Durham Nativity School to Expand

The Durham Nativity School plans to expand its program to include fifth grade students.

Duke Names New Assistant Director

Leslie Parkins has been named assistant director of the Duke Office of Civic Engagement, which serves as the campus hub for university collaborations with communities on pressing social challenges.

Generic drugmaker Aurobindo to build $37M facility

Generic drugmaker Aurobindo Pharma USA announced that it will invest $37.1 million for a new research and development headquarters in Durham, which is expected to create 275 jobs.

Durham Police Department Names New Police Chief

Atlanta Deputy Police Chief Cerelyn J. Davis has been named the new chief of the Durham Police Department.

Counter Culture Coffee's Lem Butler recognized as top barista in the nation

Counter Culture Coffee’s most decorated barista, Lem Butler, head of wholesale customer support, was recognized as the top barista in the nation at the U.S. Barista Championship competition in Atlanta.His next stop is the World Barista Championship in Dublin, Ireland in June.

New Websites Launched Listing All African American Events and Non-Profit Organizations

CEO Jimmy Davies of Durham recently revised his website; EveryBlackEvent.com and launched the EveryBlackNonprofit.com.Both websites are available to the general public.The “EveryBlack” family websites were created to enhance networking within various segments of the African American community. The sites display uplifting and inspiring images of African Americans to provide a positive and moving experience for visitors while educating and providing networking opportunities

Alley Twenty Six to expand

Alley Twenty Six cocktail bar plans to expand into the space next door (formerly Area Modern Furniture) adding a full-size kitchen and space for events. Alley Twenty Six is located at 320 E. Chapel Hill St., Durham. They are open nightly from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. The new space is expected to be complete by fall 2016.

Happy + Hale opens

The new Happy + Hale has opened for business. Located at 703 Ninth St. in a former post office building.This is their second location and is nearly three times the size of the original Happy + Hale that opened in 2014 at Raleigh City Plaza.The Durham location will have extended hours adding dine-in seating with weekend brunch and dinner options, plus an extended menu that also includes a made-to-order juice bar, cold-pressed juice cocktails and local beer on tap.The opening event will be from noon to 4 p.m. on April 30 with live music from local band The Shakedown.

2016 Durham Golden Leaf Award Winners Honored

The Golden Leaf awards program, sponsored by the Durham City-County Appearance Commission, Keep Durham Beautiful, Inc., and the Durham City-County Environmental Affairs Board, honors excellence in design, preservation, and stewardship of the natural and built environment. The 2016 winners are as follows: Keep Durham Beautiful Award: Hub Farm – Touching Water Floating Lab,  Adaptive Reuse, Old Building – New Design Awards: Ponysaurus & Durham City Hall Exterior Renovation, Environmental Affairs Board Sustainable Design Award: Lucas Middle School, Small Development Award: Duke University Faculty Club Neighborhood, Garden & Landscape Award: Bee Downtown, Large Development Award: Crescent 9th Street, Hearth & Home Award: Oatley Residence,People’s Choice Awards: Montessori Farm School & Durham City Hall Exterior Renovation.

Self-Help merges with Greater Piedmont Credit Union

Self-Help Credit Union has merged with Greater Piedmont Credit Union.. Self-Help was founded in Durham 26 years ago, and has provided more than $6.9 billion in financing to individuals and businesses typically undeserved by traditional financial institutions.With the merger, Self-Help now has 20 branches in North Carolina and Virginia, which serve more than 65,000 people.

Moogfest unveils full schedule

Moogfest has announced its full schedule of 300 musical performances, daytime workshops, conversations, masterclasses, film screenings, live scores, durational sound installations, and multiple interactive art experiences.The full schedule can be found online at: https://moogfest.sched.org/

Duke University appoints new Dean of Humanities

Duke University has appointed art historian Gennifer Weisenfeld as the Dean of Humanities. She has been a professor in the Department of Art, Art History & Visual Studies, and will now serve as dean through June 2019.

Duke University Chapel to reopen May 11

The Duke University Chapel is scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, May 11, with a daylong celebration beginning at 10 a.m.

Joel McHale Donates Proceeds from North Carolina Show to the Durham LGBT Center

Joel McHale, who performed at the Durham Performing Arts Center on Friday, April 8, wore a homemade LGBTQ T-shirt and announced that all proceeds from the show would go to the LGBTQ Center of Durham.

New condo project in downtown to be complete by September 2017

The new downtown condo project, Mangum Flats, will consist of 14 flats, three studios, and five townhouses. The expected completion date is September 2017. The project at 515 N. Mangum St. is being designed by Center Studio Architecture and real estate developer Scott Harmon.

NCCU launches IP Law Institute with funding from SAS

North Carolina Central University is launching a Intellectual Property Law Institute with the help of funding from Cary-based software giant SAS. Charles Smith, an NCCU law professor, will be the IP Institute director. He previously worked for Xerox as a patent attorney and as a counsel at Bechtel Corporation.

Emergency street closure downtown, Main and Corcoran

The 100 block of W. Main St. is closed between Corcoran Street and Mangum Street as a 150-foot stretch of 8-inch sewage main that has concrete lodged in it is replaced The closure is expected to last into next week.

The DBAP offers new items for 2016

DBAP will offer several new items this season.The Bulls have taken over all food items, which includes the club level and picnic areas.There are new food vendors, such as Angus Barn and Makus Empanadas, as well as new food offerings like bacon on a stick. There will be staples like hot dogs but, the DBAp's goal is to have as many hot dogs and as many toppings as any ballpark in the country. There is also a new 35-foot net that stretches from first to third base to protect fans from errant baseballs or bats. The 2016 season opener was held Thursday, April 7.

City Council calls for repeal of HB2

The City Council  unanimously passed a resolution calling for the repeal of House Bill 2 and affirming its support of the LGBT community in Durham and the state.

Bull Durham Beer Co. to serve new brews this season

To kick-off Bull Durham Beer's’ second season, they are doubling their beer offerings. Bull Durham Beer Company is adding a White IPA style and Amber style beers to the returning Kolsch style and Wheat style brews.

US Senator Cory Booker will be NCCU Undergraduate Commencement Speaker 2016

U.S. Sen. Cory Booker will serve as the keynote speaker for North Carolina Central University’s 127th Baccalaureate Ceremony on Saturday, May 14, 2016. The Commencement exercises will take place in O’Kelly-Riddick Stadium on the university’s campus.The Class of 2016 is anticipated to be one of the largest graduating classes in the university’s history .