[SoDu Sunrise Showcase] Not Enough Shovels?

WEATHER FORECAST

Per the National Weather Service: Sunny with a high near 73. Tonight, partly cloudy with a low around 49.

In Too Deep?

On Wednesday, I got to tag along as a chaperone with Mr. Halm's first-grade class from Hope Valley Elementary School as the kids visited The Museum of Life and Science.

We saw lemurs, a goose, two black bears, a red wolf, some tortoises, and a handful of earthworms. The students played in the treehouse playground. And they visited the Fossil Dig, which on this particular day turned into a sort of Lord of the Flies homage.

Dozens of children from schools around the Triangle enjoyed cool, clear weather - and found just a handful of shovels and a few panning sifters in the digging pit. Were the kids great at sharing? They were not. Luckily, no one used the shovels as weapons. But in an otherwise relatively flawless visit, the Fossil Dig proved to be the main flashpoint for field trip drama this time.

Maybe the museum should add a few more shovels during peak times?

The SoDu We Love Reading Book Club has its first discussion thread on the Southpoint Access subreddit! Read the first chapter of Song in a Weary Throat by Pauli Murray and join us!

Got questions for your neighborhood news guy to chase down answers? Reach out to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news.

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS

• Notable NCCU Alums Slated to Speak at May Commencement: The ceremonies will feature Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams, Pulitzer-nominated journalist Ernie Suggs, and national public affairs strategist Reggie McCrimmon. Each speaker will address graduates from specific colleges during one of three ticketed ceremonies.
• [SoDu We Like Local News] Episode 10: A Home for Hope: In this episode, we catch up with Southpoint Access columnist Heather Hindin and her daughter Harper about the project that aims to support families with children undergoing treatment for illnesses at Duke University Hospital.
• South Durham Criminal Incident Reports for April 2025: South Durham saw a continued rise in vehicle-related crimes last month, according to the latest report for ZIP code 27713, with motor vehicle burglaries and thefts making up the largest share of reported incidents. This is based on data supplied by the Durham Police Department to LexisNexis.

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What's Happening Today?

• Time Traveling Tots. Ages 0 to 5. 10 to 11 a.m. No registration required. Activities include singing songs, reading history-related stories, and crafts. Guardians must remain with their children throughout the program. Located at the West Point on the Eno photo museum at 5101 N. Roxboro St. Fee: $1.50 for county resident; $6.50 for non-resident. (Durham Parks and Recreation)
• Open Office Hours with City-County Planning Staff. Adults. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Give input to planning staff as they update the Unified Development Ordinance, which sets rules for land development in Durham. Café area on the second floor of the Main Library at 300 N. Roxboro St. (Durham County Library)

Check out this week's activities!

IN MEMORIAM

• Durham Obituaries - April 15, 2025

FOR SUBSCRIBERS

• South Durham Restaurant Inspection Scores for March 2025
• [Subscriber Bonus] Durham High School Senior Spotlight!
• [Welcome to the World] Durham Births - March 29-April 4, 2025

INTERESTING ELSEWHERE

• Trump Wants Fed Chair Terminated [CNN]
• Judge Rules Probable Cause to Hold U.S. Government in Contempt [NPR]
• Trump Exploring Exporting U.S. Citizens to El Salvador Prisons [NPR]
• Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan on Reteaming for "Sinners" [Associated Press]

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