🌳 Durham To Build New Greenway

Good morning Durham!

We’re dreaming of a crowd-free escape thanks to Southern Living’s Durham guide. We have our very own Crash & Furious. Switchyards opens up memberships today. And Axios just dropped the Triangle’s 30 best restaurants. (If we were voting, we’d put Little Bull at the top of the list.)

-Jordan Parker

In this issue:

• Federal Investigations and Fund Freeze Hit Duke

• Durham Sees 26% Crime Decline

• Durham To Build 1.8-Mile Rail Trail

• Durham Plans First Bus Rapid Transit

• Buttercup – Pet of the Week!

Approx Read Time: 3 mins

Federal Investigations and Fund Freeze Hit Duke

In the midst of campus-wide cost-cutting, Duke University is facing two federal investigations and the Trump administration’s freeze of roughly $108 million in research and health-care funding—moves that threaten staffing, research projects, and the university’s financial stability.

• Funding Freeze: The Department of Health and Human Services and Education Department have paused about $108 million earmarked for Duke Health and the School of Medicine, compounding budget shortfalls.

• Cost-Cutting Measures: Since March, Duke has enacted a hiring freeze, halted capital spending, offered voluntary buyouts (nearly 600 accepted), and will begin involuntary layoffs on August 5 to meet a $350 million savings goal.

• Title VI Investigation: The DOE’s directed investigation into the Duke Law Journal and an HHS letter allege illegal race-based preferences in admissions, hiring, and scholarships, and demand a “Merit and Civil Rights” committee to overhaul policies.

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Durham Sees 26% Crime Decline

New sheriff’s data reveals a 26% drop in the “Top 8” crimes—murder, robbery, assault, burglary, larceny, vehicle theft, arson, and sex offenses—through June 2025 versus the same period last year. Local law-enforcement and city leaders credit targeted patrols, specialized units, and nonprofit partnerships with steering this downward trend.

• Top Crimes Down: Incidents fell from 42 to 31 in the first half of the year, with every major category registering declines.

• Fewer Shootings & Seizures: Durham Police recorded 301 shooting incidents (vs. 377 in mid-2024); deputies also seized 69 firearms and recovered 17 stolen vehicles.

• Community Effort: Sheriff Birkhead praised 24/7 patrols and crime units, while Mayor Williams highlighted youth-focused nonprofits as key to sustaining safety gains.

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Durham To Build New Greenway

Durham will convert an abandoned Duke‐family rail line into the Durham Rail Trail, a 1.8-mile linear park linking Ellerbee Creek Trail, the downtown core, and the American Tobacco Trail. Final designs are wrapping up now, with construction bids expected next year and completion targeted for 2028.

• Trail Route: The former railroad corridor will run north and east from downtown, threading through parks, historic districts, and schools.

• Timeline & Budget: Design work continues in 2025; construction bids open next year on a roughly $29 million project, with a 2028 finish.

• Connectivity Boost: Once open, the new greenway will fill a critical gap in Durham’s trail network, expanding recreational and commuter options.

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Durham Plans First Bus Rapid Transit

Durham’s Transportation Department is scoping a 7-mile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route from Duke Hospital to Wellons Village, aiming to halve travel times and offer rail-like service on rubber tires with dedicated lanes, priority signals, and enhanced stops.

• Key Corridor: The line will link Duke Hospital, VA Medical Center, Ninth Street, Brightleaf Square, downtown’s main library, and Wellons Village, replacing overcrowded Route 3 and 11 service.

• Timeline & Budget: Pre-development and final design are underway in 2025, with construction bids expected next year. Local funding covers initial work while the city pursues up to $29 million in federal Small Starts grants for a targeted 2028 completion.

• Equity & Efficiency: Designed to serve zero-car households and reduce congestion, the BRT will feature bus-only lanes, traffic-signal priority, and a “mobility hub” at Wellons Village, improving reliability for low-income and minority riders.

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Buttercup – Pet of the Week!

Buttercup is a sweet, sensitive young lady who’s ready to be your loyal sidekick—just say “as you wish”! This medium-sized orange beauty is bursting with puppy-energy and will thrive with daily hikes, runs, or play in a fenced yard. She adores gentle neck and ear scritches, treats, and slow introductions, and once she’s warmed up, she’s all about affectionate play and chase games with other dog-savvy pups and kids ages 8 and up.

Learn More » 

Louis CK
Durham Performing Arts Center
Thu, July 31, 2025 • 7:30 PM
Six-time Emmy and three-time Grammy winner Louis C.K. brings his acclaimed stand-up to DPAC, joined by special guests Joe Machi and John Fisch.
Details >>

PLAYlist Concert Series: Bia Ferreira
Durham Central Park Pavilion
Fri, Aug 1, 2025 • 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Free outdoor concert featuring Brazilian singer-songwriter and activist Bia Ferreira, whose MMP (Música de Mulher Preta) blends funk, reggae, and soul with social justice messages. Enjoy food vendors, a community dance party, and ASL interpretation. Lawn seating; leashed pets welcome.
Details >>

The Swell Season
Durham Performing Arts Center
Fri, August 1, 2025 • 7:30 PM
The indie-folk duo reunites for a US tour behind their first full-length album in 16 years, “Forward,” promising emotive harmonies and intimate storytelling. 
Details >>

Carolina Roller Derby: Brunch Bout
Wheels Durham
Sat, August 2, 2025 • 4:00pm
Watch Team Warfle Haus vs. Team Denty’s in a brunch-themed roller derby bout—bring a folding chair or stand rink-side for fast-paced action. 
Details >>

Durham Latino Festival
El Centro Hispano at Durham Central Park Pavilion
Sun, August 3, 2025 • 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Free celebration of Latino culture featuring live music, authentic food vendors, family fun activities, dance performances, and community resource booths.
Details >>

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