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Durham City Council Opens New Term with Oaths, Goodbyes, and Brief Disruption

Williams and councilors take oaths as Freeman and Middleton say farewell; Caballero becomes first Hispanic Mayor Pro Tem; brief protest interrupts Kopac’s swearing-in; council addresses ICE activity and an E. Geer St. rezoning for 22 townhomes.

Wes Platt

02 Dec 2025 — 3 min read

Matt Kopac was sworn in as Ward 1 Durham City Council representative. The ceremony was briefly disrupted by protesters.

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Durham seated its new City Council Monday night as Mayor Leonardo Williams and council members Matt Kopac (Ward 1), Shanetta Burris (Ward 2), and Chelsea Cook (Ward 3) took their oaths following certification from the Board of Elections.

[SoDu Alert] Durham Public Schools Closed Dec. 5 Due to Weather

All students have shifted to remote learning on Friday. Packets went home with elementary school students, while middle and high school students can check for work on Canvas.

[WordroW] Lofting Away

A daily, hyper-local word/phrase challenge pulled from recent Southpoint Access coverage.

SoDu Shopping Basket: Walmart Holds Lowest Grocery Basket in South Durham as Prices Stabilize

Food Lion and Target also offer competitive totals, while Fresh Market remains nearly $43 higher for the same items. This week’s SoDu Shopping Basket shows slight price drops across most stores.

DPS Policy Committee: Warrants, Private Zones, and Naloxone

The committee meets Thursday, Dec. 4. On deck: a Private Zones protocol for handling immigration-related visits, a community-submitted rewrite of Policy 5120 on law enforcement in schools, and a new draft to allow naloxone in schools.

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[SoDu Alert] Durham Public Schools Closed Dec. 5 Due to Weather

[WordroW] Lofting Away

SoDu Shopping Basket: Walmart Holds Lowest Grocery Basket in South Durham as Prices Stabilize

DPS Policy Committee: Warrants, Private Zones, and Naloxone