The fishwraps are pretty thin again this morning -- anyone know when Ray Gronberg's getting back from vacation? In local news from today and the weekend:
- The Indy is reporting that Lewis Cheek -- a former Durham County commissioner who case a key vote last fall on the 751 assemblage's critical watershed boundary in the last meeting of his term (he did not seek re-election) has joined the law firm of K&L Gates' RTP-based land use practice; K&L Gates' practice dominates Durham zoning and property filings before elected boards, and represents the owners of the 751 parcel. (The Indy)
- The Indy also covered Friday's Durham Crime Cabinet, where a billboard industry lobbyist pressed hard on the public safety elements digital billboards could bring by showing amber alerts and the like on their large, well-lit facades. Howard Clement signaled his support of the measure, as did DPD Chief Lopez. Billboard opponents, however, have complained that they weren't afforded an opportunity to make a presentation to the group on their concerns over the billboards. (The Indy)
- While Duke's plan for a $235 million, 265,000 sq. ft. new cancer center adjacent to the Duke South clinics isn't ready to break ground this month as originally planned, health system chancellor Dr. Victor Dzau tells the H-S that Duke Medicine is in the final phases of planning for the expansion, with a final decision on when to go forward expected in the coming months. (H-S)
- Dzau also is the subject of a two-part H-S interview by Neil Offen; the administrator talks about the public education and health connectivity between Duke and Durham, something he hadn't experienced in Boston, and about maintaining his own research interests amidst the 12-hour days of running what's essentially a $3 billion firm. (H-S #1, #2)
- Lowe's Grove Middle School science teacher Jamila Bowser was named teacher of the year at her school -- and has now been awarded teacher of the year nationally by SECME, an organization dedicated to focusing "underrepresented or underserved" students towards higher education in math and the sciences. (H-S)
- The Piedmont Wildlife Center non-profit -- which cares for over 2,000 injured wild animals in a typical year -- is closing its rehab center for wildlife on Leigh Farm Rd. due to budget shortfalls, but a new organization applying for non-profit status, the Triangle Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic (TWRC), is planning to take over the center in early August. (H-S)
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