🌳 Duke HIV vaccine funding cut
Duke HIV Vaccine Program Loses Federal Funding
The federal government is walking away from two decades of HIV vaccine research at Duke. A $258 million grant to Duke and the Scripps Research Institute won't be renewed, leaving the program without a path forward.
- $258 million in federal grants to Duke and Scripps Research Institute will not be renewed.
- The program represents roughly 20 years of HIV vaccine development work.
- No replacement funding source has been identified to continue the research.
State Says DPS Denied Special Ed at Youth Home
North Carolina found that four DPS students with disabilities received as little as 30 minutes of instruction a day while confined during a lockdown at a youth residential facility. The state ordered Durham Public Schools to plan better next time — but required no makeup instruction.
- Four students with disabilities got as little as 30 minutes of instruction per day during the lockdown.
- State investigators determined DPS denied those students their required special education services.
- DPS must improve planning for future lockdowns but was not ordered to make up the lost instruction time.
City Council · Regular Meeting · May 4, 2026
Durham City Council voted unanimously to freeze new hyperscale data centers for 60 days — but at least one council member wants a ban 24 times longer. The same meeting shifted $4.35 million away from building affordable housing.
- The 7-0 moratorium covers hyperscale data centers and cryptocurrency mining; Council Member Nate Baker is pushing for a 24-month ban.
- The council voted 5-2 to redirect $4.35 million in federal HOME ARP funds from building 25 affordable rental units to rental assistance and homeless services.
- The council also backed a federal program that will deposit up to $3,000 into savings accounts for roughly 2,500 to 3,000 eligible Durham children annually.
Roundup
- Community groups fed 2,000 DPS students at seven sites after classes were canceled for a statewide educator walkout.
- Durham City Council passed a 60-day data center moratorium, capping the pause to sidestep a county review requirement while members push for a longer ban.
- More than 5,000 runners from 40 states and 17 countries competed in Durham's largest inaugural road race, with Boston Marathon qualifying spots on the line.
- Durham awarded $13,250 in Love Your Block grants to six resident-led projects in Lakewood, West End, and Lyon Park.
- The Riverview Shopping Center on North Roxboro sold for $25 million; Harris Teeter and Duke Health anchor the 13.6-acre property.
- Keebler Health raised $16 million in Series A funding for an AI platform that surfaces missed diagnoses in clinical notes.
- Little Bull chef Oscar Diaz was eliminated from Top Chef.
Events
SKIZZY MARS
Thu, May 7 · Motorco Music Hall
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children's Day
Fri, May 8 · Sarah P. Duke Gardens
Bahamas with Sister Ray
Sat, May 9 · Haw River Ballroom
Mallarmé Family Concert: The Woman Who Fell From the Sky
Sat, May 9 · Durham County Library
Out & About at Dram & Draught
Sat, May 9 · APS of Durham
Shakespeare in the Park: As You Like It
Sat, May 9 · Durham Central Park
Failure, with All Under Heaven
Sun, May 10 · Cat's Cradle
An Evening with David Byrne
Mon, May 11 · DPAC
Bill Callahan
Tue, May 12 · Haw River Ballroom
Color Me Country with Rissi Palmer
Tue, May 13 · Durham County Library
Real Estate
2826 Herring Blvd
6 bed, 4 bath, 4,100 sqft
$1,795,000
501 Whitehall Cir
5 bed, 4 bath, 3,846 sqft
$1,070,000
517 Whitehall Cir
5 bed, 5 bath, 4,343 sqft
$1,050,000
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