Tuesday, Dec. 9: RTP campus + Durham Schools + Garner Mental Hospital
Tuesday, Dec. 9
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Charter growth forces Durham schools to divert $51M locally.
Durham Public Schools is facing growing financial pressure from the expanding footprint of charter schools. Nearly a quarter of Durham’s students now attend charter schools, prompting the district to shift $51 million in local funds to more than 50 charters this year. The rising enrollment comes amid growing concern that charter schools, originally intended as innovative alternatives, are instead draining resources from traditional schools. A new report says many charters are no more effective and are more prone to closure. Local officials are calling for greater oversight.
Apple delays RTP campus, wins four-year extension on incentives.
Apple has secured a four-year extension on its $845 million incentive deal with North Carolina, delaying key hiring and investment milestones for its planned Research Triangle Park campus. Originally agreed upon in 2021, the deal required Apple to create 3,000 high-paying jobs and invest $1 billion statewide. While the company has already hired 600 employees and leased office space in Cary, no construction has begun on the RTP site. Officials cite AI infrastructure demands as a factor in the delay.
WakeMed advances Garner mental hospital, citing soaring ER crises.
WakeMed’s plan to build a new mental health hospital in Garner met no opposition — a rare silence in the typically competitive certificate-of-need process. The proposed 150-bed facility is part of a 56-acre whole-health campus, reflecting the growing urgency around mental health care. WakeMed says one in eight ER patients in 2024 faced a mental health or substance use crisis. Its $50 million capital campaign has raised $35 million so far, plus $18 million in public funds. Leaders say destigmatizing care is key to the effort.
Durham chief district judge charged in domestic violence case.
Durham County District Court’s chief judge, Clayton Jones, was arrested Monday on two misdemeanor charges related to domestic violence. According to an arrest warrant, Jones is accused of grabbing a woman’s neck with his hand; the two had reportedly been in a recent relationship. He is being held at the Orange County Detention Center under a domestic violence hold. Jones, elected to the bench in 2018, previously worked as both a public defender and assistant district attorney in Durham. The case raises obvious concerns given his role on the bench.
Capital Boulevard DWI crackdown nets 10 arrests, 130 charges.
Raleigh Police conducted a weekend saturation patrol along the Capital Boulevard corridor, partnering with several Wake County agencies to target impaired and dangerous driving. The operation led to 130 total charges, including 10 DWI arrests, 40 speeding violations, and eight cases of driving with a revoked license. Authorities also served four warrants and issued one weapons charge. Officials say the initiative is part of Chief Estella Patterson’s strategy to boost operational efficiency and reduce crime. The effort was timed to enhance roadway safety during the holiday season.
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