SoDu Week in Review - Feb. 8, 2025
Moriah Ridge falls short with the Durham City Council, while Durham Public Schools may reduce its shortfall with grant money once earmarked for affordable teacher housing. And what are state GOP lawmakers working on that should matter to neighbors in South Durham?
Moriah Ridge Misses the Mark
The Durham City Council last week rejected a proposal by M/I Homes of Raleigh to build Moriah Ridge, a project with 1,000 homes on land straddling the Durham and Orange county lines, along Mt. Moriah Road.
But they pushed off until March a decision on a Pickett Road apartment complex near Durham Academy and Sandy Creek Park.
Durham Schools Using MacKenzie Scott Gift for Shortfall
Currently, it looks like funding from a 2022 philanthropic gift awarded by MacKenzie Scott can deal with a big chunk of the $7-million shortfall faced by Durham Public Schools in the 2024-2025 budget year. But some of that money had been intended to help develop affordable housing options for school teachers.
During a Thursday work session, DPS Board of Education members also heard a report on the status of school transportation since the start of family responsibility zones. And they celebrated the legacy of Dr. E. Lavonia Allison with a resolution shepherded by Board Member Wendell Tabb.
PowerSchool Probe
North Carolina's Attorney General Jeff Jackson launched an investigation in the data security breach of the PowerSchool platform that families and staff at schools across North Carolina use to monitor student academic progress.
State GOP Proposals Could Affect Schools, Gun Safety, Government Authority: Southpoint Access is tracking some North Carolina legislation that might be of interest to neighbors, from carrying concealed weapons without a permit to requiring that public schools make room on the football team for private- or home-schooled students without their own athletic programs.
Jordan High School Signing Day: Last week, athletes at Jordan High School committed to their colleges of choice.
The Makery Planned for Boxyard RTP: A site geared toward elementary-aged children, tweens, and teens is coming from the minds behind Kidzu in Chapel Hill.
What's on Your Mind? Send letters to the editor to wes.platt@southpointaccess.news!
In Other News
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- Protecting Durham's Immigrant Families: Preparing for Uncertainty in a Second Trump Term
- [Raising Durham] To Bot or Not to Bot? How AI Became My Ride or Die
- [Nerdspresso] New Star Trek Flick Sets Phasers to Dumb
- Via The Editor's Desk Blog: When Walking Away Brings You Full Circle
Milestones
- [In Memoriam] Durham Obituaries - Feb. 4, 2025
- [Dearly Beloved] Durham Marriage Applications - Jan. 25-31, 2025 [For SoDu Crew Subscribers]
- [Welcome to the World] Durham Births - Jan. 18-24, 2025 [For SoDu Crew Subscribers]
SoDu We Like Podcasts?
- SoDu We Like Local News Episode 8: Money Under the Couch Cushions
- SoDu We Like Local History Episode 1: Dr. Bartlett Leonidas Durham
- Nerdspresso Phase II Episode 4: Dissection 31
Let's Play
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