Besides the made-for-TV spectacle that was the City's attempt to tear down some of James "Fireball" White's East Durham properties yesterday -- more on that in a bit -- there's no shortage of items of interest in today's news:
- City leaders pared spending by over $10m in the recently-completed FY09 budget year, meeting declining revenues and avoiding any dip into the much-watched fund balance savings account (crucial for the City's AAA financial rating); the City managed to bring it in at 12.2% for the year, above the controversial 11% floor set in spring 2008's divisive budget process. New City manager Tom Bonfield and his staff got the credit for steering the City's financial ship in tough waters. (H-S)
- Yesterday's Council work session saw ongoing debate over the City's incentive package for the 92-year-old owner of the building housing The Know bookstore on Fayetteville St. The renovations would turn the building into a jazz and cultural center featuring a smaller version of The Know -- a move the space-renter who owns the black bookstore says is stealing his business and making his operation less commercially viable. A new proposal would make the grant a five-year, zero-interest loan that the City would forgive as long as Mozella McLaughlin and her children carry out their proposed cultural center. City Councilman Eugene Brown has been the main critic, raising concerns over the viability of the financial plan and the impact on The Know owner Bruce Bridges. (H-S, N&O)
- NC Central has signed up with MEAC -- the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference -- as part of its transition from Division II to Division I athletics. NCCU already competes against MEAC members like NC A&T and Hampton, and now will face them for conference bragging rights; the school expects to have better luck at recruiting to boot. (H-S)
- The Bull Durham blues festival kicks off tonight with the Jon Shain Trio, Jasmé Kelly, and Eric Bibb at the Hayti Heritage Center; tomorrow's concert, the first post-opening event at the historic Durham Athletic Park, is headlined by bluesman Elvin Bishop. (H-S)
- The Bulls fell to the Louisville Bats 5-2 last night at the DBAP; the Bulls need to win two out of the next three games in Derby City to move on to the Governor's Cup championship. (N&O)
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