Locally Aware

SoDu Morning Brief: Stormy Skies, Election Updates & Wildlife Center Appeal

Your Wednesday South Durham lowdown: today’s weather forecast, Durham election results, and how you can help the Piedmont Wildlife Center reach its $10,000 goal to support animal care and outdoor education.

Wes Platt

08 Oct 2025 — 6 min read

A young participant gives a thumbs-up during a Piedmont Wildlife Center program featuring one of the center’s Animal Ambassadors - a screech owl used in hands-on wildlife education across the Triangle. Image: Piedmont Wildlife Center.

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Today’s South Durham Weather Forecast (Oct. 8, 2025)

Expect scattered showers and thunderstorms early, tapering off by mid-morning. Additional showers are possible through 2 p.m. Skies remain mostly cloudy with a high near 80°F.

Tonight, look for a chance of evening storms before 8 p.m., then gradual clearing and cooler air with a low around 52°F.

Updated daily by Southpoint Access, your source for South Durham news and local weather.

Durham 2025 Election: Incumbents Advance, But Primary Brings Surprises

All incumbents in the 2025 Durham Municipal Election are moving on to the general election, but Tuesday’s primary brought a few surprises in key races across the city.

In the mayoral race, Leonardo Williams and Anjanee Bell advanced easily, with unofficial results showing Williams earning more than 55% of the vote.

In Ward 1, Matt Kopac narrowly edged incumbent DeDreana Freeman, finishing just 451 votes ahead in a tight contest that will continue into the general election.

In Ward 3, incumbent Chelsea Cook - appointed to the seat rather than elected - held a commanding lead over challenger Diana Medoff, solidifying her position ahead of November.

But in Ward 2, which covers much of South and Southeast Durham, incumbent Mark-Anthony Middleton trailed challenger Shanetta Burris by nearly 10 percentage points, making that race one to watch.

🦉 Help Piedmont Wildlife Center Reach Its Goal by Friday

The team at Piedmont Wildlife Center has extended their End of Summer Campaign through Friday, Oct. 10, but they’re still more than $9,000 away from their $10,000 goal.

This small but mighty Durham-based nonprofit connects people with nature through wildlife education, outdoor learning, and camps across the Triangle - and they rely on donations to keep those programs accessible for all, including Title I schools and camp scholarships for kids.

Their staff cares for 24 Animal Ambassadors (raptors, reptiles, and mammals) and brings them to schools and community events, teaching children to care about the wild world around us.

"What we earn through camps and programs helps us keep the lights on, but it doesn't cover everything," wrote Madeline Preiss, the center's development manager, in a message to supporters. "We rely on donations to help us fulfill our mission of connecting people with nature. Without your donations, it is much harder for us to award camp scholarships and offer free and reduced cost programming to Title 1 schools. In other words, our reach is limited without your support."

💛 You can help them bridge the gap: Click here.

Every dollar supports hands-on education and animal care right here in our community.

🚔 South Durham Crime Update – Week Ending Oct. 4, 2025

Durham police reported roughly 80 criminal incidents between Sept. 28 and Oct. 4, with patterns emerging around Fayetteville Road, University Drive, and NC Highway 55 - three of South Durham’s busiest corridors for retail, traffic, and residential activity.

🔑 At a Glance

Total incidents: ~80
Most common offenses: Theft, motor vehicle burglary, assault, and fraud
Hot spots: Southpoint area, University Drive, Chapel Hill Road

💰 Thefts & Burglaries

Theft-related crimes made up about 40% of reports this week, with vehicle break-ins and residential burglaries concentrated near:

🏘️ Devon Road and Weaver Street (residential)
🚗 Fayetteville Road, University Drive, and NC 54 (vehicle break-ins)

🥊 Assaults & Violence

Police logged at least 15 assault cases, including several aggravated assaults:

Garrett Road Park (Oct. 3): Assault reported in a public park
Jesmond Street (Oct. 4): Assault at a single-family residence
Chapel Hill Road: Multiple reports of fights and robberies

🏪 Robberies

At least five robberies occurred across Durham last week:

💵 Fayetteville Road (Oct. 2): Two commercial robberies at a department store
🏬 University Drive (Oct. 4): Commercial robbery at a specialty store
🚶 Chapel Hill Road (Oct. 4): Individual robbery on the street

💻 Fraud & Cybercrime

Residents reported multiple fraud and forgery scams, including online cases linked to:

Honeycutt Drive, Erwin Road, and Westgate Drive
Several incidents involved phishing or digital payment fraud tied to “cyberspace” reports.

⚠️ Other Notable Cases

Culloden Circle (Oct. 3): Report of kidnapping/human trafficking
Cornwallis Road (Oct. 3): Missing person/runaway report
Multiple harassment/intimidation cases involving schools and hotels

Cover of the SoDu Compass Family Resource Guide, First Edition – Fall 2025, produced by Southpoint Access. The image shows a row of large decorative baseballs on a sidewalk, representing community and youth sports in South Durham. — The first edition of the SoDu Compass Family Resource Guide from Southpoint Access offers South Durham families a comprehensive look at local schools, youth sports, and community resources. Updated October 2025.

🧭 Now Available: The SoDu Compass Family Resource Guide

If you’re raising kids in South Durham, this one’s for you. We’ve just released the first-ever SoDu Compass Family Resource Guide - a free, curated handbook with everything families need to navigate local life.

Inside, you’ll find listings for preschools, schools, youth sports, after-school activities, parks, libraries, pediatricians, and parent support groups - all focused on South Durham and nearby neighborhoods.

It’s a living resource we’ll keep updating as our community grows.

📘 Download your free copy here!

💌 Produced by Southpoint Access - your neighborhood newsroom for SoDu families.

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🏆 Triangle Rivalry Challenge: Support South Durham News!

UNC 🩵 or Duke 💙 - no matter your colors, everyone wins when you support local journalism.

Join the Triangle Rivalry Challenge and help Southpoint Access raise $4,000 by year’s end to fund neighborhood reporting that keeps South Durham informed.

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🍽️ Durham Public School Lunch Today

🍎 Elementary & Middle Schools [EARLY RELEASE]

Entree Options: Assorted pizza options or cheese pizza.
Side Options: Steamed broccoli, candied sweet potatoes, fresh fruit.

🎓 High Schools

Entree Options: Chicken and vegetable dumplings in teriyaki sauce or barbecue pulled pork on bun.
Side Options: Baby carrots, steamed broccoli, fresh fruit.

Things to Do Today

10:30 – 11 a.m. Fun Time with Mr. Joel [Durham County Library]: South Regional Library, 4505 S. Alston Ave.
3:30 – 5 p.m. Sherwood Park Reopening Celebration [Durham Parks and Recreation]: 1720 Cheek Rd.
6 – 8 p.m. Durham Environmental Affairs Board [Durham Government]: Zoom
6 – 7 p.m. Southern News, Southern Politics: How A Newspaper Defined A State For a Century [Durham County Library]: Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Rd.

Get more ideas for activities from the Southpoint Access events calendar.

💬 WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND?

What issues around your neighborhood in South Durham should get more attention? Reply to this newsletter and let me know. Send email to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.

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