🌳 LRB Provisions opens from chef Amanda Orser

In this issue:

• Meta quietly exits Durham office plans

• Durham County crime ticks down in 2025

• LRB Provisions opens from chef Amanda Orser

• Council tightens decorum, sparring over dissent

• ‘The Staircase’ renews spotlight on Durham case

• Solstice Lantern Walk & Market

Approx Read Time: 3 mins

Meta quietly exits Durham office plans

Meta has ended its lease at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus, stepping away from earlier plans to employ about 100 engineers downtown. The 18,000-square-foot sublease, managed by Duke University Real Estate, expired over the summer and was not renewed.

• Plans never materialized: Meta announced the Durham office in 2023 for “enterprise engineers,” but now lists no local job postings and may never have occupied the space.

• Reality Labs retrenchment: The metaverse-focused division tied to the Durham plans has lost tens of billions of dollars and is facing significant cuts.

• Strategic shift underway: Meta is redirecting investment toward AI and data centers, including major U.S. spending and an existing NC data center in Rutherford County.

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Durham County crime ticks down in 2025

Durham County reported a modest decline in serious crime during the first nine months of 2025, according to new data from the Durham County Sheriff’s Office. The county saw a 4% drop in its “Top 8 Crimes” compared to the same period last year.

• What’s counted: The “Top 8 Crimes” include homicide, sex offenses, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson.

• By the numbers: From Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, the county recorded 137 incidents, down from 143 during the same stretch in 2024.

• Law enforcement response: The sheriff’s office pointed to recent drug busts, firearm seizures, and stolen vehicle recoveries as part of ongoing efforts to reduce crime countywide.

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LRB Provisions opens from chef Amanda Orser

LRB Provisions, a new takeaway lunch spot from acclaimed Durham chef Amanda Orser, officially opens Thursday on Guess Road. It marks Orser’s first restaurant as an owner and adds another strong entry to Durham’s well-loved daytime dining scene.

• Chef-driven debut: Orser brings experience from Magnolia Grill, Lantern, and Littler to her first solo project.

• Smoker-centered menu: House-made pastrami — including a vegetarian celery root version — anchors the offerings, alongside smoked trout salad, al pastor pork loin, and confit chicken.

• Playful nod to history: The restaurant occupies a former Dog House hot dog stand and will feature a rotating hot dog special every Thursday.

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Council tightens decorum, sparring over dissent

Durham City Council’s Dec. 15 meeting was marked by a sharp debate over how public dissent is handled in City Hall, following a recent incident in which a resident was trespassed during a council swearing-in. The discussion exposed deep divisions among council members about free expression, meeting order, and transparency and it overshadowed an otherwise routine agenda.

• New decorum rules on record: Mayor Leonardo Williams formally outlined procedures for handling disruptive behavior, citing state law and emphasizing removal from chambers as a last resort to keep meetings functional.

• Trespass decision questioned: Several council members said they were not consulted about the earlier trespass and warned against using enforcement tools to silence residents, while others defended the action as necessary during a democratic transfer of power.

• Housing funds under scrutiny: During a public hearing on the city’s HUD performance report (CAPER), advocates raised concerns about transparency and underuse of HOPWA funds for people living with HIV/AIDS, signaling a possible complaint to HUD.

• Downtown plan advances: Council held a public hearing on adopting the Downtown Durham Blueprint 2035, with broad support for the vision but questions about nonprofit oversight and implementation responsibility.

Watch the Full Discussion >>

‘The Staircase’ renews spotlight on Durham case

Durham’s most infamous true-crime story is back in the national spotlight as HBO’s dramatized series The Staircase becomes fully available on Netflix, alongside the original documentary. The renewed attention has prompted updates on what happened to the people and places tied to the case.

• Michael Peterson today: Convicted in 2003, Peterson served eight years before his conviction was overturned due to misconduct at the State Bureau of Investigation. He entered an Alford plea to manslaughter in 2017, was released with time served, lived in Durham for several years, and moved to Reno, Nevada, in 2024. He has published multiple memoirs and remains outspoken in his criticism of the TV dramatization.

• Lawyers and prosecutors: Defense attorney David Rudolf still practices law in Charlotte, authored a book on the justice system, and embraced the documentary’s attention through public speaking. Prosecutor Freda Black, known for her dramatic closing arguments, later ran unsuccessfully for office and died in 2018 from liver disease.

• Family and the house: Peterson’s sons and stepdaughters have largely stepped away from public life. Kathleen Peterson’s daughter Caitlin Atwater continues to assert Michael Peterson’s guilt and won a $25 million wrongful death judgment. The Cedar Street Durham home at the center of the case has changed hands multiple times and undergone major renovations, including a rebuilt pool area.

Read More >>

Solstice Lantern Walk & Market
Farmers Market Pavilion, Hillsborough
Saturday, Dec. 20 · 5–8 p.m.
A beloved winter tradition returns with a lantern-lit procession, local art market, and live performances.
Details >>

Note: Free tickets are required to attend, with a suggested $5–10 donation supporting Hillsborough Arts Council programming. Lantern kits are on sale in advance, and participants are encouraged to bring handmade lanterns.

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