Here's today's tops of the press. And be sure to tune in tonight for a chance to get updates on a couple of news items around town, as Downtown Durham Inc.'s Bill Kalkhof and Melissa Norton join Barry and me on "Shooting the Bull" (7:30pm, WXDU 88.7 FM or wxdu.org) to talk about stormwater regulations and the debate over the future of the dedicated one cent to downtown revitalization.
- Get stimulatin', Part 1: Durham officials are suggesting that DATA, Chapel Hill Transit and Triangle Transit are projected to split $8.3 million in transit dollars, likely to go to new buses or new/improved routes. The housing authority, meanwhile, looks to get $4.4m additional for capital grants, allowing more than $7 million in improvements to public housing when existing budgeted funds are added in. More competitively-allocated grant funds are still at play. (H-S #1, #2)
- Get stimulatin', Part 2: Durham's getting 18 miles of NCDOT street resurfacing out of the stimulus dollars, including repaving on NC 98 (Junction to Sherron), Hillandale/Fulton (south of I-85), Old Page Rd., and N. Duke St. (Hudson Ave. to Horton Rd.). Old Oxford Hwy. will also be widened and resurfaced from Roxboro to Granville Co. Meantime, the DCHC-MPO will get almost $8 million for locally-funded transportation projects; those funds haven't been parceled out to individual projects, yet. (N&O)
- Durham Tech is looking to save funds this summer by going to four-day weeks for courses and services offered on-campus. Few classes will be impacted as most have traditionally been offered on a Monday-Thursday schedule anyway; the savings will help to offset the $140,000 that the County cut as a result of dropping tax and fee revenues. (H-S)
- NCCU has reported that its endowment has lost $4 million, a 21% drop, and the school is looking at 7% cuts in general, but Chancellor Charlie Nelms vows not to impact academic quality. (H-S) Meantime, the school is looking to add an online program in hospitality and tourism administration; the news comes in a H-S article that also catches Bishop Eddie Long for a no-comment on the turmoil surrounding an NCCU satellite campus set up at Long's Georgia megachurch that led to a dust-up with the school's accrediting agency. (H-S)
- Trailblazing Durham civil rights and integration leader Nathaniel B. White, Sr., passed away at age 94 on Sunday in Atlanta. White was instrumental in integrating Durham's Boy Scout system and was active in the DCABP and the Human Relations Commission; he was also one of the last business owners in the Hayti area of the Bull City. (H-S)
Crossing my fingers for stimulus funds going toward the repaving of University Ave!!
Posted by: cara | February 26, 2009 at 12:25 PM
and here's a vote for repaving main between duke and the loop where it goes through west village. that stretch is downright embarrassing.
Posted by: bb | February 26, 2009 at 02:09 PM
the duke chronicle got Thom Mount to speak about his upcoming production, Main Street:
http://media.www.dukechronicle.com/media/storage/paper884/news/2009/02/26/Recess/Bull-City.To.Serve.As.Movie.Set-3650198.shtml
Posted by: jon | February 26, 2009 at 07:03 PM
bb,
It's already happening:
http://www.bullcityrising.com/2009/01/ddi-west-village-streetscape-improvements-downtown-loop-study-to-start-soon.html
Posted by: Erik | February 26, 2009 at 07:04 PM
Contract for the streetscape work on Main Street at Liggett was on the Council's agenda on 2/16. Work is to begin by 3/21.
http://www.durhamnc.gov/agendas/2009/cma20090216/165297_5884_206239.doc.PDF
The project includes paving, curb & gutter, sidewalks, drainage, landscaping, and putting all overhead utilities underground.
Posted by: Todd | February 26, 2009 at 10:52 PM