SoDu Morning Brief: Remembering a Durham Leader, Saving on Groceries, and Enjoying a Perfect Fall Day in SoDu

☀️ South Durham Weather Forecast – Oct. 9, 2025

Looking for the latest weather update for South Durham, NC? Here's your hyperlocal SoDu forecast:

Today: Expect sunny skies and mild temperatures, with a high near 70°F - perfect fall weather for outdoor errands, lunch on the patio, or a stroll around the American Tobacco Trail.

Tonight: Skies remain mostly clear with temperatures dipping to a cool low around 46°F. You might want a light jacket or sweater if you're heading out after dark.

🕊️ Durham Remembers Advocate DeWarren K. Langley (1984–2025)

DeWarren K. Langley, a passionate community advocate known for his work in youth empowerment, education, and civic engagement, passed away on Oct. 3 from a heart attack. He was 41.

Langley, who had recently been hospitalized at Duke University Hospital, was a fixture at Durham City Council meetings and the executive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Foundation, a nonprofit supporting boys and young men of color in education, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

During Monday night’s council meeting, members paused to remember Langley’s influence and legacy.

“He reminded me of what is possible when you never shut up about what our people need and when you walk the walk every day,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Mark-Anthony Middleton. “I just want to celebrate his light and let the city know that there are folk that he infected before he left, and that his work will continue.”

Mayor Leonardo Williams also shared a personal memory:

“I remember when I was on council and I remember meeting in my office. I was like, ‘Dude, you always come into council. You say the same thing. Like, we’re on the same page.’ He said, ‘I know, but I’m still going to call you out.’”

Langley was known not just for speaking truth to power - but for doing so with heart, consistency, and purpose.

I originally met him back when I was an editor at The Herald-Sun, and witnessed firsthand his devotion to the cause of raising up young men of color and calling out inequity. My thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Wes Platt
Neighborhood News Guy for Southpoint Access

🧺 SoDu Shopping Basket Report – Week of Oct. 9, 2025

If you're trying to save money on groceries in South Durham, this week’s SoDu Shopping Basket has the answers. We priced 17 everyday items - including milk, eggs, bread, produce, meat, pantry staples, and paper goods - across nine major grocery stores in the 27713 area.

With rising meat and coffee prices at some stores, and steady deals at others, your choice of where to shop can make a $47 difference this week.

🥇 Best Grocery Store in South Durham This Week

Walmart leads once again with the lowest overall basket at $52.79, followed by Target ($54.47) and Food Lion ($56.75).

📊 Total Grocery Basket Cost by Store – Oct. 9, 2025

💰 Average basket cost across all stores: $68.09

🧾 What’s Up (and Down) in This Week’s Prices

✅ Top Grocery Deals in South Durham

• 🥚 Eggs under $2.40 at Walmart, Target, and Food Lion
• 🐔 Chicken breast around $2.50–$2.69/lb at Walmart, Food Lion, and Target
• 🧀 Cheddar cheese for $1.94–$1.99 at Walmart and Target
• 🍌 Bananas stay around $0.54/lb at multiple stores
• ☕ Best coffee price: $6.99 at Wegmans, compared to $14.99 at Publix

⚠️ Biggest Grocery Price Hikes

• 🥩 Ground beef hits $11.59/lb at Publix, highest in the region
• 🧻 Toilet paper is $13.99 at Fresh Market
• 🥛 Milk still $7.99 at Fresh Market
• ☕ Coffee remains more than $13 at Sprouts and Fresh Market
• 🧂 Sugar is $8.99 at Sprouts, while it’s under $3.20 at multiple other stores

🛍️ Shopping Strategy: Stretch Your Dollar in South Durham

To get the most out of your budget:

• 🛒 Buy pantry and dairy at Walmart or Target
• 🍎 Shop produce deals at Food Lion and Wegmans
• 🥩 Pick up meat at Harris Teeter or Food Lion

Shoppers who split their grocery list across 2–3 stores could save $10–$20 per week without compromising on quality.

🛒 What’s your go-to grocery strategy? Let your neighbors know! Comment on this newsletter.

Keep checking the shopping basket page on our newsletter site for updates on comparisons.

🏈 Triangle Rivalry Challenge: Cheer Local, Give Local

Support South Durham news while repping your favorite team - Duke 💙, UNC 💙, NC State ❤️, or NCCU 🦅.

Every dollar donated via ko-fi.com/southpointaccess adds points to your team’s score as we race to raise $4,000 for neighborhood journalism by Dec. 31.

🧭 Cheer for your team. Invest in your community.

Durham Public School Lunch Today

Elementary and Middle Schools

• Entree Options: Chicken nuggets with roll or barbecue flatbread.
• Side Options: Seasoned greens, oven potatoes, chilled pears.

High Schools

• Entree Options: Chicken chunks with roll or deli chef salad with roll.
• Side Options: Cherry tomatoes with dip, green beans, chilled pears.

🎟️ Events in South Durham – Oct. 9

• 🏛️ 1–3 p.m. Durham City Council Work Session – 101 City Hall Plaza
• 🎲 2–4 p.m. Adult Game Day – Southwest Regional Library, 3605 Shannon Rd.
• 🥕 4:30–5:30 p.m. Food Hub Distribution – Parktown Food Hub, 5124 Revere Rd.
• 👻 5–6 p.m. Victorian-Era Seance – 5101 N. Roxboro St.

📅 More local happenings on the SoDu Events Calendar.

Have something to share? Email wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.

🚗 Need a Traffic Update?

Check our Southpoint Access Live Traffic Map for real-time road conditions across Fayetteville Road, NC Highway 55, and I-40.

Avoid delays and plan your route smarter!

🤝 Support Our Sponsors

Local journalism in South Durham thrives thanks to the generous businesses and organizations that make this work possible. 🧭

By supporting these sponsors, you’re helping Southpoint Access continue to deliver trusted, hyperlocal news and resources for our community - from school updates to neighborhood stories that keep SoDu connected.

💛 Shop local. Hire local. Support those who support Southpoint Access.