NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

With abortion rights bills that are unlikely to pass, Democrats strive to show North Carolina what the future of healthcare could look like

By Halle Friedman | July 26, 2022

The future of abortion in North Carolina depends on November’s elections. Thus, Democrat legislators have attempted to codify Roe v. Wade to ensure access to abortion through two bills: Senate Bill 888 and and House Bill 1119. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Monkeypox identified in Durham County, but large outbreak unlikely

By Marytha Tan | July 25, 2022

Durham is one of the first local North Carolina health departments to receive doses of Jynneos, a vaccine that can prevent illness or lead to less severe symptoms if given within two weeks after someone is exposed to monkeypox, according to a NCDHSS press release. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

NC state budget delivers a blow to preservationists of ‘endangered historic’ school for Black students

By Anisha Reddy | July 14, 2022

Damages in the school’s structure have ballooned over decades of neglect: crumbling walls, water and pest damage, mold from poor ventilation. A fire in 1971 burned down the main classroom spaces and left a large hole in the girls dormitory. 

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NC Senate passes bill that could legalize medical marijuana, but long road still ahead

By Jazper Lu | July 10, 2022

The bill now goes to the House and Gov. Roy Cooper. Currently, the bill includes 15 qualifying medical conditions to be treated with medical marijuana, including cancer, epilepsy, HIV and AIDS. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Governor Roy Cooper issues executive order protecting abortion access in North Carolina

By Kathryn Thomas | July 7, 2022

The order takes multiple steps to fortify existing abortion laws in the state. Patients and providers cannot be penalized or criminalized for their involvement in lawful reproductive health care in North Carolina. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Abortions remain legal in North Carolina, but future is uncertain

By Adway S. Wadekar | June 27, 2022

Nine out of 100 counties in North Carolina have abortion clinics, including Durham County, Orange County and Wake County. Durham’s abortion clinic is North Durham Women’s Health. Duke Health has also said they will continue to provide abortion services and expects an increase in out of state patients. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

‘Political meddling from on high’: AAUP, faculty condemn University of North Carolina System leadership

By Adway S. Wadekar | June 21, 2022

An American Association of University Professors report claims the North Carolina legislature exerts political influence on UNC System operations. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

‘Enough is enough’: North Carolinians gather at State Capitol to advocate for gun safety

By Audrey Wang and Sevana Wenn | June 14, 2022

There was a mixed sense of urgency and exhaustion at the rally. Some people brought signs that they made after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting over four years ago—the survivors of which started the March for Our Lives movement.

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Facebook parent company Meta to open new office in Durham

By Anisha Reddy | June 7, 2022

The opening of Meta’s office will likely create many new jobs and generate revenue for the area, but may also exacerbate some of the issues Durham has been facing, including lack of affordable housing and more traffic congestion. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

NC Senate passes bill that would ban instruction on LGBTQ issues in K-3 classrooms

By Sevana Wenn | June 6, 2022

House Bill 755, a proposal that would ban elementary schools from teaching K-3 students about gender identity or sexuality, passed the North Carolina Senate in a 28-18 vote on Wednesday. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Paxlovid, other COVID-19 treatments remain largely inaccessible to many in Durham

By Nadia Bey | May 30, 2022

The U.S. plans to allow more pharmacies to order these treatments and expand the test-to-treat program, in which someone can get tested for COVID-19 and obtain treatment in the same visit.

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

N.C. Senators Burr, Tillis propose bill to prevent Biden administration from forgiving student loan debt

By Jazper Lu | May 30, 2022

Existing federal student loan forgiveness, cancellation or repayment programs that fall under the Higher Education Act would be exempt from this bill.  

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Out-of-state enrollment caps to increase for several North Carolina HBCUs beginning fall 2022

By Jamael Smith | May 26, 2022

However, limits at non-HBCU UNC system schools remain unaffected. At universities including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, out-of-state enrollment is limited to 18% to prioritize educating in-state students.

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

What a possible post-Roe future means for abortion access in North Carolina

By Halle Friedman | May 18, 2022

Without federal protection of abortion rights, state legislatures would have the discretion to decide on abortion legality. In the Republican-held North Carolina General Assembly, legislation to implement a post-viability abortion ban may be on the table.

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Here are the results from the NC primary elections around Durham County

By Vishal Jammulapati | May 17, 2022

As expected, Beasley clinched the Democratic primary win. Her major opposition from within the party, former state senator Jeff Jackson, dropped out of the race and endorsed her candidacy in December.  Beasley won 81.09% of the vote 98% of precincts reporting at 11 p.m. The Associated Press called the race at 7:47 p.m. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Right-leaning candidates run for Durham Public Schools Board of Education under united slate

By Rachel Enggasser | May 16, 2022

The candidates—Curtis Hrischuk, Christopher Burns, Gayathri Rajaraman, Valarie Jarvis and Joetta MacMiller—are joined under the Better Board, Better Schools, Better Futures (BBBS) slate.

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

‘Sick and tired of being sick and tired’: Starbucks in Boone becomes first location in NC to unionize

By Audrey Wang | May 15, 2022

Workers started considering unionization when Starbucks began cutting store hours after the holiday season. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

The Chronicle’s guide to federal races on the primary ballot in Durham

By Kathryn Thomas | May 13, 2022

The North Carolina primary is Tuesday, May 17 and early voting continues through 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 14. Voters can use the North Carolina Voter Lookup to verify their voter registration status and find their Election Day polling place and sample ballots.

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Durham to implement insurance surcharge for unvaccinated city employees, ends mandatory employee testing

By Vishal Jammulapati | May 4, 2022

Unvaccinated city employees will be required to pay a surcharge of $70 a month starting in July, according to a City of Durham Human Resources announcement in September. The surcharge will increase to $100 a month beginning in July 2023. 

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NEWS  |  LOCAL NATIONAL

Durham Public School leaders discuss school boundaries, increased access to magnet programs under new initiative

By Katie Tan | May 4, 2022

For more than two years, DPS leaders have been building the Growing Together initiative, which aims to “increase equity, access, and diversity across [the Durham] school district,” according to the initiative’s website.