Durham’s primaries reshaped the school board, produced one of the closest congressional primaries in the state, and added a new downtown spot to the going out rotation.
Newcomers sweep Durham school board races
NC-04 recount watch: Foushee vs Allam
Soif opens downtown: 13 seats, no WiFi
🌤 Weekend Weather
Fri 80° / 57° (8%)
Sat 80° / 60° (19%)
Sun 76° / 61° (57%)
Newcomers Sweep Durham School Board Races
A slate of mostly first-time candidates backed by local progressive groups swept Durham’s school board elections Tuesday, defeating an incumbent chair and several experienced challengers. Candidates endorsed by the Durham Association of Educators, the People’s Alliance, and Durham for All won all four contested seats, signaling voter appetite for new leadership in Durham Public Schools.
Progressive slate dominates: Four newcomers including Natalie Bent Kitaif (District 1), Nadeen Bir (District 2), Gabrielle Rivero (District 3), and Xavier Cason (District 4) each won their races with support from major local progressive groups and education advocates.
Incumbent chair unseated: Nadeen Bir won District 2 with 61.3% of the vote, defeating incumbent school board chair Bettina Umstead. It was the most significant upset of the night.
Mixed backgrounds among winners: Gabrielle Rivero, founder of a therapeutic dance company, narrowly won District 3 with 52.4% of the vote. Former board member Xavier Cason will return after a six-year hiatus, winning District 4 with 50.8%.
Foushee Survives Razor-Thin Primary Challenge
U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee narrowly defeated Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam in the Democratic primary for North Carolina’s 4th Congressional District, winning by about 1,200 votes out of more than 120,000 cast. The race was one of the closest and most expensive primaries in the state this year, reflecting a broader debate within the Democratic Party about experience versus a newer generation of progressive leadership.
Extremely close result: Foushee finished with 61,537 votes to Allam’s 60,335, a margin of just under 1%. Allam carried Durham County, while Foushee’s stronger performance in Orange and Chatham counties secured her the overall lead.
Recount considered, then dropped: Because the margin fell within North Carolina’s 1% recount threshold, Allam initially said she would request a recount. She later conceded the race Wednesday night, confirming her campaign would not pursue one.
Millions in outside spending: The contest became North Carolina’s most expensive primary, with millions spent by outside groups. National progressive figures including Bernie Sanders backed Allam, while Foushee was supported by many Democratic elected officials across the state.
Tiny Downtown Bar Serves Coffee By Day
A tiny new bar and coffee spot called Soif is opening in downtown Durham this March, bringing a minimalist concept to the Snow Building on West Main Street. The 13-seat space from Delafia owner Jesse Gerstl will serve espresso during the day and transition to aperitif-style drinks and cocktails at night.
Small space, simple menu: At just 593 square feet, Soif will offer basic espresso drinks by day and a tight evening menu of spritzes, low-ABV aperitif cocktails, and three classics: a Manhattan, Negroni, and Martini.
No Wi-Fi by design: The bar intentionally skips Wi-Fi and laptop culture to encourage conversation. Customers order directly at the bar and linger there, modeled after traditional Italian coffee bars.
Community-focused concept: Gerstl says the goal is to create a shared daily ritual where people stand at the counter, chat, and connect with neighbors rather than rush through a typical café line.
Budget tradeoffs and youth safety debate
Durham City Council used its March 2 meeting to set expectations for a tight budget season ahead, with multiple members urging residents to show up and rank priorities before the hard cuts happen. The most consistent signal was that fare free buses remain a priority even as the city stares down funding tradeoffs. Public comment also focused heavily on youth gun violence and what it would look like to invest in prevention, not just policing.
Budget squeeze is here: Council members described the coming budget as a series of real tradeoffs and asked residents to help set priorities. The subtext was clear: programs will compete, and public input will be used to justify choices.
Fare-free transit remains a priority: Multiple comments highlighted support for keeping buses fare free, even as costs pressure the overall budget. This signals that transit is likely to be protected even if other line items tighten.
Priorities name checked: Council members pointed to items like eviction diversion and Youth Works as programs they want to protect. The list gives a preview of what will get defended first when cuts are proposed.
Youth gun violence testimony: Public comment included remarks on youth safety and debate over what works beyond enforcement. The meeting framed youth violence as a prevention and investment question, not just a policing one.
Bottom line: Durham is walking into a hard budget season with fare free transit treated as a core commitment, and the council is actively asking residents to help decide what else survives.
Finding Meaning: Purpose & Metacognition
Page Auditorium (Durham)
Thu, Mar 5 · 5:30 PM
Arthur C. Brooks in conversation on purpose and meaning.
Details
Silvia Heyden Opening: gallery talk + music
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University (Durham)
Thu, Mar 5 · 5:30 PM
Opening event with a quartet performance, student-curated gallery talk, and reception. Details
Kayfabe by Josh Rice
The Fruit (Durham)
Thu, Mar 5 · 7:30 PM
A one-off puppet-wrestling performance that is equal parts theater and chaos.
Details
Nashville Songwriters
Durham Performing Arts Center (Durham)
Fri, Mar 6 · 7:30 PM
Touring songwriters night at DPAC, built for a real out-of-the-house Friday plan.
Details
Hayti Heritage Film Festival
Hayti Heritage Center (Durham)
Sat, Mar 7 · Various times
A time-boxed Durham film festival weekend with screenings and community discussions.
Details
Second Sundays: KPop Demon Hunters
Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University (Durham)
Sun, Mar 8 · 1:00 PM
Free family-friendly screening with a built-in Sunday afternoon vibe.
Details
Durham chef Oscar Diaz gets a regional Axios spotlight, a quick read if you track who is shaping the Triangle food scene. Read More »
State Sen. Sophia Chitlik cruised to reelection, which keeps a familiar Durham area voice in Raleigh as budget and education fights ramp up. Read More »
Satana Deberry beat Jonathan Wilson again with 61% and, with no November challenger, is set for a third term as Durham’s DA. Read More »
Duke announced $20/hr minimum wage effective July 2025 for employees. Read More »
Why Durham’s Festival for the Eno river will change date and venue this year.