Durham County commissioners approved $1.8 million in spending to acquire 342 acres through conservation easements as the state's first county certified for USDA agricultural land preservation programs.
Durham County became North Carolina's first county certified for USDA agricultural land easement programs, approving $1.8 million to acquire 342 acres through three conservation easements.
Youth mental health crisis worsens with 30 percent of high schoolers vaping and female students reporting significantly higher depression rates, while unsheltered homelessness jumped 123 percent since 2020.
The county will receive $11.6 million over 18 years from opioid settlement funds, with community input prioritizing addiction treatment, recovery services, and recovery housing.