July: The middle of summer break, and a time to gear up for the upcoming semester. Along with registration and summer work or internships, readers also processed lots of Chronicle stories this month. There was a lot of news to cover! Duke made COVID vaccines mandatory for health care employees, President Joe Biden nominated an alumnus as ambassador to the European Union, and Duke men’s basketball projections took off. Read about last month’s most-read Chronicle stories here.
1. Raleigh and Durham metro area, where Olivia Rodrigo does not live, named a best place to live in 2021
The Raleigh and Durham metro area was ranked second in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Places to Live in the U.S. in 2021-2022. This is a jump up nine places from last year’s ranking, leaving the area second only to Golden, Colo. The city pair also marked the charts as the best place to live in North Carolina, No. 23 in fastest-growing places and No. 28 in best places to retire. Read what factors made the Triangle shine!
Two former Duke players—forward Matthew Hurt and guard DJ Steward—fell short of the 2021 NBA Draft. Although neither were among the 60 picks, both made deals after the draft and will still go on to play in the big leagues. Steward signed a training camp deal with the Sacramento Kings, and Hurt signed a two-way deal with the Houston Rockets. Hurt was the Blue Devils’ leading scorer for the 2020-21 season in which Duke failed to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1995. Steward scored the fourth-highest number of points of a Duke freshman in their debut with 24.
3. 5 takeaways from Duke men's basketball summer scrimmages
Keeping up with basketball news, readers were eager to hear The Chronicle’s sports section’s reactions to the summer games. Their takeaways pull no punches but also have positive aspects. Read what they think, and compare it to your own thoughts!
4. ‘Obstacles in voters’ way’: Three state bills could drastically change North Carolina’s election laws
Following North Carolina’s 2020 election, three bills currently in the General Assembly will create major changes in election laws if passed. Read about Senate Bills 326, 724 and 725, which pertain to absentee voting and private election donations. See how these proposed laws compare to similar ones in the majority of the states, and be a more informed voter.
5. An inconvenient truth: How 'Kim's Convenience' became a cautionary tale for Asian representation
Chronicle writer Megan Liu details how Canadian television show “Kim’s Convenience” highlights issues of representation, especially in media. After claims racist writing and a lack of accurate representation, the show—which follows a Korean-Canadian family—displays the need for culturally-sensitive media. Read Liu’s take on the show and the media response here.
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Maria Morrison is a Trinity senior and a digital strategy director for The Chronicle's 117th volume. She was previously managing editor for Volume 116.