The Bull City Citizen

A New Class at the Helm: Durham Voters Reshape the School Board - Bull City Citizen The results mark one of the more consequential school board transitions in recent memory for a district that oversees more than 30,000 students and sits at the center of Durham’s ongoing debates over ...

Durham voters just reshaped the school board. 3 new members, 1 returning. The future of DPS is shifting. What comes next for Bull City’s schools?

bullcitycitizen.com/a-new-class-...

What a School Board Exchange Reveals About Durham’s Priorities - Bull City Citizen The moment triggered criticism, followed by an apology, and then a broader discussion about decorum, race, power and professionalism in public institutions.

Durham is debating first names at school board meetings while facing teacher shortages, budget gaps and learning loss. Titles matter, but priorities matter more.
#ncpol

bullcitycitizen.com/what-a-schoo...

In Durham, Israel Policy Becomes a Litmus Test in a Democratic Primary - Bull City Citizen In Durham’s deeply engaged 4th Congressional District, foreign policy has become local politics. Rep. Valerie Foushee’s record on Israel — once aligned with Democratic consensus — is now under scrutin...

Durham voters are sending a message: Is unwavering support for Israel now a liability in a Democratic primary? March 3 could decide. #ncpol

bullcitycitizen.com/in-durham-is...

Airstrikes in Iran may feel distant, but Durham will feel the ripple effects — from rising gas prices to veteran concerns and campus debate. Global conflict hits home fast. #ncpol Durham NCCU Duke and Durham life bull city

Airstrikes in Iran may feel distant, but Durham will feel the ripple effects — from rising gas prices to veteran concerns and campus debate. Global conflict hits home fast. #ncpol

bullcitycitizen.com/from-promise...

Could Receiving an Abortion Be Charged as Homicide? Tennessee Proposal Signals a New Legal Frontier - Bull City Citizen Two Tennessee lawmakers have introduced legislation that would classify receiving an abortion as criminal homicide — potentially punishable by life imprisonment or even the death penalty — marking one...

TN just introduced a bill that could classify receiving an abortion as criminal homicide, punishable by life in prison or even death.

This isn’t theoretical. It’s happening now.

The post-Dobbs stakes just escalated. consequences could reach North Carolina.

bullcitycitizen.com/could-receiv...

Roy Cooper appears, so far, to be the only candidate putting North Carolinians — and places like Durham — first - Bull City Citizen As North Carolina’s next election cycle takes shape, Durham voters are asking a simple question: who has actually used power to protect ordinary people when it mattered most? Roy Cooper’s record offer...

When it mattered most, Roy Cooper stopped utility shutoffs and expanded Medicaid to 600K+ North Carolinians.

In Durham, that meant lights stayed on and families got health coverage.

Policy isn’t rhetoric. It’s who you protect when pressure hits. #ncpol

bullcitycitizen.com/roy-cooper-a...

Durham households paid, and many can’t afford to wait for justice - Bull City Citizen A North Carolina appellate court has ruled that Duke Energy improperly included certain past fuel costs in 2024 rate riders, yet Durham customers will not automatically receive refunds because of a 20...

A NC court ruled Duke Energy improperly raised rates — but Durham customers won’t get refunds.

That’s ~$9–$10 per household. Small on paper.

But across Durham, that’s over $1.2M taken from families who could’ve used it for groceries, rent, or medicine.

bullcitycitizen.com/durham-house...

From California Streets to North Carolina Classrooms: How Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparked Rage, Retaliation, and Fear - Bull City Citizen Durham, NC — On September 10, 2025, video from Huntington Beach, California, lit up social media. Dozens of demonstrators waving American flags and shouting “White man fight back!” filled the streets,...

From Huntington Beach to North Carolina, Charlie Kirk’s death has unleashed rage, firings & fear.

Neo-Nazi rallies in CA. Teachers & workers here losing jobs. Far-right activists weaponizing outrage.

Read our full investigation in The Bull City Citizen: bullcitycitizen.com/from-califor...

Crayons2Calculators and Brianna Kennedy: Building Classrooms of Hope in Durham - Bull City Citizen At the Durham Bulls’ stadium, where cheers usually echo for home runs, a different kind of victory was celebrated last week. The spotlight wasn’t on athletes, but on educators, volunteers, and leaders...

Durham’s own Crayons2Calculators was honored as Hometown Heroes at the @DurhamBulls game — recognized for making sure every DPS teacher has the supplies they need to teach. bullcitycitizen.com/crayons2calc...

From Underdog to Duke’s Spotlight: Darian Mensah’s Rise Through Heart, Hustle, and Huge NIL Deals - Bull City Citizen Darian Mensah didn’t just walk onto Duke’s campus—he sprinted into the spotlight, carrying the aspirations of his family, the promise of generations, and a blockbuster NIL contract that redefined expe...

From overlooked recruit ➡️ $8M man.

Darian Mensah’s journey from Tulane breakout to Duke QB is a modern American success story; grit, culture, and the power of NIL.

Durham, meet your new star.

Full story: bullcitycitizen.com/from-underdo...

Sheriff Clarence Birkhead & @NCDemParty Chair Anderson Clayton slam NC’s permitless carry push.

“Putting guns in the hands of 18yr+ w/ no training is a recipe for disaster.”

GOP just 1️⃣ vote away from overriding Gov. Stein’s veto.

Full story: bullcitycitizen.com/permitless-c...
#ncpol

UNC’s Seth Trimble Scoops Up History: At 21, He’s the Youngest Ben & Jerry’s Franchise Owner - Bull City Citizen Seth Trimble, a 21-year-old UNC basketball guard, has made history not on the hardwood — but behind the counter of one of America’s most iconic ice cream brands. Using his Name, Image, and Likeness (N...

SCOOP: At just 21, UNC guard Seth Trimble has turned his NIL earnings into history—becoming the youngest Ben & Jerry’s franchise owner ever. 🍦🏀

From Black Wall Street’s legacy to NIL’s future, this is more than ice cream—it’s ownership.

Full story: bullcitycitizen.com/uncs-seth-tr...

North Carolina’s HBCU Legacy: Eleven Campuses, Generations of Impact - Bull City Citizen North Carolina stands tall as home to 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), more than nearly any other state in the nation. These institutions, spread from the mountains to the coas...

North Carolina is home to 11 HBCUs — from Durham’s own @NCCU to @ncatsuaggies, the nation’s largest.

These campuses drive culture, community, and over $1.7B for our state’s economy. Their legacy is Black excellence, past and present. 🦅🐏

📖: bullcitycitizen.com/north-caroli...

#nced

$319M Medicaid Shortfall Hits North Carolina: What It Means for Durham - Bull City Citizen Durham, N.C. — North Carolina’s Medicaid program is bracing for a massive funding shortfall of $319 million after state lawmakers failed to fully meet projected needs, according to a letter from the N...

NC Medicaid cuts

• 3% across-the-board for providers
• 8–10% for hospitals, nursing homes
• 10% for autism therapy
• No more Ozempic/Wegovy for weight loss

Durham: ~65,000 residents on Medicaid could feel it first.

Full breakdown ➡️ bullcitycitizen.com/319m-medicai... #ncpol

Sheriff Birkhead on ICE in Durham: “Know Your Rights” - Bull City Citizen Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead isn’t mincing words when it comes to federal immigration enforcement in his community. Speaking at a recent event, Birkhead compared ICE’s presence to “roaches…...

Durham’s sheriff says ICE is “everywhere, like roaches,” but reminds residents:
✔️ Show license/registration in traffic stops
✔️ No need to answer status questions
✔️ Don’t let ICE in without a warrant
✔️ You don’t have to go with them

bullcitycitizen.com/sheriff-birk...

#ncpol #durhamnc

North Carolina Assembles Its AI Task Force, with Durham Representative Zack Hawkins at the Helm - Bull City Citizen On September 2, Governor Josh Stein signed Executive Order No. 24, establishing North Carolina’s new AI Leadership Council, AI Accelerator, and oversight framework for artificial intelligence. Among i...

NC makes a big move on AI: Gov. Stein signs EO24 creating an AI Leadership Council & Accelerator. Durham Rep. Zack Hawkins named a founding member—pushing for jobs, ethics & innovation.

Full story: bullcitycitizen.com/north-caroli...

#DurhamNC #AI #NCpol

Appeals Panel Halts Mason Farms Subdivision in Durham - Bull City Citizen In a closely watched ruling with implications for county planning, the North Carolina Court of Appeals this week overturned Durham County’s approval of the Mason Farms subdivision, finding the county ...

Big win for Bahama neighbors: NC Court of Appeals strikes down approval of Mason Farms subdivision in rural Durham. Judges ruled the county failed to follow its own development rules.

Full coverage: bullcitycitizen.com/appeals-pane... #DurhamNC #Housing #NCpol

Sticker Shock on Ninth Street: Durham Homeowners Grapple With Tax Reappraisal - Bull City Citizen Durham, N.C. —For the first time since 2019, Durham County homeowners are confronting sharply higher tax bills. As the dust settles on the 2025 property reappraisal, Commissioners and residents alike ...

Durham homeowners hit with higher property tax bills after 2025 reappraisal, some up $1,400. 10K+ appeals filed. Relief programs exist for low-income residents as county leaders stress revenue funds schools & services.

Full story: bullcitycitizen.com/sticker-shoc...

#DurhamNC #ncpol

Durham Rallies Behind Duke Bus Driver Facing Deportation - Bull City Citizen On a summer evening along Ninth Street, chants echoed in Spanish and English: “¡Vamos Luis!” and “Let’s go Luis!” The crowd of Duke students, faculty, and Durham residents gathered not just to support...

Ninth Street rang out with “¡Vamos Luis!” as Duke students, faculty & Durham residents rallied for beloved C1 bus driver Luis Juárez, now facing deportation after losing TPS. His fight is our city’s story.

bullcitycitizen.com/durham-ralli...

RDU Opens Tropical Skies - Bull City Citizen This winter, Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will bring an easier, more direct escape to sunseekers in the Triangle. Airlines have added multiple nonstop routes to tropical destinations—inc...

RDU’s next wave of international flights is tropical: nonstop routes to Montego Bay, Punta Cana & the Bahamas are on the horizon. Easier escapes, more competition, and new global links for the Triangle.

Full story in the Bull City Citizen: bullcitycitizen.com/rdu-opens-tr...

Durham’s Arthouse Cinema Bets on Revival - Bull City Citizen Downtown Durham is about to add as much imagination as architecture. At 118 West Parrish Street—a storied three-story commercial block between the Unscripted Hotel and Mechanic & Farmers Bank—artists ...

A new arthouse cinema is coming to downtown Durham: Skin and Bones Theater will open at 118 W. Parrish St. in 2026, from the team behind Shadowbox Studio. 50–60 seats, film, talks & community events.

bullcitycitizen.com/durhams-arth...

Activists Speak Out Against Federal Immigration Crackdown - Bull City Citizen A growing federal enforcement presence in Durham is fueling heightened fears among undocumented residents. Local organizer Ivan Almonte, director of Durham Rapid Response, warns that this climate plac...

Federal agencies are active in Durham, sparking fear in undocumented communities. Activist Ivan Almonte warns: “We have to work harder to protect them.” Advocates push back as HB10 & ICE cooperation raise risks. #ncpol

Full report in the Bull City Citizen.

bullcitycitizen.com/activists-sp...

NCCU Nursing Students Step Into a New Reality - Bull City Citizen North Carolina Central University has introduced a new tool in training tomorrow’s nurses: an Immersive Interactive Room, a state-of-the-art lab that surrounds students with projected sights, sounds, ...

NCCU just unveiled an immersive nursing lab with 3D projections, sounds & even smells—letting students train for emergencies in a safe, realistic setting. First of its kind in NC.

Full story in the Bull City Citizen.

bullcitycitizen.com/nccu-nursing...

The Stakes of a Proposed Data Center on Shearon Harris Road - Bull City Citizen On 189 acres just south of Old U.S. 1 in New Hill—a rural enclave in western Wake County—black cows graze peacefully beside weathered farmhouses. But this quiet idyll now faces a powerful new force: a...

In Apex, a proposed 189-acre data center could bring $10M in tax revenue—but also raise alarms over energy demand, pollution & quality of life. Neighbors are mobilizing ahead of key council meetings.

Full report in the Bull City Citizen. #ApexNC bullcitycitizen.com/the-stakes-o...

UNC Student Speaks Out After Parents’ Fatal Crash - Bull City Citizen A week ago, Noah Nunney, 19 and a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, watched helplessly as his family’s van never arrived on campus. What followed was a descent into grief t...

A week after the crash that killed his parents, UNC student Noah Nunney speaks out: grief, resilience, and hope as his siblings recover. Community support has raised $300K+ for the family.

Full story in the Bull City Citizen. bullcitycitizen.com/unc-student-...

How Your Voice Could Build a 26-Mile Link from Downtown to Roxboro - Bull City Citizen Durham residents can help shape a multi-use greenway that would connect downtown Durham to Roxboro. The proposed Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail would convert about 18 miles of inactive rail in Durham Co...

Durham’s on the move! Plans are rolling for a 26-mile Durham-to-Roxboro Rail Trail — and YOUR input can shape it. Public workshops: Aug 27 (Edison Johnson) + Aug 28 (Spruce Pine). Let’s build a safer, connected Bull City.

bullcitycitizen.com/how-your-voi...

Pope Francis Dies at 88: A Global Loss Felt Deeply in Durham, N.C. - Bull City Citizen Pope Francis, the 266th leader of the Roman Catholic Church and a transformative figure in global religious discourse, passed away on Easter Monday, April 21,

Pope Francis has died at 88.

From Immaculate Conception to Holy Infant, Durham’s Catholic community mourns the loss of a humble shepherd who preached justice, mercy, and love. His impact was global—but felt deeply here.

More at bullcitycitizen.com/pope-francis... #BullCityFaith

In Durham, Students’ Voices Rise Amidst Arrests at NCCU Housing Protest - Bull City Citizen DURHAM, N.C. — A student-led protest advocating for improved housing conditions at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) culminated in the detention of

5 detained during a student-led protest at NCCU over housing conditions. Students demand safe, mold-free dorms. University says it was an “unauthorized rally.” Charges include trespassing + resisting. Full story: bullcitycitizen.com/in-durham-st...

Smoke Signals No More: GoDurham’s Full Smoking Ban Aims to Clear the Air for Good - Bull City Citizen For years, riders at the Durham Station Transportation Center have stepped off buses and into a haze—not just from exhaust fumes, but from cigarette smoke

Flick the Stick” or face the flick-off.
GoDurham just made it official: No smoking. Anywhere.
From platforms to concourses, Durham Station is now a smoke-free zone—cigs, vapes, cigars, all of it.
Health > haze.
#DropTheSmoke bullcitycitizen.com/smoke-signal...

Unleashed Force: The Tragic Shooting of Zelda and the Call for Accountability in Wake County - Bull City Citizen In a quiet Raleigh neighborhood, a tragic incident has ignited a firestorm of controversy and raised serious questions about law enforcement practices. On the

A Wake County deputy entered a home without permission to serve a civil lawsuit—then shot the family dog 4 times, killing her. Her name was Zelda. bullcitycitizen.com/unleashed-fo...