New Bull City Connector stops along Duke University's campus have increased usage

New Bull City Connector stops along Duke’s campus added in August; helped increase Duke-related ridership by 12 percent, according to a survey by GoSmart. That percentage represents a jump of about 30 more passengers, now about 210 each weekday.

New program lets residence borrow medical equipment

Durham residents who need medical equipment but may not be able to afford it can borrow items like wheelchairs and walkers without charge, thanks to a new program HELP (health equipment loan program).  The service is available to anyone who lives in Durham, even if they are insured. HELP is located inside the front door of The Scrap Exchange at 2050 Chapel Hill Road. Equipment can be donated or borrowed from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays. No appointment is needed.

Duke University to replace three dorms

Duke University plans to replace three 100 year old dormitories on East Campus.The $25 million project will yield a new, 250-bed dorm that will house more students than the Epworth, Jarvis and East residence halls combined. It will also become the final piece of the new quad Duke has been developing in the southwest portion of what’s now its freshman campus. Decisions are still pending on the fate of the existing structures.

Old Havana Sandwich Shop has new hours and offerings

Durham’s Old Havana Sandwich Shop has new regular hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays. They will no longer offer weekend dinners and will now offer monthly special events to include features like special tapas menus and salsa dancing, monthly dinner series, and hands-on cooking classes.

Andrew Young to speak at NCCU

Former U.S. Ambassador and civil rights leader Andrew Young will share his experience, knowledge and leadership perspective at N.C. Central University on Tuesday, Jan. 19 as part of the university’s Rock the Mic lecture series.The event is  free, open to the public and will begin at 7 p.m. in B.N. Duke Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Durham Public Schools will offer a fire acadamy in the 2016-17 school year

Durham Public Schools will offer a fire academy, for high school students who want to become firefighters, starting in the 2016-17 school year. The program is a partnership among the schools, the Fire Department and Durham Technical Community College and approved by the state Department of Public Instruction.

TransLoc partners with Uber

Durham startup TransLoc, who develops technology to connect people with public transportation, provides people real-time information on the location of buses and makes recommendations about the best routes to choose to get to a destination, has partnered with Uber to help public transportation users get to the best station and bus route. This new partnership would allow riders to ride with Uber to get to the locations providing a complete door to door transit experience.