February 4, 2024

In October 2023, DPS implemented findings from an employee compensation study, bringing employee salaries up to market rates. Now, the district has revoked the raises, claiming that an accounting issue led to many workers being paid more than intended, resulting in widespread frustration.

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

12 schools close after DPS teachers call out sick to protest staff workers’ pay cuts

By Zoe Kolenovsky | January 31, 2024

The conflict began on Jan. 12, when DPS announced that it had accidentally overpaid employees between July and December 2023, motivated by the results of a salary study that suggested raising salaries for certain staff members. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Why is Durham ranked among the best cities in the US for Gen Z to purchase homes?

By Zoe Spicer and Abby Spiller | January 30, 2024

North Carolina saw success in its other locales as well. Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem were ranked at No. 27, No. 28, No. 43 and No. 44, respectively.

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Judge rejects court order blocking NC Senate election map accused of racial gerrymandering

By Zoe Spicer | January 28, 2024

The suit states that “voting in the region is also highly polarized along racial lines — Black voters there are politically cohesive, but white voters vote sufficiently as a bloc to usually defeat minority candidates of choice.” 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Community rallies around DPS workers fighting for staff increases, 'a seat at the table'

By Zoe Kolenovsky | January 25, 2024

Though the Board of Education pledged on Monday to allow affected workers to keep what they were overpaid, union president Symone Kiddoo outlined major demands of DPS workers moving forward. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Legalized sports betting in NC to start in time for ACC basketball tournament, March Madness

By Jazper Lu | January 24, 2024

The N.C. Lottery Commission voted unanimously Wednesday to approve the start date, which falls a day before the ACC men's basketball tournament's starting date on March 12. NCAA tournament play begins March 19.

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Q&A with NC Gov. Roy Cooper: Upcoming issues in the 2024 election, state of higher education

By Jazper Lu | January 24, 2024

Gov. Roy Cooper talks 2024 elections, the state of higher education, the Israel-Hamas war, his predictions of the upcoming Duke-UNC rivalry matchup and more.

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Federal judge blocks Republican-backed changes to same-day voter registration rules in North Carolina

By Madeleine Berger | January 22, 2024

U.S. District Judge Thomas Schroeder sided with the North Carolina Democratic Party, arguing that the changes would have violated voters’ due process rights and result in the throwing out of legitimate ballots.  

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Durham Public Schools will not take money back from overpaid workers following walkouts

By Jazper Lu and Holly Keegan | January 22, 2024

After receiving emails earlier this month saying the raises would be reversed, some DPS employees expressed anger and frustration, resulting in walkouts that have disrupted bus routes and school schedules. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

‘Starbucks works because we work’: Inside the formation of Durham’s first Starbucks union

By Claire Cranford | January 11, 2024

Workers at the Durham Starbucks on Renaissance Parkway voted Dec. 11 to unionize, becoming the third Starbucks to unionize in the state and the first in the Triangle. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Ways to commemorate MLK Day at Duke and in Durham

By Ishita Vaid | January 10, 2024

In preparation for Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15, The Chronicle has compiled a list of ways you can commemorate the holiday at Duke and in Durham. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Bipartisan Pell bill would make Duke students ineligible for federal student loans

By Jazper Lu | December 12, 2023

In doing so, the bill would fund “Workforce Pell Grants” to assist students in shorter-term programs that are currently ineligible for traditional Pell grants. The bill is not yet law, but has cleared the first hurdle towards getting a vote on the House floor.

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Durham congresswoman Valerie Foushee signs letter calling for cease-fire in Israel-Hamas war

By Jazper Lu | December 5, 2023

Foushee, a Democrat, was joined by 10 other Democratic members of Congress in signing the letter, which started by thanking the Biden Administration for working towards a temporary cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Federal lawsuit alleges newly drawn NC Senate map racially gerrymandered, judge denies speedy trial

By Jazper Lu | November 27, 2023

U.S. District Court Judge James Dever denied a request Monday for the case to proceed with a speedy trial, affording a win to the Republicans who had used their supermajority in the North Carolina General Assembly to draw maps skewed in their favor.  

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Gov. Roy Cooper sues NC General Assembly over new state elections laws

By Ahilan Eraniyan | November 14, 2023

The bill in contention, State Bill 749, removes the governor’s ability to appoint the state Board of Elections, transferring that power to the legislative office. The former system allows for five electoral board members, with three members traditionally coming from the governor’s party. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Leonardo Williams wins Durham mayoral bid, three others elected to City Council

By Jazper Lu | November 7, 2023

Durhamites elected their next mayor and three at-large council members in Tuesday's election. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

How candidates running in the Durham municipal election stack up on key issues

By Ishani Raha , Mia Penner and Andrew Bae | November 6, 2023

Before you cast your votes for Durham's next mayor and City Council members, The Chronicle has compiled a guide to the candidates’ stances on Durham’s most pressing issues. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

RDU approves contract for expansion of main terminal

By Bennett Gillespie | November 5, 2023

RDU approved a $30 million contract Oct. 19, providing funding for the finalization of Terminal 2’s design plans, which will focus on alleviating congestion before the security checkpoint as passengers check in and enter the main area of the terminal.

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

A look at Durham's candidates for mayor, City Council in its upcoming general election

By Jothi Gupta | November 2, 2023

With two candidates in the running for mayor and five City Council hopefuls, The Chronicle profiled each of the candidates, outlining their experience and priorities. 

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NEWS | LOCAL & NATIONAL

Durham City Council candidate Nate Baker prioritizes community-centered, sustainable development

By Zoe Kolenovsky | November 2, 2023

Baker was the highest polling candidate in Durham’s primary municipal elections on Oct. 10, garnering 18.27% of the vote. He will face Javiera Caballero, Carl Rist, Khalilah Karim and Monique Holsey-Hyman in the general election on Nov. 7 for the Council’s three at-large seats.