sodu week in review
Only One Incumbent Remains in DPS Board of Education Race
Bettina Umstead seeks to hold onto her District 2 DPS seat in the upcoming March election.
Wes Platt
Neighborhood news guy for Southpoint Access!
Kitchen Table
SoDu Shopping Basket: Walmart and Food Lion Lead as South Durham Grocery Prices Hold Steady
Fresh Market tops $95 again while Walmart, Food Lion, and Target stay under $54. See where to find the best deals on eggs, coffee, meat, and more this week.
office hours
Office Hours Dec. 18, 2025: Lauren Sartain, DPS Board of Education District 3 Candidate
Early voting starts in February, with the one-and-done election set for March 3.
Locally Aware
South Durham Crime Report: Vehicle Break-Ins Dominate Again as Hotspots Re-Emerge
Vehicle break-ins continue to dominate South Durham’s weekly crime report, with multi-family neighborhoods, hotel corridors, and major retail areas seeing the highest concentration of incidents.
office hours
Office Hours Dec. 17, 2025: Peter Crawford, DPS Board of Education District 3 Candidate
Early voting starts in February, with the one-and-done election set for March 3.
Development
Longhorn, Fogo De Chao Restaurants on the Horizon
They're among several commercial development projects under review by Durham planning officials.
![[WordroW] Learning Life](https://storage.ghost.io/c/50/33/50334374-93a7-4cf9-ba69-d7d51c63be2a/content/images/size/w600/2025/12/wordrow1.png)
Games
[WordroW] Learning Life
A daily, hyper-local word/phrase challenge pulled from recent Southpoint Access coverage.
sodu week in review
County Approves New Non-Emergency Ambulance Franchises
Plus, green light for performance-based incentives for Aspida and Novartis.
durham public schools
DPS Superintendent Earns Contract Extension
During the past school year, 90% of DPS schools have seen improved academic performance, with more than half of the district's schools earning an A, B, or C grade.
Countywide Campaign Aims to Raise $500K to Stabilize Food Access
Organizers point to rising need and fewer federal supplies. Feeding America estimated 1 in 7 Durham residents - and 1 in 6 children - were food insecure in 2023; local providers say demand has climbed 30%+ since then.
city of durham
What’s Open, What’s Closed: Durham’s Holiday Schedule (Christmas & New Year’s)
Closures, trash delays, parking rules, bus schedule changes - and how to recycle your tree in South Durham.
Kitchen Table
SoDu Shopping Basket: Walmart Maintains Lowest Total This Week
Food Lion and Wegmans follow in second and third place for the week of Dec. 11.